Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis assess the decision to leave Florida State out of the College Football Playoff at the expense of Alabama. They also discuss Sports Illustrated using AI writers. And Stefan and Josh follow the continuing saga of LSU’s Kim Mulkey and Angel Reese.   Florida State and Alabama (3:50): A total outrage or a totally understandable decision?   Sports Illustrated (21:28): What does the magazine’s AI mess say about the present and future of sports media?   Mulkey and Reese (39:36): The question that went unasked when the LSU basketball star returned.   Afterball (1:00:19): Stefan on the origins of a famous quotation from baseball Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sympathy for Florida State?

A weekly sports discussion from Slate. Hang Up and Listen features Slate sports editor Josh Levin, writer Stefan Fatsis (author of A Few Seconds of Panic), Slate writer and Slow Burn host Joel Anderson, and a selection of interesting guests from around the sports world.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Boston Celtics’ early dominance over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Stefan and Josh are also joined by journalist Peter Della Penna to talk about the United States’ massive cricket upset over Pakistan. Finally, Butch Reynolds joins to discuss the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary False Positive on the doping allegation that derailed his life and career. 
 NBA Finals (3:02): Does Dallas have any chance of coming back? 
 Cricket (22:47): How the U.S. pulled off a historic victory. 
 Butch Reynolds (41:53): An interview with an American track legend. 
 Afterball (1:02:08): Josh on Alexander Zverev, who (despite his claims) was not just declared innocent. 
 (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad free.) 
 Want more Hang Up and Listen? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page, or visit slate.com/hangupplus to get access wherever you listen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wait, America Is Awesome at Cricket Now?

Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Howard Megdal of the Next to discuss the tumultuous beginning to Caitlin Clark’s rookie season. Historian and author Larry Lester also joins to explain how records from the Negro Leagues finally got incorporated into the major-league record book. Finally, Joel speaks with Arena Football League player Tamatoa Silva about how it felt to watch an entire league come crashing down around him. 
 Caitlin Clark (2:49): Dissecting all the drama surrounding the WNBA star.   Negro Leagues (25:23): What to know about all the new stats, and why it took so long for MLB to add them to the record book. 
 Arena Football League (47:56): A conversation about life on the football fringes. 
 Afterball (59:48): Josh on Dejounte Murray and the greatest NBA quote of all time. 
 (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad free.) 
 Want more Hang Up and Listen? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page, or visit slate.com/hangupplus to get access wherever you listen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The WNBA’s Caitlin Clark Drama

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the stardom of the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving as well as Draymond Green’s stint on TNT’s Inside the NBA. Michael McCann of Sportico also joins to break down the multibillion-dollar settlement that will likely mark the end of amateurism in college sports. 
 Luka and Kyrie: How the Mavericks duo took over the Western Conference Finals. NCAA: Will the settlement deal actually become reality? And how will the payments work? Afterball: Stefan on Bill Walton, Jack Scott, and the FBI. 
 Want more Hang Up and Listen? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page, or visit slate.com/hangupplus to get access wherever you listen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luka and Kyrie Are Running the NBA

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Pacers’ and Timberwolves’ Game 7 wins in the NBA’s conference semifinals. Slate’s Alex Kirshner also joins to talk about Scottie Scheffler’s arrest at the PGA Championship. Finally, they review Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s ultra-conservative commencement speech. 
 NBA playoffs (3:11): Looking back at a pair of historic road victories.   Scheffler (20:18): A bizarre weekend at Valhalla for the world’s no. 1 golfer.   Butker (35:47): The Catholic football player launched himself into a culture war. 
 Afterball (51:53): Stefan on where Giannis Antetokounmpo grew up and what he overcame. 
 (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad free.) 
 Want more Hang Up and Listen? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page, or visit slate.com/hangupplus to get access wherever you listen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wolves Chomped the Champs

Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golilver to talk about the NBA’s conference semifinals. Jackie Powell of the Next also joins to preview all the big storylines leading into the most-anticipated WNBA season ever. Finally, one of the WNBA’s top draft picks in 2023, Maddy Siegrist, explains what the 2024 rookie class can expect in their first year as pros. 
 NBA playoffs (3:29): The Nuggets aren’t dead yet and the Knicks are held together with duct tape.   WNBA (21:25): Caitlin Clark’s debut, the Aces going for three in a row, and the rollout of charter flights.   Siegrist (39:49): The second-year player for the Dallas Wings on adjusting to the WNBA. 
 Afterball (56:22): Joel on the seeming demise of the Arena Football League. 
 (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad free.) 
 Want more Hang Up and Listen? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page, or visit slate.com/hangupplus to get access wherever you listen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sympathy for Florida State?

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