Hang Up and Listen

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen to talk about the latest on the coronavirus and sports. They also interview Cohen about his book The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks. Finally, they assess a chaotic week in New York professional basketball. Coronavirus (1:52): When will our sense of American exceptionalism end and reality set in? Hot hand (19:35): What the latest research tells us about the elusive “zone.” Knicks and Nets (39:24): James Dolan is beefing with Spike Lee and Brooklyn just fired its coach. Yowza. Afterballs (59:48): Stefan on team handball and Joel on Carl Crawford.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Hang Up and Listen each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the rise of Zion Williamson. They also discuss the legends and myths of the NFL’s scouting combine and assess how the spread of the coronavirus will affect sports around the world. Zion (3:59): Understanding the might and charisma of the teenage NBA superstar. NFL combine (19:49): Is pro football’s annual scouting carnival actually useful as an evaluation tool? Coronavirus (36:08): How teams, leagues, and the Olympics might be affected.Afterballs (49:35): Stefan on a historic Penn collapse and Josh on a fateful kick over the uprights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the push for a 17-game NFL season and John Beilein’s short, tumultuous tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joseph Bien-Kahn also joins to discuss ultrarunner Jim Walmsley’s quest to qualify for the Olympic marathon.NFL (01:42): The pros and cons of a longer professional football season.Beilein (17:31): He was a great college basketball coach. How did it go so wrong in the NBA?Ultramarathon (33:30): Can the world’s best super-long-distance runner hang with the best for 26.2 miles?Afterballs (51:26): Stefan on Little Leagues and major-league nicknames and Josh on segregation at the Sugar Bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and special guest Lindsay Gibbs talk about the fallout from the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. They also discuss WNBA free agency and the rise of Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu. Finally, they review the Netflix docuseries Cheer.Astros (03:13): What should we make of baseball players’ anger toward their Houston brethren?Women’s basketball (19:53): What’s the deal with all the player movement in the WNBA? And is Sabrina Ionescu the sport’s next huge star?Cheer (38:16): What makes the Netflix docuseries great and why it’s often disturbing to watch.Afterballs (01:01:00): Joel on the Knuckleheads podcast and Lindsay on the pioneering Immaculata women’s basketball program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the opening weekend of the new XFL. They also discuss the Houston Rockets’ small-ball experiment and review ESPN’s new Michael Vick documentary.XFL (01:57): Is the latest iteration of Vince McMahon’s NFL competitor built to last?Rockets (22:48): Is playing super-duper small a smart idea, a desperate ploy, or a smart idea that’s also a desperate ploy?Vick (37:11): Assessing the quarterback’s contrition 13 years after he pleaded guilty to a dogfighting charge.Afterball (58:02): Stefan on one of Bobby Knight’s most memorable meltdowns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Chiefs’ win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Stefan and Josh are then joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to discuss the wins by Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin at the Australian Open.Super Bowl (01:31): The great Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a comeback victory as Andy Reid outcoached Kyle Shanahan.Australian Open (24:34): How Novak Djokovic controlled his mind and body to beat Dominic Thiem, and what you need to know about the latest American woman to win a grand slam title.Afterballs (46:05): Stefan on “Proud to Be an Astro” and Josh on the tragic story of Jim and Martha Tyrer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Kobe Bryant’s on-court and off-court legacies with NPR’s Gene Demby and Lindsay Gibbs of the Power Plays! newsletter and the Burn It All Down podcast. Kobe’s shocking death (00:50): What we felt when we heard about the helicopter crash, and why his peers thought Kobe was Michael Jordan’s heir. Kobe on the court (14:09): Why so many fans loved his game and so many didn’t. The sexual assault allegations and Kobe’s support for women’s basketball (35:48): How the case against him is and isn’t remembered, and how to reconcile it with Kobe’s post-retirement life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about how the Chiefs and 49ers made the Super Bowl. They also discuss the new Netflix documentary Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. Finally, Fatsis and Mike Pesca interview the greatest Jeopardy! player of all time, Ken Jennings.Chiefs and 49ers (02:49): On Patrick Mahomes, the 49ers’ running game, Andy Reid, and Kyle Shanahan.Aaron Hernandez (20:50): Does the new Netflix doc have any reason to exist?Ken Jennings (36:20): The greatest Jeopardy! player of all time tells all.Afterballs (01:03:02): Joel on Marshawn Lynch and Stefan on the Memphis Kings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and new Hang Up and Listen co-host Joel Anderson revel in LSU’s win over Clemson in college football’s title game. ESPN’s Jeff Passan talks about MLB’s punishment of the Houston Astros. Finally, Daniel Engber discusses his story on a rape accusation against three New York Mets, and how those players were never charged.LSU-Clemson (04:21): How the Tigers from Baton Rouge won it all.Astros (20:34): What signal was commissioner Rob Manfred trying to send with the penalties he imposed against Houston for sign-stealing?Mets (40:52): A woman accused three New York Mets of raping her in 1991. Those players weren't charged. She was forgotten.Afterballs (1:10:05): Stefan on the NBA trillion (or is it a quintillion?) and Josh on a Sporcle quiz that made him sad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Slate’s Seth Stevenson to discuss the Patriots’ playoff loss and the post-NFL life of Rob Gronkowski. ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan also joins to talk about the legacy of NBA commissioner David Stern. Finally, they interview Theo Anthony about his documentary Subject to Review. Patriots and Gronk (01:39): Why couldn’t Tom Brady and Bill Belichick pull it together this year? And should we pity Rob Gronkowski or feel happy that he got out of the NFL at 29? David Stern (17:41): How we should think about the legendary commissioner, who had a reputation for meanness but made the NBA a corporate giant. Subject to Review (42:31): A heady, trippy documentary about replay in tennis. Afterballs (57:48): Stefan on the origins of “trash panda” and Josh on decibel readings at football games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices