Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Joel Anderson talk about whether the Pelicans should trade Zion Williamson. Josh and Stefan are also joined by the Athletic’s Paul Tenorio to discuss the U.S. men’s national soccer team's wins over Mexico and Canada and the rehiring of Gregg Berhalter. Finally, Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal joins for a conversation about how Vegas became America’s No. 1 sports town. Zion (4:47): The Pelicans are in a very tough spot. U.S. soccer (27:35): Why Gregg Berh...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss how the Denver Nuggets took a commanding lead in the NBA Finals. Next, Slate’s Henry Grabar comes on to talk about Novak Djokovic’s record-setting French Open title. Finally, Josh is joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner and the Fried Egg’s Brendan Porath to sort through the PGA Tour’s new deal with the Saudis. NBA Finals (2:16): What makes Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray a historically great duo? F...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Jack Hamilton to discuss the NBA Finals. The New York Times’ Tariq Panja also comes on for a conversation about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lure Lionel Messi and conquer global soccer. Finally, the Athletic’s Zach Buchanan discusses his piece on the pioneering mascot the San Diego Chicken. Nuggets-Heat (3:05): How Miami tied up the series. Saudi soccer (24:18): Can they get Messi? What are they trying to accomplish? The Chicken (42:49): What Ted Giannoula...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Joel Anderson to talk about the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Heat. They’re also joined by Mike Simmonds of Luton Today for a conversation about Luton Town’s rise to the Premier League. And finally, writer Sam Miller comes on to discuss the indelible image of Randy Johnson killing a bird with a fastball. Celtics-Heat (6:49): How Boston came so far, and then collapsed. Luton Town (28:27): The inside scoop on an incredible underdog story. Baseball and birds...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis discuss the Heat and Nuggets and their stars Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic. They’re also joined by writers Dave Zirin and Jesse Washington to talk about the life and legacy of Jim Brown. Finally, Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman joins to assess Brittney Griner’s return, Becky Hammon’s suspension, and other WNBA storylines. NBA (3:10): How Miami and Denver are steamrolling to the NBA Finals. Jim Brown (24:00): He was a football star, a civil rights icon, and a domesti...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss the 76ers’ Game 7 loss to the Celtics and other NBA playoff storylines. Meg Rowley of FanGraphs also joins to assess the terrible Oakland A’s and the excellent Tampa Bay Rays. Finally, the New York Times’ Sarah Lyall talks about reporting on the Westminster Dog Show. NBA (3:26): How Philly blew it and what to look for in the conference finals. Baseball (30:15): Are the A’s one of the worst teams in history? ...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Slate’s Jack Hamilton and Ben Mathis-Lilley discuss Nikola Jokic’s tiff with Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Kevin Durant’s quest for a third title. They also talk about Alabama’s head baseball coach getting fired in a sports gambling scandal. Finally, they assess Bronny James’ decision to go to USC. NBA (3:11): The subplots and plot twists of the Suns-Nuggets Western Conference semis. Gambling (24:58): The NCAA and the pro sports leagues are walking a thin line with legalized betting. ...
