Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast
Episode: Hour 3: Yo-Yo vs Bad
Date: February 17, 2026
Hosts: Don (Don La Greca), Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York
Episode Overview
This episode dives into New York sports, focusing on what makes the Mets and Jets unique (or uniquely flawed) franchises, the ongoing debate over team captains—particularly for the Mets—and the deeper meanings behind organizational decisions. The hosts riff energetically about team cultures, leadership philosophies, and New York sports identity, engaging callers and drawing broad, sometimes hilarious, analogies.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Steve Cohen, Mets Ownership, and the Captaincy Debate
- Steve Cohen’s Statement: Mets owner Steve Cohen declared there “will never be a captain as long as [he owns] the Mets.” (00:44)
- Don: “There will never be a captain. As long as I’m owning the team, there will never be a team captain.” (00:54)
- The hosts analyze whether this speaks to management philosophy or deeper locker room issues.
- Is Captaincy a Tradition or Necessity?
- Alan: “The Yankee captain thing was like, a thing because of Munson...But it felt like that was a Yankee thing.”
- In baseball, captaincy is rare except for the Yankees, while hockey and football institutionalize such roles. (03:09-04:09)
- Don: “It’s not that big of a deal...not like hockey, where you have responsibilities.” (03:08)
- Alan: “If you have to say, ‘this guy’s the captain,’ then is he really the captain? The players will let you know who really runs the room.” (05:11)
- Why Cohen’s Stance?
- Hosts speculate it’s about avoiding internal friction—especially after apparent player cliques (Lindor vs. Soto, etc.).
- Don: “There was friction in the room last year. When you designate somebody a captain...there are going to be some guys that might feel a way about it.” (04:10)
- Having a captain should be organic, possibly voted by players—but even that could be divisive if the room lacks consensus.
- Alan: “What if it’s a split vote? ... Do you want to have that conversation?” (07:12)
2. Nature of Leadership—Does It Need a Title?
- Great leaders don’t always require formal designations.
- Alan: “Judge is very much the voice in that room...No one—he doesn’t need a designation.” (06:39-06:43)
- Leadership roles must also avoid becoming ego appeasement (cf. Yashin on Islanders—06:54).
- Positional Leadership
- Debates whether pitchers should ever be captains.
- Don (sarcastically): “As long as I own this team, no pitcher would be a captain.” (13:37)
- Alan counters by pointing to CC Sabathia’s leadership despite being a starting pitcher. (12:16-12:23)
- Reference to “Reindeer Games” like when Vancouver made goalie Roberto Luongo captain—a move universally deemed “stupid.” (12:43)
- Debates whether pitchers should ever be captains.
3. What Makes the Mets and Jets “Yo-Yo” or “Bad”?
- Defining "Yo-Yo" vs. "Bad":
- Don: “The Mets genuinely chose to be yo-yo. Even if the Mets won the World Series this year, there’d still be an underlying yo-yo.” (17:27)
- The Jets, by contrast, are just “bad—not good at what they do.” (16:16)
- Running jokes about historic oddities: Met the Donkey as mascot, tomato patches in the bullpen, Mr. Met as mascot, and the Mets’ early branding (14:58, 16:14).
- Alan: “The Jets aren’t yo-yo, they’re just circus...They’re just bad at football.” (15:08, 16:18)
- Culture and Identity
- Mets consciously built quirky, underdog traditions to distinguish themselves from the Yankees; Jets, meanwhile, stumble through dysfunction.
- Literary and pop culture references ("Diary of a Wimpy Kid" analogy: Mets = nerdy Greg, Jets = doofus Rowley—36:16)
- Don: “The Mets are the team that’s got the pocket protector...The Jets don’t even function. They walk out of the house naked because they don’t know how to get dressed.” (33:19-33:33)
- Caller Exchange Highlights
- How bad luck (e.g., creating Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers’ instant injury) sometimes plagues the Jets, but that’s still different from the “yo-yo” syndrome the Mets possess. (32:10-32:35)
4. Yankees Leadership and Offseason Moves
- Caller Brian in Staten Island (26:31) pushes back on the hosts’ interpretation of Aaron Judge’s comments, suggesting Judge was more critical of the timing of moves (not necessarily new additions).
