Hang Up and Listen

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Washington Post’s Molly Hensley-Clancy to discuss her reporting on the troubles surrounding Ja Morant. ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. also joins to talk about whether Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder will get forced out of the NFL. Finally, they speak to Slate’s Alex Kirshner about the quarterback dilemmas at the top of the NFL Draft.Morant (3:17): What comes next for the Memphis Grizzlies star?Snyder (22:07): The scandals are mounting. Will he finally get the boot?Quarterback prospects (42:07): Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and the Bears’ big choice at No. 1.Afterball (1:01:05): Josh on podcast ads and the National Council on Problem Gambling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Joseph Goodman of AL.com to talk about the murder roiling the Alabama basketball program. They’re also joined by Jeremy Woo to discuss his Sports Illustrated cover story on French basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama. Finally, CNBC’s Alex Sherman comes on for a conversation about the death of regional sports networks. Alabama (5:08): Why is star freshman Brandon Miller still playing? Wembanyama (27:42): Inside the media rollout of the next NBA superstar. RSNs (48:41): Is the sports TV business model dead? Afterball (1:11:59): Stefan on a century of complaints about slow baseball games. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Kevin Van Valkenburg of No Laying Up to talk about Tiger Woods’ return to tournament golf. Claire Watkins of Just Women’s Sports also joins to discuss the Canadian women’s soccer team’s fight for equal pay. Finally, Michael Baumann of Fangraphs comes on to assess Major League Baseball’s latest rule changes. Tiger Woods (3:14): His competitors on the PGA Tour think he could win again. Equal pay (24:46): How the labor battle in Canada is different from the one in the U.S. New baseball rules (43:43): A pitch clock! Banning the shift! Bases as big as pizza boxes! Afterball (1:06:19): Josh on ghost runners. Or are they zombie runners? Or something else? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Chiefs’ victory over the Eagles. They also discuss Kevin Durant’s move from the Nets to the Suns. Finally, the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins to talk about South Carolina and its challengers in women’s college basketball. Super Bowl (4:15): Was the game-clinching holding call the right decision? Durant (25:22): What’s the Nets’ legacy? What are the Suns’ title chances? Women’s college basketball (44:32): Can anyone stop the Gamecocks from winning another title? Afterball (1:04:56): Joel on a potential boycott of Florida schools by college athletes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by NPR’s Gene Demby to discuss the trade of talented, problematic superstar Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks, and to preview the Super Bowl match-up between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Also, Sabreena Merchant of the Athletic helps explain what an unprecedented free-agent frenzy means for the WNBA.  Kyrie Irving (5:05): The perpetually disgruntled superstar is on the move again. Super Bowl (28:54): After more than half a century, two Black quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, are finally starting in the Super Bowl. WNBA (48:39): Free-agent moves by superstars Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart signal an era of super-teams. Afterball (1:07:46): Stefan on Philadelphia’s outdated self-image as an underdog town. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Lindsay Jones of the Ringer to break down the NFL conference championship games, won by the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Joel, Stefan, and Josh Levin discuss the impact of college athletes finally making money through name, image, and likeness rights. Finally, an interview with former Olympian Edie Thys Morgan about Mikaela Shiffrin, who is on the verge of becoming the winningest ski racer of all time.  NFL (3:49): The biggest takeaways from the NFL conference championship games. NIL (27:49): Is college sports funding declining because athletes are getting money? Mikaela Shiffrin (50:48): The skier is one World Cup win from tying Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time record. Afterball (1:06:46): Stefan talks to Leander Schaerlaeckens about Weston McKennie, Leeds, and the U.S. men’s national soccer team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss Tony Dungy’s history of anti-gay rhetoric, and whether NBC and the NFL should do something about it. Finally, Slate contributor Isaac Butler joins to talk about the rise of American men at the Australian Open and Netflix’s tennis reality series Break Point. NFL (5:37): The biggest takeaways from the weekend’s games. Dungy (26:19): Should the ex-coach still be on television? Tennis (47:49): Who are all these new American stars? Is Break Point worth watching? Afterball (1:11:37): Josh on Shannon Sharpe, Vernon Maxwell, and NBA fracases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Bomani Jones to discuss the Cowboys’ blowout win over the Bucs and other storylines from the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. They also talk about all the high-scoring games in the NBA this season. Finally, Joel and Josh interview pool legend Jeanette Lee, aka the Black Widow, who’s featured in the new documentary Jeanette Lee Vs. NFL (4:23): Is Tom Brady going to retire? Should he? NBA (25:42): Why are so many players putting up 50-point games? And is all that scoring good for the sport? Jeanette Lee (46:47): The Black Widow speaks about her life and career. Afterball (1:02:33): Joel on the sad decline of Georgetown basketball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Georgia’s win over TCU in the college football title game. They also discuss Damar Hamlin’s remarkable recovery and how the NFL has tried to move on. Finally, they assess the Berhalter-Reyna rift that’s tearing apart U.S. men’s soccer. Georgia-TCU (2:26): What it’s like to be on the wrong side of one of the biggest blowouts in sports history. Hamlin (25:10): Watching pro football a week after the Bills safety’s near-death on the field. U.S. soccer (48:59): The pettiness and sadness of a family dispute that’s gone public. Afterball (1:07:20): Josh on a college basketball replay controversy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field during Monday Night Football and what came after. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss TCU and Georgia’s thrilling wins in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Finally, author Alex Bellos discusses the Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who died last week at age 82. Hamlin (3:26): Is it fair to criticize the NFL’s response to Monday’s on-field crisis? College Football Playoff (25:52): How TCU and Georgia took down Michigan and Ohio State. Pelé (46:23): Remembering the greatest soccer player of all time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.