May 09, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to talk about the Warriors’ Game 7 win over the Kings. The Toronto Star’s Bruce Arthur also joins to discuss the Bruins’ NHL playoffs flop and the Maple Leafs’ historic first-round victory. Finally, Extra Points’ Matt Brown assesses Deion Sanders’ gutting of the Colorado football team. Warriors-Kings (3:26): How Steph willed the defending champs to victory. NHL (6:08): Another year, another regular-season juggernaut th...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Jack Hamilton to talk about Draymond Green, Dillon Brooks, and NBA villainy. Chicago White Sox announcer Jason Benetti also joins to discuss how to call a baseball game in the pitch-clock era. Finally, Talia Barrington comes on for a conversation about same-sex pairs in figure skating. NBA villains (3:01): The basketball playoffs need bad guys. Jason Benetti (24:39): “We are covering a different sport now.” Same-sex pairs (47:10): Is figure skat...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Defector’s Patrick Redford to talk about the Sacramento Kings’ first playoff win in 17 years. Defector’s Dave McKenna also joins to commemorate the (supposed) end of Dan Snyder’s ownership of the Washington Commanders. Finally, Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim comes on to assess the WTA’s decision to return to China. Kings (3:21): What it felt and sounded like when Sacramento beat Golden State. Snyder (23:31): Will D.C. ever recover from his horrific t...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton to talk about what went wrong for the Dallas Mavericks and to preview the NBA postseason. Slate’s Jim Newell also joins to discuss Jon Rahm’s Masters win. Finally, they speak with LJ Rader about his Twitter and Instagram accounts Art But Make It Sports. NBA (4:20): Why did the Mavs lose on purpose? And how is the Western Conference shaping up? Masters (24:31): What the year’s first major means for LIV and the future of golf. Art But ...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to discuss LSU’s victory over Iowa in the women’s NCAA Tournament. Tennis player Matija Pecotic also joins to talk about how he went from a full-time job to victory on the pro tour. Finally, Jody Avirgan discusses his podcast Good Sport and whether sports debate shows are hurting America. Women’s NCAA Tournament (6:44): The on-court battles and the off-court controversies. Pecotic (31:00): The star of one of the sports w...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to talk about Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark. The Washington Post’s Chuck Culpepper also joins to assess the most surprising men’s Final Four ever. Finally, Tom Haberstroh of Meadowlark Media discusses the vitriol directed at NBA referees. Clark (2:50): The secrets of the Iowa point guard’s success. Men’s tourney surprises (26:33): Miami? San Diego State? Florida Atlantic?!? NBA refs (44:20): Who’s responsibl...
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, are joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner to talk about Fairleigh Dickinson’s huge upset over Purdue and Princeton’s run to the Sweet 16. Then, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez comes on to discuss the historic matchup between the USA and Cuba at the World Baseball Classic. Finally, author David Epstein assesses the legacy of high jumper Dick Fosbury, who invented the immortal Fosbury Flop. Fairleigh Dickinson (2:18): Did the Knights pull off the biggest upset in college basketball hist...
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas talk about what went wrong for the North Carolina men’s basketball team and other NCAA Tournament matters. They also check in on quarterback Lamar Jackson’s standoff with the Baltimore Ravens. Finally, the Athletic’s Nick Miller joins to discuss why the BBC pulled soccer commentator Gary Lineker off the air, and what happened next. NCAA (5:54): Checking in on the Tar Heels and the sport’s other blue bloods. Jackson (3:50): Why doesn’t...
Mar 13, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Washington Post’s Molly Hensley-Clancy to discuss her reporting on the troubles surrounding Ja Morant. ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. also joins to talk about whether Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder will get forced out of the NFL. Finally, they speak to Slate’s Alex Kirshner about the quarterback dilemmas at the top of the NFL Draft. Morant (3:17): What comes next for the Memphis Grizzlies star? Snyder (22:07): The scandals are mounting. Will he fi...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Joseph Goodman of AL.com to talk about the murder roiling the Alabama basketball program. They’re also joined by Jeremy Woo to discuss his Sports Illustrated cover story on French basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama. Finally, CNBC’s Alex Sherman comes on for a conversation about the death of regional sports networks. Alabama (5:08): Why is star freshman Brandon Miller still playing? Wembanyama (27:42): Inside the media rollout of the next NBA superstar....
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Kevin Van Valkenburg of No Laying Up to talk about Tiger Woods’ return to tournament golf. Claire Watkins of Just Women’s Sports also joins to discuss the Canadian women’s soccer team’s fight for equal pay. Finally, Michael Baumann of Fangraphs comes on to assess Major League Baseball’s latest rule changes. Tiger Woods (3:14): His competitors on the PGA Tour think he could win again. Equal pay (24:46): How the labor battle in Canada is different from th...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Chiefs’ victory over the Eagles. They also discuss Kevin Durant’s move from the Nets to the Suns. Finally, the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins to talk about South Carolina and its challengers in women’s college basketball. Super Bowl (4:15): Was the game-clinching holding call the right decision? Durant (25:22): What’s the Nets’ legacy? What are the Suns’ title chances? Women’s college basketball (44:32): Can anyone stop the Gamecocks...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by NPR’s Gene Demby to discuss the trade of talented, problematic superstar Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks, and to preview the Super Bowl match-up between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Also, Sabreena Merchant of the Athletic helps explain what an unprecedented free-agent frenzy means for the WNBA. Kyrie Irving (5:05): The perpetually disgruntled superstar is on the move again. Super Bowl (28:54): After ...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Lindsay Jones of the Ringer to break down the NFL conference championship games, won by the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Joel, Stefan, and Josh Levin discuss the impact of college athletes finally making money through name, image, and likeness rights. Finally, an interview with former Olympian Edie Thys Morgan about Mikaela Shiffrin, who is on the verge of becoming the winningest ski racer of all time. NFL (3:49): The biggest takea...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss Tony Dungy’s history of anti-gay rhetoric, and whether NBC and the NFL should do something about it. Finally, Slate contributor Isaac Butler joins to talk about the rise of American men at the Australian Open and Netflix’s tennis reality series Break Point. NFL (5:37): The biggest takeaways from the weekend’s games. Dungy (26:19): Should the ex-coach still be on television? Tennis (47:...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Bomani Jones to discuss the Cowboys’ blowout win over the Bucs and other storylines from the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. They also talk about all the high-scoring games in the NBA this season. Finally, Joel and Josh interview pool legend Jeanette Lee, aka the Black Widow, who’s featured in the new documentary Jeanette Lee Vs. NFL (4:23): Is Tom Brady going to retire? Should he? NBA (25:42): Why are so many players putting up 50-point games? And...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Georgia’s win over TCU in the college football title game. They also discuss Damar Hamlin’s remarkable recovery and how the NFL has tried to move on. Finally, they assess the Berhalter-Reyna rift that’s tearing apart U.S. men’s soccer. Georgia-TCU (2:26): What it’s like to be on the wrong side of one of the biggest blowouts in sports history. Hamlin (25:10): Watching pro football a week after the Bills safety’s near-death on the field. U.S....
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field during Monday Night Football and what came after. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss TCU and Georgia’s thrilling wins in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Finally, author Alex Bellos discusses the Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who died last week at age 82. Hamlin (3:26): Is it fair to criticize the NFL’s response to Monday’s on-field crisis? College Football Playo...
Jan 03, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler to discuss her story on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ array of hand signals. They also discuss New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $800 million offseason spending spree and look back at 1972’s “Immaculate Reception” by Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris. Rodgers (3:00): The Packers QB bristled over Kahler’s well-sourced story on why rookie receivers struggle in Green Bay. Mets (26:33):...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Argentinian journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo to talk about Lionel Messi’s coronation on soccer’s biggest stage and then continue their conversation about the greatest World Cup final ever. They also discuss a bizarre weekend in the NFL and assess the life and career of college football coach Mike Leach. World Cup final (3:36): What it means to Argentina and how it felt to watch it. NFL (28:55): The Vikings came back from how far? The Pat...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim to talk about journalist Grant Wahl, who died suddenly over the weekend at the age of 49. They’re also joined by the Atlantic’s Franklin Foer for a conversation about Morocco’s thrilling run to the World Cup semifinals. Finally, they discuss Brittney Griner’s long-awaited return to the United States after a prisoner swap with Russia. Grant Wahl (6:26): The life and legacy of a great journalist, mentor, a...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to discuss the U.S. loss to the Netherlands at the World Cup. Josh and Joel Anderson are then joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner to talk about the College Football Playoff pairings and Deion Sanders’ move to Colorado. World Cup (3:43): The positives and negatives of the USMNT’s run to the round of 16. College Football Playoff (27:50): Who’s in, who’s out, and what to expect in the semifinals. Deion Sanders (49:25): Was he wrong to leave Jackson ...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by journalist Meg Swanick to preview the U.S. men’s soccer team’s matchup against Iran. Ben Mathis-Lilley, the author of The Hot Seat, also joins to discuss Michigan’s win over Ohio State. Finally, they talk about the Washington Post’s feature on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. USA-Iran (4:09): The on-field and off-field implications of the USMNT’s big game. Michigan-Ohio State (25:53): How the Wolverines took down the Buckeyes again. Jer...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
