Hour 4: Future of Drop Madness

Summary

Summary of "Hour 4: Future of Drop Madness" – Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Release Date: January 9, 2025

In the episode titled "Future of Drop Madness," hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into the evolving landscape of their popular segment, Drop Madness. The conversation intertwines discussions about the segment's legacy, potential restructuring, and listener feedback, all while touching on pertinent sports topics, notably the New York Jets' coaching conundrum.

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1. Revisiting Drop Madness: Origins and Current Status

The episode kicks off with a candid discussion about the future of Drop Madness. Drop Madness, a longstanding segment introduced eight years ago (02:15), has been a staple of the show, fostering engagement through listener-driven content. However, recent developments have prompted the hosts to reevaluate its viability.

Alan Hahn reveals, “We kind of subtly threw it out there and it's really blowing up on social media that Drop Madness is dead.” (01:42). The backlash was partly due to the involvement of Michael Kesho, who was not initially supportive of the segment. Despite its roots, Drop Madness faced challenges as Alan balances his broadcasting duties with on-air responsibilities.

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2. Proposals for Revitalizing Drop Madness

Don and Alan engage in a thoughtful debate on revitalizing the segment without diluting its essence. Don La Greca questions, “Why can't Drop Madness come with us to the future?” (02:59), emphasizing the segment's foundational ties to their show dynamics rather than solely to Michael Kesho.

Alan Hahn suggests a reimagined structure, proposing regional divisions aligned with different shows on the station: “If Drop Madness included four regions, each one representing a different show on the station...” (05:06). This approach aims to streamline the process, reducing the need to manage an overwhelming number of drops while fostering a collaborative environment across various programs.

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3. Listener Input: The Coaching Debate for the New York Jets

A significant portion of the episode centers on listener calls regarding the New York Jets’ head coach selection.

• Dave from Long Branch (06:44) expresses support for Antonio Pierce as a suitable candidate, citing his understanding of New York and no-nonsense approach.

  Dave says: “He’s a New York guy. He understands New York and he’s a no-nonsense guy.” (07:53)

• Rob in the car (33:07) recommends Steve Spagnolo from the Chiefs, highlighting his defensive expertise and successful track record as a defensive coordinator.

  Rob states: “I think Steve Spagnolo... would be a really good fit for them.” (33:39)

The hosts engage in a robust analysis of these suggestions. Alan Hahn critiques Pierce’s past performance, noting his 9-17 coaching record, while Peter Rosenberg underscores the necessity for a seasoned, stabilizing figure in the Jets' management.

Peter remarks: “You’ve got to get somebody in here that can just get everything on track.” (15:14)

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4. Establishing the Identity of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Amidst the Drop Madness debate, a caller named Steve (18:53) passionately advocates for the hosts to solidify their show's unique identity, independent of Michael Kesho’s influence.

Steve encourages: “You are not a spin-off series that needs to keep going back to the old series to get fans. You are good enough to start on your own.” (18:57)

Alan Hahn responds by clarifying the collaborative nature of Drop Madness, asserting, “I was just saying for this year, because it is the first time we're local for all day and because we're not going to have a Drop Madness based on three months of drops.” (20:00). This exchange underscores the tension between maintaining legacy elements and fostering a distinct program identity.

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5. Creative Engagement: Listener-Made Jingle

In an interactive segment, a listener named Doug B presents a self-created jingle for the show. The hosts provide constructive feedback, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.

Doug’s Jingle:

Hoops, the pucks all
Five boroughs gonna know what's up.
Don and Hahn. That's New York's own Rosenberg.
Radio's on the phone picks the guest.
The hottest taste, best afternoon drive in.
After K still got Enn Weekday street.
At 7 8:80am Rosenberg.

Alan Hahn praises the catchy hook: “It’s got the hook, what you need, it sticks in your head...” (39:26). However, Don La Greca critiques the geographical inaccuracies, stating, “Don is New Jersey’s own. You cannot remove that part of Don.” (40:12). The hosts conclude that while the effort is commendable, collaborative refinement is necessary for the jingle to truly embody the show's spirit.

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6. Final Thoughts and Future Directions

As the episode concludes, the hosts reiterate their commitment to evolving Drop Madness while honoring its origins. Alan Hahn emphasizes the importance of completing ongoing projects before fully transitioning the segment: “We just want to finish what we started, and then we'll kind of establish things after that.” (23:52).

Peter Rosenberg expresses vulnerability about maintaining the show's authenticity: “My greatest fear is that's what I become. I just don’t want that to happen.” (24:01). This sentiment reflects the hosts' dedication to preserving the show's integrity amidst necessary changes.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Alan Hahn: “We kind of subtly threw it out there and it's really blowing up on social media that Drop Madness is dead.” (01:42)

• Don La Greca: “Why can't Drop Madness come with us to the future?” (02:59)

• Dave from Long Branch: “He’s a New York guy. He understands New York and he’s a no-nonsense guy.” (07:53)

• Peter Rosenberg: “You’ve got to get somebody in here that can just get everything on track.” (15:14)

• Steve (Caller): “You are not a spin-off series that needs to keep going back to the old series to get fans. You are good enough to start on your own.” (18:57)

• Don La Greca on Jingle: “Don is New Jersey’s own. You cannot remove that part of Don.” (40:12)

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Conclusion

"Hour 4: Future of Drop Madness" serves as a pivotal episode for Don, Hahn & Rosenberg as they navigate the complexities of sustaining a beloved segment amidst organizational shifts and listener expectations. Through open dialogue, listener engagement, and introspective analysis, the hosts lay the groundwork for the show's next chapter, balancing tradition with innovation to continue serving their dedicated New York audience.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3.

[Peter Rosenberg]

On 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yeah. You hear it?

[Alan Hahn]

I hear you.

[Don La Greca]

And do you feel it is my question.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel it.

[Don La Greca]

So we're gonna open back the phone lines to everything as Alan is doing some Knicks duties. He'll be back here in a little bit, but it's Peter and Don and phone lines. 1-800-919-3776. Everything on the table. The. The. Who's your head coach choice for the New York Jets? What do you think about the possibility of J.J. mcCarthy to the Giants? What the hell is going on with the New York Rangers? So much Don to get to, and.

[Alan Hahn]

We need to do that at 1-800-919-3776. But, you know, we kind of subtly threw it out there and it's really blowing up on social media that Drop Madness is dead. So we're, we're, we apologize for that. It just wasn't gonna work because Michael Keisho thing, we're have to come up with something different. But listen, we can't do it in March where we're gonna have like nine months of Michael Kesho drops during our.

[Don La Greca]

Well, so, so, so, so maybe the word. So maybe the word dead is the wrong word to use.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, we're not. And we're not going to use Drop Madness, so it's gonna have to be in some different form. We were thinking about doing Stomp Madness where we take the, the best calls where there were steppage, or maybe we just develop our own drops and we come up with a different name, but in the form that you guys knew it as.

[Don La Greca]

Can I, can I, can I push back for a second?

[Alan Hahn]

I wish you would.

[Don La Greca]

When did drop. When did Drop Madness come to be?

[Alan Hahn]

Eight years ago.

[Don La Greca]

Okay, and when would you say that the big usage of drops and then Drop Madness came around the time that I started sitting at the third place and started playing lots of drops and then Arjun Andrew got into it and it became like a big thing on the show, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, very big.

[Don La Greca]

And I'm pretty sure that the idea of making it a tournament, I can't be sure. I'd have to ask. I feel very comfortable saying it was not Michael. I can't say it's not.

[Alan Hahn]

He hated it. The original idea, I don't know if it was yours or mine or was collaborative. Michael was not on board. So it was definitely not a Michael thing.

[Don La Greca]

So if ENN came along because it was basically a Peter vehicle and that was actually created to some extent by Michael, but it was a Peter driven vehicle. So it came to our show and Drop Madness was a thing that was never Michael's favorite and also came along when I came along. Why can't Drop Madness come with us to the future?

[Alan Hahn]

I also don't understand this. Okay. We are literally local for the first time in the history of this radio station from 6A to 7P. Now, I know there's a little thing going on 10 to 1 with Carlin, but it's all going to straighten itself out. So we are going to be local from 6a to 7p for the first time in the history of this radio station, which started September 3, 2001.

[Don La Greca]

Unreal.

[Alan Hahn]

So we're all connected, right? And. And the thing that we always try to do is have all the shows be intertwined. We're promoting each other. We're all invested in each other's success. Sure. So I don't know why all these things couldn't continue. The guy that used to be on this time slot is now on one to three. So he's our lead in. We're still connected. So I don't know why we couldn't continue with the picks with Michael making picks from one to three and then and jumping into at least finish what we started. But no, we were told no. And then with Drop Madness, well, why can't we just continue with it now we'll throw in some Allen drops and if they are in contention, they'll be voted in and have a chance to win. But you know, if there's a drop that comes from Michael one to three so we can finish what we started because a lot of the drops are going to go back to when we were all on. But this idea like, oh, it's not the Michael K show anymore. Okay. But Michael's still on the station. We're still invested in his success. He's our lead in. So why can't there be a drop madness that consists of drops between 1 and 7? Or why can't we create something where it's drops from all the shows and we can all be together and it can be drop madness. That includes the morning show and Carlin and Bart and all of it.

[Don La Greca]

What I was thinking is, should it be a whole station thing, by the way? Yeah. There's four shows from six to seven.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. So that would be one individual bracket. I don't want to leave Dan out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Dan fills in so many times.

[Don La Greca]

We'll have a drop in there somewhere. That is an interesting way of going about four regions, and that's a lot less work for, quite frankly, everybody, because then I don't have to look up 64 drops.

[Alan Hahn]

I have. You would be responsible for our region, and then Ray Dinahan would be responsible for. For. For Michael.

[Don La Greca]

I feel like that's a lot of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Responsibility to be a part of your region, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

And I don't know. Again, everybody's perverted today, but I. I think that's something.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, hey, it did start with you, Don. I mean, you set the tone for the day.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I only set the tone because you got a filthy mind. I was not even thinking about what you were thinking about.

[Don La Greca]

You were pretty clear.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a dentist. He is a dentist.

[Don La Greca]

We're not talking about the jailhouse sex.

[Alan Hahn]

No, that's just common sense that just, you know, what I was doing was I was letting people know that never read the lyrics. I'm assuming people are smart enough that if you read the ly, you would have came to the same conclusion I did. Are there co ed jails? I mean, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what's going on there.

[Don La Greca]

Fair enough. Fair enough.

[Alan Hahn]

So I was just alerting people that you haven't paid attention to the lyrics. If you did, you would have stumbled upon the same assumption that I did. So we should bring that up to our pinhead suit. I like to be interested in white because I'd like to keep that going. Just because the reaction on social media was jarring, that people are upset. And I think this would be a great way to connect all of our shows. Be one big happy family.

[Don La Greca]

So the phone lines now are open for all of these topics, including the future of drop madness. And let's get started with Dave in Long Branch, who wants to talk some jets coaching. What do you got, Dave?

[Caller]

Hey, what's going, guys?

[Alan Hahn]

What's up? So before I get to my jet coach, my version of Richard when he.

[Caller]

Calls my image in my head, which.

[Alan Hahn]

Is difficult, is an old man sitting.

[Caller]

On a leather couch with beer canes.

[Alan Hahn]

And Big Mac wrappers before he answered the phone.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, that's so not accurate.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. He is actually practicing dentistry while he's on hold.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, sounds like a bunch of crumbling. Crumbling beer cans and big back. No, no, listen, you're not wrong about that, but you are wrong about what it actually is. But what's your.

[Caller]

Yeah, I hear you.

[Don La Greca]

What's your what' jets coaching situation?

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, I'm not a Jet fan, so that being said, but I do think a coach.

[Caller]

That would be great.

[Alan Hahn]

I think Rex is good, but I.

[Caller]

Think the next best and really the.

[Alan Hahn]

Better is Antonio Pierce.

[Caller]

I really think it's a perfect fit for them.

[Alan Hahn]

Why? He's a New York guy. Because he's a New York guy. He understands New York and he's a. No, He's a no, no nonsense guy.

[Caller]

That's what they need. They need no nonsense.

[Alan Hahn]

But I can't. I'm sorry. I can't. When. When I haven't gone to the playoffs since 2010, and I've got to get this right. I'm going to hire a guy that is 9 and 17 in his career as a head coach and just got fired going 4 and 13. I know he's got at least some experience, but it's not positive. He was 5 and 4 as the interim coach with them, and then it completely bottomed out. Is it all his fault, Allen?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Could he potentially be a good head coach down the road? Maybe. But I've got to get this right, and I can't in good conscience give it to a guy that's 9 and 17 in his coaching career.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He lost Devonte Adams, right? Like, he, he, he. Like he did have the support of players after his interim season, that he did have guys that said they want to have him back. But how long did that last? You can't. And I don't. Look, and I'm not trying to belittle fans, all right? But you got to understand something because we had this with the Rangers. The earlier conversation with the Rangers when it's like, you got to get somebody in here that's gonna, you know, that's gonna get on him and push him and yeah, guys, that's nice. In youth sports, that doesn't work at the pro level. This whole notion you need somebody to come in there and just start, you know, yelling and screaming and getting on the. Play hard. He's a no nonsense Guy that's. That's not. That can't be at the top of the list of reasons why I hired a guy. I need to have somebody, and this job needs experience, and I'm talking about experience of winning somebody that walks in the room and everybody goes, oh, this guy's won. I need to listen to him. This guy's got a background. This guy knows what he's talking about. I need to listen to him.

[Don La Greca]

But can we. Can we start. If we're going to talk about a Jets coaching hire, can we start with. And I know this may sound obvious, but I don't think it is. What's the goal of the next jets head coach? What are they really doing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Make the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

Make the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you have to make the playoffs.

[Don La Greca]

How? Like, we don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a bad roster. It's not that bad of a. It's a good. But remember the start of the season, there were people that were ranking it one of the best rosters in the NFL.

[Don La Greca]

But. But the. But the biggest piece of that is a complete question mark. It's just like, I just. That's right. That with. Without us knowing that. I guess you're right. You know what, though? I asked a question, you answered it. You both said playoffs. So you're saying the goal. This is not. You're not viewing this as a, quote, stopgap situation. You're viewing it as, let's compete next year. Let's. Let's. Let's get involved in the AFC east and do something. Let's be better than the Patriots, let's attempt to be better than the Dolphins, and let's try to play competitive games with the Bills. That's what you're hoping for. So, yeah, so that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's absolutely.

[Don La Greca]

That's an important sort of starting to decide.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What I'm trying to do is I'm trying to, first of all, take the circus tents down. I'm trying to make it stabilize the organization. By every game, I'm prepared that I might not win every game. Obviously, if you're not going to come out of the gate and just blow people out. But I know that in every game, I have a coach that's going to have my team prepared that we are going to be good enough, we have enough talent to win now. We're also going to be prepared to win, and that is. Let's start there and let's. How about when Halloween comes, the season's not already over. I mean, can we just, like, baby steps at this point?

[Alan Hahn]

I. I think we Overrated. The talent. But Allen's right. There's talent there. There's enough talent there that with no quarterback two years ago, they won seven games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a great point.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so I've got pretty much the same town now. The problem was, God love him, Robert Sala wasn't a good enough head coach to get more than seven wins out of that team because they didn't have a quarterback. But you know what? They shouldn't have fired him. If they kept them, I think they would have won more than five games. They probably win eight, maybe in the conversation to possibly make the playoffs. If I get a better coach and I get a quarterback, not. Doesn't have to be a great quarterback, but I get a quarterback that's better than Zach Wilson, I should be able to find a way to sneak into the playoffs. I mean, that's got to be the goal. They went from poorly coached Allen to not coached when they let Salah go. So if I bring in the right coach and I find a quarterback, whether it's. Whether it's Aaron Rodgers or I bring back Tyrod Taylor or I get Justin Fields or whatever. Yes, Peter, the goal would be get me to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God, just imagine that much. I mean, just to have that as a Jets fan would be something.

[Don La Greca]

Bert. And that does that. That description that you guys just gave. Sorry, Allen. That description that you guys just gave, it is kind of what we talked about yesterday. It's stabilizing. You're looking for the kind of personality that can stabilize and get something out of the players. They currently have this idea that you. You have to get someone who's. Who's serious and. And proves a point in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

You're just looking for a guy who knows what they're doing and has a track record of getting a team in the positive, a positive direction.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's amazing, isn't it? But it's. No pun intended, but it's just somebody that should just get you out of turbulence because that's where they are. It's just. It's constant turbulence for this franchise. Again, Bert in the car. Because Bert. Bert has a different feeling on the jets head coaching search.

[Caller]

Okay. I rued the day. 1967. 10 years old. My first Jet game with my uncle. And I've been a Jet fan ever since then. I had season tickets. 29 years. I've seen this dog and pony show over and over again. I'm tired of it. Hire a young, smart gm, let him pick his Coach. But I'll tell you what. If they take Rex Ryan, I'm done with the team after almost 60 years, I'm done. I've had it. No Rex Ryan. Young, smart gm, young, smart coach. That'll build a culture and will have them for five years.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But you don't know who is that, though. Yeah, I mean, if you get. If you get McVeigh, great. If you get somebody that falls flat on their face. I mean, you talk about not wanting retreads. Well, how did it work with Bill Parcells? How did it work with Mike Holmgren in Seattle? How did it work? There's been a bunch of, first of all, Tom Coughlin with the Giants, and.

[Caller]

You let him pick a coach.

[Alan Hahn]

But they're not going to do that. You're right, they should. They're not doing that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bert. Your owner is not ever doing it. He's not looking to my face. He's. This is the way he wants it. They're two separate entities that answer to him. Bert, you're not going to like it, but that's reality.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't like it either, Bert, but that's the reality. They're not going to do that. Yeah, but don't be so worried about retreads. Sometimes if you get the right guy, it works. It worked with the Giants with Coughlin. It worked in Seattle, at Holmgren. It worked with Pete Carroll in Seattle.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, it's. Yeah, sometimes you get it wrong, but some. Listen, it's a crap.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, Belichick was a retread. Exactly. Coach in Cleveland, he was a retread dude.

[Alan Hahn]

You just got to get it right. You know, everybody's all excited to go, go go find the genius of McVay or Shanahan. All right. Yes. Sometimes they work out. Although Shanahan hasn't won in San Francisco. Yeah, McVeigh's won once. I'd still like to have those guys because they're geniuses, but. Yeah. So everybody wants to get the hot, young coordinator, and that works probably the same amount of times as it does with the retread. Now, if he doesn't like Rex, I get it. There's a lot not to like about Rex, but the idea that it can't be someone with experience, I think you're really eliminating your options if you do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I completely agree. I think in this particular situation, I don't think you can go that route. I think you've got to get a grown up in the room that can just get everything under. It's almost like again after Cotight. I mean, Don, you remember that, don't you? I mean, that was an abject failure, an absolute disaster. It was one of the most embarrassing seasons in New York sports history, that season with Kotite. And what did they have to do? They turned to the only man that could save them and it was Bill Parcells. And Parcells got everything back on track. It didn't take long. And suddenly it was like a functioning franchise because a grown up came in and understood what it took and they ran it and they got it right. And that's kind of where I feel like they are right now. They've got to get somebody in here that can just get it on track. And it's. No, you know, I'll even say this. It's what Tom Thibodeau was for the Knicks. You had to get someone in here, well said that just knew what he was doing and could get everything stabilized. And this is a standard is set and an identity is set and the rest is history. You just got to find a guy like that for the Jets.

[Don La Greca]

That's, that's, that's very well said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

Although personality wise, bringing the, bringing the Thibodeau personality to the NFL. Don't know if that hits, but yes, the concept of the kind of coach that he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The concept, yes, absolutely.

[Don La Greca]

And by the way, that's why I might push back. I might. That's why the caller earlier, Alan, who brought up Ron Rivera, wasn't necessarily wrong about him being someone who might belong in that top five, because he could be, he could be that kind of guy. Not, not the greatest, but, but he's supposed to be.

[Alan Hahn]

And get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was he supposed to be that for your commies? That was. He. He was supposed to do that, right? Sort of to stabilize.

[Don La Greca]

I think he was and I think he successfully did that. I mean, they did not have any luck at the quarterback position in the years that he was there. And I certainly didn't think he was the best clock manager. There were certain things I thought he had shortcoming, but in terms of like just kind of acting like a respectable organization, getting them on the right track got them to the playoffs, almost beat the Bucks with Tom Brady in the playoffs. I thought he did a pretty nice job. I do not hate him being that. In fact, I could argue that someone like Rivera, if that's what your goal line is, might be a better fit than Rex. Rex to me is a more bold swing. It is a bigger swing for the fence with, with Rex than it is with a Quinn Like Rivera. Like, I would even throw variable, like character in Rex. Guys, while he can bring a lot of things, you would agree he's riskier than some of those other names.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, I do agree with that on several levels. That, that is good point. That's a, that's a very good point. I think also another name to bring in is like a Laviolette. Come in here. The same thing. Like you get somebody that just has experience, that comes in, you know what you' getting when he comes in the building and everybody in the in uniform knows what they're getting. The jets have to do that.

[Alan Hahn]

We collectively wouldn't put Ron Rivera on our list. His resume is no different than Rex's. It just Rex had success with the jets and he's got a certain personality. That's the only thing that makes it intriguing is because he had been here before, his resume doesn't jump out, you know, back to back championship games. Well, Ron Rivera coached at a Super Bowl.

[Don La Greca]

Well, I was gonna say Rivera actually went a step further than Rex did. And instead of going to Buffalo and having a really forgettable experience, I would argue Rivera went to Washington, stabilized, and put them in a pretty good spot where now they're ready to take the step they've taken.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, let's take, let's take Steve in the car. Curious about this one, Steve.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, can you hear me?

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Caller]

All right. First off, Peter, congratulations. And I just want to say as somebody who came to the show because of Rosenberg. Love all you guys, you're all great. But my problem right now is you guys are feeling like a bad spin off, right? Like, boy, love Michael K and all that stuff. But you, you need to be your own guys. You're all good enough to be your own guys. And keeping like his drops or stuff like that on your show is the wrong call. You, you are not a spin off series that needs to keep going back to the old series to get fans. You are good enough to start on your own. You are excellent guys. And please, just be your own dudes. Keep drop madness, but it should just be your drops. You are not your own show. You're not your own show until you go a week without that name coming out of your mouth. That's what I want to hear from you guys.

[Alan Hahn]

The only thing I would take exception to, Steve, everything you're saying is right. Is that his show. I know it was the Michael K show, but I felt like that was as much my show and Peter's show as it was Michael. So when 2/3 of a show sticks to the paycheck.

[Don La Greca]

Disagrees. But continue. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel like that it's not like we're regurgitating one of Michael's things. First of all, Michael never liked that to begin with. We were able to cultivate and make it what it was. So I don't feel like I'm taking it from Michael. I feel like it's something that we wanted to keep it just. But I know every show is different. But I was just saying for this year, because it is the first time we're local for all day and because we're not going to have a Drop Madness based on three months of drops.

[Don La Greca]

So, Steve, what do you. Steve, what do you think about the idea if Drop Madness included four regions, each one representing a different show on the station?

[Caller]

That. That's really cool. It's like the. It's like. I can't think of the word right now. But then, like, each region gets its own thing to go head to head. The only question is, like, there are people who will listen to one show or the other show, and I don't know which show has a larger fan base that might swing things in a. In a weird direction. But like, if it's. If it's. It's. If it's each region throwing at it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then yeah, amen, Go for an election.

[Alan Hahn]

Honestly, I kind of look at it. Steve is just this year because we had already estimated so many drops. Listen, I just take exception. Like, his show. It wasn't his show. His name was on it.

[Don La Greca]

But, but. No, no, but even. But don't get caught up in that part. His idea that don't think of this as spin off is correct. What Don and I are pushing back on is just that, like, Drop Madness is conceptually not really a Michael K thing. So just, just like ENN can continue. Is there another version of Drop Madness that can continue? So. But I hear in a. Appreciate. I appreciate the, the. The standpoint and passion of the caller. I just see it slightly differently.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don, do you remember Chips the show?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sure.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, he loves chips. You kidding me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Punch and John. Right? Do you remember later in. Later on when Ponch really became like the main character?

[Alan Hahn]

I guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they jumped the shark and, and, and like, he, they weren't fighting crime anymore. Like. And it was the. The guy who played John was no longer there and he had a new partner and it was just unwatchable.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was like, yeah, it's the same show, but it's not. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm afraid of Being that guy. Like, I don't want that to happen.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I mean. Well, that's why I don't want to. You remember like. Like when. When Suzanne Summers left Three's Company and we had all the other.

[Don La Greca]

But again, this is a bad example, though, because this is not Three's Company. This is an entirely new show. This is if John Ritter and. And. And Joyce DeWitt started a new show with another great star from the network. They. They brought in the guy from Empty Nest, you know, and they said the three of them have a whole new show, new characters.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is the concept.

[Don La Greca]

This is not Freeze the Crowd wasn't.

[Alan Hahn]

The Mary Tyler Mo Moore show.

[Don La Greca]

There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why I get in a way when it's like Alan replaces Michael. No, it's a different show. It just happens to be in the tank.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don will continue to do updates, right?

[Don La Greca]

Exactly. Don still the update guy.

[Alan Hahn]

But I do think because of the fact that we had established, what, nine, ten months of drops, that we could still salvage it by doing something, and then we could start fresh with our own stuff. And that's why I wanted to finish the picks, because we had gone so deep into the season. We just want to finish what we started, and then we'll kind of establish things after that. So it's kind of an awkward time. Usually you start a show in September, start a football season, but we kind of started in January, which was not an odd time for. For the new year, but an odd time as far as how much things were already established. So we're trying to make it work, and we will.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just want everybody to understand it. Like, I just wanted to reveal a little something. Little like, I be vulnerable right now and just say that my greatest fear is that's what I become.

[Don La Greca]

I see what you're saying. That is like, people are like, oh, I used to love after Five. And then there was this. And then it changed, and Alan Han came. Everything went to garbage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then it was like, yeah, we've.

[Alan Hahn]

Seen it, but this is mash, okay? This isn't Joanie loves Chachi.

[Don La Greca]

This isn't even a different world.

[Alan Hahn]

This isn't even curb your enthusiasm. It's a different world.

[Don La Greca]

I like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would. I like to actually be okay with that.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I'm good with curb your enthusiasm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No problem with that one.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I like it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's on forever.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It hasn't curb been on longer than Seinfeld now.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but it doesn't way longer. I mean, you're doing 12 episodes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't count.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It doesn't count.

[Don La Greca]

But how long it's been part of the zeitgeist, it's been.

[Alan Hahn]

That was a bad example.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What does count is we have more. Yeah, we have more to get to. I have to run and do something. But I will rejoin you guys in a few minutes, so stay with us.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, well, first of all, this is Don legreca here to tell you about my friends over at Bath Fitter. They remodeled my mom's bath. Did an awesome job. The process was easy. One expert installer. Even with the customization she needed for a cast iron tub, it was done in one day with no demo or mess. A beautiful, high quality permanent solution, Bath Fitter provides a lifetime guarantee. 3 million happy customers like my mom lock in 2024 pricing and get 0% interest for 30 months. So start designing your bath today at bathfitterdesign.com there's only one bathroom. If you need three new reasons to.

[Don La Greca]

Love Jack wraps at Jack in the Box even more.

[Caller]

Here they are.

[Don La Greca]

Chicken fajita, chicken Caesar, and delicious. Starting at $3. Coincidentally, those are the same three reasons you should come to Jack in the Box right now at Jack, every bite's a big deal. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don La Greca]

That's an appropriate. That's an appropriate beat to play. Jacob. That song. Daytona 500 feels like winter. What you really want to play today is Cold World by Giza because it is absolutely insane outside. I don't know if it's crossed your mind at all. I don't know how much you've been out today, given how awful it is, but because of the dogs, I've. I've now been out a few times.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Like the contrast of watching what's happening in LA and then stepping outside, you're just like, what is going on in the world?

[Alan Hahn]

Man, it is so cold. Yeah, I was out. I had to take the kids to school. So that's where we get into the car. Like at 7:50 in the morning and then going to kickboxing at 9:30 and it's windy and it just chills. Goes right through you. Just so cold.

[Don La Greca]

It's. It's currently. Let's see, it says 22, feels like five. And you know, I live right on riverside, so like off the water. Don, you know, to everyone who's listening to us, like on Long island or down the shore and the people who live at all that we have so many listeners in all the towns across Long island or the shore in Jersey that are on water. It's just insane right now. So if you're driving around freezing in your car, we hope the heat is working. God willing, you have the heated seats going and we're able to entertain you on your way home because it's nuts out there.

[Alan Hahn]

Very underrated is the heated steering wheel as well. I like that a lot.

[Don La Greca]

Now here's my question for you. How long can you keep the heated seats on full blast? I can always only do it for a few minutes and then I got to take it down to like one, like the lowest.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't bother me, really.

[Don La Greca]

You keep, you'll keep it toasty the whole time.

[Alan Hahn]

I got, I got three levels and it starts out on three like that. And on a cold day like this, even though the car will be warm, I just like. It makes me feel comfortable.

[Don La Greca]

Look at you. You just like to keep your butt warm. I get it. And yeah, I just, I was just connecting with some, on text with some people in la, man, it's. It's becoming, I think the fear that's obviously. I don't know if you've seen the video. The Pacific Palisades are just completely gone. Like, this is a really, you know, populated and loved area that's just completely wiped out. And I think the Dom, like the little fear that's hanging out there, maybe bigger fear that's hanging out over everyone's head is. That's already devastating. Is this gonna move like really into sort of like the West Hollywood, super, super populated Hollywood areas, which. Cause like over the last several years where all these fires have been, none of them have made it to these areas.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's why if I'm the NFL, I just move the game to Vegas now or wherever they want to move it. San Diego or San Francisco. Yeah, because, yeah, it could all subside by the time we get to the Ram game on Monday. And you could say, well, good thing we didn't move it. Everything's fine. But you know, the air is toxic. There's a lot of police and fire and ambulance cores that are. That are in that area that could be utilized there rather than going to a stadium that you normally have that presence when there's going to be 80,000 people someplace. And plus just. Is it appropriate, the atmosphere of what's going on there to play a football game? I know these games are Important. It's what we do. It's an NFL playoff game. I get it. But just get out in front of it and say, listen, this is way more important. We want to play our game. We're going to move it to Vegas. It's a convenient place to go. A lot of Minnesota fans are probably traveling in la. Gives them four or five days to make their adjustments to get to Vegas. And listen, and if it's. And if it ends up not being a perfect thing, I mean, so what? It's a football game compared to actual lives. And if.

[Don La Greca]

And you did the right thing and you get viewed, it gets viewed as you did the right thing early, whether it panned out that way or not. Like, I think. I think it's a really compelling point.

