Hang Up and Listen: The Plus Plus Plus to Plus Plus Edition
Slate’s sports podcast on the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup Finals, and doping accusations against running coach Alberto Salazar.

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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 NBA Finals, focusing on LeBron James’ one-man game, Stephen Curry’s stellar shots, and how this has been a perfect series. They are also joined by Grantland’s Katie Baker to discuss the remarkably even play between the Blackhawks and the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals. Finally, ProPublica’s David Epstein answers questions about his investigation into doping accusations against running coach Alberto Salazar.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
- A group of sports scientists are worried about LeBron James’ health as he endures tremendous stress carrying the Cavaliers through the NBA Finals.
- James is confident about the remaining playoff games “because I’m the best player in the world.”
- Stephen Curry received treatment for dehydration after Game 5, but ESPN reports that he will most likely play in Game 6.
- Sports Illustrated on Nick U’Ren, the Warriors assistant who gave Steve Kerr the idea to start Andre Iguodala in Game 4.
- David Blatt defends his decision not to give Timofey Mozgov big minutes in Game 5.
- Blackhawks fans are paying up to $10,000 for tickets against the glass, according to an ESPN article.
- Read Grantland’s Katie Baker on the Stanley Cup Finals.
- Baker doesn’t see a clear Stanley Cup winner because the Blackhawks and Lightning are so evenly matched.
- Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop and Tyler Johnson seem to be suffering from injuries.
- Despite suffering from a broken rib and muscle tears during the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals, Patrice Bergeron played through the pain, a situation that has become common among NHL players.
- Lightning goalie Ben Bishop made a catastrophic, hilarious error in Game 5. Was it the hockey equivalent of the butt fumble?
- ProPublica’s David Epstein reported on accusations that famed coach Alberto Salazar pressured his athletes—including U.S. Olympian Galen Rupp—to use performance-enhancing drugs.
- In a follow-up piece, Epstein reported on additional accusations against Salazar.
- Writing on Deadspin’s Fittish blog, Sarah Barker highlights several unique aspects of Salazar’s story, including his unusual fame for a running coach.
- British Olympian Mo Farah, who has trained alongside Rupp and under Salazar, withdrew from a recent race, citing emotional and physical fatigue stemming from the accusations directed at his coach.
- Former Nike Oregon Project assistant Bob Williams defends Salazar and Rupp against doping accusations.
- Ex–Oregon Project runner Josh Rohatinsky says that the allegations in the ProPublica story are accurate and that there’s a “wall of separation” between Rupp and other Oregon Project athletes.
Hang Up and Listen’s weekly L-Carnitine:
Mike’s L-Carnitine: There’s a baseball scouting website that uses the word plus 587 times in its descriptions of draft prospects.
Stefan’s L-Carnitine: Although the first Women’s World Cup was not played until 1991, the earliest formal women’s games date back to Victorian England.
Josh’s L-Carnitine: Why is there an official rule about ambidextrous pitchers? Because of this 2008 standoff between switch-pitcher Pat Venditte and switch-hitter Ralph Henriquez.
On this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the opening week of the Women’s World Cup, including complaints from Abby Wambach that the artificial turf is to blame for weak American offense. Visit slate.com/hangupplus and try it free for two weeks.
Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo. Our intern is Emma Zehner.
You can email us at hangup@slate.com.