Hang Up and Listen

Guest hosts Daniel Engber and David Epstein talk with Carl Bialik about robot line judges in tennis, Mike Pesca joins for a review of NBA tanking, and Florentina Hettinga discusses the science of the Paralympics. Robot umpires (1:47): Carl Bialik discusses the latest innovation in line-calling technology and how it might affect tennis. Tanking (18:25): Hang Up host emeritus Mike Pesca chats about why there’s more tanking than ever in the NBA and what might be done about it. Paralympics (36:09): Sports scientist Florentina Hettinga sheds light on debates over classification in the world of disability sports. Afterballs (45:39): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis welcomes Slate’s Justin Peters and NBC Nordic skiing commentator Chad Salmela to recap the Winter Olympics. And journalist Ben Strauss and sports economist Andy Schwarz examine the government probe of NCAA basketball recruitment.Winter Olympics (1:42): Stefan and Justin Peters recap the final week of the Winter Olympics including the United States men’s curling team gold medal, Canada’s Olympic heartbreak, Mirai Nagasu’s post-skate comments, and more.  Chad Salmela (22:23): Stefan and Justin interview NBC commentator Chad Salmela, who called the dramatic finish of the first-ever American gold medal in cross-country skiing.NCAA Basketball (37:12): Ben Strauss and Andy Schwarz join Stefan to explain the latest developments in the FBI’s investigation into men’s college basketball.Afterballs (57:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin is joined by Slate’s Justin Peters and the Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen to talk about Elizabeth Swaney, Ester Ledecka, Nathan Chen, and more from the Olympics. PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck also joins to discuss what’s wrong with Markelle Fultz.Winter Olympics (:59): Josh, Ben Cohen, and Justin Peters talk about the United States’ relatively tiny medal count in Pyeongchang and Norway’s enormous haul. They also discuss Nathan Chen’s “quad-ification” of figure skating and the rights and wrongs of Olympic tourism.Markelle Fultz (37:37): PhillyVoice’sKyle Neubeck talks with Josh about the mystery of the Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz. Does he have a shoulder injury or has he forgotten how to shoot?Afterballs (55:32) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk with Slate’s Justin Peters about the top stories from the Olympics, Jack Hamilton joins to look at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ roster shake-up, and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl discusses what’s next for U.S. Soccer. Pyeongchang 2018 (1:00):Josh, Stefan, and Slate’s Justin Peters break down the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics, touching on figure skater Adam Rippon, North Korean propaganda, the shameful handling of Russia’s participation in the games, and snowboarding gold medalist Red Gerard. Cleveland Cavaliers (21:24):Slate’sJack Hamilton joins the hosts to talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ deadline deals, and whether LeBron was playing badly to force the team to make a move. U.S. Soccer (38:34): Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated chats with Josh and Stefan about why and how Carlos Cordeiro won the election for president of the United States Soccer Federation. Afterballs (55:36): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk with the Gist’s Mike Pesca about the Eagles’ win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. They’re also joined by Jeff Passan of Yahoo to discuss what can be done to fix Major League Baseball’s broken economic system. Super Bowl LII (1:15): The original Hang Up crew discusses all aspects of the Eagles’ thrilling 41-33 victory over the Patriots, including Nick Foles’ excellent play, Doug Pederson’s gutsy coaching, Bill Belichick’s benching of Malcolm Butler, and what’s next for Rob Gronkowski. MLB economics (35:40): Yahoo’s Jeff Passan assesses the different factors leading to baseball’s stalled free agent market, and how players and owners might resolve the stalemate. Afterballs (53:37): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Levin talks with Paula Lavigne of ESPN and Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley about the Michigan State sexual abuse scandal. ESPN’s Howard Bryant also joins to discuss the Australian Open, and the Root’s Damon Young assesses the NBA’s all-star draft. Michigan State (1:30): Paula Lavigne of ESPN’s Outside the Lines explains what she’s learned about the failures of the Michigan State athletic department to deal with sexual assault cases, and whether it’s right to focus on the school’s football and basketball programs. Australian Open (16:40): ESPN’s Howard Bryant discuss Roger Federer’s 20th major championship, Caroline Wozniacki’s first grand slam title, and how American Tennys Sandgren went from a fan favorite to a pariah in record time. All-star draft (34:55): The Root’s Damon Young helps Josh assess the NBA’s first-ever all-star draft and the seeming implosion of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Afterballs (59:50): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin talk about the Patriots’ and Eagles’ wins in the NFL’s title games; the New York Times’ Juliet Macur discusses the sex abuse scandal in U.S. gymnastics; and Deadspin’s Dave McKenna helps remember D.C. sports legend Gary Mays. NFL playoffs (1:41): A conversation about the Patriots’ inevitability, the rise and fall of the Jaguars, the state of being Blake Bortles, and the shocking excellence of Nick Foles. Larry Nassar (24:40): The New York Times’ Juliet Macur discusses the power of the victim impact statements from Aly Raisman and other gymnasts, and talks about how the sport should reckon with its massive sexual abuse scandal. Gary Mays (42:52):Deadspin’s Dave McKenna memorializes the one-armed basketball and baseball star, who died last week at the age of 82. McKenna explains how Mays shut down Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, and how he thrived despite being deprived of opportunities due to segregation. Afterballs (1:00:21): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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