Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: WBC & The List

Date: March 12, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

Overview

In this engaging and wide-ranging third hour, Don, Hahn and Rosenberg serve up a classic mix of New York sports talk, playful banter, and a dose of hip hop culture. The episode spotlights the latest developments in local basketball and hockey, digests the latest World Baseball Classic drama (including Team USA’s somewhat-muddled advancement), and sees Peter Rosenberg reveal his highly personal Top 5 Most Emotional Hip Hop Songs in “The List.” The hosts' distinct personalities and camaraderie are on full display, with signature blend of humor, insight, and a healthy dose of nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

New York Sports Digest & Broadcast Excellence

Segment Start: [00:31]

• NBA & NHL Updates:

  • Rundown of the evening's major local games: Rangers @ Jets, Devils vs. Flames, Nets @ Hawks.
  • Light debate on redundant phrasing in game descriptions.
    • "Is that redundant, Don? Why on the road to face the Hawks in Atlanta?" – Alan Hahn, [01:32]
  • St. John's moves to Big East semifinals after an 85–72 quarterfinal win. Seton Hall advances as well.

• Broadcast Shout-outs:

  • Congratulations to Chris Carrino, Nets play-by-play voice, winning the Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award, despite the Nets’ poor performance.
    • “That whole broadcast is like, putting the Mona Lisa in a garage. Those guys deserve better.” – Alan Hahn, [02:52]
    • "If there’s ever a team where it’s like, ‘Guys, I need a night’... it would be this year's team." – Don Hahn, [03:42]

Jets’ Offseason Moves & Pessimism vs. Optimism

Segment Start: [04:43]

• A caller (Steve in New Fairfield) debates the Jets’ direction. Hahn and Rosenberg volley between cautious optimism and the ingrained cynicism of New York football fandom.

  • Discussion of offensive line improvements, defensive pickups, and skepticism about new signings shifting the franchise trajectory.
    • “We gotta start creating some good vibes, man.” – Alan Hahn, [05:44]
    • "If Mike Tomlin is your head coach … but you think Tomlin’s gonna want to come here, to this mess?” – Alan Hahn, [07:41]
    • Ownership concerns: Woody Johnson’s meddling compared to Leon Hess’ hands-off style.
      • “Leon wasn’t fat hands… but he wasn’t as meddling as Woody Johnson can be. I think that turns off potential GMs and head coaches.” – Alan Hahn, [08:50]

• 80s/90s Football Game Nostalgia:

  • Fun detour into classic electronic football games and Madden soundbites.
    • “You mean the ... electric football. The board was made of like, metal. If you hit the buzzer, it just shook all the players.” – Peter Rosenberg, [10:55]

World Baseball Classic (WBC) Drama

Segment Start: [12:36]

• USA Advances Thanks to Italy:

  • Italy’s win over Mexico secures Team USA’s place despite USA’s own shaky WBC performance.
    • Fun “trolling” soundbite from Italy’s American player Vinnie Pasquantino:
      • “You’re welcome, USA. We were thinking of you guys.” – Vinnie Pasquantino, via Alan Hahn/FS1, [13:22]

• US Team Complacency and Rule Confusion:

  • Analysis of Mark DeRosa’s missteps as Team USA manager.
    • “I think they all got caught with their pants down because they’re taking it seriously, but not like the end of life... This is a fun thing that just wasn't taken all that seriously.” – Alan Hahn, [15:21]
  • Rosenberg questions the seriousness of the tournament, noting American players departing before tourney’s end.
    • “That to me is way more damning than ‘we didn’t realize the run differential’… some players leave during the tournament?” – Peter Rosenberg, [17:04]

• Cultural Comparisons & Hype:

  • Jack Hughes (Devils star) sends hype video to Team USA Baseball.
  • Hosts discuss the need for greater buy-in from stars to make the WBC truly special, like the Olympics.

The List: Peter Rosenberg’s Top 5 Emotional Hip Hop Songs

Segment Start: [28:12]

• Born of last week’s emotional on-air spat between Rosenberg and Don over hip hop’s emotional depth, Peter brings a carefully curated, deeply personal Top 5 list (with robust honorable mentions).

Honorable Mentions

[28:36]

• “Chum” – Earl Sweatshirt
• “Slippin'” – DMX
• “To Zion” – Lauryn Hill
• “Smile” – Scarface
• “Birds Don’t Sing” – Clipse
• “Renee” – Lost Boyz
• “This Can’t Be Life” and “Lost Ones” – Jay-Z

The Top 5

1. “Come Back to Earth” – Mac Miller

   • “Every word to this song is gorgeous.” – Peter Rosenberg, [31:12]
   • Personal connection: “After he passed away, it just makes it hit that much more.”

2. “Miss U” – The Notorious B.I.G.

   • Produced by KG of Naughty By Nature.
   • Warm reminiscences and childhood shoutouts, even to “Crackhead Kevin.”
   • “I really do like this song... The fact that you just hear the— I don't know why, it just comes off…” – Don Hahn, [33:00]

3. “The Art of Storytelling, Pt. 1” – OutKast

   • “Andre’s story about the girl that he knew in school and how her life ends up and her eventual death is just heartbreaking and amazing.” – Peter Rosenberg, [33:58]

4. “She’s Mine, Pt. 2” – J. Cole

   • “This is a father-daughter song that was not able to hit me until I had my daughter.” – Peter Rosenberg, [34:56]
   • Alan Hahn notes it will especially move “daughter dads.”

5. “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” – Pete Rock & CL Smooth

   • “One of the most emotional songs of any genre ever made.” – Peter Rosenberg, [36:11]
   • Tribute to Trouble T. Roy, reflecting on friendship and life.

• Notable Debate:
  • “Dear Mama” by Tupac didn't make the top five:
    • “Not even an honorable mention ... all you got to do is feel like a second of it. That’s why I say, with these lists, all you can do is then take the list on—punch it in your YouTube machine and see if it hits you.” – Peter Rosenberg, [37:33–37:51]

New Jersey Sports Events & Community

Segment Start: [43:30]

• Live Event Announcements:
  • Live broadcast previewed from Irish Exit at Moynihan Train Hall (before St. John’s/Seton Hall semi-final).
  • Next Wednesday, March 18: Happy hour + Rangers-Devils watch party at Calandra’s Italian Village, Caldwell, NJ.

Titans’ Strange Offseason & Football Team-Building

Segment Start: [47:39]

• Titans Signing Ex-Jets and Giants:

  • Tony Adams (former Jet) latest to join the Tennessee Titans.
    • Mockery:
      • “If we want to build a winning team, let's get a bunch of former Jets and Giants of recent vintage – because there’s been so much winning happening.” – Don Hahn, [47:48]
      • “Now your Titans are being comprised—the guts, the innards of the team—are former Jets and Giants. It’s like… you need a heart transplant… No, they’re just putting in a used tuna can.” – Peter Rosenberg, [49:05]

• Pop Culture Parallels:

  • Young Frankenstein joke about assembling “a monster” from bad parts, likening Titans' approach to building a football team.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That whole broadcast is like what Michael used to say, you know, putting the Mona Lisa in a garage. Those guys deserve better.” – Alan Hahn on the Nets radio team, [02:52]
• “I think the Jets have themselves a general manager. I don’t know if they have an owner.” – Don Hahn, [07:36]
• “It’s a fun thing that just wasn’t taken all that seriously.” – Alan Hahn on the WBC, [15:21]
• “I can show you that there’s more, I decided to go with, ‘you’re a moron.’ But here we are.” – Peter Rosenberg, on escalating last week's hip hop argument, [27:30]
• “If you want to build a winning team, let’s get a bunch of former Jets and Giants … ‘cause there’s been so much winning happening.” – Don Hahn, [47:48]
• “It’s like… you need a heart transplant… No, they’re just putting in a used tuna can.” – Peter Rosenberg, [49:05]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Sports Rundown, Local Games: [00:31] – [04:43]
• Caller on Jets Optimism/Pessimism: [05:07] – [08:50]
• WBC & Team USA Drama: [12:36] – [23:33]
• Peter Rosenberg’s Emotional Hip Hop List: [28:12] – [40:23]
• Local Events & Rangers-Devils Watch Party: [43:30] – [46:52]
• Titans Offseason Moves Mocked: [47:39] – [50:15]

Closing Notes

• The rapport between Don, Hahn and Rosenberg makes for vibrant, genuine New York sports talk—mixing deep fandom, nostalgia, sharp analysis, and community spirit.
• Rosenberg’s “The List” is a must-listen for hip hop lovers or anyone curious about hip hop’s emotional depth—offering both great song picks and honest, personal context.
• The WBC segment is both a sports and culture commentary, exploring how American players and fans navigate non-traditional baseball events.
• Local fans are encouraged to join the team at upcoming live events for communal game-watching and meet-and-greets, reinforcing the show’s local heartbeat.

For more, tune into Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, weekdays at 3pm on 880 ESPN or via podcast.