Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Hour 4: Torts Remembers Larry Brooks

Air Date: November 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg was a heartfelt tribute to Larry Brooks, the legendary New York hockey writer who passed away at 75. The hosts—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and guest Steve Levy—reflect on Brooks’s journalistic legacy, his complex relationships with coaches like John Tortorella, and the indelible mark he left on New York sports. The episode also veers into the importance of showing up and facing criticism in sports media, before pivoting to fan calls about NFL coaching carousel speculation and MLB player movement.

Remembering Larry Brooks: Insights, Stories, and Respect

Steve Levy Reads John Tortorella’s Tribute (01:20 - 02:19)

• Tortorella on Brooks’s Work Ethic and Relationship:
  • “The thing I always respected about Larry is no matter what the day brought... him and I disagree, and we had a lot of disagreements, but... he'd be there the next day, right? Ready to ask another question. He’d be there face to face.”
    — Steve Levy relaying Tortorella’s comments [01:36]
  • Emphasizes mutual respect despite clashes; never personal, just business.

The Value of “Showing Up” in Sports Journalism (02:19 - 03:40)

• Alan Hahn: “It’s so easy to throw bombs from a million miles away, but the true respect… is if I kill you, but I'm in the clubhouse the next day… they’re going to respect that.” [02:19]
• Don La Greca: “If you're gonna put your name on something, you have to be there the next day to face the music… no one can deny what you said. They're just mad that you said it.” [03:19]
• Anecdotes about journalists who write critical pieces but avoid locker rooms, contrasted with professionals like Brooks who face subjects directly.

Brooks’s Legacy and the Changing Face of Sports Media (03:40 - 05:24)

• Discussion on the rise of “superfan” sports radio personas and how athletes respect criticism more from those who are present afterward.
• Hahn recalls Joe Benigno as another example of ‘showing up’ after harsh criticism: “He'd kill him on the air. But then he'd be in the locker room the next day…” [04:23]

Brooks as Colleague and Hockey Advocate (05:24 - 07:29)

• Steve Levy: “He’s a grinder and turned into an icon in this business… We struggled at certain times, but there was never any lack of respect as far as how he went about his business. And it’s a big loss.” [04:53]
• Levy shares recent conversations with Brooks’s family: “Larry can’t get to it… explained to me what was going on. This was five weeks ago… It tore him apart.” [05:39]
• The hosts discuss the danger of focusing on viral altercations over the real human being and his family.

The Courage to Be Present (07:03 - 08:02)

• Levy: “He wasn’t afraid of anything, and he voiced his thoughts. And how can’t you respect that? No matter if you agree with it or not?” [07:29]

Brooks’s Passion for Hockey and Professional Standards (10:08 - 13:46)

• La Greca on Brooks’s Relationship with the Sport:

  • “He wanted hockey to be a main sport. He always felt it belonged right there, the Big Four… you don’t cover it softer or less because it's not considered as major…” [10:08]

• Anecdotes of Brooks teasing colleagues who left hockey writing, reinforcing how he elevated the sport’s coverage.

• Alan Hahn: Pushback on the perception of hockey as merely a stepping stone:

  • “...there are people that are lifers in the sport… and he's in a hall of fame because of that coverage.” [11:49]

• La Greca: Shares his own journey, not wanting to leave the Islanders beat for the Knicks because of his connection to hockey, and Brooks’s positive influence in that transition. [12:20]

Memorable Quotes

• “If you're gonna put your name on something, you have to be there the next day to face the music. Later on, they let you know they respect the fact that you stood there and took the heat.”
  — Don La Greca [03:19]

• “Larry, no matter what the day happened... he’d show up the next day just ready to go to business. He didn’t hold any grudges. I didn’t either.”
  — Steve Levy [07:29]

• “He wanted hockey to be a main Sport. He always felt it belonged right there, the Big Four.”
  — Don La Greca [10:08]

Listener Calls: NFL Coaching Speculation, MLB Trade Talk (17:27 - 24:11)

Giants, Tomlin, LaFleur Coaching Futures (17:27 - 21:41)

• Jay from the Bronx & Tom from Upstate NY bring up the Giants’ coaching search and possible availability of Matt LaFleur and Mike Tomlin.
• Alan Hahn: “Can he coach? And I think he can. They almost won in the playoffs last year. They came close.” [18:09]
• Tom, a Steelers fan, expresses that Tomlin’s playoff drought may warrant change, but Rooney family values stability with the 2026 NFL Draft coming to Pittsburgh.

MLB: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh, and Trade Market Dynamics (21:16 - 24:11)

• Tom discusses star pitcher Paul Skenes’s eventual trade from the Pirates:
  • “He is the quintessential athlete…. For a kid who’s, what is he, 20 something years old? He’s acting like he’s been around for 15 years.” [21:41]
• Hahn speculates on trade timing: “If they don’t get a salary cap… things might proceed as is… they might want to move him sooner than later to get the biggest package back.” [22:04]
• Discussion of how a salary floor in future CBA negotiation could force Pittsburgh’s hand.

MLB Cap Changes and Market Impact (24:05 - 24:40)

• La Greca: “If they ever get there and he's got to pay, maybe that’s the one guy you do pay.” [23:14]
• Both hosts imagine the complexities for large salary teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Mets) as MLB edges toward potentially adopting aspects of a salary cap.

Tone, Language, and Style

• Friendly, insider banter colored with personal anecdotes.
• Genuine emotion and admiration for Larry Brooks, coupled with media industry insight.
• Occasional jovial interruptions about music, movies (“Magnolia”/Supertramp), and sports minutiae.

Key Takeaways

• Larry Brooks was revered for his dedication, professionalism, and being present—never backing down from uncomfortable confrontations, which led both media and the athletes he covered to respect him.
• ‘Showing up’ remains an irreplaceable part of sports journalism credibility.
• Brooks’s love of hockey helped elevate the sport’s coverage in New York, and his mentorship influenced a generation of writers.
• Current events (NFL and MLB discussions) show the hosts’ ability to pivot quickly while keeping dialogue engaging, informed, and relevant.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

“He grinded. He’s a grinder and turned into an icon in this business… Coaches, NHL media, all colleagues. We’re all working together here.”
— Steve Levy [04:53]

“He worked at it, and he wasn’t afraid of anything, and he voiced his thoughts. And how can’t you respect that? No matter if you agree with it or not?”
— Steve Levy [07:29]

“You don’t cover [hockey] softer or less because it’s not considered as major as the other three.”
— Don La Greca [10:08]

Additional: Nod to Cultural References

• Light musical detour about Supertramp and the use of music in movies (e.g., “Magnolia” — Alan Hahn [16:40-17:12])
• Reinforces the show’s characteristic blend of nostalgia, personal trivia, and pop culture.

For more, catch Don, Hahn & Rosenberg weekday afternoons, ESPN New York.