The Miami Marlins Have a Coronavirus Outbreak Edition

In this week’s episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Miami Marlins’ coronavirus outbreak. They also talk about cardboard cutouts, virtual fans, simulated cheers, and other ways broadcasters are dressing up crowdless games. Finally, they assess the newest nickname in major North American pro sports: the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken.

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• Ben Mathis-Lilley in Slate: “Thirteen Miami Marlins Test Positive for COVID-19, Which Is Bad News for Baseball, Football, and Having School in the Fall”

• The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal’s asks why the Marlins played on Sunday.

• The Wall Street Journal reports that the sports world’s bubbles are working, so far.

• The NBA is looking into Lou Williams’ visit to a strip club (which is known for its excellent wings).

• Melissa Block’s NPR report on fake crowd noise at crowdless sporting events.

• Fox is experimenting with digital fans.

• The New York Times invoked Baudrillard in its discussion of simulated crowd noise.

• How Seattle’s new National Hockey League franchise chose Kraken for its nickname.

• A kraken is a mythical Nordic sea beast that dates to the 12th century. It’s also a popular meme.

• Kraken lost in the first round of a 2018 Seattle Times poll to name the team. (Sockeyes won.)

• Kraken merchandise is flying off the shelves.

Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Fightin’ Geoducks:

Josh’s Fightin’ Geoduck: Abe Stark’s “hit sign, win suit” sign at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field didn’t get hit very often.

Joel’s Fightin’ Geoduck: Remembering former Oklahoma football coach John Blake.

On this week’s bonus segment, Joel, Stefan, and Josh discuss the sports connections in Slow Burn Season 4 on David Duke.

Podcast production and edit by Melissa Kaplan.

You can email us at hangup@slate.com.