Hang Up and Listen, the Russian Is Coming Edition
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Updated Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at 4:45 PM ET
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In this week's episode of Slate's sports podcast, Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, a Russian oligarch buying into the NBA, and whether the NHL can survive in Phoenix, Ariz.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
The New York Times on Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics.
Barack Obama is heading to Copenhagen for the announcement.
Betting sites list Chicago as the favorite over Rio.
Chicagoans are split about whether they want the Olympics to come to town.
A report that questions the potential financial impact of the games.
What happens to host cities after the Olympics are over.
The "Chicagoans for Rio" Web site; GamesBids.com says the site is fraudulent.
The Times of London profiles Mikhail Prokhorov.
The New Yorker's Keith Gessen on Prokhorov.
Sports Illustrated's Alexander Wolff says NBA Commissioner David Stern is looking to keep his enemies close.
Dave D'Alessandro of the Star-Ledger says Prokhorov might not be a shoo-in to become the Nets' owner.
Balsillie's "Make It Seven" PR campaign, designed to spur a popular movement for the NHL to get a seventh Canadian team.
A New York Times profile of wannabe Phoenix Coyotes owner Jim Balsillie.
A timeline of the NHL's history of expansion and relocation.
Hang Up and Listen's weekly screw-in cleats:
Mike's screw-in cleat: Kansas City Royals Cy Young hopeful Zack Greinke.
Stefan's screw-in cleat: baseball-snagging legend Zack Hample.
Josh's screw-in cleat: The Redskins lost to the Detroit Lions—blame Tom Cruise.
Podcast production and edit by Abdullah Rufus.
Stefan Fatsis is the author of Word Freak and A Few Seconds of Panic, a regular guest on NPR's All Things Considered and a panelist on Slate's sports podcast "Hang Up and Listen." You can e-mail him at sfatsis9@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter.
Josh Levin is Slate's executive editor. You can email him at sportsnut@slate.com, visit his Web site, and follow him on Twitter.
Mike Pesca is a correspondent for National Public Radio who covers mostly sports.
Illustration by Robert Neubecker.