Crunching Tackles

With a recent rule change, collegiate athletes are no longer punished for transferring schools during their college careers. While this move is a vital step toward player empowerment, some people involved in college sports aren't as excited for these rule changes. We open up with reviews of The Northman, a Viking epic movie that will have a complicated legacy with cinema fans (2:15). Then John inf...

The NBA is a staple of pop culture around the world and is one of the most successful leagues in American team sports. But it wasn't always this way. In light of the NBA playoffs, and recent revelations from the history of the league, Chad and John take a look at the imaging and branding of the NBA through the decades. We first discuss recent Marvel content with episodes 3-4 of Moon Knight (3:15)...

A congressional subcommittee released a 20-page letter, filled with allegations of financial misconduct by the NFL team in Washington DC. What is the significance of this report to Dan Snyder, the owner of the Commanders? How should the NFL respond to these severe allegations? This week, we discuss: POP CULTURE: Preview for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. CURRENT EVENTS: 7:04 — World...

Kansas are the 2022 NCAA Men's National Champions, but will they be allowed to compete for the title next year? How should we think about a team who win the championship in the shadow of severe recruiting violations? This week, we discuss: POP CULTURE: 2:19 — Marvel's MoonKnight episodes 1 and 2 recap. 6:39 — The release of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga video game CURRENT EVENTS: 9:00 — The 2...

The storylines abound as Duke will meet North Carolina in the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, their first meeting in the tournament. Chad and John break down every angle of this game, including the revenge factor for Duke, the final chapter for Coach K, and the TarHeels trying to spoil his ride into the sunset. The boys also discuss some recent news in pop culture and sports, and of course, give...

Roman Abramovich is one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in Russia. He is also the current owner of Chelsea, the giant Premier League club. On March 10, the UK Government imposed sanctions on Abramovich, including freezing Chelsea—one of his assets. How does this decision impact Chelsea, and how should sports fans feel when their teams are used for political purposes. This week, we discuss: 4:...

The U.S. Women's Soccer Team reached a significant settlement of their equal pay lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation. Chad and John break down the results and implications of that decision. But first, we react to the invasion of Ukraine and it's impacts, both in and out of sports. This week, we discuss: 4:29 — How has the sports world reacted to war in Ukraine, and what impact does the conf...

The 2022 Winter Olympics had the lowest primetime viewership of any Olympics in America, as the Games were overshadowed by both Chinese and Russian scandal. Chad and John get specific about the human rights abuses taking place in China and how they taint the entire existence of these games. This week, we discuss: 3:11 — THE SUPER BOWL: Commercials 10:05 — THE SUPER BOWL: Game recap 14:47 — THE SUP...

Super Bowl LVI is just around the corner, and Chad and John are here to break down all the matchup details and predict the winner of the big game. What variables do the game hinge on, and will the boys agree or disagree on the champion this year? This week, we discuss: 3:45 — The Book of Boba Fett season review and rating. 23:49 — Peng Shuai speaks again, and the 2022 Winter Olympics aren't as cap...

Can you believe what we just saw? John and Chad take a break from social issues to dive into an incredible weekend of NFL playoff action. After a brief aside for The Book of Boba Fett, the boys take each of the four divisional games, breaking down the important moments, action-packed drama, and implications as we near the Super Bowl. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, an...

Continuing from last week's conversation about John Madden, we look at the success of ESPN's ManningCast broadcast for Monday Night Football. What made this telecast such a huge success, and what ways do broadcasts need to adapt with the times? This week, we discuss: 3:36 — Netflix's hit show Arcane 14:21 — The ManningCast, why it worked and how it can be replicated 24:04 — THE BIG ISSUE: The hist...

John Madden stopped coaching football long before Gen Z started watching the game. Most people only know his name from the football video game franchise Madden. So why does this legendary figure have such a significant impact on the way American culture views football? This week, we discuss: 2:45 — The Book of Boba Fett episodes 1 and 2 12:30 — The Novak Djokovic saga in Australia 16:09 — NFL stor...

Spider-Man: No Way Home has demolished all expectations for box office success, and is being considered one of the best Marvel movies in history. What do Chad and John think about the hype around this film, and the film itself. This week, we discuss: 5:12 — Spider-Man: No Way Home recap  28:30 — The newest developments in the story of Peng Shuai 36:09 — A review of sports in 2021 As always, make s...

When Major League Baseball turned off the lights and locked out the MLB Player's Union, the future of the 2022 season was thrown into jeopardy. How does a document called the Collective Bargaining Agreement have so much impact on sports, and when is the next time we will see a first pitch? John and Chad discuss the ongoing human rights abuses in China in the wake of the US diplomatic boycott of th...

What makes a great coach? If you were designing the ideal head coach or manager, what would the blueprint look like? That's exactly what John and Chad figure out this week, as they identify the best coaches in sports and what makes them that way. This week, we discuss: 3:10 — The podcast's King Richard review (available to stream on HBO Max) 7:30 — Why John should watch Hawkeye 8:38 — A look at th...

You have probably heard about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of tennis superstar Peng Shuai, following her accusation of sexual assault against a high-ranking Chinese government official. What do we know so far about Shuai's situation, and how should the sports community deal with regimes like China? This week, we discuss: 1:00 — Pop culture roundup 7:37 — Where is Peng...

How are different sports leagues handling the COVID-19 vaccine? Is it legal and acceptable to mandate that players and staff be vaccinated? What about when an athlete's personal choice hurts their team? This week, we discuss: 1:05 — The Dune book 3:!5 — Marvel's Eternals, and public figures we want in the MCU. 9:22 — What is going on in the NFL this season? 23:27 — Mandatory vaccinations and sport...

Why are sports commissioners so unpopular these days?  Chad and John take a look at the frustrating alternate world commissioners seem to live in and ask how the position should change. We examine NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's disastrous press conference in response to sexual assault allegations, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's mishandling of the All-Star Game, and much more.  In a world where em...

On today's pod, Chad and John discuss the ways social media have changed sports, from the way fans enjoy sports content, to the way the media covers sports, to the way athletes themselves interact on Twitter and other social media accounts. We answer questions like, "Is Social Media responsible for declining TV ratings?" "Does journalism still matter if athletes can talk directly to fans?" and "Wh...

How did sports video games transform the way sports entered mainstream pop culture? What do professional athletes think about playing as themselves in video games? Can EA Sports make a good soccer game without "FIFA"? This week, we discuss: 3:37 — Squid Game, both as a show and as a cultural phenomenon. 9:42 — Our No Time To Die reviews. 12:30 — THE STORY: Sports video games, content streaming and...

In a bombshell report, the Athletic detailed numerous sexual abuse and coercion allegations against former NWSL coach Paul Riley. What is the significance of these allegations, and how can these issues be eliminated in the future? Also, breaking news on the podcast as Saudi Arabia finally get their foot into the Premier League ownership club. What does this mean for Newcastle fans? This week, we d...

What motivates a team's decisions? It is success, marketing, profit? How do athletes help both the branding and success of a team, and what's the balance between those two objectives? This week, we discuss: - Branding vs. Success - Do superteams really work? - VAR Corner with the Super Bowl halftime show, an athlete tribute, and some James Bond talk. As always, make sure to share this episode if y...

Barcelona is widely considered one of the two most successful and well-known sporting franchises in the world. That fact makes their competitive and financial collapse all the more significant. Chad and John are back to diagnose the problems Barcelona are facing, and compare that with some of the historical sporting collapses of our time. This week, we discuss: - Ted Lasso at the Emmys - A brief b...

Rarely does a US Open tournament begin with as much hype and headlines surrounding it as this years' event. Even more rarely does the competition deliver on every single expectation. The 2021 US Open was packed with stories, both on and off the court, and the boys are here to break the whole thing down. This week, we discuss: 3:37 — Two quick baseball and football stories of the week. 5:53 — Our f...

Ted Lasso has rocketed its way to the Emmy's, to the viewing charts, and into the hearts of its viewers. What makes Ted Lasso so special? This week, we discuss: - Ted Lasso season 1, - Ted Lasso's themes and best moments, - Ted Lasso's cultural impact, - Jon Meacham's "It Was Said," - and stay tuned for a shocking surprise at the very end! As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed...