Hang Up And Listen

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk about the U.S. national soccer team’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss the huge shakeups in the Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 conferences and ESPN’s Jeff Passan assesses the fallout from the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Finally, Josh interviews Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks.   Women’s World Cup (2:47): What went wrong for the U.S. women’s national team.   NCAA (26:01): Assessing the most significant week ever in conference realignment.   MLB (49:37): Did the Mets and Angels make the right calls at the trade deadline?   Chris Eubanks (01:07:51): A conversation with one of the most fascinating men in tennis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Chuck Culpepper to talk about big wins for Colombia and Australia at the Women’s World Cup. Alex Kirshner of Slate and the Split Zone Duo podcast also joins to discuss whether NFL running backs should go on strike and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown getting the biggest NBA deal ever.   Women’s World Cup (2:40): The scene in the stadium when Australia thrashed Canada.   NFL running backs (21:34): What can they do to get more respect and more cash?   Big-money deals (42:47): Is there any amount of money that’s too much for a pro athlete to make?   Afterball (1:02:22): Stefan on the world Scrabble championships in Las Vegas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin is joined by the Athletic’s Steph Yang to talk about the opening days of the Women’s World Cup. Author Jonathan Clegg also joins to discuss Lionel Messi’s MLS debut. And the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay assesses the 2023 Tour de France and the Netflix documentary Tour de France: Unchained.   Women’s World Cup (3:32): What are the main takeaways from the U.S. win over Vietnam?   Messi (20:31): What does success look like for Messi, his club, and Major League Soccer?   Tour de France (40:01): How a close race turned into a rout for Jonas Vingegaard.   Afterball (58:20): Josh on the Kolbe Conative Index. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin is joined by Joel Anderson and Ben Mathis-Lilley to talk about Northwestern firing football coach Pat Fitzgerald in the midst of a hazing scandal. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim then comes on to discuss Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Finally, Josh and Stefan Fatsis speak with the Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins about her piece on Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.   Northwestern (5:44): Why Fitzgerald got axed.   Wimbledon (28:30): Is this a changing of the guard in men’s tennis?   Evert and Navratilova (51:03): How cancer diagnoses brought the rivals and friends closer together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s NBA Summer League debut. The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans also joins to talk about baseball stars Elly de la Cruz, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Shohei Ohtani. Finally, legendary New York Times sports columnist Robert Lipsyte comes on to talk about the demise of the Times sports department.   Wembanyama (5:45): What happened with Britney Spears? And what about his iffy debut?   MLB (29:46): A look at the game’s most exciting players.   New York Times (51:06): A Times legend on what comes next for the paper’s sports section. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by TV producer Mike Schur for a special episode: a debate on which sports have generated the best art and made the greatest contributions to culture. Topics discussed include Schur’s Field of Dreams adaptation, whether basketball or football has a greater canon, and if boxing will lose its cultural footprint.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to talk about Luis Arraez’s run at a .400 batting average. The Athletic’s Steph Yang also joins to discuss the U.S. women’s national team’s World Cup roster. Finally, college golfers Maycee Kay Aycock and Sarah Marshall come on to explain why they stuck with the sport despite shooting some of the worst scores of all time.   .400 (3:14): Why it’s still a magic number in baseball.   USWNT (21:57): Will injuries doom them at the World Cup?   Bad golfers (42:26): How two women from Meredith College became sports heroes.   Afterball (1:02:08): Josh on meat judging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Joel Anderson talk about whether the Pelicans should trade Zion Williamson. Josh and Stefan are also joined by the Athletic’s Paul Tenorio to discuss the U.S. men’s national soccer team's wins over Mexico and Canada and the rehiring of Gregg Berhalter. Finally, Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal joins for a conversation about how Vegas became America’s No. 1 sports town.   Zion (4:47): The Pelicans are in a very tough spot.   U.S. soccer (27:35): Why Gregg Berhalter got his old job back.   Las Vegas (56:14): How it went from a sports desert to every league’s favorite destination.   Afterball (01:11:36): Stefan on the World Football League’s very colorful pants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss how the Denver Nuggets took a commanding lead in the NBA Finals. Next, Slate’s Henry Grabar comes on to talk about Novak Djokovic’s record-setting French Open title. Finally, Josh is joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner and the Fried Egg’s Brendan Porath to sort through the PGA Tour’s new deal with the Saudis.   NBA Finals (2:16): What makes Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray a historically great duo?   French Open (26:55): How Djokovic keeps winning.   Golf (49:37): Why the PGA Tour reversed its big moral stand.   Afterball (1:13:34): Josh and Louisa discuss her feature story on how pitcher Daniel Bard lost control, regained it, and lost it again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the NBA Finals. The New York Times’ Tariq Panja also comes on for a conversation about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lure Lionel Messi and conquer global soccer. Finally, the Athletic’s Zach Buchanan discusses his piece on the pioneering mascot the San Diego Chicken. Nuggets-Heat (3:05): How Miami tied up the series. Saudi soccer (24:18): Can they get Messi? What are they trying to accomplish? The Chicken (42:49): What Ted Giannoulas created. Afterball (1:05:20): Josh on Rodney “Crash” McCray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Joel Anderson to talk about the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Heat. They’re also joined by Mike Simmonds of Luton Today for a conversation about Luton Town’s rise to the Premier League. And finally, writer Sam Miller comes on to discuss the indelible image of Randy Johnson killing a bird with a fastball.   Celtics-Heat (6:49): How Boston came so far, and then collapsed.   Luton Town (28:27): The inside scoop on an incredible underdog story.   Baseball and birds (47:15): Why we’re still talking about a pitch from 2001.   Afterball (1:07:07): Stefan on Tom Wambsgans and Bill Wambsganss and Josh on whether Clarence Thomas could dunk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis discuss the Heat and Nuggets and their stars Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic. They’re also joined by writers Dave Zirin and Jesse Washington to talk about the life and legacy of Jim Brown. Finally, Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman joins to assess Brittney Griner’s return, Becky Hammon’s suspension, and other WNBA storylines.   NBA (3:10): How Miami and Denver are steamrolling to the NBA Finals.   Jim Brown (24:00): He was a football star, a civil rights icon, and a domestic abuser. How should we think about him?   WNBA (54:25): Making sense of the busiest opening week in league history.   Afterball (1:13:56): Stefan on race, wealth, and baseball in Washington, D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss the 76ers’ Game 7 loss to the Celtics and other NBA playoff storylines. Meg Rowley of FanGraphs also joins to assess the terrible Oakland A’s and the excellent Tampa Bay Rays. Finally, the New York Times’ Sarah Lyall talks about reporting on the Westminster Dog Show.   NBA (3:26): How Philly blew it and what to look for in the conference finals.   Baseball (30:15): Are the A’s one of the worst teams in history?   Dogs (52:13): How a breed few people have heard of won Best in Show.   Afterball (1:08:41): Stefan on Joe Kapp, NFL labor pioneer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Slate’s Jack Hamilton and Ben Mathis-Lilley discuss Nikola Jokic’s tiff with Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Kevin Durant’s quest for a third title. They also talk about Alabama’s head baseball coach getting fired in a sports gambling scandal. Finally, they assess Bronny James’ decision to go to USC.   NBA (3:11): The subplots and plot twists of the Suns-Nuggets Western Conference semis.   Gambling (24:58): The NCAA and the pro sports leagues are walking a thin line with legalized betting.   Bronny (47:50): What his decision to play college basketball says about the sport and his future prospects.   Afterball (1:05:00): Josh and Jack on gun violence, sports, and the three Virginia football players who were killed in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to talk about the Warriors’ Game 7 win over the Kings. The Toronto Star’s Bruce Arthur also joins to discuss the Bruins’ NHL playoffs flop and the Maple Leafs’ historic first-round victory. Finally, Extra Points’ Matt Brown assesses Deion Sanders’ gutting of the Colorado football team.   Warriors-Kings (3:26): How Steph willed the defending champs to victory.   NHL (6:08): Another year, another regular-season juggernaut that won’t win the title.   Colorado football (48:50): Are Deion Sanders’ roster cuts immoral?   Afterballs (1:11:20): Stefan on a Penn basketball star in the transfer portal and Josh on the time a German soccer club signed the entire Cuban national team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Jack Hamilton to talk about Draymond Green, Dillon Brooks, and NBA villainy. Chicago White Sox announcer Jason Benetti also joins to discuss how to call a baseball game in the pitch-clock era. Finally, Talia Barrington comes on for a conversation about same-sex pairs in figure skating.   NBA villains (3:01): The basketball playoffs need bad guys.   Jason Benetti (24:39): “We are covering a different sport now.”   Same-sex pairs (47:10): Is figure skating ready for a monumental change?   Afterball (1:05:24): Stefan on the Athletics’ long history of threatening to move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Defector’s Patrick Redford to talk about the Sacramento Kings’ first playoff win in 17 years. Defector’s Dave McKenna also joins to commemorate the (supposed) end of Dan Snyder’s ownership of the Washington Commanders. Finally, Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim comes on to assess the WTA’s decision to return to China.   Kings (3:21): What it felt and sounded like when Sacramento beat Golden State.   Snyder (23:31): Will D.C. ever recover from his horrific tenure?   WTA (45:47): Is women’s tennis choosing profit over principle?   Afterball (1:07:47): Josh on a remarkable shift in American tennis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton to talk about what went wrong for the Dallas Mavericks and to preview the NBA postseason. Slate’s Jim Newell also joins to discuss Jon Rahm’s Masters win. Finally, they speak with LJ Rader about his Twitter and Instagram accounts Art But Make It Sports.   NBA (4:20): Why did the Mavs lose on purpose? And how is the Western Conference shaping up?   Masters (24:31): What the year’s first major means for LIV and the future of golf.   Art But Make It Sports (44:35): Sports photos + paintings = mash-up magic.   Afterball (1:03:30): Stefan on the baseball Hall of Famer who lived in his childhood home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to discuss LSU’s victory over Iowa in the women’s NCAA Tournament. Tennis player Matija Pecotic also joins to talk about how he went from a full-time job to victory on the pro tour. Finally, Jody Avirgan discusses his podcast Good Sport and whether sports debate shows are hurting America.   Women’s NCAA Tournament (6:44): The on-court battles and the off-court controversies.   Pecotic (31:00): The star of one of the sports world’s best underdog stories tells all.   Sports debate shows (54:12): What has Stephen A. Smith wrought?   Afterball (01:15:30): Josh on some recent remembrances of Zelmo Beaty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to talk about Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark. The Washington Post’s Chuck Culpepper also joins to assess the most surprising men’s Final Four ever. Finally, Tom Haberstroh of Meadowlark Media discusses the vitriol directed at NBA referees.   Clark (2:50): The secrets of the Iowa point guard’s success.   Men’s tourney surprises (26:33): Miami? San Diego State? Florida Atlantic?!?   NBA refs (44:20): Who’s responsible for all the rancor?   Afterball (1:07:20): Stefan on the Princeton basketball team’s not-so-sad Sweet Sixteen defeat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices