Hang Up and Listen

A weekly sports discussion from Slate. Hang Up and Listen features Slate sports editor Josh Levin, writer Stefan Fatsis (author of A Few Seconds of Panic), Slate writer and Slow Burn host Joel Anderson, and a selection of interesting guests from around the sports world.

Sports
Sports News
476
The Winning Very Ugly Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Broncos’ Super Bowl win with Giants offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz.
67 min
477
The Climbing Trees and Wrestling Dogs Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh’s recruiting tactics.
70 min
478
The Fixing the Fixers Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss how Denver and Carolina made it to Super Bowl 50. ESPN's Dave McMenamin joins to discuss the firing of Cavaliers coach David Blatt, and Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim explains pro tennis' match-fixing scandal.
63 min
479
The Rad Sporstplayers Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the NFL playoffs. Greg Wyshynski joins to discuss his campaign to make enforcer John Scott an NHL All Star, and they interview Matt Hill about his NBA cartoon Spurs Special Forces.
74 min
480
The Clemson Gets Kicked Edition
In a Hang Up extra, Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Bryan Curtis to talk about Alabama's 45-40 win over Clemson in college football's national championship game.
25 min
481
The Flaming Pile of Garbage Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the Steelers-Bengals pro football catastrophe. Neil deMause of the website Field of Schemes joins to discuss the NFL’s Los Angeles schemes. Finally, they assess the 2016 Baseball Hall of Fame voting.
62 min
482
The Eating Ribs in Hell Edition
The Hang Up and Listen team is joined by Spencer Hall to talk about the college football playoff's not-so-smashing New Year's Eve debut. They also discuss Chip Kelly's firing and allegations that Peyton Manning used human growth hormone.
70 min
483
The History of the Sports World Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk sports history. They take a look back at Super Bowl I; speak with professor Michael Zogry and Sports Illustrated's Alexander Wolff about James Naismith; and discuss Ali-Marciano, boxing's fake title fight.
66 min
484
The Horse Awakens Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk with Slate's Dan Engber about the movie Concussion. They also discuss NFL refereeing, and Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden discusses Serena Williams over American Pharoah as SI's Sportsperson of the Year.
72 min
485
The Universe Really Is Just a Circle Edition
The Hang Up team talk about the Philadelphia 76ers, baseball's newly minted juggernaut, the Chicago Cubs, and self-appointed college football holder of the year Peter Mortell.
71 min
486
The Worst Best Great Mediocre Team Ever Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by guest Bryan Curtis to talk college football and Stephanie Cox to discuss the U.S. women's soccer team canceling a game due to poor field conditions. Finally, they discuss the 12-0 Carolina Panthers.
64 min
487
The Barking Where There Are No Dogs Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the final years of Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant. They also talk about LSU's decision to keep Les Miles and Georgia's to fire Mark Richt. Finally, they interview Ian Eagle about how he calls a game.
75 min
488
The Runaway Potting Shed Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Golden State Warriors' amazing start. They also talk about the state of daily fantasy sports, and film director Taika Waititi joins to assess New Zealand rugby star Jonah Lomu, who died at age 40.
70 min
489
The Russians Are Doping Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are live from Town Hall in New York City. In this segment from Slate's Superfest, they discuss the Russian track and field doping scandal. Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes
16 min
490
The Bonus Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca collect the show's best Slate Plus bonus segments. Topics: how to write a sports column (w/Dan Steinberg), taking your kids to games (w/Allison Benedikt), women in sports media (w/Emma Span), and East Coast bias.
39 min
491
The Serious Times Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Dallas Cowboys' Greg Hardy. Slate's Jamelle Bouie also joins to talk about the Missouri football players' boycott, and they interview Jonathan Hock about his documentary The Gospel According to Mac. H
78 min
492
The Balls and Strikes Bonus Segment
Every fall for eight years, contributing writer Seth Stevenson has been pitching a story where he goes to umpire camp and reports back, and every fall Slate’s editor-in-chief has been rejecting the proposal as too expensive. Now Slate Plus has agreed to
11 min
493
The All Hail the Royals Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Royals' World Series victory over the Mets. They also talk about ESPN's decision to shut down Grantland, and they interview National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.
82 min
494
The Hockey on Cocaine Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the World Series with baseball writer Rany Jazayerli. They also talk about the NFL's foray into Internet-only broadcasting, and Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski joins to assess the NHL's 3-on-3 overtime format.
68 min
495
The Steely Dan and the Wolverine Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by SB Nation’s Spencer Hall to discuss Michigan State’s bizarre win over Michigan. They also talk about the MLB playoffs and assess basketball and reality TV star Lamar Odom’s near-death experienc
79 min
496
The Coriolis Force-Assisted Field-Goal Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Mike Pesca, and Emma Span discuss the MLB playoffs, Robert Andrew Powell joins to scrutinize the U.S. men's national soccer team, and lastly they talk about the annual rash of deaths in high-school football. This week's episode is brought
55 min
497
The You Don't Know What Fluffer Means Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the collapse of the Washington Nationals and the start of the MLB playoffs. Ken Early joins to assess the chaos at English soccer club Chelsea. Finally, they talk about LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
75 min
498
The Nobody Goes There Anymore It's Too Crowded ...
Josh Levin, Mike Pesca, and guest panelist Scott Raab are joined by Max Linsky to talk about the Cleveland Browns podcast Brownscast. They also discuss ESPN's embrace of gambling and mark the passing of baseball and linguistic legend Yogi Berra. Hang Up
66 min
499
The Total Victory Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal to discuss baseball's great rookie class. They also discuss the rise of IMG Academy's high school football program and assess the popularity of American Ninja Warrior. Hang
67 min
500
The Sad Serena, Resplendent Roberta Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Serena Williams' shocking U.S. Open defeat. They also discuss whether the NFL has a quarterback crisis, and how European soccer clubs have responded to an influx of Syrian refugees. Hang Up and Listen
63 min