This episode is brought to you by Pepsi Max.

Pepsi Max knows the music isn't just a soundtrack.

It's a pulse, and every city has its own.

That's why they teamed up with Spotify to measure the musical taste of cities across the UK and create a

playlist that matches their pulse perfectly. From Glasgow's dance scene to the Rat Game

in Birmingham. Search for Pepsi Max's profile on Spotify to hear the music your nearest city

loves. Brought to you by Pepsi Max. Dusty for more.

The following podcast contains explicit language.

Hi, this is Josh Levine and this is Slate's Sports Podcast Hang Up and Listen for the

week of June 25, 2018. On this week show, Ken Early of the Irish Times joins us

to talk about World Cup Matters, including whether this is the year

for England, whether this is another year for Germany, and whether it will ever be the year

for Argentina.

It will again. The Ringers, Ben Lenburg, will also chat with us

about baseball's devious plots to add more teams and more playoff teams and

make the designated hitter a universal thing.

And J Caspian Kang will explain why it's time to kill the NBA draft and replace it with

something better.

Joining me in Slates Washington, D.C. studio this week

is Stephan Fatis, author of the book's Word Freak

and a few seconds of Panic,

and the cult minor league baseball classic wild and outside.

...