Hang Up and Listen

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the Vikings’ last-second win over the Saints and other NFL playoff doings; the Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen joins to talk about Trae Young; and Sam Miller comes on for a conversation about a 50-inning baseball game. NFL playoffs (1:35): Stefan consoles Josh about the Saints’ tragic defeat. They also talk about whether Blake Bortles is an elite quarterback and the dominance of the Jaguars’ and Vikings’ defenses. Trae Young (20:15): Ben Cohen explains how Stephen Curry influenced Oklahoma’s freshman superstar and other members of the “Curry Generation.” Fifty-Inning Baseball (37:25):Sam Miller dares to imagine what might happen if a major-league game lasted much, much longer than any game has ever lasted before. Afterballs (59:49): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis, former NFL player Nate Jackson, and football writer Melissa Jacobs discuss the NFL playoffs. Then Stefan talks to Spencer Hall of SB Nation about the University of Central Florida’s claim on college football’s national championship. And Stefan talks to soccer writer Jonathan Wilson about Manchester City’s dominance of England’s Premier League.NFL playoffs (1:09): Stefan Fatsis, former NFL player Nate Jackson, and football writer Melissa Jacobs discuss the first round of the NFL playoffs, more controversy over head injuries, a reported rift inside the New England Patriots, and Jon Gruden’s hiring as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.College football (14:35): Stefan talks to Spencer Hall of SB Nation about unbeaten Central Florida’s self-declaration as the national champion of major college football.Manchester City (29:50): Stefan talks to Blizzard editor Jonathan Wilson about Manchester City’s dominance in England’s Premier League, and the chances it can pull off an unprecedented “quadruple”—winning the league title, FA Cup, League Cup, and European Champions League.Afterball (39:51) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Gist’s Mike Pesca to discuss a whole bunch of sports conundrums. Among the questions they ponder: How many seventh-grade basketball players would it take to beat LeBron James? How would you change an NBA court or an NFL field if irregularities were allowed? What’s a more worthwhile career—a few years of brilliance or a decade-plus of mediocrity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Ben Strauss to discuss why academically rigorous universities like Wesleyan are betting big on football. They also speak with Rick Telander about the life and legacy of hoops legend Connie Hawkins.Division III football (3:09): Ben Strauss joins to assess the trend of elite schools investing big in sports, and what happens on campus when universities prioritize football. Connie Hawkins (23:15): Rick Telander, the author of Heaven Is a Playground, explains how Connie Hawkins—who died back in October—became a mythical figure on the New York playground scene, and why he’s a tragic figure. Afterballs (33:33): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Andrew Brandt to discuss the allegations against Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson; by Chris Nowinski to talk about the NFL concussion protocol; and by Deadspin to assess the rise of fake sports news. Jerry Richardson (1:41): Former Green Bay Packers vice president Andrew Brandt discusses the allegations that the Carolina Panthers owner engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior, and Richardson’s announcement that he’s going to put the team up for sale.  NFL concussion protocol (22:04): Chris Nowinski of the Concussion Legacy Foundation joins for a conversation about the recent spate of high-profile head injuries in pro football, and how to get fans and players and teams and the league to care about the dangers of big hits.  Fake sports news (39:41): Deadspin’s David Roth talks about fake sports news stories populating websites like viralusa.org, as well as the online hoax that had some people convinced that the Washington football team had changed its name to the Redhawks. Afterballs (58:52): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Warren Cromartie and the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to discuss Shohei Ohtani and Giancarlo Stanton; David Epstein joins to assess Russia’s Olympics ban; and Daniel Libit talks about his muckraking site NM Fishbowl. Shohei Ohtani and Giancarlo Stanton (2:10): Former Japanese League star Warren Cromartie assesses how Japanese star Shohei Ohtani will perform in the major leagues, while Ben Lindbergh explains the economics of the Los Angeles Angels’ deal with Ohtani and the Yankees’ trade for slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Russia’s Olympics ban (25:21): David Epstein explains the International Olympic Committee’s move to (kind of) ban Russia from the Winter Games. NM Fishbowl (41:57): Daniel Libit talks about his year-long effort to investigate New Mexico athletics and whether the model could work nationwide. Afterballs (1:05:55): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis, Jeremy Stahl of Slate, and Howard Bryant of ESPN discuss the rift among NFL players over the league’s plan to donate money to social causes. Then Stefan and Josh Levin talk to Tom Haberstroh of Bleacher Report Magazine about the NBA’s new veganism. And Stefan talks about the forgotten, first black quarterback in New York Giants history, and the perception of black quarterbacks during the civil-rights era, with Louis Moore of Grand Valley State University.NFL protests (2:05): Stefan Fatsis, Jeremy Stahl of Slate, and Howard Bryant of ESPN discuss the rift among players involved in negotiating a deal with NFL management to aid social-justice causes—over where the money is coming from and whether it is mostly aimed at ending more than a year of on-field protests during the national anthem.NBA vegans (21:02): Stefan and Josh talk to Tom Haberstroh of Bleacher Report Magazine about his recent feature on Boston Celtics star point guard Kyrie Irving eschewing meat, and whether slimmer NBA players are better NBA players.Hank Washington (36:20): Stefan delivers an extended Afterball about the first black quarterback in New York Giants history, and then talks about the perception of black quarterbacks in the civil-rights era with Louis Moore, an associate professor at Grand Valley State University who studies African-American and sports history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Spencer Hall to talk about Alabama’s loss to Auburn and Tennessee’s Greg Schiano fiasco; by Vann Newkirk to discuss Alabama’s 3-on-5 basketball near-miracle; and by Bruce Arthur to assess the Grey Cup. College football (1:53): Spencer Hall of SB Nation discusses Auburn’s big win over its rival Alabama, whether the Crimson Tide will get bounced from the College Football Playoff, and the University of Tennessee’s hiring and unhiring of football coach Greg Schiano. 3-on-5 basketball (22:40): Vann Newkirk of the Atlantic helps Josh and Stefan dissect Alabama’s spectacular, bizarre near-comeback against Minnesota in a basketball game in which they played three against five for most of the second half. Grey Cup (38:49): The Toronto Star’s Bruce Arthur joins for a conversation about the Toronto Argonauts’ win over the Calgary Stampeders, and about the overwhelming Canadianness of a snow-covered football championship game. Afterballs (50:30): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Kevin Clark to talk about NFL quarterback play and the Root’s Damon Young discusses Donald Trump’s feud with Lavar Ball. Plus: Slate’s June Thomas joins for an interview with swimmer Diana Nyad.  Quarterbacks (2:00): Kevin Clark comes on for a conversation about Nathan Peterman’s extraordinarily bad debut as an NFL starter, plus the second-year surge of Carson Wentz, and the prognosis for Dak Prescott and Jared Goff. Lavar Ball vs. Donald Trump (21:22): Damon Young helps assess the feud between the basketball dad and the president of the United States. Plus, who’s right and who’s wrong in the war of words between Draymond Green and Mark Cuban about what we should call NBA “owners”? Diana Nyad (43:18): The record-setting marathon swimmer discusses her recent New York Times piece, “My Life After Sexual Assault.” Afterballs (52:02): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl to talk about the race for the U.S. Soccer presidency, and Mike Pesca comes on to talk about NFL celebrations, the Miami turnover chain, and inspirational locker room speeches. U.S. Soccer (1:30): SI’s Grant Wahl talks about the contenders for the top job in U.S. Soccer, why no women are running for the position, and whether promotion and relegation is coming to an American soccer field near you. Mid-Season Whimsy Spectacular (18:33): The original Hang Up trio of Stefan, Josh, and Mike Pesca reunite for a check-in about the state of whimsy in football. Should the NFL get credit for its celebration renaissance? Is the Miami turnover chain amazing, spectacular, or transcendent? Afterballs (44:11): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices