Hang Up and Listen

Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis to discuss Tom Brady’s unretirement and other huge quarterback news. Alex Kirshner also joins to discuss March Madness storylines and Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s suspension for betting on NFL games. Quarterbacks (3:36): Brady back to Tampa, Russell Wilson to Denver, Deshaun Watson to … somewhere. March Madness (23:20): What to watch out for in the men’s and women’s tournaments. NFL and gambling (47:03): Football, betting, and “the integrity of the game.” Afterball (1:09:06): Joel on the history of conference basketball tournaments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Yahoo’s Hannah Keyser to discuss the Major League Baseball lockout. They also talk about WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia and assess the spectacle of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game. Baseball (3:28): When will the lockout end? What’s at stake? Griner (23:16): Why was she in Russia in the first place, and what comes next for her and women’s basketball? Coach K (46:35): Was this the perfect regular-season ending to his illustrious career? Afterball (1:07:57): Stefan on Sports Illustrated’s profile of Lia Thomas and the anti-trans, anti-Thomas backlash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the sports world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also talk about LeBron James’ plan to play alongside his son Bronny. And ESPN’s Katie Barnes joins Stefan and Josh for a conversation about trans swimmer Lia Thomas. Russia (2:33): What’s happened so far and what should come next. Bronny (24:25): Is LeBron putting too much pressure on his son? How good is Bronny anyway? Lia Thomas (49:47): The UPenn swimmer is setting records amid controversy over whether she should be eligible to compete against other women. Afterball (1:14:00): Josh on yet another basketball problem that the Elam Ending fixes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Justin Peters for an Olympics wrap-up. They also discuss the Wisconsin-Michigan handshake line scuffle. Finally, Slate’s Alex Kirshner joins to talk about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to start a new golf tour. Olympics (3:01): Were there any bright spots during these dark Winter Games? Handshake fight (24:18): Why did things escalate? Should Juwan Howard have been suspended? Saudi golf (47:00): How a plan to disrupt pro golf fell apart. Afterball (1:08:23): Josh revisits his thoughts on Ben Simmons and mental health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Bengals. They’re also joined by David Epstein to discuss the decision to allow Kamila Valieva to skate in the Olympics. Finally, they assess the mega-trade between the Nets and 76ers. Super Bowl (3:36): How Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp led the Rams to victory. Valieva (23:13): Why is the 15-year-old competing after testing positive for a banned substance? NBA (45:20): Who won the James Harden for Ben Simmons swap? Afterball (1:04:27): Joel on Sherman Lewis, who never got the chance to be an NFL head coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New York Times’ John Branch to discuss Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu. They also talk about Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL and ponder the 76ers’ Ben Simmons problem and the Nets’ various conundrums. Eileen Gu (6:02): What to make of her decision to represent China at the Beijing Games. Flores (23:40): Can anything change the NFL’s hiring practices? NBA (43:15): Should we sympathize with Ben Simmons? Can the Nets turn it around? Afterball (1:04:42): Joel on Jim Brown, Syracuse basketball player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and special guest Louisa Thomas of the New Yorker discuss the NFL’s conference championship games and Tom Brady’s (probable) retirement. Then, they talk about Rafael Nadal’s record-setting Australian Open victory. Finally, Grant Wahl joins Josh and Stefan to assess the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s frigid loss to Canada.NFL (2:32): How did the Chiefs blow it? Is Joe Burrow as charismatic as he thinks he is?  Tennis (26:32): How Nadal staged the best comeback of his career.U.S. men’s soccer (45:49): Why can’t the U.S. score? Could they miss the World Cup?Afterball (1:06:49): Josh and Stefan celebrate the winner of Hang Up’s goofy sports idea contest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Lindsay Jones to discuss the NFL playoffs. Then, Ben Proudfoot joins for a conversation about Lusia Harris, the subject of his documentary short “The Queen of Basketball.” Finally, they speak with Oliver Roeder about his book Seven Games.NFL (2:21): How did the Chiefs-Bills magic happen? Are Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers done? Lusia Harris (30:12): The life and legacy of a basketball pioneer.Seven Games (50:24): How machines have changed our favorite games. Afterball (1:09:30): Josh and Stefan on Hang Up listeners’ goofy ideas to fix sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend. Then they talk about the rise of the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant. Finally, Defector’s Kalyn Kahler joins for a conversation about nepotism in NFL coaching. NFL (4:50): Do expanded playoffs mean worse games? Ja Morant (24:55): Was his block the best ever? Is he the NBA’s next superstar? Nepotism (44:54): How big of a problem is it, and can anything be done to fix it? Afterball (1:08:14): Josh, Joel, and Stefan on goofy ideas to fix sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Georgia’s win over Alabama in the college football title game. Then they break down the wild ride that was the Chargers-Raiders NFL regular-season finale. And tennis writer Ben Rothenberg helps unpack the saga of unvaccinated Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.College football (2:44): How the Bulldogs took down the Tide. Chargers-Raiders (23:08): The game theory behind the crazy almost-tie. Djokovic (44:12): Why did an Australian court allow him to stay in the country? What’s next? Afterball (1:07:03): Stefan on the Sports Word of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices