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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 talk about the decision to cancel the New York City Marathon and the role of sports in the aftermath of tragic events. They also discuss the state of the activist athlete with ex-NFL linebacker David Meggyesy, the author of 1970’s Out of Their League. Lastly, they examine how college football’s top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide would fare against the worst teams in the NFL.

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

• Mayor Michael Bloomberg canceled the New York City Marathon on Friday in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
• Before the race was canceled, the New York Post’s Friday front page called the marathon an “Abuse of Power.”
• The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay says Bloomberg made the right move.
• Some runners stuck around NYC to help with the relief effort.
• In Sports Illustrated, David Epstein wrote that the New York Road Runners genuinely believed the marathon would help heal the city.
• Sunday’s Giants-Steelers game was played as scheduled in New Jersey.
• David Remnick’s 1987 Sports Illustrated story on David Meggyesy.
• Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayenbadejo supported marriage equality on NPR’s All Things Considered.
• Baltimore Ravens lineman Matt Birk is against same-sex marriage.
• In a USA Today op-ed on the Saints bounty scandal, Meggyesy wrote that the players need to protect each other.
• Scott Fujita publicly slammed Roger Goodell.
• Chris Jones’ ESPN the Magazine story on Merton Hanks, the NFL’s on-field behavior czar.
• Michael MacCambridge’s history of pro football, America’s Game.
• In 2003, Steve Nash spoke out against the war in Iraq.
• No. 1 Alabama beat LSU 21-17 on Saturday night.
• On the Dan Patrick Show, Steve Spurrier said Alabama could beat a pro team.
• ESPN’s Mike Golic says Alabama “wouldn’t stand a chance.”
• Ex-NFL player Heath Evans thinks the Crimson Tide would cover a hypothetical 24-point spread against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• There have been 24 Alabama players since 2009.
• Basketball Prospectus’ Kevin Pelton on how last year’s NCAA champion Kentucky Wildcats would fare against NBA competition.

Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Kipsangs:

Mike’s Kipsang: Chris Berman’s pop culture references, like “Michael Turner Overdrive,” are 40 years out of date.

Stefan’s Kipsang: How the advent of the hoist has changed netball forever.
Josh’s Kipsang: The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, San Mig Coffee Mixers, and other great, corporate-named teams in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo. Our intern is Eric Goldwein.

You can email us at hangup@slate.com.

The Hang Up and Listen T-shirt, designed by listener Todd Johnson, is now on sale. A shirt can be had for as little as $15.75, and you can choose between two color schemes—the green-and-gold “Oakland” edition or the red “Portland” edition. Support the show by buying both!