Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 4: Bad Beats & Knicks

Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca
Theme: Knicks' home dominance, sports parenting on the NBA bench, betting-fueled football controversy, and old vs. new sports culture moments

Episode Overview

This hour dives into the Knicks' impressive home start, a viral incident involving Josh Hart’s kids on the Knicks bench, the fallout from a controversial NFL ending with major betting implications, and a physical, yet surprisingly lighthearted, altercation during the Knicks-Magic matchup. The hosts scrutinize shifts in sports culture—especially how athletes, fans, and even broadcasters process and react to heated moments.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Knicks’ Strong Home Record and the Josh Hart "Kids Day" Incident

Timestamps: 00:45–04:17

• Knicks improve to 13–1 at home, matching their best home start since 1992-93.
• Physical win over Magic, with key injuries (Franz Wagner, Deuce McBride), highlighting the intensity and cost of the game.
• Josh Hart brings twin sons onto the Knicks bench during the game:
  • Hosts recount the adorable yet puzzling scene of Hart handing his kid off to teammates during a timeout.
  • Don Hahn: “He handed one of his sons to Mitchell Robinson, who was on the bench. And Mitchell Robinson is like, no, no, no, this ain't for me.” (02:35)
  • Hosts debate safety and precedent, acknowledging the league might frown upon it despite the wholesome intent.
  • Co-host 1: “If I say that might have crossed the line, you’re not wrong. It definitely, like… with more than a minute to go, was not the right thing to do.” (04:11)

2. “Bad Beats”: Referee Decisions and the Pete Carroll Field Goal Controversy

Timestamps: 04:33–15:23

• Peter Rosenberg brings up Dave Portnoy's viral rant about the end of the Raiders game, spotlighting how NFL decisions fuel betting drama.
• Breakdown of the play:
  • Defensive delay of game moves the Raiders into field goal range, Pete Carroll kicks a late field goal, moving score from a 10-point to a 7-point loss—impacting people who bet on the spread.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “You really think 75-year-old Pete Carroll is in there just trying to make money for people? To me, it's not weird. You know, when you bet football, this can happen.” (06:43)
• Hosts analyze why Carroll would kick:
  • No point differential rule so little strategic value.
  • Don Hahn: “Here's what I'm thinking… let’s get out of here healthy.” (11:52)
  • Peter Rosenberg: “The idea of someone with a loud voice suggesting it's nefarious in this era is dangerous. You gotta be really mindful in this era.” (12:51)
• Carroll’s explanation: wanted extra time added for a chance to win, but settled for a field goal. Hosts dismiss theories about betting influence:
  • “There is no way that it had anything to do with the spread.” (15:19 – Don Hahn)

3. Knicks-Magic: OG Anunoby–Desmond Bane “Dodgeball” Moment

Timestamps: 17:18–22:51

• Physicality of Knicks-Magic game: Multiple injuries, playoff intensity.
• Desmond Bane throws ball at OG Anunoby—hard—after OG falls out of bounds:
  • OG’s initial confusion turns into laughter; tempers cool quickly, benches don’t clear.
  • Don Hahn: “He winds up like he’s Nolan Ryan and just pegs it right off his back. And now OG turns around like, what the hell was that?” (18:09)
  • Postgame, OG even finds it funny watching replays.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Josh Hart called it the funniest thing he’s ever seen on a basketball court. If this happened in 1995 instead of 2025, it would have been a massive brawl.” (19:18)
• Debate on changing athlete culture:
  • Hosts lament that today’s players don’t react as protectively or aggressively as previous generations might.
  • Co-host 1: “Does this… Do these games mean anything? You found it to be funny. In the moment you’re not jumping them, you’re not showing some anger.” (20:10)
  • Peter Rosenberg: “The funniest thing is, if you watch, there’s more shock and anger from the fans watching under the basket than the Knicks players.” (21:05)
• Explanations:
  • Bane and Knicks players are friends, which keeps the tension down.
  • Contrasted with hockey/football, where defending a teammate is more instinctual and expected.

4. Knicks’ Next Challenges and NBA Cup

Timestamps: 23:06–23:49

• A look ahead: Knicks to play Toronto in the NBA Cup quarterfinals (with some key players questionable).
• Recognition that the physical nature and depth-testing continues for the Knicks.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Josh Hart’s Twins on the Bench:
  “He handed one of his sons to Mitchell Robinson... Mitchell Robinson is like, no, no, no, this ain't for me.” – Don Hahn (02:35)

• On Pete Carroll and Betting Allegations:
  “You really think 75-year-old Pete Carroll is in there just trying to make money for people?” – Peter Rosenberg (06:43)

• On the Culture Shift in Player Reactions:
  “If this happened in 1995 instead of 2025, it would have been a massive brawl. I hate that this is what the league is, that they’re all, like, AAU friends and they don’t even care.” – Peter Rosenberg (19:22)

• Fans vs. Player Emotion:
  “The funniest thing is, if you watch, there’s more shock and anger from the fans watching under the basket than the Knicks players.” – Peter Rosenberg (21:05)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:45–04:17: Knicks win, Josh Hart's kids/cultural debate
• 04:33–15:23: NFL “Bad Beat,” Pete Carroll’s field goal, sports betting impacts
• 17:18–22:51: OG Anunoby–Desmond Bane incident, analysis of sports culture
• 23:06–23:49: Knicks' upcoming games and NBA Cup outlook

Tone and Style

The conversation flows with classic New York sports banter—irreverent, passionate, and steeped in history, humor, and some nostalgia. The hosts weave in their personal perspectives and years of covering these moments to provide authentic, relatable insights for the modern (sometimes exasperated) fan.