Adam Cheek's Sports Week

The Tostado Section (™) guys are back! Evan Zalewski and Andy Blum return to the podcast for another edition of the Sports Movie Showcase, where we talk about one of the best baseball films ever made.

We discuss Brad Pitt's performance, where the hell Bennett Miller went after making this and Foxcatcher (two bangers) and then seemingly vanishing forever, how it handles baseball itself and the all-timer of a scene with Scott Hatteberg's walk-off homer.

This doesn't mean we shy away from what grinds our gears, like the movie borderline pretending that the Zito-Mulder-Hudson shutdown rotation didn't exist at all. But we still love it and wax poetic about Moneyball, random baseball players (remember Chad Bradford?), why baseball movies are so great, Flying Squirrels-related stuff and much more.

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

After we saw 'F1' and Brad Pitt on the Short Pump IMAX screen in Richmond on Saturday, I sit down with my friends Adam Harrell and Jason Boleman, who both return to the podcast to talk about the movie.

We don't get too far into spoilers, but discuss our thoughts on the movie, the IMAX experience and all the technical aspects that were aimed at providing audiences with the most immersive experience in terms of both visuals and sound.

We also talk about the performances, our favorite elements of the movie, what it could've potentially done better and how it stacks up to the rest of the racing film subgenre.

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

Banana Ball came to Richmond for the first time last weekend! I was fortunate enough to cover it for the podcast for one of the games, and had such an awesome time talking with some of the players, seeing the amazing turnout and, of course, watching my first-ever Banana Ball game.

Huge thanks to the Firefighters for the access and accommodation, all the guys for taking the time for interviews and to Bradford Webb for tossing me a game ball afterward. This episode has four parts, four conversations, all with Firefighters pitchers:

- VCU alum (and ACSW podcast veteran) Ben Dum, who spent time in the Twins and Braves' organizations and was returning to the Diamond for the first time since his days as a Ram

- VCU alum Bradford Webb, who pitched in one of VCU's A-10 championship games in 2021, spent two years in the Rangers' system and was also playing at the Diamond for the first time since his VCU days

- University of Richmond graduate Tyler Rigot, who just finished up his college career in the spring of 2025 and got the call to pitch for the Firefighters

- and a postgame conversation with Ben and Bradford, asking them what it was like to be back at their home turf as Rams for the first time.

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

Andrew Rapisarda performs vocal and guitar duties in the Richmond-based band Mekong Xpress, and he joins the podcast for a two-way episode: after I interviewed him for Richmond Magazine a few months ago, we talked about sports so much that I knew there was a podcast episode in there.

So, a week after he and the band performed in the penultimate Friday Cheers show of the 2025 season, I catch up with Andrew to talk about a little bit of everything: how the show went and their experience playing in front of the crowd at Brown's Island; his musical influences and the band's history; how the Richmond music scene has evolved and how interconnected it is; and a ton about our favorite sports teams, ranging from the Commanders to UVA sports and the NBA playoffs. We also wax poetic about Jethro Tull, Steely Dan and more.

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

VCU Gold Rush and Washington Command Force alum Jordan Frauenheim joins to talk about her career dancing on the college basketball sidelines at the Siegel Center and on the NFL sidelines for five seasons at FedEx Field! You all might remember Jordan also appearing on my old radio show back in late 2022, as Jordan Shortnacy. Huge thanks to her for jumping back on with me as we discuss her nine total years in sports.

We talk about what led her to VCU in the first place and how she balanced her sideline career as well as studying dance itself (and how the two applied to each other); the path that brought her to the NFL and eventually becoming a captain at that level; and what she's been up to after retiring from the Command Force after five years.

She discusses what goes into being an athlete within the discipline of dance, as well as the audition process for both squads, some of her favorite moments, the atmosphere of the Siegel Center and so much more.

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

A few weeks ago, Milt Wilcox was announcing the Ultimate Air Dogs dock jumping at Richmond Riverrock and talked about his MLB career; I reached out and we sat down when he visited the Chesterfield Fairgrounds a couple weeks later.

Milt was so much fun to talk to and incredibly gracious with his time. We talked about his 16-year career in Major League Baseball, where he played for the Reds, Indians, Cubs, Tigers and Mariners -- and won a World Series with the Tigers in 1984.

Now, he runs Ultimate Air Dogs, which brings dock-jumping canines all over the country -- from multiple spots in Virginia (including Riverrock) and Texas to the Dakotas and the Northwest.

As for baseball, we also talked about how pitching evolved during his career (and how it has since), the guys he played with (from batterymate Lance Parrish to Hall-of-Famers like Alan Trammell), how he developed his pitching arsenal, what being managed by Sparky Anderson was like and more.

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

I had the opportunity to sit down with new VCU men's basketball head coach Phil Martelli Jr. to talk all things Rams hoops -- from the hiring process that landed him in Richmond and his approach to filling out the roster to the offseason and his basketball influences growing up.

We talked about his dad's legendary coaching career and how it influenced his own career path, as well as his own path that led him to a collegiate head coaching job at Bryant and then to VCU. Coach Martelli also discusses working with returners like Brandon Jennings and Michael Belle; coaching in March Madness this past tournament; his first pitch at a VCU baseball game; and that huge billboard on the highway.

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

Seattle Mariners first baseman and VCU alum Tyler Locklear joins the podcast this time around! Tyler made his MLB debut last year for the M's and spent a couple weeks at the big-league level, hitting a couple of homers for good measure, and began 2025 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

Tyler also set a ton of records while playing for the Rams, so he and I talk about what led him to VCU, how he enjoyed playing in Richmond and what the moment was like when he found out Seattle had drafted him. We also discuss his MLB debut, what his big-league stint was like, life on the road in Minor League Baseball and how surreal it was to see himself on a baseball card for the first time. 🔒 

Plus, check out the new podcast intro and outro from my good friends Christina and Justin! Huge, huge thanks to them for the incredible track.

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

Big thanks again to Ben Dum, a former VCU baseball pitcher and player in the Braves' and Twins' organizations, for jumping back on the podcast! We talked last year about his days as a Ram, and for this second part we recorded a conversation back in January about playing Banana Ball in 2025.

Ben just announced that he'll be playing for the Firefighters, who will come to Richmond and the Diamond to play later this year. We talked about the ins and outs of Banana Ball, how he got into it in the first place and so much more.

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Intro music: "Motorway"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/76e92a21-d7d4-4c54-8b8f-c99ba779865e?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Western Dawn"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/d27119ca-9168-4e24-a11a-c9c47a18ce40?utm_source=attribution

Though the festivities of my birthday weekend limited my ability to get out to GalaxyCon Richmond 2025 (celebrations come first!), I managed to stop by for bits of three of the four days it went on at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

I caught up with Brian O'Halloran, star of Clerks and several films in the View Askewniverse, about his best hangover preventatives and what the past couple years have been like for him since we last talked. I also chatted again with Astravoid Cosplay, who I had on the podcast last summer, about guesting at one of her home state's cons -- and on her birthday, no less, which is somehow also my birthday. Stay tuned for both to join the podcast again soon!

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Intro music: "Accepting Fate", The Moody Monarch
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/0737939b-7166-4638-9fe3-3f69f50bbc8e?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "With Stars Above"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/2d77a2b2-a44e-43f7-bf99-74510566251a