Hang Up and Listen: The Jerry Loves Johnny Edition
Slate’s sports podcast on college football’s neutral-site money grab, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and the U.S. Open.
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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 the opening of the college football season, the proliferation of neutral-site games, and concerns about student attendance at on-campus games. They interview ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. about his profile of Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, a man who desperately wants to be known as a “football guy.” Finally, they talk with Sports Illustrated tennis writer Courtney Nguyen about the unpredictable recent results on the women’s side of the U.S. Open, the state of the Federer, and American fans’ desperation for a new star.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
- There will be 19 neutral-site regular season college football games this year after 20 last season.
- College football attendance has declined 7 percent since 2009, and conferences are looking to Major League Soccer for answers.
- Stefan wrote about declining college football attendance in the Wall Street Journal in 1998.
- Teams take big payouts from neutral-site games.
- Neutral-site games have caused more schools to consider selling alcohol at on-campus games.
- The Southeastern Conference will require its teams to play one nonconference game against a team from another “power five” conference, starting in 2016.
- Ben Mathis-Lilley wrote about scheduling stunts on Slate.
- The University of Texas athletic director suggests playing a game in Dubai.
- Don Van Natta wrote a long ESPN profile of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, receiving a surprising level of access.
- Jimmy Johnson gets credit for the Cowboys’ Super Bowl wins, and Jones and Johnson no longer speak.
- Jones’ oldest son, Stephen, reportedly vetoed his father’s wish to draft Johnny Manziel.
- Dan Reeves left the Cowboys after three days because he and Jones couldn’t agree on Reeves’ role.
- Jones and his protégé Dan Snyder have battled the NFL together.
- Van Natta said Jones was very open, but the owner wouldn’t address racy pictures that have recently surfaced.
- Jones was surprised that Van Natta’s piece included so many references to drinking whiskey.
- Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are both alive, but there were many upsets on the women’s side at the U.S. Open.
- Grantland profiled Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard, but both young stars were upset by more experienced players.
- Caroline Wozniacki is playing well since a public split with golfer Rory McIlroy.
- Roger Federer is also playing well and has an easy road to the final.
- The New York Times profiled exciting French player Gaël Monfils.
- CiCi Bellis may be the story of the tournament, despite losing in the second round.
- Bellis played her first match of the U.S. Open juniors tournament on the Grandstand court.
- Nguyen’s analysis of the fashion hits and misses did not include Roger Federer’s pastel.
- Listen to Courtney Nguyen on the No Challenges Remaining podcast.
Hang Up and Listen’s Broyleses:
Mike’s Broyles: A police blotter of the vague miscellany for which players have been suspended.
Stefan’s Broyles: Wondering why tennis players’ eyes must so often wander to their entourage.
Josh’s Broyles: Tracking this year’s hired guns in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
On this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Michael Sam’s NFL future after he was cut by the St. Louis Rams. Slate Plus members get an ad-free version of this podcast with bonus segments. Visit slate.com/hangupplus and try it free for two weeks.
Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo. Links compiled by Chris Laskowski.
You can email us at hangup@slate.com.