- Brian: “I thought the vibe from Judge...was more, ‘hey, I thought the team we had last year was good enough to win...I didn’t understand why they weren’t bringing these guys back.’”
- The hosts cite Judge’s comments about the club delaying on moves for Bellinger and Grisham, possibly missing out on other talent as a result (28:25).
- Alan: “If you want to send a message, go talk to Hal and Brian [Cashman] and give it to them. You don’t have to go public with it.” (28:41)
- Critique that Judge "played both sides," not fully supporting the front office nor the team. (29:03)
5. NBA Playoffs Outlook
- Caller Manny asks about which NBA team might go on a second-half run. (37:38)
- Alan: “Cleveland Cavaliers. They have one of the easiest schedules remaining...Keep an eye on that team.” (38:06-38:22)
- Knicks’ schedule discussed as a “gauntlet” right after the break. (38:36)
6. Ownership Scandals and Accountability
- Discussion about Giants co-owner Steve Tisch’s alleged involvement in the Epstein files.
- Consideration of whether the sins of the father should force the family to cede ownership.
- Don: “Is it right that his kids would be forced to sell their ownership of the team because of something their dad did?” (50:25)
- NFL’s process, past scandals, and how owners are ultimately policed by their peers (not the commissioner). (48:42-49:00)
- Consensus that Tisch would, in all likelihood, be forced out if the allegations are validated. (47:36)
- Consideration of whether the sins of the father should force the family to cede ownership.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Captaincy and Locker Room Politics
- Don (04:10): “When you designate somebody as the captain, you’re saying that universally everybody believes that he’s the leader of the team...that can cause more problems when you do that.”
- Alan (05:11): “If you have to say, ‘this guy’s the captain,’ then is he really the captain? The players will let you know who really runs the room.”
- Don (07:23): “So what if you put it to a vote? It’s 50-50 Lindor-Soto. You can’t. Half the room, that’s my cap.”
On Why the Mets Are "Yo-Yo"
- Don (16:16): “The Mets genuinely chose to be yo yo. When you look at Mr. Met...their mascot was a jackass...they were really committed to wedding [fans] because...we’re going to lose a thousand games, the Yankees are going to win World Series every year. We got to try to win some people.”
- Alan (36:16): “Dire View of a Wimpy Kid: The Mets are Greg, the Jets are Rowley.”
On Leadership Without Titles
- Alan (06:41): “Judge is very much the voice in that room...No one—he doesn’t need a designation.”
- Don (13:37): “If I was the owner...as long as I own this team, no pitcher would be a captain.”
On Bad Luck and Franchise Identity
- Caller Mateo (32:10): “We created Tom Brady. Does everybody forget that?”
- Alan (32:28): “Aaron Rodgers, four plays in. Having his Achilles snap is so...”
- Don (33:19): “The Mets are the team that’s got the pocket protector...The Jets don’t even function. They walk out of the house naked because they don’t know how to get dressed.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Cohen’s “No Captain” Declaration: 00:44 – 04:44
- Analyzing Leadership Traditions in Sports: 03:08 – 08:38
- Debate: Mets Yo-Yo vs. Jets Bad: 14:05 – 19:30 (and recurring theme)
- Yankees/ Judge’s Comments/ Offseason Moves: 26:31 – 30:28
- NBA Playoff Outlook & Callers: 37:38 – 38:44
- Ownership Scandal Debate (Giants/ Epstein/ Tisch): 45:29 – 51:32
Tone & Style
- Free-wheeling, witty, big-hearted New York banter
- Heavy use of cultural references, metaphors, and jokes (“yo-yo organization,” “pocket protector,” “Step Brothers,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”)
- Animated, occasionally irreverent discourse about the heart of NY sports culture
For Listeners: Why This Episode Stands Out
- Provides unique insight into how New Yorkers experience their teams—sometimes with affection, sometimes with exasperation.
- Digs into the psychology of leadership and organizational culture in sports, going beyond stats or rosters.
- Features lots of direct quotes, energetic debates, and relatable, funny analogies.
Recommended for: Anyone invested in NY sports, culture, or the quirks of leadership in high-stakes environments. Even non-fans will love the hosts’ chemistry and sharp comedic takes.