Crunching Tackles

Dune 2 is finally here! After a months-long delay, the much anticipated sequel film has arrived and we are here to break it all down in this special bonus edition of Crunching Tackles. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all your social media platforms!

The most recent incident of court-storming by a student section in college basketball has ignited a huge debate about the future of this behavior. So we had to way in. On today's episode, we discuss: 8:30 - Everton have been given a lifeline in their continued attempt to stay in the Premier League while facing point reductions due to financial malpractice. Will getting 4 points back be enough to k...

Super Bowl 58 featured the two longest field goals in Super Bowl history, and two historic comebacks from Patrick Mahomes. On today's episode, we discuss: 6:30 - We break down the game, including the key fourth quarter and overtime drives, and why the 49ers will be thinking about their missed opportunities. 40:00 - We reopen the conversation about where Patrick Mahomes ranks in the history of NFL...

In 2022, the Ontario police and NHL opened investigations into sexual assault allegations against several members of Canada's 2018 Junior World Championship team. This week, 5 members of that team were ordered to surrender to the police. On today's episode, we discuss: 2:50 - The Super Bowl matchup is set, with the Kansas City Chiefs returning to face the San Francisco 49ers. We react to how each...

Everton and Nottingham Forest are facing more financial charges from the English Premier League, casting a shadow on the fairness of the finances of elite soccer. On today's episode, we discuss: 3:50 - THE BIG STORY: Everton and Nottingham Forest are facing charges of financial misconduct. They are not sustainably managing their money and have faced significant monetary losses, and now they are at...

2023 has been a consequential sports year. We've seen aging superstars cement their legacies, young phenoms announce their presence, and Saudi Arabia stage a takeover of multiple professional sports. We also spent a lot of time this year watching and thinking about film. We've shared a lot of those thoughts on this podcast, but we decided to spend the last half of this podcast talking about the be...

Shohei Ohtani has signed a historic and unconventional contract to play baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm announced his departure from the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, despite having previously stated that he isn't motivated by money. On today's episode, we discuss: 1:30 - The final College Football Committee Rankings, and if Florida State University has a case to say they were s...

Everton Football Club have been hit with the largest sanctions ever given by the Premier League after they were found liable for mismanagement of funds and inability to retain a proper revenue margin. Their 10-point sanction is the largest points deduction the league has ever given. On today's episode, we discuss: 1:30 - A very brief run through the recent slate of NFL games. 5:30 - Alejandro Garn...

There is no event more prestigious than the World Cup, and the 2034 edition is going to be gifted to Saudi Arabia, as they continue their expansive sportswashing project. On today's episode, we discuss: 7:00 - Jim Harbaugh has been suspended by the Big Ten following evidence that his program was illegally spying on opponents. But we aren't convinced the NCAA rules on surveillance are fair, or even...

Our eyes are telling us that athletes look bigger, stronger, and faster than they ever have before, and the empirical data backs that up. On today's podcast, we're looking at the growth of the athletic body and how we can contextualize the modern day elite. We discuss: 1:00 - A few additional thoughts about the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the cultural response. 18:45 - A brief check-in o...

We're doing something a little different on the podcast today. We'll weave a couple sports stories into this discussion, but we are mostly focused on a frank and raw conversation about the state of the war in Israel, our connections to it, and what we can learn from the cultural response to this conflict. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all you...

For the past two weeks, Taylor Swift has been in attendance to see the Kansas City Chiefs, and Travis Kelce, play football. Her presence has in many ways dictated not just sports media, but all of culture. We here at Crunching Tackles have been swept up in Taylor-mania as well. This week, we discuss: 2:20 - What in the world is going on with Jimmy Butler? 4:16 - Video Review in the Premier League...

The 2023 US Open saw one of the youngest female champions in Grand Slam history, and also one of the oldest mens champions. We recap the entire tournament and look at what the future for Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic might be. This week, we discuss: 1:45 - Our week 1 takeaways from the NFL season so far. 11:15 - The drama in the Spanish Football Federation in the aftermath of the Women's World Cup...

Michael Oher, the subject of the hit movie The Blind Side, has filed a lawsuit against the Tuohy family who took him in and became the heroes of the film. What is Oher alleging, and how does this taint the beloved film? On this pod, we discuss: 0:45 - John gives a full recollection of seeing Lionel Messi—in person—lift his first trophy on American soil. 6:20 - Novak Djokovic has gotten some reveng...

It was a disappointing outing in the Woman's World Cup for the USA, and we are here to react to the worst result the American ladies have ever suffered in the history of the tournament. On this pod, we discuss: 2:30 - Lionel Messi has continued to dominate in MLS in his first four games for Inter Miami. Is this a huge success for everyone all around, or is it highlighting the issues with our domes...

Full disclosure: there is a lot more talk about movies on this episode than there is about sports. But that doesn't mean we don't have a whole lot of important sports content for you as well. This week we discuss: 2:45 - Carlos Alcaraz is the 2023 Wimbledon champion, and we assess whether he is now the best tennis player in the world. Is it time to reflect on Novak Djokovic in the past tense, or d...

Elon Musk has led during a tumultuous time at Twitter HQ, and Meta have capitalized on this perceived weakness with their competitor app: Threads. Given the uncertainty around Twitter, we take this opportunity to reflect on how Twitter specifically has shaped the fan sports experience and the way entertainment comes into our lives. We also wonder if Threads, or any other social media app, can stee...

It's been the summer of Saudi Arabia, as the Middle Eastern oil giants continue to buy their way deeper and deeper into the worlds of both soccer and golf. With mostly wins, and one significant loss, the Public Investment Fund of the controversy-riddled country is now a major player in the international sports scene. This week we discuss: 1:36 - A brief mention of the French Open, Novak Djokovic m...

Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant will likely face a hefty suspension from the NBA after appearing in a second social media video with a firearm, not even two months after being suspended for the first one. But is that fair? Social media has been ablaze with controversy, and we try to find some answers. 2:30 - We start things off by looking at the NBA and NHL playoffs (RIP the Hurricanes). 7:2...

14 different managers have been fired in during the Premier League season this year—the most in any season ever. Why are owners and management so impatient with the results of their coaches? Does the high turnover lead to improved play on the field? This week, we discuss: 1:00—Personal news for the podcast 3:30—The first round of the NBA Playoffs is absolutely full of drama, and we discuss the hig...

March Madness is over, and the NCAA men's and women's champions have been crowned. Connecticut has cemented their men's program in the top tier of basketball, and LSU women won their first national championship. This week, we discuss: 4:50—UConn defeated San Diego State in the national championship, winning their fifth title in the past 25 years. We look at the strangeness of this year's tournamen...

Major League Soccer began a major deal with Apple TV this season, meaning that the majority of their games are behind a paywall. This move provoked disappointment for some fans who now view the league as inaccessible to casual supporters. But was this the right move for MLS? This week, we discuss: 3:15—Vanessa Bryant and her family received a $30 million payout for graphic photos being taken after...

Shows like P.T.I., First Take, and Undisputed have dominated cable television for the better part of two decades. Watching celebrities argue about sports is a cherished tradition in sporting culture. But are these shows really just harmless entertainment? Or do they cause serious damage in our society? Why are other parts of culture starting to look more like the arguments we see on ESPN? Chad and...

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions ... again! This week, we discuss: 3:30 — How did the Chiefs pull off the victory? What are our expectations going forward for both the Chiefs and the Eagles? And yes, was the holding penalty the right call? 25:15 — Why is Chad upset about the reaction to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and what did the guys think about Rihanna's performance? 29:30 — Wh...

Last Tuesday, LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the player with the most points in NBA history. This momentous achievement gives us the chance to discuss the significance of the record for LeBron, and his complicated relationship with the man he took the record from. This week, we discuss: 2:30 — Is the European Super League back? A new proposal has revised the original Super Leagu...