Hang Up and Listen

A weekly sports discussion from Slate.


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Sports
Sports News
401
The Humble Swagger Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the New York Times’ Marc Tracy to discuss UMBC. Deadspin’s Dom Cosentino comes on to talk about Kirk Cousins’ new contract. Plus: Dave Kindred on covering girls’ high school basketball.
74 min
402
The Passing Is an Expression of Failure Edition
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk with Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley about the NCAA Tournament, Slate’s Jim Newell joins to talk about Tiger Woods’ comeback, and ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz assesses the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets.
67 min
403
The Golden Age of Tanking Edition
Guest hosts Daniel Engber and David Epstein talk with Carl Bialik about robot line judges in tennis, Mike Pesca joins for a review of NBA tanking, and Florentina Hettinga discusses the science of the Paralympics.
57 min
404
The "Here Comes Diggins!” Edition
Stefan Fatsis welcomes Slate’s Justin Peters and NBC Nordic skiing commentator Chad Salmela to recap the Winter Olympics. And journalist Ben Strauss and sports economist Andy Schwarz examine the government probe of NCAA basketball recruitment.
63 min
405
The Trickless Hungarian Edition
Josh Levin is joined by Slate’s Justin Peters and the Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen to talk about Elizabeth Swaney, Ester Ledecka, Nathan Chen, and more from the Olympics. PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck joins to discuss what’s wrong with Markelle Fultz.
62 min
406
The Yoo-Hoo, We Did It Edition
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk with Slate’s Justin Peters about the top stories from the Olympics, Jack Hamilton joins to look at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ roster shake-up, and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl discusses what’s next for U.S. Soccer.
64 min
407
The Nick Foles Is a Super Bowl MVP Edition
Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk with the Gist’s Mike Pesca about the Eagles’ win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. They’re also joined by Jeff Passan of Yahoo to discuss what can be done to fix Major League Baseball’s broken economic system.
66 min
408
The “What Did Izzo and Dantonio Know?” Edition
Josh Levin talks with Paula Lavigne of ESPN and Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley about the Michigan State sexual abuse scandal. ESPN’s Howard Bryant also joins to discuss the Australian Open, and the Root’s Damon Young assesses the NBA’s all-star draft.
66 min
409
The One-Armed Bandit Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin talk about the Patriots’ and Eagles’ wins in the NFL’s title games; the New York Times’ Juliet Macur discusses the sex abuse scandal in U.S. gymnastics; and Deadspin’s Dave McKenna helps remember D.C. sports legend Gary Mays.
72 min
410
The “They Shoot Utility Infielders, Don’t They?...
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the Vikings’ last-second win over the Saints and other NFL playoff doings; the Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen joins to talk about Trae Young; and Sam Miller comes on for a conversation about a 50-inning baseball game.
70 min
411
The Citronauts Are National Champions Edition
Stefan Fatsis, former NFL player Nate Jackson, and football writer Melissa Jacobs discuss the NFL playoffs. Then Stefan talks to Spencer Hall of SB Nation about the University of Central Florida’s claim on college football’s national championship.
50 min
412
The 200 Seventh-Graders vs. LeBron Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Gist’s Mike Pesca to discuss a whole bunch of sports conundrums.
47 min
413
The Remember Connie Hawkins Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Ben Strauss to discuss why academically rigorous universities like Wesleyan are betting big on football. They also speak with Rick Telander about the life and legacy of hoops legend Connie Hawkins.
53 min
414
The Badly Photoshopped Flag-Burning Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Andrew Brandt to discuss the allegations against Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson; by Chris Nowinski to talk about the NFL concussion protocol; and by Deadspin to assess the rise of fake sports news.
74 min
415
The Bronx Bombers’ Big Boppers Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Warren Cromartie and the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to discuss Shohei Ohtani and Giancarlo Stanton; David Epstein joins to assess Russia’s Olympics ban; and Daniel Libit talks about his muckraking site NM Fishbowl.
83 min
416
The Most Valuable Vegan Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Jeremy Stahl of Slate, and Howard Bryant of ESPN discuss the rift among NFL players over the league’s plan to donate money to social causes.
54 min
417
The Shania Twain and Sled Dogs Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Spencer Hall to talk about Alabama’s loss to Auburn and Tennessee’s Greg Schiano fiasco; by Vann Newkirk to discuss Alabama’s 3-on-5 basketball near-miracle; and by Bruce Arthur to assess the Grey Cup.
62 min
418
The So Many Interceptions Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Kevin Clark to talk about NFL quarterback play and the Root’s Damon Young discusses Donald Trump’s feud with Lavar Ball. Plus: Slate’s June Thomas joins for an interview with swimmer Diana Nyad.
64 min
419
The Cavalcade of Whimsy Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl to talk about the race for the U.S. Soccer presidency, and Mike Pesca comes on to talk about NFL celebrations, the Miami turnover chain, and inspirational locker room speeches.
57 min
420
The No Berries for Brady Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Chuck Culpepper to discuss a crazy weekend in college football, by Charles P. Pierce to talk about Tom Brady’s weird diet and workout regimen, and by Greg Wyshynski to assess the Vegas Golden Knights.
57 min
421
The Juiced, Slick, and Out of the Park Edition
Josh Levin is joined by Ben Lindbergh to discuss the World Series; by Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeremy Stahl to talk about behind-the-scenes machinations in the NFL; and by Alexandra Starr and Christina Cauterucci to examine sexual abuse in sports.
69 min
422
The Grotesquely Swollen Jaw Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the World Series and Dusty Baker with ESPN’s Howard Bryant. Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN also joins to talk about the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Alan Siegel helps assess the legacy of the Simpsons’ “Homer at the Bat.”
58 min
423
The How Many Altuves Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss Colin Kaepernick’s collusion grievance. They’re also joined by Evan Drellich to talk about Houston Astros star Jose Altuve, and by Caitlin Murray for a conversation about the Portland Thorns women’s soccer team.
69 min
424
Hang Up Extra: The World Cup Catastrophe Edition
Hang Up Extra: The World Cup Catastrophe Edition
29 min
425
The Duglegur Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss Jemele Hill, Jerry Jones, and Donald Trump with the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan also joins to discuss the baseball playoffs, and Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers talks about Iceland’s World Cup dreams.
61 min