Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Podcast Summary

Episode: Hour 3: Tiger Arrested & Judge Struggling
Date: March 27, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

Overview

This episode dives deep into two hot topics from the world of sports: Tiger Woods' latest legal troubles following a DUI arrest and the early-season struggles of Yankees superstar Aaron Judge. With their signature blend of wit, insider perspective, and a touch of playful exasperation, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg unpack the implications, fan reactions, and broader sports culture narratives emanating from these stories. The show also touches on the promising start of the Yankees’ pitching staff, the “new look” Mets, and the ever-evolving expectations in New York sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees & Mets Season Preview

(00:34 – 03:37)

• Yankees:
  • Early optimism around Cam Schlitler and Freed, with the hope that a healthy pitching staff could make this season “different than last year.”
  • The critical role of Radon and Gerrit Cole’s eventual return.
• Mets:
  • Big offensive debut; noticeable change in approach under GM David Stearns.
  • Discussion of new acquisitions (Bo Bichette, Corey Seager, Luis Robert), moving on from franchise staples (Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso), and buy-in to a “pass-the-baton” offense.
  • Acknowledgement that it’s just one game, but the changed mentality was clear.

2. Tiger Woods Arrested for DUI

(03:37 – 18:54)

Breaking News

• Reported by golf.com and quickly picked up by other sources, including Adam Schefter and TMZ.
• Details:
  • Tiger Woods arrested for DUI at 2:00 PM in Florida.
  • Involved in a two-car accident; his car was upside down but he appeared uninjured.
  • Charged with DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a urine test (he did comply with a breathalyzer).

Hosts Reactions & Analysis

• Peter Rosenberg (04:05):
  • “Good news that he wasn’t injured, but... bad news that this guy’s obviously... not doing middle of the day, by the way, which… that’s 2:00 p.m.”
• Discussion of severity:
  • Driving under the influence is bad, but midday and resulting in a flip is “a sign that things are bad in the world.” (Don, 04:21)
  • Reflection on what this means for Tiger at a personal crossroads, possibly unable to adjust to post-glory life.
• Refusal to Submit:
  • Likely points to alcohol being the substance in question, as refusing a breathalyzer or urine test is telling. (Peter, 09:48 & Alan, 12:18)
  • Speculation on whether drugs (prescription or otherwise) could be a factor; hosts careful not to jump to conclusions.

Broader Themes

• Recurrence:
  • Reference to Tiger’s history with car accidents and the mix of sympathy and exasperation from the hosts.
  • “When you’re making decisions, guys like this, this is not a sane mind... This is a guy who has issues and is trying to cover them from people...” (Don, 16:54)
• Privilege & Responsibility:
  • Questioning why a billionaire like Tiger wouldn’t simply hire a driver—“You could do that for under a million dollars a year... get in and out of cars whenever you want.” (Don, 15:49)
  • Rosenberg laments: “I do not understand these filthy stinking rich people who think it's okay to get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. You have so much to lose...” (11:30)
• Potential Consequences:
  • Relief expressed that no one, including Tiger, was seriously hurt—“we’re very fortunate that he didn’t kill somebody today or paralyze somebody... because of his poor decision making.” (Peter, 18:21)
• Addiction & Rationalization:
  • Don makes a forceful statement on addiction: “We are sitting here trying to rationalize with intelligence something that cannot be rationalized because addiction cannot be rationalized...” (16:54)

Notable Quotes

• Alan Hahn (06:35): “Did you ever think…you would ever use the words…‘The President is reporting that he will not [play at the Masters].’”
• Don La Greca (16:54): “This is not a sane mind making decisions. This is a guy who has issues and is trying to cover them from people. And when you’re doing that…to get the driver, you know what, that acknowledges that you need help.”

3. Yankees’ Aaron Judge—Early Season Scrutiny

(21:09 – 36:19)

Judge’s Slump & Fan Reactions

• Alan Hahn (21:09):
  • “Aaron Judge is already 0 for 2. Oh my God. Right? He already has a strikeout as well after over five or four strikeouts in the opening game. That's a rough start to the season, fellas, for Aaron Judge.”
• Peter Rosenberg (22:12):
  • “Interesting that one of the best players on the planet would be 0 for 7 with five strikeouts… but your team hasn’t given up a run.”
  • Expresses frustration over fans panicking this early or reading too much into tiny samples.
• Don La Greca (23:49):
  • “Very much the thing. It just is.” On fan complaints about Judge even after big seasons.
• Hosts agree it’s a “vocal minority” of Yankee fans, not rivals, who amplify every Judge failure.
• Reference to Judge’s past slow starts and how quickly things can turn (“by the time he gets to June 1st, he’s batting 287…” Don, 25:32).

“Instant Gratification” Problem

• Hosts bemoan the impatience and drama addiction of sports fandom today, tying it to the “need to inject drama” through social media, hot takes, and non-stop content. This is reinforced by the observation that fans can’t just enjoy a good game, even if it’s low scoring or if a superstar is struggling early.

4. Modern Sports Culture: The Impatience of Fandom

(41:10 – 45:43)

Instant Gratification & Social Media

• Alan Hahn’s Theory (41:12):
  • Argues that social media, reels, and the constant bombardment of “magic moments” condition fans to expect instant results and amplify frustration when sports don’t match those rhythms:
  • “Because something has now been programmed into us because of this phone and all the things that come on it that make it easy for us to get the instant gratification out of sports that watching sports becomes more frustrating. Because what you don't realize is that sports isn't instant gratification, it's work."
• Peter Rosenberg (42:39):
  • Draws parallel to music consumption: “There was a time growing up…where there’d be a new song coming out, and you turn on the radio, and it would be like a gift from God that the song that you were waiting for would come up. …Now, as you said, we live in that instant gratification…”

Broader Reflection

• All three hosts agree—modern fans have less patience because everything else in life is “on demand.”
• Don La Greca (44:30): “They don’t know what love is. Because the things that you truly are worth waiting for... that satisfaction… you waited it out… but now it’s like, ‘oh, Judge is good? I’ve had to sit through two games and the guy hasn’t done anything. He’s a bum.’”

5. Around New York Sports & Upcoming Events

(39:22 – 40:49)

• Quick notes on Rangers-Blackhawks, St. John’s vs. Duke in the NCAA tournament, and plug for the FDNY vs NYPD Heroes hockey game.
• Schlitler’s dominant debut highlighted again.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter Rosenberg (11:30): “I do not understand these filthy stinking rich people who think it's okay to get behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. You have so much to lose...”
• Don La Greca (16:54): “We're trying to rationalize what's not rational. Sad. It's really sad. He's one of my all-time favorite athletes. He's an icon beyond measure.”
• Alan Hahn (41:12): “Something has now been programmed into us because of this phone... that make it easy for us to get the instant gratification out of sports that watching sports becomes more frustrating. Because sports isn't instant gratification, it's work.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Yankees and Mets Opening Season Talk: 00:34 – 03:37
• Breaking Tiger Woods DUI Arrest, analysis, and reflection: 03:37 – 18:54
• Aaron Judge’s early slump and overreactions: 21:09 – 41:10
• Discussion on instant gratification and sports fandom: 41:10 – 45:43

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, opinionated, and peppered with humor and exasperation. The hosts combine veteran sports insight with relatable, sometimes “get off my lawn”-style rants about fan culture, all while maintaining warmth and camaraderie. They balance critical analysis (particularly of Tiger Woods and Yankees fans) with empathy and reminders of the larger perspective.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential New York sports talk—a perfect blend of hot takes, big stories, and deep dives into what it means to be a fan in 2026. If you want passionate, incisive, and at times philosophical sports talk, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg deliver it in spades.