[Alan Hahn]

Because we could be sitting here on Sunday, right, the day before the game, and it's way worse and it's really bad. And now you got to flat out cancel it because now there's no time to move it. The worst thing about moving it is that we get to Monday and we'll go. Boy, they didn't have to do that. Everything stabilized. They could have kept it there. Okay, I'll live with that, PR head. But at least you had your heart in the right place, and you did it early enough that people were able to make the adjustments necessary to go see the game.

[Don La Greca]

All right, now let's go Back to the phones. 1-800-919-3776 Knicks have really a must win tonight against a bad Raptors team. Of course, Allen will be part of the coverage on msg. And we have Ron in Jersey City who wants to jump in on some Knicks talk. What's up, Ron?

[Caller]

Yeah, how you doing? First, so I want to say Happy New Year to all you guys. My question was for Allen, but if he's not there, maybe, Don, maybe you can answer this.

[Don La Greca]

All right.

[Caller]

My thing with Tibo is that I just feel like he's burning these players out there. Too many minutes. He starters, there's a going. There's one guy in particular. I don't know why he doesn't play him. Number 55. I can't really pronounce his name, but that guy is good. He's a repetition.

[Alan Hahn]

Alan talked about him yesterday that he just not. I don't think he's ready for the.

[Caller]

Understand why he's not using it. That's just. You're burning your, your starters out. Well, you know, that's what you're doing.

[Alan Hahn]

It's interesting, Ron. We, we just played a Promo from the Michael K show. I guess Breen was on earlier today. And Breen said, listen, this is what he does. The players all want to play. I get that. But you know, sometimes you have to dial it down. And maybe it's not load management, Ron, but we talked about this yesterday. Maybe it's a game like tonight. If you're up 20 in the fourth quarter, sit everybody. And if it means Toronto gets back in the game and you got to sweat it out, so what? Taking the opportunity of not lugging a bunch of minutes in a game that you should be able to win easily. And that's my hot take on this one. It's an eight win Team Toronto, they're one of the worst teams in the NBA. You've lost three in a row. Smack them around tonight. Get to the fourth quarter, you're up by 30, and you can rest guys. I would almost view a Brunson 3 to win it in overtime as a loss.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Because now you burned energy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

You did nothing. This is a great get right game. Exactly where you completely run them off the court. You're right, Don. In the second half is a laugher.

[Alan Hahn]

Because Alan said it yesterday. They've had a pretty easy schedule and they've been blowing these teams out, but yet everybody's lugging a bunch of minutes. Sometimes you just need a game where you can rest your guys in the fourth quarter. And even if it ticks the players off, so what? I've got to rest you guys, man. I just can't have you going that 100%, that many minutes every single night. They're not gonna have anything left. So you got Toronto. There were eight and 23. Whatever they are, smack them around, have a big lead in the fourth quarter and then just, and just play your bench.

[Don La Greca]

All right, let's go back to the very, very busy phones. We got a Rob in the car. What's up, Rob?

[Caller]

Thanks for having me on again.

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller]

Before I get to my, my just point, I just want to say, Peter, congratulations, man. I, I'm so happy for you. Like, I wanted to call sooner, but really, I'm truly so happy for you. I couldn't think of anyone that truly deserves this much happiness. And oh, man, congratulations.

[Don La Greca]

I, I really, we're very, very excited, man, and super filled with gratitude. Thank you, Rob. I, I accept and hear your, your, your words. Thank you, man. What do you, what do you got on the Jets?

[Caller]

So, for the jets, for the head coaching situation, I personally feel like they should attack the coaching trees of these successful Teams like a Pittsburgh, like a Ravens, even the Lions, who found success recently. Philly. But I really like them to hire Spags from the Chiefs. Steve Spagnolo, I think he'll be, I think would be a really good gift for them. I think, I think he'll do really well with that defense because we've seen him do well with defenses with less talent. And as the Chiefs got more talent, we've seen what they've been able to do. So I think he'll be a really good get. He's been around for a while. He's been successful at many different locations as a defensive coordinator and probably didn't work out as a head coach. But like you guys were saying earlier, second time around could be the charm. So that's all I got, guys. Take care.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I like it.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. How could you possibly. That should always be the way you're thinking in my opinion, Don. I mean, you know, I know I always go back to my team, but it is the experience that I know best. The number one move that the commanders made before Jaden Daniels, and this may be the biggest one overall, was getting Adam Peters. And where did he come from? The front office in San Francisco. You have to go. We talked about them interviewing the guy under Gutter Kunst yesterday from Green Bay. You gotta go with people, I think, Don, from these franchises, your Green Bays, your Baltimores, your San Franciscos who just get it.

[Alan Hahn]

But you can't ignore the resume. However, you do realize, and I know one, his giant time with just the last four games of the 17 season. But he did spend three years in St. Louis with the Rams as a head Coach. He has 52 head coaching games under his belt. What do you think his record is?

[Don La Greca]

Wait, ask him one more time.

[Alan Hahn]

He has been the head coach for 52 games. He was the full time head coach for three years in St. Louis with the Rams and he's an intern for the final four games of the 17 season with the Giants. 52 games as a head coach. What's his record?

[Don La Greca]

Six and one. I. I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

His record is 11 and 40, right?

[Don La Greca]

That's not what you.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, he was one in 15 with the Rams in 09. Then he went to seven and nine. That's not bad. That's a pretty big jump. But then he went back to 2 and 14 again and again. I don't know all the circumstances. That was a long time ago. But I hear what you're saying came from two winning organizations with the Giants and the Chiefs. But when you have a head coaching resume that is like, literally a.212 winning percentage. That would bother me for a job that you got to get.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I'd hire him as my defensive coordinator in a second, but that's a disturbing record as a head coach.

[Don La Greca]

It's a fair retort to that idea. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, you're about 10 minutes away from Knicks basketball, everybody, here at Madison Square Garden, but for now, of course, with Don McGregor and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn for one more seven with you here today, 800-919-3776. Guys, we've never talked about this on the air, but you know how we have all different commercials. I'm a big. Like, I react to commercials a lot. If. If they have certain effects on me and things that are said in them, that catches my attention. The Dagostino Law Firm 1 with the guys with him singing, how do we feel about it? Do we like that?

[Alan Hahn]

He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He has his own jingle and he sings it himself.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, I think I'm obligated to say I love it because he does a great job with the advertising.

[Alan Hahn]

What kind of position are you putting us in?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because the. I think it's. Wait a minute. Because the whole point is he does his own jingle. The guy not only is, I'm the product, but I'm also selling it.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought you guys would both agree with me and find it to be like, this is a guy that's definitely putting in the work. He's not just, like, farming it out to somebody making a jingle and, yeah, yeah, just do that and whatever.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I've met them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's reading the script. He's singing the song. He wants you. He wants your business. I like.

[Alan Hahn]

There's no question. He's very good at what he does. And I've met him. He's been at some Ranger games, and I'll pop into the suite and I'll see him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nice.

[Alan Hahn]

But I just think he's the boss and he wanted to sing. And nobody's going to tell him not to say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have a reason for this. I have a reason for bringing this up. And it wasn't to put you guys on the spot.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, because you did. Go ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, not. I did not expect to be anything but a positive reaction. What I was going to say was, we are Starting to get people on social media sending us video. We got one today of creating a song for our show. I had an idea of an American Idol type segment that we do occasionally when someone sends us their version of a jingle or a theme song for the show involving us. And we can, you know, go through it like, like they would have on American Idol.

[Don La Greca]

I'm into it.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, I like it a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to try?

[Alan Hahn]

I do like the one that was sent today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, you want to give it a try, Anthony, you have it.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, it's ready to go. And what's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to introduce it? Well, this is Doug B.

[Don La Greca]

On X. He's done a couple things before. Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember the guy who did the Evan.

[Don La Greca]

Neil rant for you with the heavy metal in the background? This is Doug.

[Alan Hahn]

So here's his song for us. Hoops, the pucks all five boroughs gonna know what's up.

[Don La Greca]

Don and Han. That's New York's own Rosenberg. Radio's on the phone picks the guest.

[Alan Hahn]

The hottest taste, best afternoon drive in.

[Don La Greca]

The whole tri scene.

[Alan Hahn]

After k still got Enn Weekday street.

[Don La Greca]

At 7 8:80am Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it's got, it's got the veneer.

[Alan Hahn]

Awards worm to it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's got the hook, what you need, it sticks in your head, right? This is that, you know, stanza, right? It's got that. I love that. It references Peter being on his phone. That's fantastic.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, do you think that's what they meant, was me on my phone?

[Alan Hahn]

I think so.

[Don La Greca]

But Peter, you're the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anyone else?

[Don La Greca]

I, I thought it was just for the rhyme. I think they, I, I, I didn't think he meant, like, looking at my phone, I assume they meant, like, you're talking to me. If that's true, I don't know if I like it more or less. It's hard to say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How do we feel? Let's get, let's rate it. Do we bring it? Is it going to Hollywood?

[Don La Greca]

If I'm getting, if I'm getting critical about it, my gut reaction is it's nice, it's nice. I like what you've done. I'm not crowning it the theme song. And if I'm going to get critical lyrically, you know, he makes a specific point of going, Don and Han, New York's own, which obviously I feel a little bit of a way about being separated from that, even though, of course, I've only been here 18 years, whatever it is. But also, Don's not New York's own either. That, that's Not. That's not the full Don Legrette to ignore that Don is Jersey's own. Well, it's just a Don is New Jersey. You cannot remove that part of don't.

[Alan Hahn]

Work with this, though, because I. I do like the hook. I do like the music. But with all that could be worked with.

[Don La Greca]

No, no, you're right, because the. The Don massage it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think we bring them into the studio. I think we can work on some stuff. Little collab. We can make it better.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not. I'm not crazy enough about it. It's. It's a no for me, dog. It's a no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a no for. It's a no from you, dog. I will not. I will not rest until they're chanting it at Madison Square Garden. That way they're doing New York song. They go, new York is the same as this.

[Alan Hahn]

You just not a fan of that.

[Don La Greca]

I hate that song, too, so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I. I think it's a. All right, so now everybody knows. That's the standard.

[Don La Greca]

It's a good effort.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Better.

[Don La Greca]

It's a good effort.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. It's a good effort. Well, so was today's show, by the way.

[Don La Greca]

I enjoyed it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we have more to do certainly tonight for me on msg. This is going to be a good game. We'll see if the Knicks. I know, Don. That was a great take. They got to win this game big. We'll see if they can. And of course, we'll see you all tomorrow. Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.