Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Why is NY Hated?

ESPN New York – December 17, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Overview

In this lively third hour, Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg delve into the roots of the "hate" toward New York sports teams and their fans across America. They field calls about the legitimacy of celebrating the Knicks' NBA Cup win and the unwinnable dynamic facing New York sports fandom. Along the way, the hosts break down the latest roster moves for the Mets and Yankees, discuss the ever-fluid landscape of player transactions, and throw in personal anecdotes and notable quirks (plus colorful debate on whether “banners” for new NBA Cup wins are legitimate).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mets & Yankees Roster Moves (Baseball Free Agency)

Timestamps: 01:23 – 12:17

• Luke Weaver to Mets: Alan and Peter break down the Mets' signing of former Yankee Luke Weaver, noting he's now one of several ex-Yankees flocking to the Mets' bullpen.
  • “I'm sure it's just coincidence, you know, it's not like Stearns came from the Yankees, he came from the Brewers. But you know, listen, whatever he thinks is going to work." – Alan (01:20)
• List of Yankees-to-Mets Moves: The hosts humorously list players and managers who’ve switched boroughs – from Severino, Bader, Cano, to managers like Buck Showalter.
• Yankees’ Offseason Strategy: Peter points out the Yankees are bargain hunting, waiting for the market to cool and hoping to snag players at a discount (06:00–06:50).
• Future Moves: Conversation pivots to what remains for each team, centering on the Yankees’ slim likelihood of big moves apart from potentially re-signing Bellinger.

Notable Quote

"If they bring Bellinger back, isn't it possible that your team is now set in the eyes of Hal and Brian, unfortunately?"
– Alan Hahn (08:04)

2. Frustrations of NY Fan Expectations & National Perceptions

Timestamps: 13:06 – 24:25

• Caller Jose’s Rant: Jose from Connecticut sets off the segment, lamenting how NY fans cannot celebrate without national mockery.
  • “If we celebrate too much, oh my God, look at these clowns... And then Yankees fans, the ones that complain, they're like, oh, you should enjoy the ride... but other teams [get praise].” (13:14)
• NY Hated Because of the Spotlight: The hosts reflect on New York’s constant spotlight—and how national TV gives disproportionate love regardless of team performance.
  • “There's a perception around the country that we get way more attention than we deserve because we just happen to be in New York…” – Alan (15:18)
• Never the Underdog: NY teams are always the “big, bad engine” regardless of actual underdog status.
• "Joy in the Misery": Peter notes, “There’s so much joy in the misery of a New York fan around the country” (17:13).

Memorable Exchanges

“It's the greatest city in the world. If you want to hate us, hate us. We're going to go about doing what we want to do. If we want to raise a banner, we'll do it…”
– Alan Hahn (19:31)

"Most of those people couldn't handle living in New York. They would cry at the traffic that we go through. They cry at the prices that we pay. They cry at the weather..."
– Alan Hahn (20:23)

3. Should the Knicks Celebrate the NBA Cup? (Banner Controversy)

Timestamps: 33:00 – 39:30, 43:04 – 45:42, 49:41–50:39

• Hot Debate: Calls and Twitter discourse rage over whether the Knicks should hang a banner for their NBA Cup win.
  • Some compare it to wild card banners in baseball (like the Rays), or odd "attendance record" banners (Mystics, Colts).
  • The Cup is “real,” the hosts insist, but feels awkward because it’s so new and “doesn’t count” in standings.
    • "The NBA Cup's not made up. You may not like it, but it is a thing. They have a trophy for that." – Alan (33:46)
  • The question: Does celebration delegitimize—or merely acknowledge a real accomplishment?
• Alternative Incentives: Peter floats giving the Cup winner a guaranteed playoff berth (34:02–35:41), making it “mean something more.”
• Cup as Stepping Stone: Hosts suggest the Cup can build team confidence for future playoff runs – but only if it’s used as a mental springboard.

Notable Callers

• Mike (“Guns”) from Nashville (43:18): Calls out Adam Silver for, in his view, "shoving" the Cup down fans’ throats, saying it’s not yet a real tradition. Alan agrees the lack of a banner “delegitimizes it immediately” (45:04).

Notable Quote

"If it does matter, then what's so wrong with putting up, you know, the Knicks 2025 NBA cup champs? ... But when you're not putting the banner up... it delegitimizes it immediately."
– Alan Hahn (44:39–45:04)

4. Caller Moments: Celebrating the Game & The Team, Not Just the Banner

Timestamps: 49:41 – 51:49

• David from Elizabeth praises the Knicks for actually playing excellent basketball, not just for the Cup, highlighting the team’s grit and individual standouts (noting OG Anunoby’s impact).

  • "They gelled as a team. They fought through adversity. It was an entertaining game…" (50:33)

• Hosts’ Reflection: Peter admits much of the narrative has been about perception and legitimacy—instead of the Knicks’ deserving on-court performance (51:40).

  • “We just spent [most] of the show talking whether or not you should be happy… we didn’t talk about the actual game.” – Peter Rosenberg (51:39)

5. Hockey (Rangers, Islanders, Devils): Brief Recap & Franchises’ Perennial Miseries

Timestamps: 29:07 – 32:37

• NY Hockey Teams: Alan provides a check-in on the Rangers’ and Islanders’ recent disappointing losses, Devils’ injuries, and the overall sense that local hockey teams aren’t meeting lofty expectations or national attention—mirroring the city’s broader sports “curse.”
• Sam Darnold & NY Quarterback Woes: Later, a familiar discussion about a NY sports scapegoat—a beloved but underperforming QB who “can’t win the big one”—becomes a metaphor for NY sports’ frustrations (31:34–32:44).

6. Should You Care What Others Think? The New York Mantra

Timestamps: 19:31 – 20:58, 21:54

• Alan articulates the classic, unbothered New Yorker stance, encouraging fans to ignore outsiders’ takes.
  • "Why do you care what other people think? ... If you want to hate us, hate us. We're going to go about doing what we want to do." (19:31)
  • "Your punishment is you're in Oklahoma. Your punishment is that you have to drive 30 minutes to get milk." – Alan (21:18)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On national perceptions of NY sports:

  • "There's a perception around the country that we get way more attention than we deserve..."
    – Alan Hahn (15:18)
  • "There's so much joy in the misery of a New York fan..."
    – Peter Rosenberg (17:13)

• Celebration double-standard:

  • “Knick fans have fun, it's like clowns. Look at them. They overreact to everything. I don't understand it.”
    – Peter Rosenberg (14:20)

• On raising banners:

  • "The NBA Cup's not made up. You may not like it, but it is a thing. They have a trophy for that."
    – Alan Hahn (33:46)
  • “It delegitimizes it immediately. So, like, for the soccer fans.... It's the third year. We're not even really celebrating it.”
    – Caller “Guns” (45:04)

• Finding joy amid hate:

  • “If you want to hate us, hate us. We're going to go about doing what we want to do.”
    – Alan Hahn (19:31)

Essential Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:23–12:17 – Baseball (Mets/Yankees signings and riddles)
• 13:06–24:25 – Why NY is hated, media/fan double standards
• 29:07–32:44 – Hockey check-in & QB woes as NY sports metaphor
• 33:00–39:30, 43:04–45:42, 49:41–51:49 – NBA Cup banner debate, calls, and celebrating the game itself
• 19:31, 21:18, 44:39–45:04, 50:33, 51:39 – Notable quotes and summations

Podcast Tone & Style

The tone was fast-paced, irreverent, candid, and a little combative—mirroring the rhythm of New York sports talk. Hahn often took the role of voice-of-reason and long-time observer, with Peter pushing emotionally-charged “fan” points and adding a touch of self-deprecating humor.

Takeaways for First-Time Listeners

• The “hate” for New York sports isn’t going away—so the city’s teams and fans might as well embrace it, rather than worry about perceptions.
• Both the banner debate for new NBA Cup-style trophies and the broader celebrating-in-NY conversation echo how uniquely scrutinized NY fandom always is.
• Move past just the narratives—the teams, players (like the Knicks’ OG Anunoby), and fans are doing something special, whether or not the rest of the country cares to admit it.
• If you want to enjoy NY sports, don’t wait for outside validation—just celebrate your wins, however and whenever they come.