Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh dive into the inclusion and implications of robotic officiating in the NFL and MLB. They also discuss the retirement of basketball all-time great, Diana Taurasi. Finally, they talk about a right-wing proposal for a steroid-fueled sports league. For Afterballs, Alex remembers the careers of Czech hockey superstar Jaromir Jagr as well as the beloved voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mike Lange, who died last month.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel discusses the popular NBA parody Twitter account, NBACentel.

Robo Refs (3:15): Robots will be used to scrutinize calls in both baseball and football.

Diana Taurasi (21:49): The basketball icon steps away after twenty-plus years.

Let 'em Juice (37:46): The bizarre proposal from Donald Trump Jr. and friends for a steroid-acceptable sports league.

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh speak to the Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan about the trial of former Spanish women’s soccer chief Luis Rubiales, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting World Cup star Jenni Hermoso. The trial not only condemned the Spanish Football Federation, but also spotlighted a deeper issue of misogyny in Spain. The panel also revisits the 4 Nations Face-Off and the political tensions that boiled over during the hockey tournament. Finally, they discuss the end of the long-standing partnership between ESPN and MLB.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel ponders what a Stephen A. presidential campaign might look like.

Rubiales (2:48): The Spanish soccer boss is found guilty.

MAGA vs Canada (27:17): Canada beats back the Americans once again

MLB (41:28): ESPN and pro-baseball decide to part ways.

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh talk about the 4 Nations Face-off which kicked off with intense brawls and continued with high-stakes, best-on-best action. The panel also breaks down the NBA’s lackluster All-Star Weekend and wraps up with the latest moves in WNBA free agency.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel takes a look at JuJu Watkins and the current stars of college basketball.

4 Nations (1:53): Canada vs. U.S.A. vs. Finland vs. Sweden.

NBA All-Star Game (17:02): A new format can’t save an obsolete game.

WNBA (32:48): Have the Indiana Fever leveled up?

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh examine how the world-beating Chiefs ran into the brick wall that was the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Bowl. They also speak to journalist and author Julie Kliegman about the Trump administration’s recent executive order aiming to ban trans women from sports. Plus, the panel examines the growing movement across sports to shorten game times.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel dives into potential blockbuster moves in the NFL offseason.

The Super Bowl (2:24): The Eagles are elite.

Trump’s Trans Sports Ban (18:08): The repugnant executive order fueling trans discrimination across sports.

Shorter Games (38:37): What's behind the push to bring playing time down?

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh look at the trade heard round the world that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The panel also discusses the sexual misconduct allegations against Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker, as well as the sports betting scandal in the NBA that now involves Terry Rozier. In the Afterball, Lindsay breaks down the NFL Pro Bowl games played this past weekend.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts dive into the Utah Hockey Club’s top-secret renaming saga.

Luka to L.A.(3:18) The confounding trade of the basketball superstar

Justin Tucker (26:29): The troubling reports of sexual misconduct by the Baltimore kicker

Gambling in the NBA (44:31): The investigation into NBA player Terry Rozier’s alleged gambling collusion

Afterballs (1:00:50): Lindsay on the NFL Pro Bowl

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh discuss the Bills' astonishing proclivity to lose to the Chiefs, plus how the Eagles steamrolled the Commanders. The panel also chats about Madison Keys’ shocking victory at the Australian Open. Finally, they get into the Philadelphia 76ers’ disastrous season, and Alex has an Afterball about Arkadag F.C., and the (disputable) win streak of the soccer club from Turkmenistan.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts discuss EA Sports' sinking stock price.

NFL Conference Championships (2:01): Chiefs and Eagles win again

Madison Keys (23:58): The American wins The Australian Open

Philadelphia 76ers (45:13): The catastrophically bad season continues

Afterballs (55:57): The world-beating football club from Turkmenistan?

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs examine college football’s first twelve-team playoff and how Ohio State won it all. The panel then talks about the NFL playoffs with Jayden Daniels’ continued rise and Lamar Jackson’s sad defeat. They also chat about Roki Sasaki’s decision to join the Dodgers, plus an Afterball from Ben on goalie goals!

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts discuss the Biden administration's last-minute guidance on revenue sharing in college sports.

CFB Championship (2:08) Ohio State wins it all.

NFL playoffs (21:14): The sad collapse of the Detroit Lions.

Roki Sassaki: (40:22): The predictable L.A. landing spot for the Japanese hurler.

Afterballs (58:49): Ben on hockey goalie goals.

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From the Steelers' predictable collapse to the Commanders’ doink-fueled victory in Tampa, hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs get into the NFL’s Wild Card weekend. They also talk about college football and the looming Ohio State-Notre Dame championship. Plus the arrival of the all-new, indoor, digital Tomorrow’s Golf League. 

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ historic winning pace.

NFL Wild Cards (2:13): Washington squeaks by and Pittsburgh slumps out.

CFB playoffs (23:19): Can Notre Dame topple Ohio State?

TGL: (39:25): The new Tiger-backed indoor golf simulation league.

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs talk about Premier League Soccer and how sputtering performances could leave Manchester City and Manchester United out of Champions League contention. The hosts also get into the college football playoffs and the coming NFL postseason.

For Afterballs: Ben recounts a history of alternative settings for specialty ‘classic’ sports games.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts discuss the high turnover rate of WNBA coaches, plus the messy math of a thirteen-team league.

Manchester Soccer (2:45): Looking back in anger.

CFB (22:32): A look at the semifinals with each top seed now eliminated.

NFL: (39:20): The explosive regular season wrap-up.

Afterballs (57:06): Ben on alt-settings and the Winter Classic.

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs close out 2024 Hang Up and Listen-style. They dig into the War for Christmas being waged between the NFL and NBA. Then they look at Alex Ovechkin’s attempts to break Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals record. Next they discuss the rise of the alt-cast and what that means for broadcasting games. 

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts share the underrated sports stories of 2024 as well as what everyone should be watching in 2025. 

War for Christmas(2:45): Who gets claim to the day: the NFL or the NBA?

Alex Ovechkin (21:33): Can he beat the hockey GOAT’s goals record? It suddenly looks like a matter of time, but the story isn’t breaking into mainstream coverage much.

Alternative Broadcasts (38:37): Do we really want a Toy Story football overlay?

(Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.)

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Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more.

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