Hang Up and Listen: The Tough Stuff Edition
Slate’s weekly sports show on improving college basketball, the World Baseball Classic, and MLB’s exploitation of Latin American talent.
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Hang Up and Listen is brought to you by Audible. Get a 30-day free trial by signing up at audiblepodcast.com/hangup. Our pick of the week is Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court by Jay Bilas.
In this week’s episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by ESPN’s Jay Bilas to discuss his new book Toughness and his prescription to fix college basketball. Next, they speak with Mother Jones’ Ian Gordon about his story on the death of Dominican minor leaguer Yewri Guillen and the exploitation of Latin American baseball players. Finally, they talk about the World Baseball Classic and whether the international competition is worth watching.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
Jay Bilas is the author of Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court.
Here’s an excerpt from Bilas’ new book.
Bilas called Mateen Cleaves the toughest college basketball player of the last 20 years.
Cal coach Mike Montgomery crossed the line when he shoved Allen Crabbe, says Bilas.
ESPN’s Jim Caple on the World Baseball Classic’s significance outside of the United States.
Awful Announcing’s Joe Lucia explains why fans don’t care about the WBC.
A brawl broke out during Canada’s 10-3 win over Mexico.
The WBC instituted strict pitch count rules.
ESPN aired Sunday’s Dominican Republic-Puerto Rico game in Spanish.
Ian Gordon’s Mother Jones piece on MLB’s exploitation of Latin American talent.
Hang Up and Listen’s Sladeks:
Mike’s Sladek: The NHL’s Pacific Division should be renamed the Granite Peak Division.
Stefan’s Sladek: Lauren Silberman’s NFL tryout was pathetic, but she wasn’t the first female kicker who didn’t live up to the hype. Check out this 1937 story from the Dickinsonian (bottom left).
Josh’s Sladek: Because of the reserve clause, a brief stint in the Mexican League ruined Danny Gardella’s baseball career.
Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo. Our intern is Eric Goldwein.
You can e-mail us at hangup@slate.com.