Crunching Tackles

The 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies are less than a month away, and we are here to prime you for the events and athletes that you need to be paying attention to this year. On today's episode, we discuss the international soccer tournaments currently going on, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, and an extremely controversial decision by NBC for their Olympic coverage. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all your social media platforms!

It's been the summer of Saudi Arabia, as the Middle Eastern oil giants continue to buy their way deeper and deeper into the worlds of both soccer and golf. With mostly wins, and one significant loss, the Public Investment Fund of the controversy-riddled country is now a major player in the international sports scene. This week we discuss: 1:36 - A brief mention of the French Open, Novak Djokovic making history, and if the "young guys" will ever topple the last standing member of the historic Big Three. 11:54 - Saudi Arabia made an offer to Lionel Messi they thought he couldn't refuse . . . but he did! The GOAT of soccer is headed to the United States! 21:19 - Karim Benzema IS headed to Saudi Arabia, joining his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. How is the country using its leverage in its home league and throughout European competition? 30:30 - THE BIG STORY: The PGA Tour and the PIF have reached an agreement that will essentially end LIV Golf and bring all of international golf under the investment of Saudi Arabia. How did the PGA get to this compromising position, and how do Chad and John feel about this moment? 49:00 - Amidst these bleak headlines, one shining light in the culture has emerged. SPIDER MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is the movie of the year, and we couldn't possibly love it any more. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all your social media platforms!

March Madness is over, and the NCAA men's and women's champions have been crowned. Connecticut has cemented their men's program in the top tier of basketball, and LSU women won their first national championship. This week, we discuss: 4:50—UConn defeated San Diego State in the national championship, winning their fifth title in the past 25 years. We look at the strangeness of this year's tournament, the eventual champions, and why the television ratings declined this year in the later rounds. 26:25—LSU won their first national championship, defeating Iowa in the women's game. Caitlin Clark played a tournament for the ages, but caught some heat from several LSU players, as did Jill Biden. We look at the game, and the multitude of off-court controversy that followed it. 47:45—The Masters this year is a rare reunion between PGA and LIV players, and we preview the tournament going on right now. 54:00—Ted Lasso season 3 episodes 1-4 recap. 1:01:10—The Mandalorian season 3 episodes 1-6 recap. 1:05:30—Chad and John highly recommend watching John Wick: Chapter 4. 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 World Cup starts in just a few short days, and Chad and John are here to prepare you for the biggest event in the world. Before talking about the games themselves, we first look at the controversies surrounding this World Cup, and the issues fans might face in Qatar. This week, we discuss: 2:40: Reacting to Brittany Griner and the beginning of her prison sentence in a Russian penal colony. 10:38: Kyrie Irving gets suspended and lost his partnership with Nike. Was this punishment enough? And why don't some sports figures think he should have been punished at all? 22:22: The NFL plays in Germany 24:26: BIG STORY—First, we look at the corruption that allowed Qatar to host the World Cup, and the human rights issues that have been part of the building process. We also look at what fans should expect who travel to watch in person. Then (39:44), we break down the groups, the contenders, the underdogs, and how well we should expect the USA to do! 1:01:07: Andor Episode 10 recap and endorsement. As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all our social media platforms!

Several months ago, video streams starting appearing online of a seemingly authentic professional cricket league, and hundreds of people started betting on the outcomes. But the truth, we have since learned, was much more complicated. First up, Chad saw Nope and also saw a teaser trailer for Oppenheimer, which has since been released online (4:12). He thinks both of those things are worth your time! We revisit the financial issues at Barcelona and why they have seemingly recovered from the brink of economic collapse. But has their recovery been ethical? We both have our doubts (8:00). The American government has given Russia a prisoner-exchange offer to bring Brittany Griner home, but is the cost too great (13:47)? And the LIV golf tour came to former president Trump's course, so what did he have to say about the upstart, dubiously-funded league (18:00)? And for the big story, we talk about the fake Indian Premier League, and the wider world of match-fixing (25:42). 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!