The Welcome to the Coronavirus Games Edition
Slate’s sports podcast on the 2020 Olympics, the NBA Finals, and Space Jam: A New Legacy.
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Episode Notes
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by New York Times Tokyo bureau chief Motoko Rich to discuss the troubled run-up to the Olympics. They also talk about the dominance and humility of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Finally, they review Space Jam: A New Legacy.
• Support Hang Up and Listen by subscribing to Slate Plus.
• Follow Motoko Rich on Twitter.
• A growing number of Olympics athletes and officials are testing positive for the coronavirus, including an alternate on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Tennis star Coco Gauff withdrew from the Games after a positive test.
• International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said there was “zero risk” of athletes passing on the virus to Japanese citizens. In a poll, two-thirds of Japanese people doubted that organizers can keep the Olympics safe.
• In Slate, Eric Margolis reported from Japan on the “darkened vibes around the Games.”
• Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday led the Bucks to a 123-119 Game 5 win over the Suns and a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals.
• Slate’s Nick Greene wrote about the “Tao of Giannis.”
• Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James and Bugs Bunny, opened to $32 million in ticket sales.
• Slate’s Sam Adams on Space Jam: A New Legacy: “Peak, Mindless Corporate Synergy.”
• Also in Slate, Matthew Dessem catalogued “some of the beloved Warner Bros. characters” that appear in the film, including the hooligans from A Clockwork Orange and the murderous title character in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Pepé Le Pew:
Stefan’s Pepé Le Pew: In 1977, after signing a record contract as part of baseball’s first free-agent class, Cleveland pitcher Wayne Garland struggled on the field and was vilified by fans and writers.
On this week’s bonus segment, Josh, Joel, and Stefan discuss whether the troubles in Tokyo will further weaken the Olympic movement.
Podcast production and edit by Alyssa Edes.
You can email us at hangup@slate.com.
