Hang Up and Listen

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the back-and-forth NBA Finals between the Warriors and Celtics. The New York Times’ Andrew Das also joins to talk about Ukraine’s loss to Wales in a World Cup playoff match. Finally, they discuss the Oklahoma softball juggernaut. NBA Finals (3:09): How the Celtics took Game 1, and how the Warriors struck back. Ukraine-Wales (25:00): An epic sporting event with global consequences. Oklahoma softball (47:30): A deep dive on a remarkable dynasty. Afterball (1:08:57): Josh on Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Rafael Nadal, and tennis inevitability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin and Joel Anderson are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals matchup. Bradford William Davis then joins to talk about Josh Donaldson’s suspension for calling Tim Anderson “Jackie” and Tommy Pham slapping Joc Pederson for allegedly cheating in fantasy football. NBA (2:53): What the rise of the Warriors and the Celtics says about pro basketball team-building. Donaldson vs. Anderson (22:48): The deeper meaning behind a public war of words. Pham vs. Pederson (44:43): How a fantasy football dispute spilled over to the baseball diamond. Afterball (1:05:13): Josh on the “rebuilding year” as a (possibly) dying concept. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the NBA playoffs and Patrick Beverley’s chaotic media appearances; by Alex Kirshner to talk about the war of words between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher; and by the Washington Post’s Molly Hensley-Clancy to assess U.S. Soccer’s landmark equal pay deal. NBA (2:07): Will the conference finals get any better? And is Patrick Beverley telling the truth or spinning his own narrative? Saban-Fisher (27:30): Where did this fight come from, and what’s it really about? U.S. Soccer (48:53): The anatomy of a historic collective bargaining agreement. Afterball (1:07:32): Stefan on the death of Roger Angell at age 101. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinson Cunningham, Josh Levin, and Ben Mathis-Lilley talk about the Mavs’ shocking win over the Suns, the Celtics’ romp over the Bucks, the 76ers’ flameout, and other NBA playoff happenings. They also discuss Tom Brady’s megabucks contract to call NFL games for Fox. Mavs-Suns (3:05): How Luka Doncic and Dallas embarrassed Phoenix. More NBA (24:53): With the Bucks and Suns gone, who’s the favorite to win the title? Brady (48:00): Why does he want to be an announcer? Will he be any good? Afterball (1:08:28): Ben on Greg Norman, Joe Biden, and what it’s OK to say about Saudi Arabia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New York Times‘ Joe Drape to talk about Rich Strike’s shocking Kentucky Derby win. They also discuss Brittney Griner’s continued detention in Russia. Finally, Shane Ryan joins for a conversation about the Ryder Cup and sports trivia. Kentucky Derby (2:27): Inside one of the biggest upsets in horse racing history. Brittney Griner (24:41): What comes next in the diplomatic crisis? Ryder Cup and trivia (45:39): The evolution of golf’s showcase event, and the theory and practice of sports trivia. Afterball (1:10:47): Vinson on Draymond Green, NBA ombudsman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinson Cunningham and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Slate’s Jack Hamilton to talk about the NBA playoffs and the dawn of de facto free agency in college sports. Also, Kalyn Kahler of Defector discusses the NFL draft and her reporting on a rape allegation against an NFL lineman.NBA playoffs (2:03): Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an easy win over the Celtics. Can Boston turn it around? College sports (25:07): Name, image, and likeness rights have quickly ushered in a new era.NFL draft (42:26): Edge rushers and wide receivers, not quarterbacks, were the hot commodities in Vegas.Afterball (1:05:40): Stefan on the rise of the “edge”—or it is “EDGE”?—in the NFL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the decline of the Brooklyn Nets and the rise of the New Orleans Pelicans. They also discuss Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes, and they review the HBO series Winning Time, on the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. NBA playoffs (3:55): What’s gone wrong for Brooklyn? What’s going right for New Orleans? Wimbledon (25:34): Is there any logic to banning individual Russian athletes? Winning Time (49:08): What the show gets right and what it gets wrong. Afterball (1:09:52): Josh on hiding in sports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the epic Game 1 of the Nets-Celtics series. They also talk about the Minnesota Timberwolves, young playoff stars, and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai. Finally, the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh joins for a conversation about near-perfection at the start of the baseball season.Nets-Celtics (3:05): Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and a whole lot more. NBA playoffs (26:39): What we’re watching this postseason.Baseball (49:02): The sadness of two perfect games that almost were.Afterball (1:09:34): Vinson on the Timberwolves’ spotty playoff history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinson Cunningham, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the death of quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Slate’s Jim Newell also joins to discuss Tiger Woods’ dramatic return at the Masters. Finally, they assess the Los Angeles Lakers’ terrible season. Dwayne Haskins (1:29): How should we talk about athletes who die young? Tiger Woods (24:57): What comes after his miraculous comeback? Lakers (47:58): What went so horribly wrong? Afterball (1:08:17): Stefan on major leaguers who went for 7-for-7 in a single game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kansas’ win over North Carolina’s in the men’s basketball title game, and the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins to talk about South Carolina’s win over UConn for the women’s title. Finally, they talk about Eric Church, and when it’s OK for sports to trump social and professional obligations. NCAA men (2:21): How the Jayhawks turned it around against the Tar Heels. NCAA women (22:16): How the Gamecocks steamrolled the Huskies. Eric Church (46:47): Was he wrong to cancel a concert to go to the Final Four? Afterball (1:06:51): Josh on a crazy two months in pro tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.