Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Hour 4: Freddie Could It Be?
Date: December 13, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Location: ESPN New York Holiday Party, Garden City Park, Long Island

Episode Overview

This festive episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg takes place live at the ESPN New York Holiday Party. The trio fields questions from fans in an “Ask Us Anything” open-mic format, dives into current Knicks, Mets, Jets, and Giants storylines, and closes the hour with a hilariously raucous visit from recurring character "Freddie Kiki." Amidst sports insights and playful banter, the episode captures the community spirit of New York sports and the enduring appeal of live radio.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Live "Ask Us Anything" Q&A with Listeners

(Timestamps refer to these in the context below; some sections may overlap due to continuous conversation.)

Knicks Trade Rumors & Roster Analysis

• Listener Caesar from Floral Park inquires about potential Knicks moves, mentioning Jose Alvarado and a possible trade for Dante DiVincenzo.
• Alan Hahn:
  • Sees value in adding Alvarado for his defensive edge, but is unsure about how realistic a DiVincenzo return is.
    • "Adding the fourth Beetle? Yeah, right. Villanova, like that. I don't know how you could get him. Oh, that'd be fun. But what a fit he would be. We already know what he brings because he already played here." (03:30)
  • Expresses that Minnesota has little reason to trade DiVincenzo, but would be thrilled if it somehow happened.
• Don La Greca:
  • "Why Minnesota would want to move on from him, I couldn't understand it because I know Anthony Edwards loves him. He's been very good there in Minnesota, but if there's an opportunity to bring him to New York and you can make it work, I'm in." (05:00)
• Discussions also touch on Deuce McBride’s value and the team's defensive improvements.
  • "This is a really good team. They just need more time. And some challenging games are coming up." (08:10)

State of the Mets & Offseason Uncertainty

• Listener Question: Seeks Don’s perspective on Mets direction moving forward, after roster changes and a disappointing season.
• Don La Greca:
  • Desires off-season aggression: "What would make me happy: if they trade for Scrubal...add Bellinger...That would be great. Second straight year, steal a star away from the New York Yankees. That's pie in the sky. I'm willing to see what this is going to be." (11:05)
  • Raises doubts about fans’ patience: "The question, though, that we really haven't discussed, guys, is he may have a plan, but how long will it take to execute?...The fans are not going to give him a few years." (12:40)
  • Notes lack of transparency breeds fan anxiety: "If they knew they were legitimately in on Bellinger and Tucker and King, then I think people would feel a little bit better about it. But they don't know...right now, they're flying blind." (15:30)
  • Warns against front office complacency: "Their mistake...was running it back. They shouldn't have done it. It cost you a whole year." (17:08)

Fan Connection & Memories

• A Devil’s fan remarks on connecting with his daughter through hockey, paralleling Alan’s own family.
  • Alan Hahn: "My daughter, she's 17 and all she cares about is Devil's hockey. So that's how we connect on." (22:35)
  • Light banter about fan apparel, inside jokes about holiday sweatshirts, and the shared culture of New York sports fandom.

Rosenberg’s Reflections on "Hot"

• Fan Question to Peter Rosenberg: Asks about his favorite moment from his nearly 19-year run at Hot 97.
• Peter Rosenberg:
  • Cites Jay-Z interviews as standouts: "We had Jay Z up there multiple times. It was an era that doesn't exist anymore...someone of that level would come walk into the radio station." (30:50)
  • Gets sentimental: "Just getting there to me was the biggest deal ever. Me as a random kid in Chevy Chase, Maryland...The whole thing was so improbable." (32:10)

2. Jets, Giants & NFL Draft Talk

• Listener Mike from Patchog:
  • Wonders if the Jets might trade up with the Giants in the draft to acquire QB Fernando Mendoza.
• Don La Greca:
  • Firmly against trading up: "It's one thing to draft him if you happen to have the first overall pick. It's quite another to draft up for him...if you draft Mendoza and he turns out to be Ryan Leaf and the Giants use those picks to build up a playoff team, you'll never live at that." (37:15)
• Alan Hahn:
  • De-emphasizes the rivalry angle, sees Mendoza as a lesser prospect: "Enough people have said that Mendoza is not a generational quarterback. It's just in this draft..." (38:00)
  • Details the use of the pick value chart in trades, explaining the technicals behind draft value negotiations.
    • "Every draft pick has a numerical value. So a little cheat code for the general managers when they make deals for picks is they want the numbers to match up." (40:42)

3. Special Guest: Freddie Kiki Returns!

(Segment begins ~44:30)

• Surprise guest “Freddie Kiki” (an ongoing comedic character, possibly voiced by a show member or local celebrity) bursts in with a rant following his recent firing.
• Satirical monologue references being fired, his fictional father’s dirt plant job, and a faux motivational lesson:
  • "If you ever get fired from your job, you keep your head high, your shoulders back, you look at the person who fired you, look them right in your eyes and you say, I'm gonna kill you." (49:15)
• The character pokes fun at college football bowl games and personal feuds in outlandish style, drawing big laughs.
• Memorable line (in response to job advice): "Excuse me. What? What? His belly could have killed. Oh, it's more cushion for the pushing, I don't think. The angle just doesn't work." (52:05)
• The segment closes the show on a high-energy, rowdy note, cementing Freddie Kiki’s place as a fan-favorite bit.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Alan Hahn on Knicks’ potential:
  • "This is a really good team. They just need more time." (08:10)
• Don La Greca on Mets fan trust:
  • "Right now, they're flying blind." (15:30)
• Peter Rosenberg, on his radio journey:
  • "Me as a random kid in Chevy Chase, Maryland...The whole thing was so improbable." (32:10)
• Freddie Kiki, on life’s setbacks:
  • "You keep your head high...and you say, I'm gonna kill you." (49:15)

Conclusion & Community Feel

The hour encapsulates passionate, knowledgeable New York sports talk, mixed with humor and heart. From in-depth team analysis to the offbeat Freddie Kiki bit, the hosts spotlight the highs and uncertainties of local fandom while celebrating the communal roots of sports radio. The episode’s festive backdrop at the live holiday party underscores the show’s strong connection to its engaged listener base.