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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh join forces one last time to break down (what else?) the week’s top sports stories. Then, the panel is joined by Hang Up all-star guests from across the years (including John Wertheim, Jeff Passan, Louisa Thomas, and more) to share memories from the show’s seventeen-year run and make predictions of the sports world for the next seventeen. Finally, Lindsay closes us out with an Afterball capturing what the WNBA was like seventeen years ago. The Masters: (12:48): Rory is still great The Hang Up Guest All Stars (39:27): “This show was the perfect anti-toxin to sports radio.” Afterballs (1:11:41): One of the most thrilling WNBA Finals occurred in 2009 (not a typo!) (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode, Alex, Ben, and Lindsay speak with journalist Connor Makar about Saudi Arabia’s recent investment in esports and the fundamental changes it brings to the fighting game community. This episode is for Slate Plus members. Join now to unlock it—plus weekly Hang Up and Listen bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh recap a chalky March Madness marked by coaching drama and uncertainty about college basketball’s future. Then Alex and Lindsay ask Ben about the early MLB season, from the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system to a new wave of impressive rookies. Finally, the panel speaks with author and soccer journalist Ryan O'Hanlon about the real story behind Wrexham A.F.C. and how high the celebrity-owned club can realistically climb. Ben also has an Afterball on Kenny Albert's impending record for most national broadcasts called. In this week’s bonus episode for Slate Plus members: Saudi Arabia makes a big push into esports and fighting video games. March Madness: (6:29): Was relatively mild MLB ABS (22:50): “You can’t challenge the robots!” Wrexham AFC (43:34): The aging Welsh TV stars need to win now Afterballs (1:00:33): Kenny Albert has called almost 1480 national games (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode, Alex, Ben, and Lindsay break out the measuring tape to see if Rueben Bain Jr.’s T-rex arms could hurt his draft stock This episode is for Slate Plus members. Join now to unlock it—plus weekly Hang Up and Listen bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.

Hosts Lindsay Gibbs and Ben Lindbergh discuss the maddest moment of March—from the UConn buzzer beater, to Women’s Final Four redux. Alex Kirshner rejoins for two interviews: the first with author and professor Seth Tannenbaum about the growing class divide inside baseball stadiums, the subject of his new book, Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark. The second with Nina Mandell about an Ohio gymnastics dynasty, chronicled in her book: A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line. Finally, Ben closes with an Afterball about the historic and cringey N64 video game Mia Hamm Soccer 64. In this week’s bonus episode for Slate Plus members: the T-Rex hunting for a draft spot in the NFL. March Madness: (6:37): Duke’s demise Bleacher Seats (26:32): The haves and the have-nots Fraction of a Point (42:42): The gymnastics world beaters Afterballs (57:49): Mia Hamm Soccer 64 (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode, Alex, Ben, and Lindsay examine why so many current and former athletes have podcasts now and why most of them fall flat. This episode is for Slate Plus members. Join now to unlock it—plus weekly Hang Up and Listen bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.

Hosts Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh discuss the WNBA's new CBA, which contains massive salary increases, revenue sharing, and historic precedents for all women’s sports. Then host Alex Kirshner arrives for a conversation with Ben and his Effectively Wild co-host Meg Rowley to recap the World Baseball Classic and preview the MLB season. In this week’s bonus episode for Slate Plus members, the hosts chat about the abundance of athlete-hosted podcasts –is anyone listening? WNBA CBA: (8:18): From $66K to millions MLB (29:34): Are the Pirates playoff material? (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh discuss the thrilling World Baseball Classic semifinal between Team USA and the Dominican Republic, as well as the missed calls, Navy SEAL visits, and other strange drama surrounding the tournament. Then the panel previews NCAA March Madness tournament before closing with a look at the expanding connections between Jeffrey Epstein and figures across the sports world. In this week’s bonus episode for Slate Plus members, the hosts chat about Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point run against the Washington Wizards last week.  WBC: (4:52): The called strike heard round the world March Madness (23:01): Chalk talk. Epstein and Sports (42:01): The revolting revelations about Steve Tisch (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode, Alex, Ben, and Lindsay talk about the very heated debate online about Bam Adebayo’s 83 points and the ethics of breaking records against tanking NBA teams.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode: Alex, Ben, and Lindsay talk about the Celtics’ surprisingly dominant season—despite missing their star for much of the year, and why Jayson Tatum’s return could make them nearly unstoppable.

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh discuss the unusually high number of NFL teams that are seeking new quarterbacks via trades and free agency amid a weak draft class. Later: Why the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks could be left out of March Madness despite an undefeated regular season. Finally, Lindsay breaks down some of the stranger aspects of the WNBA’s collective-bargaining process—and the behind-the-scenes contributions of Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart. In this week’s bonus episode for Slate Plus members, the hosts turn to the Celtics’ improbable (and slightly annoying) dominance despite missing their best player for most of the season.  Quarterback merry-go-round: (10:34): Tua to Atlanta? Miami Redhawks (26:36): 31-0. WNBA CBA (41:52): A Union divided? (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Joel Meyer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode, Alex, Ben, and Lindsay discuss the nostalgia-baiting spectacle of old fighters and celebrities revisiting the ring in Netflix-ified exhibition matches. This episode is for Slate Plus members. Join now to unlock it—plus weekly Hang Up and Listen bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh revisit the whirlwind week for the U.S. men’s hockey team, after their gold medal win, and SOTU and White House visits. Then, the Ringer’s Megan Schuster joins to preview the new season of Formula 1 and its broadcasting move to Apple TV. To close, Ben breaks down what to look out for in the World Baseball Classic, which starts this week. On the bonus episode, available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts share their highs and lows of watching the Winter Olympics.  Hockey and Politics: (3:45): The U.S. men’s hockey team gets their Big Macs F1 (20:02): Formula One’s new home at Apple WBC (44:24): The American baseball dream team still has an uphill battle (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Hang Up and Listen bonus episode, Alex, Ben and Lindsay share their highlights and lowlights from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. This episode is for Slate Plus members. Join now to unlock it—plus weekly Hang Up and Listen bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh relive the dual wins for Team USA's women's and men’s hockey teams and examine how MAGA has co-opted the victory. Then, they’re joined by journalist Chris Dalby, author of the Sports and Crime newsletter, goes deep on why Trump seems to love pardoning athletes. Next, the hosts get into the alarming expansion of sports betting via prediction markets. And finally, Ben brings us an Afterball on the demise of the European Super League. On the bonus episode, available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts share their highs and lows of watching the Winter Olympics.  Olympics Hockey: (--): Team USA brings home gold. Trump Pardons (--): Chris Dalby breaks down what’s really going on. Prediction Markets (--): Who will reign in this new way of betting? European Super League (--): Ben eulogizes the failed league.  Episode Notes: Alex in Slate on America’s reckless, brilliant strategy to beat Canada.This New York Times breakdown of the move that beat Chloe Kim in the halfpipeChris Dalby on Donald Trump’s love of pardoning athletes. (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.