Crunching Tackles

2021 has been a monumental summer for NCAA football. With conference shakeups, unusual alignments and the debut of player profit, what are the stakes for the NCAA? Can the current college football system survive all the changes, or are we destined for a semi-professional, team led system? This week, we discuss: 0:55 — John's adventures with Ted Lasso, and one of the great comedies of our time. 2:5...

What is the importance of sportsmanship in sports? Is it better when athletes display mutual respect, or competitive animosity? What is the role of showboating and taunting in sports? Do they make competition fun, or violent? This week, we discuss: - A happy reunion for Chad and John - Sportsmanship, showboating and taunting in sports - The NFL's taunting rule changes - Marvel's Spider-Man trailer...

Barcelona shocked the world by announcing late last week that Lionel Messi would not return to the club. A few days later, Messi was unveiled as the newest member of PSG. What happened behind the scenes at Barcelona to cause this collapse? Have we ever seen a superstar of this magnitude leave a club under circumstances like this? This week, we discuss the entire Messi situation, with a behind the...

Endless amounts of stories from the Tokyo Games! John and Chad are here to highlight several of the most significant stories to come out of the Summer Olympics, and why they matter culturally. With plenty of sarcasm and laughs along the way, stay tuned for John's important promise at the end of the pod. This week, we discuss: 3:02 — Should adults wear jerseys with player names and numbers on them?...

After Simone Biles pulled out of the Olympic team all-around final, many people took to social media with a vast array of controversial takes. We break down what really happened to Biles, and why so much of the reaction to her decision was misguided. On today's episode, we discuss: — Shark bites — The NBA Draft — The biggest stories from the Olympics so far — Simone Biles and Olympic gymnastics. A...

Behind closed doors, in the midst of a Japanese national emergency, the Olympics are happening. But should they be? What are the implications for these games, and what are some of the major storylines for the next weeks of competition? On today's episode, we discuss: — A brief sports roundup:      - Jadon Sancho to Manchester United      - NBA Finals — Olympics preview As always, make sure to shar...

In this special bonus episode, John and Chad recap a significant week in Marvel cinema and television. What did we see this week—both in theaters and on Disney+—and what is the future of the MCU looking like going forward? On today's episode, we discuss: 2:10 — Loki season 1 finale and implications 20:35 — Black Widow review As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us...

What are the cultural implications of the biggest sports stories this week? How did the EURO final instigate a new wave of racist attacks? Is Shohei Ohtani the face of baseball? Will this year's tennis US Open be the biggest event in tennis history? On today's episode, we discuss: 5:50 — EURO 2020 final and cultural implications 18:10 — Lionel Messi wins his first international title in the Copa A...

When major sports news collides with a major Supreme Court ruling, you know Chad and John will be on the case! Today, the guys break down a significant legal defeat for the NCAA, and explain why Brett Kavanaugh's opinion will likely change the future of amateur sports forever On today's episode, we discuss: 2:36 — NBA conference finals 5:06 — Nearing the Stanley Cup Finals 6:01 — Knockout Rounds a...

YouTubers, singers and social media stars are entering the boxing ring, fighting elite athletes and sometimes each other. Is this good or bad for the sport of boxing? What does this trend tell us about the American consumer? Do we care about elite athletes, or just celebrities? On today's episode, we discuss: -Euro 2020 early thoughts -Logan Paul vs. Floyd Mayweather and the issues facing boxing t...

Naomi Osaka refused to speak to the media at the 2021 French Open, and pulled out of the tournament due to the backlash she received. What were the reasons she didn't want to address the media? How will the sports world handle journalist/athlete relationships going forward? On today's episode, we discuss: 2:16 — The 2021 European Championship 10:31 — Naomi Osaka and the relationship between athlet...

Hot off his college graduation, John Nekrasov joins Chad Wylie to catch up on all the latest sporting news of the week. How significant is the White Sox clubhouse rift? Is Tim Tebow really back, or is it just a show? And a post mortem on Lionel Messi's time in Barcelona. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

How did a passionate group of fans destroy a multi-billion dollar sports league? Can this type of fan power be repeated in American sports? Chad and John explain the collapse of the European Super League, and the fan protests that caused this monumental shift. Stick around for a conversation about Marvel's newest Disney+ show, and some belated Star Wars holiday greetings! As always, make sure to s...

