Hang Up and Listen

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by former Deadspin staffers Megan Greenwell, Tom Ley, and Barry Petchesky to discuss the site’s demise and what caused it. Topics covered include the conflicts between writers, editors, and management; journalism and private equity; and how Deadspin evolved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to discuss the Astros’ massive World Series comeback. Deadspin’s Laura Wagner also joins to talk about Houston’s front office debacle, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham assesses Week 1 of the NBA season. World Series (03:37): How Houston turned it around and how Max Scherzer’s neck undid Washington. Astros front office (22:34): What the Astros’ arrogance reveals about the culture of baseball. NBA (39:22): Overreacting to the Warriors’ awful start, rookie Ja Morant’s star turn, and more. Afterballs (57:16): Stefan on the last gasps of segregation in baseball and Josh searches for a seven-game series without a home win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by ESPN’s Jeff Passan to discuss the World Series matchup between the Astros and Nationals. The Ringer’s Kevin Clark also joins to talk about the Rams’ deal for Jalen Ramsey, and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl assesses the U.S. men’s national soccer team. World Series (01:45): How Houston and Washington made it and what to watch for when they square off. Jalen Ramsey (19:47): Are the Rams outsmarting the rest of the NFL or outsmarting themselves? U.S. soccer (34:59): Gregg Berhalter’s gotten off to a rough start. Is it time for the USMNT to cut bait and start over? Afterballs (53:18): Stefan on the genius of @DonZemmer and Josh on a baseball walk-off conundrum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Ethan Strauss to talk about LeBron James’ comments on China; the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh discusses the Nationals’ playoff run and why baseballs aren’t flying as far; and Ed Caesar assesses marathon record breakers Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei. LeBron, the NBA, and China (02:19): Why the league’s travails are getting worse, and what the NBA can (and should) do about them. MLB playoffs (20:50): The Nationals’ starting pitching triumphs and the decline of home runs in the postseason, explained. Marathoners (40:03): How Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour barrier and Brigid Kosgei shattered the women’s world record. Afterballs (58:59): Stefan on CTE romance novels and Josh on shaking press boxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Joshua Keating to talk about the NBA’s China kerfuffle. ESPN’s Sam Miller also joins to discuss the baseball playoffs and David Epstein assesses Alberto Salazar’s doping suspension and the world track and field championships in Qatar. NBA and China (02:02): How Daryl Morey’s tweet about the Hong Kong protests instigated an international incident and what the NBA should do about it. MLB playoffs (17:29): Does the Nationals’ bullpen strategy make sense? Can anyone beat the Astros? Salazar and Qatar (35:42): Why the legendary track coach got suspended, and what to make of the hot and poorly attended world track and field championships. Afterballs (55:26): Stefan on carrying jockstraps and Josh on a DVR patent war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Allison Benedikt to answer your questions about youth sports. Topics covered include whether and how to teach your kids how to talk trash, how to balance sports time with family leisure time, and whether it’s ethical to watch football if you don’t want your child to play football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Undefeated’s Jesse Washington to talk about the latest allegations against Antonio Brown and the story of a high school wrestler who was instructed to cut off his dreadlocks. The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh also assesses the disappointing Cubs and Red Sox and the surprising Twins. Antonio Brown (01:17): What we should make of the latest twists in the Brown saga, and what the Patriots should be forced to reckon with after signing Brown and then releasing him. Andrew Johnson (21:15): The high schooler went viral after a referee told him to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit his match. Here’s the story behind that story. Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins (36:05): What went wrong for the Cubs and Red Sox and how can they fix their problems? And what went right for the Twins? Afterballs (58:20): Stefan on powder-puff football and Josh on the Cubs on WGN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by SB Nation’s Matt Brown to talk about California’s Fair Pay to Play Act; the New York Times’ Joe Drape discusses Triple Crown winner Justify’s positive drug test; and ex-NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan joins for a conversation about his memoir My Life on the Line. Fair Pay to Play Act (01:54): What does this California legislation mean for the future of college sports and athlete compensation? Justify (21:49): What we know about the horse, its trainer Bob Baffert, and the process whereby a positive drug test got tossed out. Ryan O’Callaghan (39:53): What it was like to be a closeted player in the NFL, and how his life changed after coming out. Afterballs (59:26): Stefan on the Dickerod and Josh on coaches’ wives as “recruits.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to talk about the women’s and men’s U.S. Open finals. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss Antonio Brown’s move to the Patriots and the secrets of the Clemson football program’s success. U.S. Open (01:43): Why does Serena Williams keep losing major finals and how good is Bianca Andreescu? How did Daniil Medvedev come back against Rafael Nadal and how did Nadal hold on to win? Antonio Brown (21:15): Did Brown orchestrate his move to New England, and who’s the most to blame for his breakup with the Raiders? Clemson (41:46): Is the cohesion of Clemson’s title-winning football program impressive, creepy, or both? Afterballs (59:06): Stefan on ambulances on the field at high school football games and Josh on “Faintin’ Frank” Varrichione.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin talk about the first week of the U.S. Open. Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders also joins to preview the NFL season, and Sheba Rawson of the Timbers Army fan group discusses the dispute over political signage in Major League Soccer. U.S. Open (01:16): How Taylor Townsend and Kristie Ahn had the best week of their careers. NFL (22:19): What should we expect from Baker Mayfield’s Cleveland Browns and Kyler Murray’s Arizona Cardinals? Politics and MLS (38:51): Should MLS ban an anti-fascist symbol? Afterballs (55:43): Stefan on Carli Lloyd and kicking Josh on watching tennis from courtside.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices