Adam Cheek's Sports Week

Continuing the Safdie trend on the Sports Movie Showcase lately, Brandon Shillingford returns to the podcast to talk about Uncut Gems -- what he considers one of the great American films of the 21st century.

One of our favorite films from a stacked 2019 that included efforts from Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, along with other stellar movies like Parasite, Marriage Story, Ad Astra and Knives Out, we discuss Adam Sandler's incredible starring turn as Howard Rater -- and his eventual Best Actor nomination snub.

We also talk about the anxiety-inducing filmmaking, how relevant it is in today's world, Kevin Garnett's solid supporting performance and how the rest of the movie strikes a balance by also making viewers sympathetic toward Howard. We also spend some time rambling about what truly is the best year for movies since the turn of the century.

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

After realizing I never posted my interviews from the postgame of Banana Ball's visit to Norfolk, here are my conversations with Andy Cosgrove, Ben Dum and Bradford Webb on the field and in the dugouts at Harbor Park!

Andy ended up being named Banana Ball Rookie of the Year for his season with the Party Animals, and he was also on Love Island Australia prior to joining up with one of the sport's flagship squads.

Ben was eventually named Pitcher of the Year once the season ended, and he's been on the podcast a few times -- I talked to the VCU alum about the game, which he got to pitch in, and more.

Bradford, also a VCU alum, sat down with me before the game for an extended interview that aired in episode 82. We talked after the game about the serires at Harbor Park.

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

Ben Dum is back on the podcast, this time after his stellar 2025 Banana Ball season and Pitcher of the Year Award. The VCU alum played in the Twins' and Braves' systems for several years before joining Banana Ball, pitching for the Firefighters at MLB and minor-league stadiums across the country this past year.

Ben toed the rubber in 10 of the 30 major league stadiums in 2025 and talks about the camaraderie with fellow VCU grad Bradford Webb, some of his favorite moments of 2025, returning to pitch at the Diamond and making the playoffs with the Firefighters.

We also look ahead to 2026, where Ben was named a Coach Franchise player and will return to the Firefighters next season, as well as the team's upcoming slate of stadiums (including Wrigley Field) and their return to Richmond, this time to play at CarMax Park ⚾

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

Initially recorded as one cohesive episode -- but due to some technical difficulties, lost to time -- my friends Brandon Shillingford and Adam Harrell join for two segments of the latest Sports Movie Showcase.

We talk about The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr and directed by Benny Safdie. We discuss The Rock's performance, Safdie's first directorial effort away from brother Josh, its place among wrestling/fighting movies and more.

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

VCU basketball senior Christian Fermin joins me for this episode ahead of VCU basketball's 2025-26 campaign. Fermin is playing for his third coach in four years, having been recruited by Mike Rhoades his freshman year, played under Ryan Odom his sophomore/junior seasons and now working with incoming coach Phil Martelli Jr.

Ferm and I talk about how his role on the team has evolved, chasing a third ring in the Black and Gold and how his career has unfolded, particularly playing for three different coaches with the Rams. We also look ahead to the upcoming season, talk about how he always looks like he's having a blast out there and discuss some of his favorite moments so far.

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

After Pam Grier in part 1, this episode features my other three interviews from Animate! x Nightmare Weekend Richmond 2025, with Fred Williamson, Astravoid Cosplay and Brian O'Halloran.

Huge thanks to all three for chatting with me! Fred was gracious enough to spend some time talking about his football career with the Steelers, Raiders and Chiefs, where he won the 1966 AFL championship, and then his acting career, which included roles in films like From Dusk Till Dawn.

Astravoid Cosplay and I caught up after her last appearance on the podcast in the spring and talked about her incredible zombie Wanda ensemble, while Brian O'Halloran and I also caught up about what the Clerks star has been up to in the View Askewniverse.

Check out my video interviews with Pam, Fred and Astravoid Cosplay on YouTube here!

Follow me on X: @adamncheek
Follow me on Instagram: @adamcheek3

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

I got the opportunity to cover Animate! x Nightmare Weekend Richmond for the third straight year, and the legendary Pam Grier -- star of Jackie Brown, Coffy, Foxy Brown and so much more -- was gracious enough to sit down with me for an extended interview.

We talked about her career and she told some stories, including how she landed her role in Escape from L.A. We laughed a lot, she talked about being cast by Quentin Tarantino, she discussed the industry and more.

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Follow me on Instagram: @adamcheek3

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

I always love having guests from my radio days on the podcast, and it was great to catch up this episode with Natalie Kalibat -- former ABC 8 sports anchor here in Richmond and current ESPN+ broadcaster, as well as the host of the "Diving in Deep" podcast.

Natalie and I talked about her time in Richmond, including some of her favorite moments -- from covering NASCAR at Richmond Raceway to interviewing Alexander Ovechkin -- with the station, and also checked 

We also talk about both her and husband Rich Witten continuing to work in sports after their move to Miami -- her broadcasting and coverage, as well as Rich's role as head baseball coach at FIU -- and how her experience diving at USC lends itself to her expert analysis while covering the sport.

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

Marc "Cheats" Cheatham -- founder of The Black Baseball Mixtape podcast -- is back for a third straight year to talk Major League Baseball postseason action.

Amid the ALDS and NLDS going on, we talk about how flat the Yankees have looked, the Blue Jays coming out swinging, the tough battle between the Mariners and Tigers and how fun the Seattle lineup is.

Cheats and I also look at the NL side, where the Dodgers have pulled themselves together for the playoffs, the Phillies need to rely on their power hitters, the Cubs need more to rely on both offensively and defensively and the Brewers are coming off a strong Game 1 against Chicago.

Finally, we look ahead to the ALCS and NLCS, as well as the World Series, and make some predictions.

Follow me on X: @adamncheek
Follow me on Instagram: @adamcheek3

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco 

Alex Soderstrom is back on the podcast to kick off October as we give our thoughts after seeing the football horror movie HIM, released in mid-September 2025 and starring Tyriq Withers, Marlon Wayans and Julia Fox (and produced by Jordan Peele, as if the movie's ad blitz didn't make that clear).

Minor spoilers as we talk about a movie that tries to tackle (ha) a lot of things -- football's place in the American lexicon, the violence of the sport, toxic masculinity, exploitation, religious iconography, CTE, the price of fame and more -- and how much (if at all) it succeeds in doing that.

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Original intro/outro music created by Christina von Claparede-Crola and Justin Paciocco