Hang Up and Listen

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Bucs’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Among the topics discussed: Tom Brady’s latest triumph, the Bucs’ defense, and Patrick Mahomes’ valiant effort in defeat. They also assess the rising conflict between NBA players and the league. Super Bowl (4:39): How Tampa won, why Kansas City lost, and why we were so wrong about Tom Brady. NBA (38:03): Why the league’s best players are so upset about the All-Star Game. Afterballs (56:36): Josh with more on Jackie Robinson’s letter to Bill Keefe and Stefan on Muhammad Ali and One Night in Miami. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the latest NFL hiring cycle, where just one Black coach got hired to run a team. They also assess Australia’s tennis quarantine and discuss whether Curt Schilling will break the baseball Hall of Fame.NFL coaches (01:52): What if anything can be done to get Black coaches more opportunities?COVID (20:52): Sports in Australia vs. sports in the pandemic-ravaged United States.Curt Schilling (35:56): Should writers consider his “character” when casting their Hall of Fame ballots?Afterballs (54:14): Josh on Jackie Robinson vs. sportswriter Bill Keefe and Melissa Kaplan on the Phillie Phanatic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Packers’ mystifying field goal attempt and the Chiefs’ run for a second straight title. They also discuss the life and legacy of baseball legend Henry Aaron, who died last week at the age of 86.NFL (01:35): What was Packers coach Matt LaFleur thinking? What’s the secret to the Chiefs’ success?Henry Aaron (21:55): Remembering Aaron’s upbringing, his career, his chase of baseball’s home run record, and everything he needed to overcome to be great.Afterball (01:02:24): Stefan on the sad and courageous story of Black baseball players Leander and Jim Turgeson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and special guest Damon Young talk about the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ trade for James Harden and Kyrie Irving’s absence. Finally, they review the HBO documentary Tiger.NFL (01:49): Drew Brees, the concussion protocol, and the Chiefs’ gutsy fourth-down call. Nets (21:51): Is Kyrie Irving just misunderstood?Tiger (41:15): What the two-part doc reveals about Tiger Woods’ life and career.Afterball (59:29): Joel on the time Hakeem Olajuwon wanted out of Houston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Alabama’s win over Ohio State in the college football title game. They also assess how athletes and leagues reacted to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Finally, they discuss the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend.College football (01:39): What will we remember about this season, and what should we make of the Alabama dynasty?Insurrection (21:29): Why did the NBA and NFL powers that be stay silent?NFL (38:02): The Cleveland Browns won and Nickelodeon made its playoff broadcasting debut.Afterball (52:38): Stefan on Marine AFC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Washington’s win over Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football. They also discuss Alabama and Ohio State’s victories in the College Football Playoff and ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel joins for a conversation about the Duke women’s basketball team opting out of the season.NFL (01:28): Did the Eagles commit fraud in their loss to Washington or was it all just a big laugh?College Football Playoff (19:27): On Justin Fields, Ryan Day, Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, Brian Kelly and the other heroes and villains of the CFP.Duke women’s basketball (37:14): Why did the players opt out? What happens next?Afterball (55:58): Stefan remembers Penn Quaker Kevin Warren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin field listener questions about how sports changed the national response to COVID, whether the pandemic sowed mistrust between owners and players, their personal players of the year, and a whole lot more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the end of college football’s regular season and the College Football Playoff matchups. They also discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to re-sign with the Bucks. Finally, they ponder what pandemic-era changes will become permanent and which will be forgotten.College football (2:23) Did the committee get it right? Is it possible to make the sport more equitable?Giannis (22:18): Why did he decide to run it back with the Bucks? Is his decision good for the NBA? Pandemic-era changes (41:44): How will players, leagues, and fans shift to a post-pandemic age?Afterball (1:00:32): Josh on how Michael Jordan could’ve been a Dallas Maverick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode preview, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss “The Last Last Dance,” Joel’s special podcast on Michael Jordan’s tenure with the Washington Wizards. Topics discussed include why Jordan chose to go to D.C., how he treated Kwame Brown, and whether Jordan’s time in Washington makes him a more or less sympathetic figure.Sign up for Slate Plus here to hear this bonus episode in full. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special episode of Hang Up and Listen explores Michael Jordan's second comeback with the Washington Wizards. It delves into his struggles in turning the team into winners and examines what his final chapter reveals about him as a player and a person. The chapter also discusses his popularity, impact, and inspiring teammates, as well as his emotional farewell and silence on the Wizards in his Hall of Fame speech.