Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 4: Last Call Crew

Date: April 3, 2026
Podcast: ESPN New York – Don Hahn, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Episode Theme:
Wrapping up a week in New York sports, this hour blends spirited debates on sports loyalty, current NY baseball storylines, listener calls on everything from music to Chinese food, and reflections on what it means to root for your city.

Main Episode Theme

This episode’s final hour is a lively, wide-ranging “last call” where Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg take listener calls, offer hard-and-fast judgements on sports "fraudulence," discuss current drama with New York baseball teams, and riff on the little things and big questions that come with sports fandom. The conversation is signature DHR: sharp, witty, and unfiltered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fraudulent Sports Fandom – The “Prince of Frauds”

[01:02–06:43]

• Caller Story: Will from Philly describes a friend who, after rooting for the New Orleans Saints during Hurricane Katrina while attending Tulane, has now jumped back to rooting for the Buffalo Bills, his childhood team. Will seeks the hosts’ verdict: fraud, or forgivable?
• Judgement:
  • Peter Rosenberg (03:07): “He’s a fraud. As noble as his reasons are.”
  • Don Hahn expands: The discussion explores whether traumatic or noble reasons (such as disaster solidarity) absolve shifting fandom.
  • Peter Rosenberg: Draws a parallel to Mets fans rooting for the Yankees post-9/11, calling it “noble” but “still fraudulent.”
  • Memorable quote ([04:07] Rosenberg): “Just because I call you a fraud doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person. ...But it does feel like that you want to hide your fraudulence behind a traumatic event.”
  • Rosenberg’s analogy ([05:27]): “It’s kind of like, Peter, if you steal because you haven’t eaten. It’s still a crime. ...Robin Hood was still a thief... Prince among thieves – prince of frauds.”
  • Consensus: Good intentions do not absolve “sports fraud.” Noble motives, but you can still be a fraud—a theme they underline humorously and repeatedly:
    • [06:01] Rosenberg: “Prince of Frauds!”

2. Chinese Food Appetizers – The Light Side

[09:35–11:40]

• Caller Nas checks in, inspired by the show to order Chinese food, and asks about favorite appetizers.
  • Rosenberg’s picks: Spring rolls or egg rolls, traditional choices, nothing fancy ([10:54] Rosenberg).
  • Don’s household favorite: Crab Rangoon, though Don himself hasn’t tried it—his wife Nancy loves it ([11:05] Rosenberg, [11:19] Nas).
• Friendly banter and appreciation:
  • Nas: “Thank you, inspire me with what your happy choices are.”
  • Rosenberg: “We love to accommodate. You ask a question, we answer.”

3. Greatest Athletes Debate – Gretzky, Jordan, Tiger, Tyson Order

[14:54–15:51]

• Caller Richard proposes a ranking: Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods.
  • Don’s order: Gretzky, Tiger, Jordan, Tyson ([15:22] Don).
  • Peter’s order: Jordan, Gretzky, Tiger, Tyson ([15:33] Rosenberg).
  • Quick, respectful debate about greatness metrics.

4. Loyalty & Money in New York Baseball – Mets Roster Moves

[15:51–19:45]

• Caller Richard (continued):
  • Rants about players like Soto, Diaz, and Cano leaving the Mets or expressing frustration, insisting true loyalty means staying even if you could earn more money elsewhere. Praises Judge, Goldschmidt, and Bellinger for wanting to be Yankees.
  • Richard ([15:51]): “If you wanted to be a Met, you would have been a Met. Don’t give me no think. ...I don’t begrudge him ...but if you wanted to be a Met, you would have been a Met.”
  • Don and Peter push back: Acknowledge business realities; not always fair to label departing players as disloyal.
    • Peter ([18:23]): “I never saw it that way. I always assumed Alonzo wanted to stay... If it’s close, stays with the Mets.”

5. The Lindor–Soto “Beef” – Why Can’t Superstars Get Along?

[19:19–22:47]

• Big Story: Rumors swirl of a simmering “beef” between Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto—potentially affecting team chemistry.
  • Peter Rosenberg ([19:45]): “If Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto cannot find a way to get along and be just supportive teammates with a team that has this much talent ...it is absolutely shameful.”
  • Universalizes the dilemma: All working people must learn to collaborate—even if they don’t get along—especially when the stakes/fanbase are so high.
  • Don’s frustration ([20:45]): “Why does the rest of the world have to know?... What does that do? Who does that help? ...Not if he’s on my team.”
  • Calls for maturity:
    • Peter ([21:49]): “It’s an ego thing. Work it out. Grow up. It is not that deep.”
• Metaphor/analogy: The hosts joke about “Major League” movie characters overcoming bigger rifts for team achievement, underscoring the need for professionalism.

6. Closing Sentiments & Next Week

[22:49–23:31]

• Hopeful sign-offs—references to the Knicks (style points vs. wins), anticipation for the NCAA and WWE Smackdown, and well wishes for Passover and Easter.
  • Peter Rosenberg ([23:18]): “Oh, thank you. I want you to have a happy and luxurious Easter.”
  • Looking ahead: "Should be a big show on Monday. We'll have our championship to drop."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On bandwagoning after tragedy ([04:07] Rosenberg):
  • “Just because I call you a fraud doesn't mean that you're a bad person. ...But it does feel like that you want to hide your fraudulence behind a traumatic event.”
• On sports loyalty and hardship ([05:27–05:50] Rosenberg):
  • “It’s kind of like… if you steal because you haven’t eaten. It’s still a crime… Robin Hood was still a thief. …Prince of frauds.”
• On baseball clubhouse drama ([19:45] Rosenberg):
  • “It would be one of the great embarrassments of all time if two guys making...35 million…can’t find a way to get along.”
• On Lindor/Soto rift going public ([20:45] Don):
  • “You literally dapped and hugged everybody on the team except him…Why was it so important for the world to know that you don’t like him?”
• On collaboration in sports and life ([21:49] Rosenberg):
  • “It’s an ego thing. Work it out. Grow up. It is not that deep.”
• Light Moments:
  • [11:23] Nas: “It’s cream cheese and crab and wrapped in a fried dumpling.”
  • [11:40] Rosenberg: “We love to accommodate. You ask a question, we answer. How about that little crab rangoon?”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:02] – Will in Philly: “Fraudulent Friday” and the “Prince of Frauds” judgement
• [03:07] – Official “fraudulence” ruling & analogy to 9/11 and baseball fandom
• [04:45–06:43] – Robin Hood analogy, “Prince of Frauds”
• [09:35–11:40] – Nas in Pine Brook on Chinese apps, spring rolls, crab rangoon
• [14:54–15:51] – Richard in Manhattan: Greatest athletes debate
• [15:51–19:19] – Richard’s “loyalty” segment, Yankees/Mets, player motives
• [19:19–22:47] – Lindor–Soto Mets beef, “figure it out,” importance of clubhouse chemistry
• [22:49–23:31] – Knicks/Final Four/WWE/holiday sign-offs

Tone & Style Highlights

• Conversational, sharp, playful
• Candid judgements punctuated by humor and real talk
• Banter often pivots from sports to larger issues (loyalty, ego, maturity)
• Willingness to call out “fraud” while acknowledging noble intentions

Summary for New Listeners

In this high-energy “last call” hour, Don and Peter mix sharp sports analysis with light-hearted digressions, taking listener calls that spark debates about loyalty, fandom, and athlete behavior. Whether discussing bandwagon fans in times of crisis, the absurdity of MLB clubhouse feuds, or personal preferences for Chinese appetizers, the episode delivers personality and insight, with a distinctly New York flavor. If you like strong opinions leavened by banter and a willingness to poke fun at the games—and at themselves—this episode is quintessential DHR.