Crunching Tackles

Last week, FINA, the governing body for international swimming, ruled that transgender women who underwent male puberty are barred from competing in elite swimming competitions. This ruling will apply to both the world championships and the Olympics. On today's podcast, we discuss this story (2:19), the backlash to the decision, and the precedent this may set for other sports.

Following the big story, John and Chad recap the final episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi (19:00). They discuss what was successful about both the episode and the show, as well as where it fell short and why the fan reaction was so polarized.

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

It has been three months since the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and Ukrainians have settled into their new "normal." How have sports begun to lift their spirits? And how can we advocate for a U.S. citizen who has been wrongfully detained in Russia?

We start with another update about the LIV golf tour, and answer some questions we didn't get to on last week's podcast (1:15). Then we recap the NBA finals, as the Golden State Warriors secured their fourth championship in eight years (13:35).

The big story this week is about Brittany Griner's unlawful detention in Russia and the fallout of the war in Ukraine. We take a look at life on the ground in Ukraine, how sports have helped lift the spirits of the people, and what the latest news is about Griner and when she might be coming home (17:53).

Finally, we hit on Obi-Wan Kenobi leading up to the finale (40:55), John caught up on Stranger Things season 4 (49:18), Chad finally gets to talk about Top Gun Maverick (51:22), and Chad also gives two animated recommendations (53:51).

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

After an incredibly controversial announcement, the LIV Golf Tour, funded by the Saudi Arabian government is now officially underway. But how should we view the golfers who left the PGA Tour to join this new endeavor? There's plenty of blame to go around, and Chad and John are here to break it all down.

Rafael Nadal secured his 22nd Grand Slam title, and Chad officially declares him the GOAT of his sport (2:31). The NBA Finals are 3 games in, and the Boston Celtics have the upper hand, but there is one statistic that tells the story of the series so far (7:40). Last in current events, the Tampa Bay Rays pride night became a matter of controversy after several players opted out of wearing patches. Was the backlash against them fair, and how did the team handle the situation (11:15)?

For our big story, we discuss the LIV Golf Tour and the comments of the athletes who are participating. How can we all respond to these obvious examples of sports-washing, and how outraged should we be (19:54)?

Finally, Chad is boycotting the conversation surrounding Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 4, but we do tackle one question surrounding the underwhelming series and tell you what can happen to make this show stick the landing (45:12).

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

Kickoff for the Champions League final was delayed by 30 minutes to allow Liverpool fans to enter the stadium. Why was there a problem with crowd control, and how has the government of France been caught in a deliberate lie? Chad and John are here to break it all down.

Disney+ has blessed us with the first three episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and we discuss all the major and minor elements of the new Star Wars show (3:00). What is working about the show, are there any shortcomings, and what do we want to see in the second half? After that, we preview the NBA finals (17:18), with John breaking down the resurgent Warriors and Chad describing the brilliance of the Celtics defense. We also make our picks for the 2022 NBA Champion.

For our big story, we return to France for the second week in a row with a soccer story that erupted in reporting and videos on Twitter in the buildup to the Champions League Final (24:30). Why couldn't Liverpool fans get into the stadium? Why did stadium security seem so unprepared to meet the moment? And how does reporting from the scene contradict the official story from the France government?

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

Earlier this season, soccer player Idrissa Gueye chose not to play in a game that was branded and colored in support of LGBTQ+ issues. When the France Football Federation and activist groups found out about his decision, Gueye has now come under investigation and has faced calls to resign. Is this an example of activism in sports going too far? Chad and John are here to break it all down.

First up, we will be covering Kenobi and Stranger Things in the upcoming weeks right here on the podcast (8:54). Then each of the guys bring one current event in sports to discuss, with John talking about Kylian Mbappe signing an extension with Paris Saint-Germaine (12:55), and Chad talking about the ban of Russian and Belarus players from Wimbledon, and if that changes the way we should view that Grand Slam this year (18:00).

For our big story, was France Football wrong to force athletes to engage in political expression (31:10)? How should sports leagues respect freedom of speech and freedom of religion in an increasingly secular Western culture? Chad and John explain why Gueye handled himself well, and how France Football failed him.

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

In the aftermath of the tragic death of super-agent Mino Raiola, what is the power of sports agents in today's sports? What are some unseen ways they impact the headlines you come across, and how has their power increased over time? Chad and John look at sports agents and much more!

First up is a Spark-notes breakdown of the Champions League semifinals, as we now know who will be playing for the title in Paris on May 28 (1:00). Chad saw Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness and had mixed reviews on its success as a film (3:19), and then the guys break down the excellent finale of Moon Knight and tell you where this show ranks in the MCU Disney+ offerings (5:53).

As we move to sports, Chad tells John why he needs to become a Memphis Grizzles fan (13:00) and then they react to middle-finger-gate in the NBA Playoffs (14:50).

For our big story, we explore the purpose, power, and implications of sports agents (23:40) and end by asking the question "Are agents good or bad for sports?".

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

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 informs us which hit television show he is finally getting around to watching, six years late (13:10). As we get into sports, we start with the breaking news of Trevor Bauer's suspension by Major League Baseball, and why our lack of information is complicating our opinions (13:50). We wrap up part one by revisiting our episode about super-teams, and why they have all fallen short this season.

For our big story, we explore the NCAA transfer portal (33:00). How has it benefited collegiate athletes, and why are the majority of coaches against it?

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

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) and Chad confesses to watching Morbius, which he recaps so you don't have to watch it (10:50). Then we discuss some current events in sports, including the Washington Commander's response to the congressional report (17:45) and the controversy surrounding HBO's hit show Winning Time (18:52).

For our big story, we dive into the history of the NBA. After getting off to a sluggish start in the 1960s (29:00), the NBA begins a rise into stardom in the 70s (30:07). Magic Johnson and Larry Bird elevate the NBA into an even greater status (31:00), and then Michael Jordan rockets the league into the very heights of American culture (36:10). But when Jordan retired, the NBA struggled for several years (41:20), until LeBron James ushered in the golden age of basketball, the modern NBA (45:36).

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

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 Soccer Update

13:21 — NBA Play-in tournament format

18:44 — 2022 Masters Recap

THE BIG STORY:

22:18 — Bombshell Investigation by Congress into the Washington Commander's Financial misconduct.

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

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 2022 Masters and Tiger Woods' comeback

12:49 — Phil Mickelson and the Saudi Golf League

21:08 — 2022 MLB Opening Day

THE BIG STORY:

23:25 — March Madness Final Four and Championship recap

41:11 — 5 Level-1 recruiting violations against Kansas, the national champions

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