Crunching Tackles

On today's show, Chad Wylie and John Nekrasov discuss the dramatic and controversial final in the African Cup of Nations. They also discuss the latest gambling investigation, this one involving almost 40 college basketball players.

The big story today is all about head coaching changes in the NFL. Why have their been so many, and is this trend going to continue?

Also, we are finally on YouTube! If you want to watch our episodes as videos, you should subscribe and follow our brand new YouTube channel!

Chad and John look back on the year in film, giving their top 5 movies of 2025, along with some coverage of Stranger Things and the upcoming NFL Playoffs.

0:30 - Chad reflects on the Steelers amazing regular season finale and we look ahead to the NFL Playoffs

16:20 - A brief aside on Manchester United and the state of the club after another manager is fired.

27:00 - We review Stranger Things season/series finale

42:20 - Top 5 Films of 2025

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Chad and John reflect on the first quarter of the 21st century, as they rank five athletes who have had the biggest cultural impact of the past 25 years.

2:40 - Chad recounts his freezing and fun time at the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship game

7:25 - Philip Rivers comeback and a NFL update

19:30 - Top Five Athletes of the Century: Number 5

39:30 - Number 4

43:30 - Number 3

1:01:30 - Number 2

1:14:50 - Number 1

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Chad and John look back on 2025 and identify our top 5 sports stories of the year. They also unveil their theme for the year, award the sports "Man of the Year" and commemorate the first ever "Benedict Arnold" designation on the podcast!

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

We are now just months away from the 2026 World Cup, and there is a lot to catch up on. From teams who have qualified, to the status of the USMNT, to the never-ending political circus circling this event, John and Chad are here to make sense of it all.

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

ESPN has not just been reporting the news lately, they have been the news—and not in good ways. On today's show, Chad and John discuss:

3:00 - We briefly recap a wildly entertaining World Series and that instantly classic Game 7.

7:30 - The betting scandal we covered last episode has now come to MLB. We react to the news of two Cleveland Guardian pitchers who are facing significant jail time if convicted.

32:30 - ESPN has shut down its betting program, and taken a sponsorship with DraftKings. Is this significant?

44:00 - The Stephen A. Smith Solitaire Scandal (you can see his horrific A.I. ad here).

53:40 - The ESPN vs. YouTube TV standoff is bad for everyone, but mostly the fans.

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

NBA Hall of Famer and current head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and LeBron James insider Damon Jones were all arrested by the FBI on serious gambling charges, involving improper betting, high-stakes poker, and the Italian mafia. Do they matter culturally? On today's show, Chad and John discuss:

7:30 - After Chad's solo podcast about Formula 1 and Apple TV, we briefly revisit the subject and John shares his reaction to the news.

18:00 - We give a quick update after the first 3 games of the World Series

27:30 - THE BIG STORY: We break down every angle of the latest NBA betting scandal, including how the mafia is involved, what this means for the integrity of the sport, and if Adam Silver is now officially on the hot seat.

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

In this special, emergency episode of Crunching Tackles, Chad reacts to the breaking news about Formula One's broadcast rights going to Apple TV. What does this shift mean for the sport, and the larger streaming sports landscape?

We will be back with a regularly scheduled podcast later. John is enjoying a wonderful honeymoon in Ireland with his new bride, and the Crunching Tackles family sends them our love!

This week, Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon D'or—the award for the best men's soccer player. This choice was surprising, and underwhelming, and led us to a conversation about the importance of individual awards. Are they measured correctly? Do they matter culturally? On today's show, Chad and John discuss:

25:00 - A quick update on the Pablo Torre investigation into Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers.

36:15 - THE BIG STORY: The importance of individual awards.

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

A bombshell investigation by Pablo Torre alleges that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through a shadow company to Kawhi Leonard to compensate him above the salary cap. If true, this is one of the most shocking frauds in NBA history. On today's show, Chad and John discuss:

10:00 - U.S. Open recap and the amazing rivalry of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz that is not slowing down!

27:45 - The USMNT have had mixed but largely disappointing results. As the countdown continues until the World Cup, what should our expectations for the team be?

43:20 - THE BIG STORY: Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard, and Aspiration

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