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 share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Crunching Tackles

Episode 58: 2020 Olympic Preview

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 a follow on all our social media platforms!

BONUS TACKLES: Loki, Black Widow, and the Multiverse of Madness

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 America 19:00 — Shohei Ohtani is unprecedented and what the state of baseball is 27:36 — Men's tennis is the greatest era in sports right now. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 57: EURO 2020 Recap and More

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 at the EUROs 12:49 — Why MLB pitchers are so upset 14:16 — NCAA vs. Alston As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 56: Courtroom Corner!

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 today. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 55: Performance or Profit

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 athletes and journalists 38:37 — Loki episode one recap! As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 54: Playing (or Not) on Her Terms

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!

Episode 53: Graduation Special!

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 share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 52: Power to the People

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 enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 51: The Rise and Fall of the European Super League

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 social media platforms!

Episode 50: Top 10 Days in Sports

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 if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 49: Transgenderism and Sports

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 COVID-19 outbreak? 9:44 — The unusual and shocking amount of upsets and chaos in 2021 19:55 — Chad gives a viewing guide with the best storylines for this weekend's Sweet 16. 29:45 — The guys react to more shocking evidence of gender inequality in college sports. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 48: March Madness is Back!

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 subscribe, and share this podcast with your friends!

? ?SPECIAL PODCAST ANNOUNCEMENT ? ?

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 always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Episode 47: Time to Say Goodbye

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 country's sports?  - And a brand-new Women's History Month segment, featuring the great Simone Biles this week!  As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms! 

Episode 46: Zlatan v. LeBron

Hello and welcome to Crunching Tackles, a podcast where John Nekrasov and Chad Wylie, two student journalists, sit down once a week to discuss the biggest cultural issues that affect the sports world. Tune in every Saturday to hear our takes on the controversial topics that touch the games we watch every week (and hear us scream at each other about Star Wars). If you enjoy our content, like, follow, subscribe (all the fun stuff), and follow us on Twitter @john_nekrasov and @chadewylie!

hubhopper

Crunching Tackles

hubhopper