Hang Up and Listen

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler to discuss her story on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ array of hand signals. They also discuss New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $800 million offseason spending spree and look back at 1972’s “Immaculate Reception” by Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris. Rodgers (3:00): The Packers QB bristled over Kahler’s well-sourced story on why rookie receivers struggle in Green Bay. Mets (26:33): Cohen’s lavish spending hit a speed bump after medical concerns over free agent Carlos Correa. Immaculate Reception (45:08): Why it’s considered the greatest play in NFL history. Afterball (1:01:42): Stefan on how the New York Cosmos wooed Pele in the 1970s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Argentinian journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo to talk about Lionel Messi’s coronation on soccer’s biggest stage and then continue their conversation about the greatest World Cup final ever. They also discuss a bizarre weekend in the NFL and assess the life and career of college football coach Mike Leach. World Cup final (3:36): What it means to Argentina and how it felt to watch it. NFL (28:55): The Vikings came back from how far? The Patriots did what? Leach (44:08): Why there will never be another coach like him. Afterball (1:05:12): Joel on Brittney Griner, high school phenom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim to talk about journalist Grant Wahl, who died suddenly over the weekend at the age of 49. They’re also joined by the Atlantic’s Franklin Foer for a conversation about Morocco’s thrilling run to the World Cup semifinals. Finally, they discuss Brittney Griner’s long-awaited return to the United States after a prisoner swap with Russia. Grant Wahl (6:26): The life and legacy of a great journalist, mentor, and friend. Morocco (32:01): What their success means for soccer, Africa, and the Arab world. Griner (49:08): How she got released and what comes next. Afterball (1:04:31): Josh on Grant Wahl’s Sports Illustrated cover story on LeBron James. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to discuss the U.S. loss to the Netherlands at the World Cup. Josh and Joel Anderson are then joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner to talk about the College Football Playoff pairings and Deion Sanders’ move to Colorado. World Cup (3:43): The positives and negatives of the USMNT’s run to the round of 16. College Football Playoff (27:50): Who’s in, who’s out, and what to expect in the semifinals. Deion Sanders (49:25): Was he wrong to leave Jackson State? Afterball (1:08:47): Stefan on soccer vs. football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by journalist Meg Swanick to preview the U.S. men’s soccer team’s matchup against Iran. Ben Mathis-Lilley, the author of The Hot Seat, also joins to discuss Michigan’s win over Ohio State. Finally, they talk about the Washington Post’s feature on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. USA-Iran (4:09): The on-field and off-field implications of the USMNT’s big game. Michigan-Ohio State (25:53): How the Wolverines took down the Buckeyes again. Jerry Jones (46:30): How much responsibility does he bear for the NFL’s diversity problems? Afterball (1:07:46): Joel on the resignation of Stanford football coach David Shaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Eric Betts to discuss the U.S. men’s national team’s 1-1 draw against Wales. They also discuss the controversial opening days of the World Cup. Finally, they assess the Warriors’ and Lakers' early-season woes and Kyrie Irving’s return to the Brooklyn Nets. USA-Wales (4:24): How the USMNT fizzled after a promising start. FIFA (35:06): What’s happening in Qatar, and what the media is (and isn’t) saying about it. NBA (47:21): What’s wrong with the league’s most star-laden teams? Afterball (1:07;12): Josh on the next big star in American tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to talk about the World Cup in Qatar. They also discuss the NFL head coaching debut of the Colts’ Jeff Saturday and examine how women athletes are benefitting from the new name, image, and likeness rules in college sports. Qatar (3:08): Bribery, authoritarianism, and soccer. Jeff Saturday (24:07): He has no college or pro coaching experience. He’s running an NFL team now. NIL (43:49): Women athletes are getting paid, but is there a potential problem lurking? Afterball (59:26): Stefan on the pointed commentary about race in A Wife’s Guide to Baseball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports to talk about the Houston Astros’ World Series triumph. They also discuss LSU’s win over Alabama and the current state of SEC football. Finally, they assess Herschel Walker’s Senate candidacy. World Series (5:02): How Houston won it all. SEC football (26:12): Is Alabama on the way down? And what’s going on with Texas A&M? Herschel Walker (48:46): What’s motivating the former football star’s foray into politics? Afterball (1:08:35): Joel on what he wishes Deion Sanders would say about Jackson State and HBCUs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kyrie Irving and anti-Semitism. They also talk about the continued rise of Deion Sanders and Jackson State. And Claire Watkins of Just Women’s Sports comes on for a conversation about the championship game of the National Women’s Soccer League. Kyrie (3:09): Is it finally time for the Brooklyn Nets to get rid of him? Jackson State (28:09): Will the Prime Effect go away when Coach Prime moves on? NWSL (47:10): The stardom of Sophia Smith and the future of the league. Afterball (1:03:05): Stefan on a historic match-up between women soccer coaches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to talk about the Astros-Phillies World Series. They also discuss the decline of Russell Wilson, and possibly Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. And they assess whether Adam Silver’s NBA promotion and relegation talk is for real. World Series (5:35): How are the Astros so consistently good in the randomness of the postseason? Wilson (28:00): Is Russ cooked? NBA relegation (47:00): Could it ever happen? Afterball (1:04:36): Josh on the key to sports fan happiness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.