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Hi, this is Josh Levine, and this is Slate's sports podcast, Hang Up and Listen for the week of

January 12, 2015. On this week's show, we will talk about the divisional round of the NFL playoffs,

which centered on such existential questions as, what is a catch? And who is Peyton Manning, really?

We'll also be joined by ESPN's Tom Haversstro to talk about strange times in the NBA's Eastern Conference,

where the Atlanta Hawks have the best record and the Detroit Pistons have won eight of nine games after dumping the very highly paid Josh Smith.

Andrew Basharrett will be here to explain what's going on in Yosemite, where a pair of climbers are attempting the first free assent of El Capitans Don Wall. And in our bonus segment

for Slate Plus members, we'll discuss the miserable and also kind of hilarious state of the

5 and 35 New York Knicks. And the New York Times' decision to pull their writer off the beat

to give him, quote, a break from such woeful basketball. Joining me in Washington, D.C., Stephen Fatsas, author of the book's Word Freak and a few seconds of panic, any Friday sports correspondent friend Piers all things considered. Hello, Stefan. Hi, Josh. With us from New York is Mike Peska, host of Slate's daily podcast, The Gist, with Mike Peska. Hello, Mike.

I disagree with the Times assessment.

I mean, half the teams playing each night are playing a splendid brand of basketball, unimpeded by the other team's defense or ability to score.

What better show?

What better showcase?

Plus segment, Mike.

That's the kind of insight that Slate members are paying for.

I wanted to give everyone a taste to wet their beak on my plus knowledge, but it will end there.

...