Crunching Tackles
Hello and welcome to Crunching Tackles, a podcast where John Nekrasov and Chad Wylie discuss the biggest cultural issues that affect the sports world. Tune in to hear our takes on the controversial topics that touch the games we watch every week. If you enjoy our content, like, follow, subscribe (all the fun stuff), and follow us on Twitter @john_nekrasov and @chadewylie!
Episodes
On today's show, Chad and John dive deep into the NBA's executive summary recapping their investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers. Just how blatant was Steve Ballmer's corruption? Are the punishments fair? And what's next for Pablo Torre and the future of independent journalism?
Chad and John break down the U.S. Open on both the men's and women's sides. First, they discuss a couple quick stories from the world of Formula One and College Football. They also react to Week 1 of the NFL, and give their take on the VAR controversy at the Manchester Derby.
00:10 Introduction and Formula One Controversy
01:11 The Williams Formula One Team and the Bin Laden Family
06:22 Kansas Football Invokes Slavery for a Football ...
On today's show, Chad and John react to a new scientific report that shows that at least 25% of former NFL players develop CTE—and it could be a lot more.
What blame do fans have for watching a violent game? Should anything change? We address all the moral issues honestly and head-on.
On this emergency podcast, Chad breaks down the shocking findings of the NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer, and Kawhi Leonard. What did they find? Are the punishments fair? And what happens next?
On today's show, Chad and John preview the U.S. Open while also wondering what's next for Novak Djokovic after he lost in the first round. Next, they talk about the players, teams, and coaches they are most interested in for the upcoming NFL season, before getting to the ongoing standoff between LSU and the rest of college sports.
00:10 Introduction
02:41 Novak Djokovic and U.S. Open Preview
23:13 NFL Season Preview
39:09 College Eligi...
On today's show, Chad and John discuss the landmark Supreme Court decision West Virginia v. B.P.J. What does the decision mean, what does it change, and what happens next for this issue? We also discuss the ongoing drama involving transgender eligibility and the WNBA.
00:10 Transgender Issues in Sports
06:03 The Supreme Court's Ruling in West Virginia vs. BPJ
44:06 The WNBA and Transgender Eligibility
On this episode, Chad and John preview the fast-approaching Premier League season. They also briefly check in on the status of the NBA's investigation into Steve Ballmer and the Clippers and discuss Spider-Man: Brand New Day
00:10 Introduction
02:26 Premier League Season Preview
06:58 Chelsea's Ownership and Financial Concerns
11:35 Manchester United's Position and Future
20:01 NBA Kawhi Leonard Investigation Check-in
27:53 Celebrating C...
On this episode, the guys break down in detail the shocking proposal by FIFA to sell a stake in the world's game to private equity. We explore the details of the scheme, the riotous response by the world's federations, and the future of the current FIFA president.
00:10 FIFA Private Investment Scandal
16:36 The World's Reaction to FIFA's Proposal
20:46 Will Gianni Infantino Survive?
On this episode, Chad and John roundup some of the most important sports stories they missed during the World Cup, and give some final thoughts about the biggest World Cup in history!
00:10 Introduction
05:34 LeBron James Signing with the 76ers
12:42 Wimbledon Recap and the State of Men's Tennis
20:48 Lewis Hamilton's Resurgent F1 Season
23:24 World Cup Legacy and Cultural Impact
On today's show, Chad and John recap Spain's victory over Argentina to win the World Cup. Spain dominated the entire tournament, while Argentina shamed themselves with their behavior during and after the final.
After that, we break down Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, discussing the visual spectacle of the film, and debating whether Nolan's adaptation of the ancient source is a compelling story.
00:00 Introduction
01:09 Breaking down...
Mere days before the World Cup Final, Chad and John gather (in person) to preview Sunday's big match between Spain and Argentina.
On this episode, Chad and John recap the World Cup quarterfinals, including the blockbuster England vs. Norway match, and Argentina's controversial win over Switzerland. Next, the guys preview the semifinals and final of the tournament.
00:00 Introduction
04:23 Was England vs. Norway the best game of the tournament?
08:33 Erling Haaland: The Biggest Star in the World
11:49 Jude Bellingham's Impact for England
20:29 VAR incident: Did the...
On this episode, Chad and John analyze the USMNT's disappointing loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 of the World Cup. What went wrong? What can we do to fix it?
Also, Kylian Mbappe is subjected to a shocking racist attack, Cape Verde win the hearts of the world, and we say a not-so-tearful goodbye to Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
00:00 Introduction to the World Cup
03:57 Team USA Go Out of the Tournament
08:41 Grading the USMNT Players
...
In this episode, Chad and John continue covering the biggest games and most surprising upsets of the World Cup. We preview a monumental game for the USMNT against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and discuss some controversies off the pitch, including inconsistent refereeing, Seattle's Pride Night, and a star player facing a serious criminal trial.
00:00 John's Experience at the World Cup
07:32 World Cup Fever in America
12:50 Best Team So Far
...
Join us as we dive into the latest World Cup action, cultural moments, and social issues surrounding the tournament. From thrilling matches to fan interactions and political debates, this episode covers it all.
Here is the CNN story Chad mentioned with some Iranian-American perspectives on the World Cup team: https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/15/sport/video/iran-world-cup-us-war-soccer-vrtc
03:51 NBA Finals: Knicks' Historic Victory
11:50 C...
On this episode, Chad and John preview the US Men's National Team for the World Cup, and share their final thoughts before the games begin. They also preview the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, recap the Champions League final, and dive into the chaos at the French Open this year.
00:00 Stanley Cup Finals Ticket Costs and Preview
10:15 Champions League Final Recap
26:30 The Chaos of the French Open Tournament
38:13 NBA Finals Matchup Is Se...
On today's show, Chad and John preview the 2026 World Cup. First, John celebrates a monumental Premier League Championship for Arsenal, and then the guys look ahead to the World Cup, ranking teams based on some on-the-field and off-the-field metrics.
Join our World Cup Predictions group on Pick26!
Join here: https://pick26.com/auth?mode=signup&invite_code=CA9DPG
00:00 - Arsenal Wins the Premier League
10:01 - World Cup Preview: Nat...
In this episode, Chad and John analyze a recent debate between Chris Christie and David French on sports gambling regulation, explore the implications of legal and illegal sports betting, and discuss the broader societal impacts of gambling. They also touch on the latest sports news, with good news for Arsenal fans, and bad news for LIV Golf.
00:00 Introduction to Crunching Tackles
02:52 Arsenal's Big UCL Victory
08:12 March Madnes...
With the rumored collapse of LIV Golf, we reexamine whether the Saudi sportswashing program is ending. We also talk about the increased prices of transportation for the FIFA World Cup, Rory McIlroy winning another Masters, and … Coachella? All that and more on a new episode of Crunching Tackles.
Link to our previous episode about Saudi Sportwashing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW14ugEJvy4&t=2175s
On today's show, Chad and John dive deep into McKay Coppins' viral story about his experience as a sports better. Before that, we talk about March Madness, the USMNT, and talk briefly about Tiger Woods latest horrific car accident.
Chapters
00:00 March Madness Reflections
03:14 Is Duke Underperforming with Jon Scheyer?
09:05 The Impact of Experience in College Basketball
22:19 Women's College Basketball Dynamics
26:55 Puka Nacua's Histor...
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