Crunching Tackles

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 their reaction to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscar's.

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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:

4:30 — A tribute to Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski after his final regular season game.

7:57 — The NFL took a harsh stance against Calvin Ridley after he was caught betting on football games, but was his year-long suspension fair?

21:42 — THE BIG ISSUE: Roman Abramovich, Chelsea, and the UK sanctions against Russia.

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

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 conflict have on teams, players, and sporting events?

15:22 — Juwan Howard suspended by Michigan; should handshake lines still exist in sports?

21:29 — MLB lockout deadline and update

24:15 — THE BIG ISSUE: What did we learn from the equal pay settlement, and what does it mean for women's sports going forward?

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

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 SUPER BOWL: Halftime show

18:00 — 2022 Winter Olympic Games recap

33:15 — THE BIG ISSUE: What should we do when nations with significant human right's abuses are elevated in the international sporting community?

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

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 captivating as we may have thought.

32:09 — Brian Flores' lawsuit against the NFL.

39:20 — THE BIG ISSUE: A Super Bowl preview conversation.

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

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

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 history of broadcasting, and how it should change today.

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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 storylines from the end of the regular season

34:40 — THE BIG ISSUE: The life and legacy of John Madden

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

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

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 the 2022 Winter Olympics, and then dive into the main topic.

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