Hang Up and Listen: The Zack the Ball-Catching Maniac Edition
Slate’s sports podcast on the U.S. Open, the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup, and the fan who caught A-Rod’s 3,000th hit.
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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 are joined by Shane Ryan, author of Slaying the Tiger, to talk about Jordan Spieth’s win, Dustin Johnson’s missed putts, and golfers’ complaints about the course at the 2015 U.S. Open. They also discuss the United States’ chances in the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup. Finally, they interview Zack Hample, the “ball hawk” who caught Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
- Jordan Spieth beat Dustin Johnson to win the 2015 U.S. Open.
- Shane Ryan, author of Slaying the Tiger, writes about Johnson’s sad missed putts in Golf Digest.
- Ryan says that Spieth has been more candid and likable in recent interviews.
- Fox microphones caught Spieth referring to No. 18 as “the dumbest hole I’ve ever played.”
- Sergio Garcia was one of the many golfers to voice complaints about the Chambers Bay course.
- The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir on Fox’s terrible coverage of the U.S. Open.
- Fox’s cameras seemed to be following around Jason Day to see if the golfer would collapse due to vertigo.
- Colombia’s Lady Andrade punched Abby Wambach in the face during a 2012 Olympic group stage game and recently made headlines again by saying, “We’re going to beat [the U.S. national team] since they like to talk so much.”
- Even though Colombia is playing the U.S. on Monday night, Slate’s Mark Dent recommends that fans appreciate the role Colombia has played in promoting women’s soccer around the world.
- Despite low attendance compared with the men’s games, this year’s World Cup will break the record for ticket sales set at the 1999 women’s tournament.
- Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl on why FIFA set the bracket to have France and Germany play in the quarterfinals, and how group stage games are scheduled to improve ticket sales and TV ratings.
- Megan Rapinoe celebrated a goal in the 2011 World Cup with a spirited rendition of “Born in the USA.”
- April Heinrichs, the technical director for U.S. women’s soccer, believes that the most talented American girls must be challenged more if the U.S. wants to maintain a competitive edge.
- Fan and “ball hawk” Zack Hample caught Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit at Yankee Stadium.
- Hample says he hasn’t decided what to do with the ball.
- Forbes’ Maury Brown calls Hample a “memorabilia leech.”
- Follow Hample on Twitter, read his ball-hawking blog, and learn all about his rubber band ball.
- Hample consulted ESPN’s Home Run Tracker when he was deciding where to buy his Yankees season tickets.
- Hample started catching baseballs when he was 12, according to a 2006 New York Times profile.
- Deadspin is critical of Hample and other ball hawks, saying they are “ruining it for the rest of us.”
- Hample’s charity of choice is Pitch in for Baseball, which provides baseball equipment to underprivileged children.
Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Siege Gun:
Mike’s Siege Gun: A recent game between the Dodgers and Rangers ended in a rare walk-off balk and also raises questions about the protocol for running the bases backwards.
Stefan’s Siege Gun: Just like Max Scherzer, George Wiltse, nicknamed “Hooks,” came within one out of throwing a perfect game before hitting the 27th batter.
Josh’s Siege Gun: The local media needs to do a better job of reporting on NFL domestic violence cases, including allegations against Kevin Williams and Junior Galette.
On this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the role of fans in choosing the baseball All-Star lineup. Visit slate.com/hangupplus and try it free for two weeks.
Watch the FIFA propaganda film while you listen to commentary from Slate’s Hang Up and Listen podcast.
Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo. Our intern is Emma Zehner.
You can email us at hangup@slate.com.