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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the NBA All-Star Game and the state of the league a year after it suspended play due to COVID-19. They also talk about a new report on LSU’s failures to deal with sexual assault claims and allegations about the school’s ex-football coach Les Miles. Finally, Andrew Maraniss joins for a conversation about his book Singled Out, on the plight of the gay baseball player Glenn Burke.

NBA (1:55): What has the NBA learned, if anything, during our year-long pandemic?

LSU (18:54): How should the school respond to a report laying out its Title IX failures?

Singled Out (38:49): What Glenn Burke went through, and what his legacy means today.

Afterballs (57:40): Stefan on Muhammad Ali’s activities before his first fight with Joe Frazier and Josh on listeners’ favorite free throws.

Podcast production and edit by Margaret Kelley.

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Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by FanGraphs’ Meg Rowley to talk about Seattle Mariners president Kevin Mather’s resignation and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s new contract. Alex Kirshner also joins to discuss NBA Top Shot. Finally, they interview Nick Greene about his book How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius.

Baseball (2:18): What Mather’s comments reveal about the Mariners and MLB, and what Tatis’ deal says about the Padres and major-league economics.

NBA Top Shot (23:38): A collecting craze + an internet-fueled bubble = investment mania

How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius (43:24): What game designers, economists, and ballet choreographers can teach us about the sport.

Afterballs (61:24): Stefan on Jack Inglis and Josh on a Luka Doncic rookie card.

Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Asha Saluja.

You can email us at [email protected].

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to talk about the Australian Open. They also discuss the NBA’s new G League player development model. Finally, they assess Anthony Edwards’ huge dunk and name their favorite dunks of all time.

Australian Open (04:06): How Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic won and what the future holds for Serena Williams.

G League Ignite (24:50): Jalen Green’s path to the pros could change the NBA and college basketball.

Dunks (44:50): Will Anthony Edwards’ slam stand the test of time? Which dunks will we never forget?

Afterball (01:02:32): Josh on posterization, the word and the concept.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the debate over whether to play the national anthem at sporting events. They also discuss what the pandemic taught us about the mysteries of home-field advantage. Finally, ESPN’s Ryan Smith joins to talk about a lawsuit alleging that the NFL’s concussion settlement discriminates against Black players.

Anthem (3:11): Why the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing it, why they resumed, and what happens next.

Home-field advantage (21:49): How home teams fare in a world without crowd noise.

Concussion settlement (38:22): Inside a lawsuit brought by pro football retirees.

Afterball (60:07): Stefan on “Star-Spangled Banner” debates of the past.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Bucs’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Among the topics discussed: Tom Brady’s latest triumph, the Bucs’ defense, and Patrick Mahomes’ valiant effort in defeat. They also assess the rising conflict between NBA players and the league.

Super Bowl (4:39): How Tampa won, why Kansas City lost, and why we were so wrong about Tom Brady.

NBA (38:03): Why the league’s best players are so upset about the All-Star Game.

Afterballs (56:36): Josh with more on Jackie Robinson’s letter to Bill Keefe and Stefan on Muhammad Ali and One Night in Miami.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the latest NFL hiring cycle, where just one Black coach got hired to run a team. They also assess Australia’s tennis quarantine and discuss whether Curt Schilling will break the baseball Hall of Fame.

NFL coaches (01:52): What if anything can be done to get Black coaches more opportunities?

COVID (20:52): Sports in Australia vs. sports in the pandemic-ravaged United States.

Curt Schilling (35:56): Should writers consider his “character” when casting their Hall of Fame ballots?

Afterballs (54:14): Josh on Jackie Robinson vs. sportswriter Bill Keefe and Melissa Kaplan on the Phillie Phanatic.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Packers’ mystifying field goal attempt and the Chiefs’ run for a second straight title. They also discuss the life and legacy of baseball legend Henry Aaron, who died last week at the age of 86.

NFL (01:35): What was Packers coach Matt LaFleur thinking? What’s the secret to the Chiefs’ success?

Henry Aaron (21:55): Remembering Aaron’s upbringing, his career, his chase of baseball’s home run record, and everything he needed to overcome to be great.

Afterball (01:02:24): Stefan on the sad and courageous story of Black baseball players Leander and Jim Turgeson.

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Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and special guest Damon Young talk about the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ trade for James Harden and Kyrie Irving’s absence. Finally, they review the HBO documentary Tiger.

NFL (01:49): Drew Brees, the concussion protocol, and the Chiefs’ gutsy fourth-down call. 

Nets (21:51): Is Kyrie Irving just misunderstood?

Tiger (41:15): What the two-part doc reveals about Tiger Woods’ life and career.

Afterball (59:29): Joel on the time Hakeem Olajuwon wanted out of Houston.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Alabama’s win over Ohio State in the college football title game. They also assess how athletes and leagues reacted to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Finally, they discuss the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend.

College football (01:39): What will we remember about this season, and what should we make of the Alabama dynasty?

Insurrection (21:29): Why did the NBA and NFL powers that be stay silent?

NFL (38:02): The Cleveland Browns won and Nickelodeon made its playoff broadcasting debut.

Afterball (52:38): Stefan on Marine AFC.

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Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Washington’s win over Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football. They also discuss Alabama and Ohio State’s victories in the College Football Playoff and ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel joins for a conversation about the Duke women’s basketball team opting out of the season.

NFL (01:28): Did the Eagles commit fraud in their loss to Washington or was it all just a big laugh?

College Football Playoff (19:27): On Justin Fields, Ryan Day, Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, Brian Kelly and the other heroes and villains of the CFP.

Duke women’s basketball (37:14): Why did the players opt out? What happens next?

Afterball (55:58): Stefan remembers Penn Quaker Kevin Warren.

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