Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Episode: Hour 4: Last Call Crew & Aaron Glenn
Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
(plus callers and guests)

Overview

The final hour of this episode is a classic, spirited wrap-up for the year featuring Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg reflecting on the chaotic New York sports scene. Key topics include the crowded Christmas sports schedule, the slow MLB offseason, Giants and Jets turmoil, and a humorous, sometimes exasperated breakdown of Jets DC Aaron Glenn's attempt to encourage fans. The hour also includes warm holiday wishes for listeners and behind-the-scenes affection from the hosts as they look ahead to the new year.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Battle for Christmas Day Sports ([00:33]-[04:58])

• NBA vs. NFL Holiday Showdown:

  • The hosts discuss the effect of the NFL hosting a Christmas triple-header, mostly with unappealing matchups due to team eliminations and quarterback injuries.
  • Alan Hahn: “You end up getting a Christmas where none of those [NFL] games are really any good.” (00:48)
  • NBA stands to benefit, sticking to its traditional Christmas Day showcase on ABC and ESPN — much easier to access than NFL games on streaming apps.
  • Don La Greca: “Putting it on the background, similar to Thanksgiving ... if there's games like that, you're like, I can't miss this game.” (02:07)
  • Spurs–Thunder NBA game at 2:30 pm identified as the day's must-watch matchup.

• Access Matters:

  • Both highlight generational differences in tech comfort ("Does grandma have Netflix?") and suggest the NBA’s traditional network spot helps viewership.
  • Alan Hahn: “If I had gone to my mom’s ... there’d be no football ... it would be the basketball on or nothing at all.” (03:26)

2. What's Wrong With Baseball's Hot Stove? ([04:58]-[09:27])

• Caller Griffin from Connecticut highlights fan impatience with the slow Yankees offseason and notorious agent Scott Boras’s tactics:
  • “This offseason is completely slow. It could be called cold stove and not hot stove ... Scott Boras, he’s asking for too much.” (05:24)
• Alan Hahn and Don La Greca discuss baseball’s looming CBA fight:
  • Hahn: “They are going to go to the mat, I think, for the salary cap ... with the way it’s gotten out of hand with the Dodgers and their money ...” (06:32)
  • Don: Boris’s clients often wait until teams are desperate: “Boris will wait it out ... you'll get as close to what you're asking for rather than signing early.” (07:50)
• Changing Team Strategies:
  • Fewer teams act like “drunken sailors” with spending — more are working within budgets, and “the Yankees seem to be out ... they don't look like they're spending a lot of money.” (08:35)
  • Spring training sometimes arrives with several top Boras clients unsigned.

3. Giants, Jets & Fan Frustration ([12:07]-[24:24])

• Caller Tim from Stroudsburg:

  • Lifelong Giants fan, concerned about endless rebuilding and leadership: “Who's going to step up as captain and galvanize these guys ... Are we looking for a Patriot-like situation ... or should we be content with at least getting this team going in the right direction with a .500 season?” (12:10-13:19)
  • Offers a memorable quip: “The comeback is: happy spouse, happy house.” (13:37)
  • Heartfelt appreciation for the show on long commutes: "You relieve all the stress. You make riding home a pleasure. You guys are the best..." (13:48)

• Giants & Jets Coaching Carousel:

  • The hosts debate the difficulty of “turning it around,” underlining the endless New York coaching churn and fan impatience.

4. Aaron Glenn’s Message & the Jets Meltdown ([16:22]-[21:36])

• Aaron Glenn’s "Hang On" Message (Clip played at [16:31]):

  • Glenn encourages fans: “Don’t let go of the rope ... there is a plan, there is a vision.” (16:32)

• Host Reactions — Comic Exasperation:

  • Don: “Please, somebody ... Just end the season ... that’s what the acronym for ‘Jets’ is: Just End It.” (17:19)
  • Highlights staggering stats: “In the last three games, you’ve been outscored 111 to 36 ... you haven’t intercepted one pass. Nobody’s ever done that in the history of football in 15 weeks.” (17:52-18:00)
  • On Glenn’s analogy: “Rope is not a good analogy.” (18:25), “Don’t tell me. Show me.” (18:11)
  • Alan Hahn: Defends context—this is Glenn’s first year, but “He’s trying to tell you to hang on ... He can't tell you ‘Give up’ ... But PR’s got to tell him, listen, don’t even go with the analogies.” (18:27, 20:27)
  • Don insists: “You cannot give me a motivational speech when you’re 3 and 12.” (21:36)

