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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.
Quarterbacks (2:00): Kevin Clark comes on for a conversation about Nathan Peterman’s extraordinarily bad debut as an NFL starter, plus the second-year surge of Carson Wentz, and the prognosis for Dak Prescott and Jared Goff.
Lavar Ball vs. Donald Trump (21:22): Damon Young helps assess the feud between the basketball dad and the president of the United States. Plus, who’s right and who’s wrong in the war of words between Draymond Green and Mark Cuban about what we should call NBA “owners”?
Diana Nyad (43:18): The record-setting marathon swimmer discusses her recent New York Times piece, “My Life After Sexual Assault.”
Afterballs (52:02):
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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.
U.S. Soccer (1:30): SI’s Grant Wahl talks about the contenders for the top job in U.S. Soccer, why no women are running for the position, and whether promotion and relegation is coming to an American soccer field near you.
Mid-Season Whimsy Spectacular (18:33): The original Hang Up trio of Stefan, Josh, and Mike Pesca reunite for a check-in about the state of whimsy in football. Should the NFL get credit for its celebration renaissance? Is the Miami turnover chain amazing, spectacular, or transcendent?
Afterballs (44:11):
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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.
College Football (1:40): Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post joins for a conversation about Alabama’s predictable dominance, the Big 12’s high-octane offenses, and whether Wisconsin will make the playoff.
Tom Brady (15:59): Charles P. Pierce, the author of Moving the Chains: Tom Brady and the Pursuit of Everything, explains how the Patriots quarterback came to embrace weird lifestyle rituals.
Vegas Golden Knights (31:54): ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski explains how the NHL’s Las Vegas expansion team got so good so fast, and whether hockey will succeed in Nevada.
Afterballs (45:00):
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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.
World Series (1:39): The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh comes on the show for a conversation about the Astros’ 13-12 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, as well as Yuli Gurriel’s racist gesture and Major League Baseball’s decision not to suspend him until 2018.
NFL (22:31): Slate’s Jeremy Stahl and Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN discuss their reporting on meeting between the league’s players and owners, as well as Colin Kaepernick’s lack of a role in those conversations.
Sexual abuse in sports (41:45): Alexandra Starr and Christina Cauterucci join to talk about Starr’s Harper’s story about sexual abuse scandals in gymnastics, swimming, and other sports, and a new organization that’s trying to fix the scourge of abuse.
Afterball (1:01:36):
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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.”
Baseball (1:37): Howard Bryant comes on the show to preview the World Series matchup between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, and to discuss the Washington Nationals decision not to retain manager Dusty Baker
Giannis Antetokounmpo (17:03): Kevin Arnovitz explains how the Greek Freak has taken the leap to become an NBA superstar and what he’s like off the court.
“Homer at the Bat” (31:35): Alan Siegel joins for a conversation about the classic Simpsons episode and the new mockumentary Springfield of Dreams: The Legend of Homer Simpson.
Afterballs (46:34):
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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.
Kaepernick and collusion (1:50): Stefan and Josh assess whether Kaepernick’s grievance against the NFL has a chance of succeeding and what the quarterback has to gain from pressing a collusion claim
Jose Altuve (19:36): Former Houston Astros beat writer Evan Drellich explains how the 5-foot-6 second baseman transformed himself into one of the best players in baseball.
Portland Thorns (37:25): Freelance writer Caitlin Murray discusses whether the National Women’s Soccer League champions provide a model for success for other women’s pro sports franchises.
Afterballs (52:34):
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In this special emergency episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the U.S. men’s national team’s disastrous loss to Trinidad and Tobago and what comes next for American soccer.
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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.
Politics and the NFL (1:10): Bryan Curtis joins for a conversation about ESPN’s suspension of Jemele Hill, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ directive that his players stand for the national anthem, and the increasing politicization of the NFL.
Baseball playoffs (22:52): Jeff Passan talks about Game 4 of the Astros-Red Sox series and the radical shift in how pitchers are deployed in the baseball postseason.
Iceland (37:01): Roger Bennett revels in the soccer triumphs of the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup.
Afterballs (49:46):
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Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the shifting politics of the NFL protests with Jamil Smith. Bloomberg View’s Joe Nocera also joins to discuss the FBI investigation of NCAA basketball, the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh previews the baseball playoffs.
NFL protests (2:24): Jamil Smith joins for a conversation about how NFL owners have tried to co-opt players’ protests for racial equality.
FBI vs. NCAA (23:46): Joe Nocera comes on the show to break down the FBI’s investigation into the nexus between shoe companies, assistant coaches, and college basketball players. Why is the federal government sticking its nose into college hoops now, and can anything good come out of this inquiry.
Baseball playoffs (41:11): Ben Lindbergh joins to discuss some of the postseason’s top contenders, among them the Cleveland Indians, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals, and the Houston Astros.
Afterballs (56:42):
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Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin and Marcus Thompson of The Athletic discuss the wave of protests against Donald Trump’s remarks about the NFL. Then they talk about Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant’s recent Twitter snafu and his fragile psyche. And broadcaster and former U.S. soccer player Marcelo Balboa joins for a conversation about hot, new Major League Soccer team Atlanta United FC.
NFL protests (1:35): Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Marcus Thompson of The Athletic discuss a remarkable weekend in professional sports that began with Donald Trump calling protesting NFL players “sons of bitches” and culminated in hundreds of athletes, coaches, owners, and others across sports rebuking the president in a wave of on-field protests and statements.
Kevin Durant (27:16): Stefan, Josh, and Marcus assess Kevin Durant’s apparent insecurities—reflected in his new line of Nike sneakers with insoles that take on his critics—and whether it’s possible to be an NBA superstar and also mingle with the public like a regular guy.
Soccer (41:13): Stefan interviews three-time World Cup soccer player Marcelo Balboa about Atlanta United FC, the Major League Soccer expansion team that recently drew a league-record 70,000 fans to a game in a new stadium in Atlanta.
Afterballs (48:17):
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