Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – March 25, 2026

Episode: Hour 3 – Opening Day & Love to Giants?

Episode Overview

In this lively third hour, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg examine the state of MLB’s Opening Day, the shifting traditions of America’s pastime, and the implications of the Yankees-Giants opener streaming exclusively on Netflix. The crew also deep-dives into NFL draft speculation, especially around the Jets’ quarterback hunt and the Giants’ possible selection of running back Jeremiah Love. Woven through the hour are signature conversational tangents, passionate New York sports takes, and sharp commentary on broadcasting changes and sports culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. MLB Opening Day Shifts: Tradition vs. Modernization

Netflix Exclusive & The "Thing" First Pitch

• Yankees-Giants Opening Night is on Netflix, not traditional television, with the ceremonial first pitch from "Thing" from the Addams Family (as part of a Netflix cross-promotion) capturing headlines and ire from the group.
• Critique of App Exclusives: All hosts highlight how older fans are irritated by trying to follow games jumping between streaming apps, while younger audiences may not care.
• Alan’s Nostalgia: Alan laments the lost sense of national unity and Americana on Opening Day, longing for the days when all teams opened the season together.
  • “Baseball has completely detached itself from being the true sport of this country…it's supposed to be our national pastime. Now it’s become our national, ‘past the time while we wait for football.’” — Alan [04:22]
• Don's Perspective: Opening Night now feels more like a regional event; as a non-Yankee fan, he’d rather watch Celtics-Thunder NBA than a hyped but isolated Opening Day baseball game. [07:04]
• Debate on Matchups: The crew questions the appeal and reasoning for launching the season with Yankees-Giants, suggesting Dodgers matchups might have greater national significance. [07:20]

The Decline of the Specialness of Opening Day

• Alan: “Opening day was as close to a sports national holiday as we had, and now it’s gone.” [08:41]
• The group notes that not all teams are playing the next day, so the special, unified launch is further lost—a trend reflecting the sport’s commercial priorities and the move to app exclusivity.

2. Broadcasting Changes & Sports Media

• Impact on Announcers: Fans are upset since Yankees and Mets regional announcers (like Michael K. and Gary, Keith, & Ron) aren't calling the first game due to streaming rights and the collapse of regional sports networks.
• MLB Local Media Takeover: The league largely retains familiar announcers but runs production—continuity remains, but New York, LA, Chicago, and Boston see interruptions as games move to streaming. [13:00–14:10]

3. NFL Draft Talk

Jets' Private Workouts and QB Market Speculation

• Jets Working Out Ty Simpson: The team is hosting a private workout for potential first-rounder Ty Simpson. The group views this as standard “due diligence”—nothing to read into, but necessary for a team lacking a QB of the future. [14:14]
  • Peter: “I think the due diligence has to be done…that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re a franchise that doesn’t have a future quarterback.” [15:09]
• Draft Odds: Conversation about who might take Simpson, with Jets and Rams near the top. (Jets +140, Rams +400, Browns +650, with Cardinals also in the mix). [16:00–18:00]

Giants and the Jeremiah Love Debate

• Momentum Building for Love: Reports and rumors suggest the Giants could take RB Jeremiah Love fifth overall—a “generational” talent who also fits new coach Jim Harbaugh’s run-first identity. [18:22–19:09]

• Alan’s Stance: Drafting a running back high is only worthwhile if the team will pay him—otherwise it repeats the failed Saquon Barkley saga.

  • “If you love him so much … when his contract is up, you pay him. That was the problem with Barkley…” — Alan [19:09–20:13]

• Peter: Cites that previous regime changes led to Barkley’s contract issues, but with Harbaugh in charge now, there’s trust in a stable plan. Mel Kiper (draft analyst) projects that Harbaugh wouldn’t let Love slip past 5. [21:35]

Jeremiah Love's "Unstat"

• Fumble-Free Record: The group is astounded by Love’s remarkable ball security: 498 career touches, zero fumbles lost, just one fumble (recovered).
  • “This young man has never lost a fumble in three college football seasons, playing at Notre Dame.” — Peter [23:31]
  • “Never fumbling might be 1B (in importance for a running back).” — Peter [29:23]
  • Alan recalls Tiki Barber’s career, hampered until Coughlin fixed Barber’s fumbling. [29:55]
• They discuss how, 15–20 years ago, a talent like Love would be the #1 overall pick; now, RBs are devalued. [30:48]

The RB Market, Team Building, and Positional Value

• Alan’s Position: If Giants/Harbaugh pay Love long-term, picking him high is justifiable; if not, it’s the Barkley situation all over again. [20:49, 42:21]
• Rosenberg: NFL’s cap system penalizes teams for drafting well if several stars hit at once; tough decisions loom.
  • “Why am I being punished because I drafted well?” — Peter [41:45]

Quarterback Discussion: Who’s Truly Elite?

• Debate over how “elite” the current NFL QB crop is compared to previous eras (Brady, Manning, Rodgers).
• Consensus: Only 4–6 current QBs can truly be labeled elite (Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, Burrow, maybe Stafford/Herbert).
  • “We always had like five or six quarterbacks that were elite. And now we’re down to four.” — Alan [33:19]
  • “But how much deeper was it than those four back then?” — Don [35:53]
• They argue the downgrade in QB depth could lead to the RB becoming more important again.

4. Riffing on Broadcasting Careers and Local Legends

• Discussion about career trajectories of local sports reporters (like Meredith Marakovits). Relate her closeness to Susan Waldman and speculate if she’d aspire to be a play-by-play voice or stick with sideline work.
  • “She knows baseball better than just about anybody else that’s calling games these days.” — Peter (on Susan Waldman) [48:16]
• Don: "The true, like serious broadcast great in that room was Susan Waldman." [48:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan (on Opening Day):
  “Now it’s become our national ‘past the time’ while we wait for football.” [04:22]

• Peter (on MLB commercialization):
  “Is it the kind of thing that people like us complain about … but actual fans go, ‘Whatever, I have Netflix, I'm watching the game.’” [06:23]

• Alan (on fumble-free running backs):
  “If you’re telling me there’s a skill set where the guy’s gonna be drafted in the top five, then the fact that he never fumbles has got to be with the difference maker.” [29:55]

• Peter (on RB value):
  “Why am I being punished because I drafted well?” [41:45]

• Don (on New York sports fans):
  “You know why? Because Susan Waldman is still giving me the stuff.” [48:49]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Day on Netflix & “Thing” First Pitch: [00:43–04:22]
• Loss of Opening Day Tradition/Americana: [04:22–08:41]
• Debate on Opening Night Matchups: [07:11–08:41]
• Regional Sports Networks & Changing Media: [11:31–14:14]
• Jets Draft – Ty Simpson & QB Talk: [14:14–18:10]
• Giants/Harbaugh/Jeremiah Love Draft Speculation: [18:22–23:31]
• Love’s Fumble-Free Stat: [23:31–30:46]
• Changing NFL – Running Back vs. QB Value: [30:46–33:02]
• Elite QB Conversation: [33:19–37:48]
• Broadcasting Careers (Meredith, Susan Waldman): [45:16–49:20]

Tone and Style Notes

• Conversational, passionate, and humorous with a blend of sharp sports analysis and insider banter.
• Authentic New York sports perspective—unapologetically opinionated, nostalgic, and rooted in both local and national issues.

For Listeners New to the Show

This episode captures the essence of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: spirited debates about the intersection of sports, media, and culture. If you care about the "soul" of Opening Day, decode draft buzz, or cherish the voices behind your favorite teams, this hour is a brisk, insightful listen—both grounding and highly entertaining, with keen eyes on tradition and the future.