Within a 72-hour period, the European Super League was both proposed and disbanded. In a whirlwind of a story, the boys break down why this league was created, react to breaking news about its destruction, and explain why it all matters. Whether you like soccer or not, the implications of this story will change the way you view your favorite team! As always, make sure to share this episode if you...

The importance of sports revolves around the sports calendar—those events and occasions that we look forward to every year. On this episode, the boys rank the most important days on the annual sports calendar. We discuss: 4:25 — #1-3 16:24 — #4-7 24:10 — #8-10 32:24 — Looking back on 50 podcast episodes! As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our...

In the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions, proposed federal legislation, and various state laws, the issue of transgender participation in sports is at the forefront of the American political and cultural debate. On today's episode, Chad and John break down the recent news regarding this issue, explain both sides, and try to find some middle ground. As always, make sure to share this episode i...

After being canceled in 2020, the NCAA tournament is back in 2021! John was in Indianapolis covering the first round, and Chad is leading the Crunching Tackles bracket group, so both of the guys have plenty to say about the tournament. On this week's episode we discuss: 2:00 — John describes his experience in the tournament bubble for a weekend. 6:24 — What happens when a tournament team gets a CO...

John is headed to March Madness! Follow crunching_tackles on Instagram for behind the scenes looks at the NCAA Tournament, ask John questions about what it is like to cover the tournament. Also, join our ESPN Tournament Challenge bracket group, using this link. Compete against John and Chad, see their bracket analysis, and compare how you stack up against the boys. As always, make sure to subscrib...

When is it time for an athlete to end their career? In what ways can the athlete control how we tell their story? On this week's episode we discuss: 1:00 — Harry, Meghan, and the royal drama 5:02 — The one-year anniversary of COVID-19, and what we've learned this year 21:41 — The end of the story for athletes/how should they retire/pop culture and stories 39:58 — Women's History and Naomi Osaka As...

Zlatan told LeBron to stay away from politics. LeBron said he wouldn't dream of it. We talk about the great 2021 athlete feud - and ask who's right.  On this week's episode we discuss: - Impending March Madness - Whether Manchester City will win the quadruple - Should LeBron "shut up and dribble?" Is Zlatan just a self-centered egotist?  - What's the place of political statements in a divided coun...

When you understand how good Mike Trout is, it makes you wonder why he gets so little media and fan attention. Today, the boys try to unpack why Mike Trout is the most under-covered athlete in America. We discuss: - If the Hobbit movies ruined The Lord of the Rings franchise - Why we are at peace about Tiger Woods' career - What Mike Trout need to change about his personality - If baseball still c...

After a surprising Super Bowl result down in Tampa, the boys are here for a full recap of all the sporting and cultural events. On today's pod, we discuss: - Why Tampa's defense deserved Super Bowl MVP - Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady - How did the pandemic affect our enjoyment of the game? - What were our favorite and least favorite commercials? - And a special shoutout to the Bucs coaching staff....

How does free agency impact sports? What happens when a player demands a trade? Are transfers good or bad for the sporting cultures of teams and fans? On today's episode, the boys discuss: - A very unique Star Wars x Sports crossover -  The latest on the Deshaun Watson trade saga - Is free agency ruining the legacies of athletes? - The Drew Robinson Documentary - And the newest announcement from E...

As the NHL and NBA battle positive COVID cases and are forced to postpone several games, some inside the leagues are open to the idea of going back to playing in isolated bubbles, like they did to end the 2020 season. What is the best way to combat coronavirus in sports leagues? On today's show, the boys discuss: - Star Wars and MARVEL villains -  Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl -...

Five NFL playoff quarterbacks in 2021 took the field at over 37 years old. On this episode, John and Chad unpack the trend of athletes playing later into their careers. Is there a benefit to being an older player? Can the best athletes in the world really be in their late 30s? We discuss: - NFL Quarterbacks and the trend of age -  Some of the oldest successful athletes to play at the top level - T...