Listen to "Hang Up and Listen" with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

You can also download the podcast, or you can subscribe to the weekly Hang Up and Listen podcast feed in iTunes. (If you'd prefer to subscribe to the podcast in a program other than iTunes, here's the direct link to the Hang Up and Listen RSS feed.)

Get your 14-day free trial from our sponsor Audible.com, which includes a credit for one free audiobook. (Audiobook of the week: The Devil in the White City, written by Erik Larson and read by Scott Brick.)

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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.

You can e-mail us at hangup@slate.com.

Posted on Sept. 28 by Josh Levin at 4:45 p.m.

Sept. 21, 2009

Listen to "Hang Up and Listen" with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

You can also download the podcast, or you can subscribe to the weekly Hang Up and Listen podcast feed in iTunes. (If you'd prefer to subscribe to the podcast in a program other than iTunes, here's the direct link to the Hang Up and Listen RSS feed.)

Get your 14-day free trial from our sponsor Audible.com, which includes a credit for one free audiobook. (Audiobook of the week: Born To Run, written by Christopher McDougall and read by Fred Sanders.)

Become a fan of Hang Up and Listen on Facebook. Leave us a note and see what other listeners have to say about the latest podcast.

In this week's episode of Slate's sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the new Cowboys Stadium, whether the Jets' Rex Ryan augurs the end of dour NFL coaches, and the legacy of NCAA President Myles Brand.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:

Party passes for the new Cowboys Stadium.
New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff reviews the stadium.
The "quad dot pattern" on the stadium's JumboTron scoreboard.
Rex Ryan exhorting Jets fans to be at their best for the Patriots game.
New York's Will Leitch on the difference between Ryan and Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Fanhouse's Kevin Blackistone on Myles Brand.
Deadspin's Tommy Craggs on Brand.
Former Indianapolis Star reporter George Stuteville recalls a discussion with Brand about the Bobby Knight firing.
Yahoo's Michael Silver on the neurological damage suffered by Kyle Turley and other NFL players.

Hang Up and Listen's weekly foam fingers:

Mike's foam finger: free-throw-related intrigue in the WNBA playoffs.
Stefan's foam finger: the decision by three active NFL players to donate their brains to research.
Josh's foam finger: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees' uncanny accuracy, as seen on an archery target.

You can e-mail us at hangup@slate.com.

Posted on Sept. 21 by Josh Levin at 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 14, 2009

Listen to "Hang Up and Listen" with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

You can also download the podcast, or you can subscribe to the weekly Hang Up and Listen podcast feed in iTunes. (If you'd prefer to subscribe to the podcast in a program other than iTunes, here's the direct link to the Hang Up and Listen RSS feed.)

Get your 14-day free trial from our sponsor Audible.com, which includes a credit for one free audiobook. (Audiobook of the week: Semi-Tough, written by Dan Jenkins and read by L.J. Ganser.)

Become a fan of Hang Up and Listen on Facebook. Leave us a note and see what other listeners have to say about the latest podcast.

In this week's episode of Slate's sports podcast, Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the first week of the NFL season, Serena Williams' outburst at the U.S. Open, and Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction speech.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:

Bob Costas' interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The NFL's decision to broadcast blacked-out games on a tape delay.
Goodell's quest to expand the regular season.
The Chicago Bears' failed fake punt.
Serena Williams' tirade after getting called for a foot fault.
Zoomed-in video of Williams' foot.
Statements from Williams and the WTA. (Serena amended her statement on Monday.)
Mary Carillo and John McEnroe on whether Williams should be suspended.
Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame speech: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Adrian Wojnarowski's Yahoo Sports column on Michael Jordan's petty induction speech.
Michael Wilbon's defense of Jordan's speech in print and online.
Dave McKenna's story in the Washington City Paper about Jordan's business ventures—"the Jordan story sometimes ends with Chapter 11."
Rickey Henderson's Hall of Fame speech.
Henderson prepared for his Hall of Fame induction by taking a speech class at Laney College.

Hang Up and Listen's weekly bounce passes:

Mike's bounce pass: the WNBA's Atlanta Dream getting evicted from its home arena during the playoffs for Sesame Street Live.
Stefan's bounce pass: the University of Michigan's alleged violation of the NCAA's limits on practice time.
Josh's bounce pass: Troy Polamalu falling victim to the Madden Curse.

You can e-mail us at hangup@slate.com.

Posted on Sept. 14 by Josh Levin at 3:50 p.m.

Sept. 8, 2009

Listen to Hang Up and Listen with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

You can also download the podcast, or you can subscribe to the weekly Hang Up and Listen podcast feed in iTunes. (If you'd prefer to subscribe to the podcast in a program other than iTunes, here's the direct link to the Hang Up and Listen RSS feed.)

Become a fan of Hang Up and Listen on Facebook. Leave us a note and see what other listeners have to say about the latest podcast.

In this week's episode of Slate's sports podcast, Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the state of women's tennis and the rise of American teenager Melanie Oudin, the potential for economic doom in the NFL, and whether fans have a moral obligation to go watch their favorite teams.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:

The New York Times' Karen Crouse on female tennis players who can't serve.
The NYT's Geoff McDonald suggests that female players learn the kick serve.
The Los Angeles Times' Bill Dwyre on "America's Sweetheart," Melanie Oudin.
Peter King says the 2011 NFL season in peril.
Jerry Jones wants the NFL to do away with revenue sharing.
Stefan's Wall Street Journal piece on the four types of NFL owners.
Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark says a year without a salary cap would be bad for NFL players.
Are the Patriots guessing that there will be a rookie salary cap in 2011?
St. Petersburg Times columnist John Romano argues that only paying customers can complain about the Tampa Bay Rays' season.
The blog RaysIndex disagrees with Romano.
The Rays sold out when they scheduled a Beach Boys concert after the game.
The Rays' Carlos Peña in robot form.

Hang Up and Listen's weekly hot routes:

Mike's hot route: David Wright's Great Gazoo helmet.
Stefan's hot route: The launch of the United Football League.
Josh's hot route: The awfulness of college football announcing.

You can e-mail us at hangup@slate.com.

Posted on Sept. 8, 2009 at 4:05 p.m.