Hang Up and Listen

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Royals' World Series victory over the Mets. They also talk about ESPN's decision to shut down Grantland, and they interview National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.   Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the World Series with baseball writer Rany Jazayerli. They also talk about the NFL's foray into Internet-only broadcasting, and Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski joins to assess the NHL's 3-on-3 overtime format.   Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by SAP HANA. SAP HANA helps the world's best companies get the answers they need to become more agile, develop new streams of revenue, and predict the future. Run SAP. And Run Simple. Visit sap.com/reimagine to learn more.   And by MileIQ. If you're one of the 60 million Americans who drive for work then you know that your miles are your dollars. MileIQ is the only mileage-tracker app that detects, logs, and calculates your miles for you, ensuring that every mile is accounted for and no dollar is lost. Try MileIQ for free today by texting HANGUP to 31996.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by SB Nation's Spencer Hall to discuss Michigan State's bizarre win over Michigan. They also talk about the MLB playoffs and assess basketball and reality TV star Lamar Odom's near-death experience.   Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by SAP HANA. SAP HANA helps the world's best companies get the answers they need to become more agile, develop new streams of revenue, and predict the future. Run SAP. And Run Simple. Visit sap.com/reimagine to learn more.   And by SeatGeek. SeatGeek pulls in ticket options from hundreds of online ticket sellers to create a one-stop shop for tickets for sporting events, music concerts, and more. Use the promo code HANGUP​ in the SeatGeek app and get a $20 rebate off your first purchase, or shop online at SeatGeek.com.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Mike Pesca, and Emma Span discuss the MLB playoffs, Robert Andrew Powell joins to scrutinize the U.S. men's national soccer team, and lastly they talk about the annual rash of deaths in high-school football.   This week's episode is brought to you by SeatGeek. SeatGeek pulls in ticket options from hundreds of online ticket sellers to create a one-stop shop for tickets for sporting events, music concerts, and more. Use the promo code HANGUP​ in the SeatGeek app and get a $20 rebate off your first purchase, or shop online at SeatGeek.com.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the collapse of the Washington Nationals and the start of the MLB playoffs. Ken Early joins to assess the chaos at English soccer club Chelsea. Finally, they talk about LSU running back Leonard Fournette.   This week's episode is brought to you by SeatGeek. SeatGeek pulls in ticket options from hundreds of online ticket sellers to create a one-stop shop for tickets for sporting events, music concerts, and more. Use the promo code HANGUP​ in the SeatGeek app and get a $20 rebate off your first purchase, or shop online at SeatGeek.com.   Hang Up and Listen is also brought to you by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Josh Levin, Mike Pesca, and guest panelist Scott Raab are joined by Max Linsky to talk about the Cleveland Browns podcast Brownscast. They also discuss ESPN's embrace of gambling and mark the passing of baseball and linguistic legend Yogi Berra.   Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by SeatGeek. SeatGeek pulls in ticket options from hundreds of online ticket sellers to create a one-stop shop for tickets for sporting events, music concerts, and more. Use the promo code HANGUP in the SeatGeek app and get a $20 rebate off your first purchase, or shop online at SeatGeek.com.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trail today at www.slate.com/hangupplus.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal to discuss baseball's great rookie class. They also discuss the rise of IMG Academy's high school football program and assess the popularity of American Ninja Warrior. Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by Draft Kings. One-week fantasy football at Draft Kings means every moment could take you closer to a life-changing payday. Play when you want and pick a new team every time! Use the code HANGUP to play free for a shot at a million bucks in this week's Millionaire Maker event... only at Draft Kings dot com! Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trail today at www.slate.com/hangupplus. Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Serena Williams' shocking U.S. Open defeat. They also discuss whether the NFL has a quarterback crisis, and how European soccer clubs have responded to an influx of Syrian refugees. Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by Draft Kings. One-week fantasy football at Draft Kings means every moment could take you closer to a life-changing payday. Play when you want and pick a new team every time! Use the code HANGUP to play free for a shot at a million bucks in this week's Millionaire Maker event... only at Draft Kings dot com! Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trail today at www.slate.com/hangupplus.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg discuss the latest Deflategate news. They also talk about the Washington NFL team's publicity nightmares, and Yahoo's Jeff Passan joins to assess Mets pitcher Matt Harvey's arm.Hang Up and Listen is sponsored by SAP HANA. SAP HANA helps the world's best companies get the answers they need to become more agile, develop new streams of revenue, predict the future, and reimagine the way they do business. Run SAP and run simple.Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trail today at www.slate.com/hangupplus.Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListenEmail: hangup@slate.comShow notes at www.slate.com/hangup

This podcast extra is free to all readers to preview our membership program, Slate Plus. Visit slate.com/hangupplus to learn more.In their Aug. 17 Slate Plus bonus segment, Hang Up and Listen’s Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Mike Pesca discuss participation trophies, a supposed scourge that even NPR-listening softies point to as a sure sign of American decline. Josh, Stefan, and Mike were reacting to recent anti–participation trophy comments made by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison.To access each week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus segment, visit slate.com/hangupplus and try Slate Plus free for two weeks.

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the latest innovation in NCAA evildoing: football programs fining players. They also interview 81-year-old track star Irene Obera and review HBO’s Hard Knocks, starring the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt.Hang Up and Listen is sponsored by Draft Kings. Start this football season by winning two million dollars! This isn’t fantasy as usual. This is Draft Kings. Use code HANGUP to play free for a shot at two million dollars in the Week One Ten Million Dollar Maker. Go to www.draftkings.com and use the promo code HANGUP.

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Usain Bolt’s win over Justin Gatlin at the track and field world championships. They also discuss Baylor’s handling of football player Sam Ukwuachu’s sexual assault and the place of religion in sports. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trail today at www.slate.com/hangupplus. Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Jason Day and Jordan Spieth with Grantland’s Bryan Curtis. They also talk about the Jets’ locker-room fight, and Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden explains Nick Symmonds’ brouhaha with USA Track and Field.Hang Up and Listen is sponsored by Casper, an online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Casper mattresses come with free delivery and returns within a 100-day period. Right now, get 50 dollars toward any mattress purchase by visiting www.casper. com/hangup.

Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and ESPN the Magazine’s Mina Kimes discuss record-breaking swimmer Katie Ledecky with the New York Times’ Karen Crouse. They also talk about Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly, and they interview WNBA star Elena Delle Donne.   Slate's Hang Up and Listen is sponsored by Trunk Club. Answer a few simple questions about your look, style, and size, and receive a trunk full of great looking clothes that fit perfectly and make you look amazing. Only pay for the clothes you keep, and shipping is free. Go to TrunkClub.com/hangup.   Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/hangupplus.   Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes at www.slate.com/hangup

Josh Levin, Stephen Metcalf, and Mike Pesca discuss Roger Goodell’s decision to uphold Tom Brady’s Deflategate suspension and the New York Mets’ surprising surge. June Thomas also joins for an interview with Greg Louganis about his new HBO documentary.