5. The State of NY Sports: Futility & Hope ([22:15]-[25:33])

• Don on Giants/Jets:
  • “They’re so lucky that they have the fanbase that they have ... they’ll never get fans to completely give up ... because Giants and Jets fanbases are tremendous.” (22:42)
• New York's No-Rings Drought:
  • “We went through a whole calendar year once again without a championship ... another football season where the local teams have been cheeks, garbage, terrible.” (23:19-23:28)
• Looking Ahead:
  • Hosts look ahead to 2026 with cautious pessimism:
    • “When you look at the Jets schedule ... even if they get a bridge quarterback, it’s not going to be Aaron Rodgers from a couple years ago ... Giants ... a lot of rebuilding to do.” (24:24)
    • “Can you play a meaningful game in December? That’s all we’re asking for … or is it another one of those hoping to tank for picks?” (24:36)
  • Don blunt: “You could try [to be positive], but you’d be fooling yourself and everybody else.” (25:03)
  • Curiosity abounds for 2026: “Who will be playing quarterback for the Jets? Who will be coaching the Giants?” (25:03)

6. Closing Reflections and Gratitude ([25:33]-end)

• Year-End Thanks:
  • “It’s been an amazing year ... to go from the Michael K. Show to this one has been phenomenal ... the chemistry has been amazing.” (25:33)
  • Don: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of this and I’m looking forward to another year of it. Thanks to everyone for listening ... be safe tomorrow.” (25:59)
  • Shout-outs to production and support staff.
  • Warm, genuine sign-off and holiday well-wishes.

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |----------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:48 | Alan Hahn | “You end up getting a Christmas where none of those [NFL] games are really any good.” | | 02:07 | Don La Greca | “Putting it on the background, similar to Thanksgiving ... if there's games like that, you're like, I can't miss this game.” | | 05:24 | Griffin | “This offseason is completely slow. It could be called cold stove and not hot stove... Scott Boras, he’s asking for too much.” | | 06:32 | Alan Hahn | “They are going to go to the mat, I think, for the salary cap ... with the way it’s gotten out of hand with the Dodgers...” | | 13:37 | Tim (caller) | “The comeback is: happy spouse, happy house.” | | 13:48 | Tim (caller) | “You relieve all the stress. You make riding home a pleasure. You guys are the best with what you do.” | | 16:32 | Aaron Glenn | “Don’t let go of the rope ... there is a plan, there is a vision.” | | 17:19 | Don La Greca | “Please, somebody ... just end the season... that’s what the acronym for ‘Jets’ is: Just End It.” | | 18:11 | Don La Greca | “Don’t tell me. Show me.” | | 20:27 | Alan Hahn | “But PR’s got to tell him, listen, don’t even go with the analogies. Say, thank you for being there. We’re going to try to get it right.”| | 21:36 | Don La Greca | “You cannot give me a motivational speech when you’re 3 and 12.” | | 22:42 | Don La Greca | “They’re so lucky that they have the fanbase that they have ... Giants and Jets fanbases are tremendous.” | | 23:28 | Don La Greca | “Another calendar year, the four major sports have not produced a championship, and we’re in another football season where the local teams have been cheeks, garbage, terrible.” | | 25:33 | Alan Hahn | “It’s been an amazing year ... the chemistry has been amazing ... can’t wait to talk to you in 2026 and do this all over again.” | | 25:59 | Don La Greca | “I’ve enjoyed every minute of this and I’m looking forward to another year of it as we just keep building this thing. Thanks to everybody for listening and be safe tomorrow.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• State of Christmas sports TV: [00:33]-[04:58]
• MLB Hot Stove & Scott Boras debate: [04:58]-[09:27]
• Fan frustration with Giants/Jets and year-end reflection: [12:07]-[24:24]
• Aaron Glenn’s message & hosts' reactions: [16:22]-[21:36]
• NY Sports Drought & Looking Ahead: [22:15]-[25:33]
• Year-end gratitude and sign-off: [25:33]-end

Tone and Style

The hosts’ dynamic is candid, wryly humorous, and at times, cathartic—matching the weather-beaten optimism of New York sports fans. The podcast mixes blunt truth, playful sarcasm, and occasional heartfelt moments, particularly when callers express genuine appreciation for the show’s community and constancy through tough fan years.

Summary

This episode is a must-listen for New York sports fans who crave reality-based commentary, comic relief, and a sense of community through sports misery. With sharp takes on the NFL-vs-NBA holiday battle, MLB’s slow offseason, and the never-ending Giants/Jets problems, the hour keeps fun front-and-center—even as it diagnoses another championship-less year in the Big Apple. The hosts’ chemistry and affection for their listeners are evident, closing with genuine thanks and looking to the next year with a familiar mix of skepticism and hope.