Hang Up and Listen

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss Colin Kaepernick’s collusion grievance. They’re also joined by Evan Drellich to talk about Houston Astros star Jose Altuve, and by Caitlin Murray for a conversation about the Portland Thorns women’s soccer team.Kaepernick and collusion (1:50): Stefan and Josh assess whether Kaepernick’s grievance against the NFL has a chance of succeeding and what the quarterback has to gain from pressing a collusion claimJose Altuve (19:36): Former Houston Astros beat writer Evan Drellich explains how the 5-foot-6 second baseman transformed himself into one of the best players in baseball.Portland Thorns (37:25): Freelance writer Caitlin Murray discusses whether the National Women’s Soccer League champions provide a model for success for other women’s pro sports franchises.Afterballs (52:34): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special emergency episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the U.S. men’s national team’s disastrous loss to Trinidad and Tobago and what comes next for American soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss Jemele Hill, Jerry Jones, and Donald Trump with the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan also joins to discuss the baseball playoffs, and Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers talks about Iceland’s World Cup dreams.Politics and the NFL (1:10): Bryan Curtis joins for a conversation about ESPN’s suspension of Jemele Hill, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ directive that his players stand for the national anthem, and the increasing politicization of the NFL.Baseball playoffs (22:52): Jeff Passan talks about Game 4 of the Astros-Red Sox series and the radical shift in how pitchers are deployed in the baseball postseason.Iceland (37:01): Roger Bennett revels in the soccer triumphs of the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup.Afterballs (49:46): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin discuss the shifting politics of the NFL protests with Jamil Smith. Bloomberg View’s Joe Nocera also joins to discuss the FBI investigation of NCAA basketball, the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh previews the baseball playoffs.NFL protests (2:24): Jamil Smith joins for a conversation about how NFL owners have tried to co-opt players’ protests for racial equality. FBI vs. NCAA (23:46): Joe Nocera comes on the show to break down the FBI’s investigation into the nexus between shoe companies, assistant coaches, and college basketball players. Why is the federal government sticking its nose into college hoops now, and can anything good come out of this inquiry. Baseball playoffs (41:11): Ben Lindbergh joins to discuss some of the postseason’s top contenders, among them the Cleveland Indians, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals, and the Houston Astros.Afterballs (56:42): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin and Marcus Thompson of The Athletic discuss the wave of protests against Donald Trump’s remarks about the NFL. Then they talk about Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant’s recent Twitter snafu and his fragile psyche. And broadcaster and former U.S. soccer player Marcelo Balboa joins for a conversation about hot, new Major League Soccer team Atlanta United FC.NFL protests (1:35): Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Marcus Thompson of The Athletic discuss a remarkable weekend in professional sports that began with Donald Trump calling protesting NFL players “sons of bitches” and culminated in hundreds of athletes, coaches, owners, and others across sports rebuking the president in a wave of on-field protests and statements.Kevin Durant (27:16): Stefan, Josh, and Marcus assess Kevin Durant’s apparent insecurities—reflected in his new line of Nike sneakers with insoles that take on his critics—and whether it’s possible to be an NBA superstar and also mingle with the public like a regular guy. Soccer (41:13): Stefan interviews three-time World Cup soccer player Marcelo Balboa about Atlanta United FC, the Major League Soccer expansion team that recently drew a league-record 70,000 fans to a game in a new stadium in Atlanta. Afterballs (48:17): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by NPR’s Gene Demby to discuss Jemele Hill and ESPN’s conservative trolls, by HBO’s Eric Raskin to talk about Golovkin-Alvarez, and by Ninja Warrior’s Josh Levin for a conversation about obstacle course stardom.Jemele Hill (1:28): Gene Demby of NPR’s Code Switch comes on the show to explore why ESPN has become a target in the culture wars and the kinds of discussions that happen when people of color become leading voices in the mainstream media.Golovkin-Alvarez (25:43): Eric Raskin of the HBO Boxing podcast explains what made the middleweight fight between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez an instant classic, and what can be done about scoring controversies in boxing.Josh Levin (46:55): A different Josh Levin comes on the show to chat about what it’s like to appear on American Ninja Warrior and his quest to become an Olympic rock climber.Afterballs (1:01:20): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the New York Times’ Mark Leibovich to discuss the NFL’s opening weekend, by Racquet’s Caitlin Thompson to assess Sloane Stephens’ U.S. Open win, and by Mike Pesca for a debate about the Red Sox’s sign-stealing.NFL (1:08): Mark Leibovich describes his experiences in New England and Dallas during pro football’s opening week, and whether owners are getting closer to dumping Commissioner Roger Goodell. Sloane Stephens (18:38): Caitlin Thompson joins to talk about the rise of the young American women at the U.S. Open, and what to make of Sloane Stephens’ surprising triumph.Red Sox sign-stealing (32:56): Mike Pesca returns to Hang Up to help Josh and Stefan decide whether the Red Sox’s technologically enabled sign-stealing scheme is cheating or gamesmanship.Afterballs (50:09): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by SB Nation’s Spencer Hall to discuss college football. Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders also joins to talk about NFL tanking, and Ed Cunningham explains his move to quit his job as a football announcer for ESPN.College football openers (2:14): Spencer Hall talks about Texas A&M’s crushing loss to UCLA, Howard’s exhilarating win over UNLC, and other scenes from college football’s opening weekend.NFL tanking (21:08): Aaron Schatz explains why and how the Jets, Bills, and Brows are losing on purpose; whether tanking is a sound strategy for NFL teams; and what the league should do to address it, if anything.Ed Cunningham (37:43): The longtime ESPN announcer explains how he came to the decision to quit his job as a college football analyst, why he developed ethical qualms about the game, and why he doesn’t enjoy watching the NFL.Afterballs (57:48): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay to discuss  Floyd Mayweather’s win over Conor McGregor, by Ken Rosenthal to talk about the Athletic, and by Robert Lipsyte to assess Clay Travis and ESPN’s supposed liberalism.Mayweather-McGregor (1:30): Jason Gay, who watched the fight while high, explains why fans weren’t unhappy with the experience, and looks at what’s next for the two very rich fighters.The Athletic (16:09): Longtime sportswriter and baseball sideline reporter Ken Rosenthal explains why he signed on with the sports media start-up and why he believes its business model makes sense. Clay Travis and ESPN (32:54): Former ESPN ombudsman Robert Lipsyte discusses accusations that the Worldwide Leader of Sports is a liberal bastion and the marketing genius of Clay Travis, who has brought the culture wars to sports.  Afterballs (52:24): Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Fatsis is joined by former NFL player Hamza Abdullah and ESPN’s Howard Bryant toanalyze race and sports. ESPN writer Mechelle Voepel and MinnPost.com’s Pat Borzi chat aboutthe WNBA. And director Adam Hootnick discusses his documentary about Texas high-schoolfootball, What Carter Lost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices