Hanging Up and Listening
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The final episode of Slate's long-running sports podcast *Hang Up and Listen* serves as a heartfelt farewell, blending nostalgia, reflection, and forward-looking predictions. Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh honor the show’s legacy—launched in 2009, predating their own careers—while acknowledging the void left by its end. They reflect on the unique space the podcast carved out: a critical, culture-infused sports commentary that dared to examine politics, power, and inequality in athletics, a niche increasingly rare in today’s siloed sports media landscape. The episode features a curated collection of predictions from past hosts and guests, ranging from the plausible (a woman pitching in MLB) to the wildly speculative (competitive sports on the moon). These visions, many of which are intentionally absurd or satirical, underscore the show’s commitment to intellectual playfulness and bold thinking. The emotional climax comes with Lindsay Gibbs’ tribute to the WNBA’s evolution—from a $800,000 salary cap in 2009 to $7 million today—highlighting how far women’s sports have come and how much of that foundation was built during the podcast’s run. The episode closes not with a whimper, but with a defiant celebration of the enduring power of sports storytelling. The final takeaway is not just about the end of a podcast, but about the enduring value of thoughtful, interdisciplinary sports journalism.
The WNBA salary cap grew from $800,000 in 2009 to $7 million in 2026, reflecting a historic leap in women’s sports valuation.
A woman will pitch in Major League Baseball within the next 17 years, driven by the rise of the Women’s Professional Baseball League.
Competitive sports will be played on another world—likely the moon—within the next 17 years, marking humanity’s first off-Earth athletic competition.
The NHL will expand to 36 teams and introduce a one-game playoff (Game 7) for postseason entry, a move that could render the regular season more meaningless.
The rise of flag football in high schools and colleges will pave the way for a viable professional league by 2043, offering a safer alternative to tackle football.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Final Curtain Call
“This is going to be the curtain call for this long running podcast that has meant so much to all of us.”
A Legacy of Critical Sports Journalism
“I think particularly since roughly the 2024 election, give or take around then, there has been a reticence to look at sports with that critical eye because people will call that woke or people will call that virtue signaling.”
The Masters: Rory’s Unpredictable Dominance
“This wasn't what Tiger Woods did. but it got bigger. You know, Tiger just blew away from the field. He ran away and hid. And that isn't Rory McIlroy.”
The Rossini-Vrabel Scandal: Ethics in Sports Media
The hosts analyze the controversy surrounding Diana Rossini and Mike Vrabel, discussing the double standards in how female journalists are scrutinized and the blurred lines between insider relationships and journalistic integrity.
The WNBA’s Evolution: From $40k to $500k
“In 2009, the top draft pick earned $40,759. This year, she signed for $500,000 for one season.”
“17 years ago, The WNBA was here and 17 years from now, it still will be.”
“I will predict that for the first time we will see competitive sports played on a world other than the earth.”
“This wasn't what Tiger Woods did. but it got bigger. You know, Tiger just blew away from the field. He ran away and hid. And that isn't Rory McIlroy.”
Hosts
Guests
WNBA
organization
Lindsay Gibbs
person
Ben Lindbergh
person
Alex Kirshner
person
Rory McIlroy
person
Slate
organization
NHL
organization
Diana Rossini
person
Tottenham Hotspur
organization
Mike Vrabel
person
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