Adam Cheek's Sports Week

The Rams are dancing! With March Madness tipping off in less than two days, our Atlantic 10 Championship crew reunites -- we drove up to DC a couple days ago to see VCU-George Mason in the conference title game, so I'm joined by Jason Boleman and Cam Quinn to recount our travels and experience as well as look forward to March Madness for both VCU and the bracket at large.

We get into the atmosphere at Capital One Arena, plus what we've loved seeing from the entire roster, its five seniors and Coach Odom over the last several months. We also give our gut-pick Cinderellas for the tournament (UC San Diego hive rise up), our national-champion predictions and any other upset potentials we have in mind.

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Intro music: "Try Grabbing More"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
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Outro music: "Our Place Together"
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With VCU's first game in the Atlantic 10 Tournament tipping off Friday at 11:30am, I'm joined by two fellow campus newspaper and radio alums -- Richmond Times-Dispatch deputy sports editor Zach Joachim & WVCW Sports director Ben Rekosh -- to talk about the Black and Gold on the hardwood.

In this extended episode, we discuss what we've seen from the team so far, especially with so many players being honored with A-10 awards, as well as what VCU needs to do in this weekend's tournament to ensure consideration for -- or to lock down a berth in -- March Madness. We also touch on potential offseason coaching moves, the seniors' impact on the roster, the Rams' ability to make a run in the NCAA bracket and more.

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Follow Zach on X: @ZachJoachim
Follow Ben on X: @Ben_Rekosh

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Intro music: "TIGERCLAW", Mifune
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
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Outro music: "Old School Ghoul"
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I sat down with VCU basketball freshman forward Luke Bamgboye -- the current Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week -- a couple days before the Rams hosted Dayton in their regular-season finale to talk all things Black & Gold hoops.

Luke and I discuss the path that led him from London to Richmond, plus his expanded playing time this year -- that eventually came with a perennial starting spot -- and his recent 17-point offensive showcase vs. Duquesne.

I also asked the 6'10 rookie about his prowess in shot-blocking, what working with Coach Odom -- as well as veterans like Zeb, Joe and Max -- has been like and Luke's first impressions of the Stu's home-court atmosphere. 🐏 🏀

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Intro music: "Get Up For The Breakdown"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/lwpfCg

Outro music: "Acoustic Showdown"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/2fdd82e3-62d7-4f96-a62c-ed8cf8b5b7bf?utm_source=attribution

A couple weeks after the NASCAR season kicked off, and a few months ahead of the 35th anniversary of the film, I sat down with my Frontstretch compatriot Vito Pugliese to talk all things Days of Thunder.

We talk about how its reputation as "Top Gun on wheels" is selling it short, Vito's memories of seeing it in the theater when it came out, how it's aged since its release and why it's unfairly maligned in the lexicon of NASCAR movies (and racing films in general).

We also discuss the evolution of NASCAR since it came out; how director Tony Scott's vibrant colors evoked the scale and sense of stock car racing; and the potential for a sequel thanks to the popularity of Top Gun: Maverick and, potentially, the F1 movie.

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Intro music: "Triumph"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/045a72b1-3cb4-4e68-8adb-2f71a06858a5?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Chasing Fate"
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A few weeks ahead of the 45th anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980, my buddy Ryan jumps back on the podcast to talk all things hockey -- and Miracle, the 2004 film based on one of the greatest sports upsets of all time.

We revisited the film and talk about one of Kurt Russell's greatest -- yet most underappreciated -- performances, an excellent overall portrayal of the ragtag, scrappy team by a group of relative unknowns in Hollywood at the time, some solid hockey sequences and more.

And in case anyone's not familiar with the actual "Miracle on Ice" as a landmark in history, we talk about how big of a moment it was in the middle of the Cold War, its lasting legacy on hockey, which players went on to have prominent NHL careers and if the movie does the real-life story justice. Plus, a quick aside at the end about how physical media is a tragically dying art form.

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Intro music: "Margin For Error"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/f47eaf79-f571-4f1e-b010-6d0eef2d87a7?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Time To Crush"
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Big thanks to my guy and SB Nation's Mark Schofield for jumping back on the podcast! We previewed this weekend's divisional round of the NFL playoffs, recapped a few storylines from the Wild Card round, talked offseason moves and more.

Ahead of this weekend, we discussed the battle of MVP candidates in Bills vs. Ravens; if the Chiefs can keep scraping by against the Texans in the first divisional game; the Lions' players running through brick walls en route to potentially wiping the floor with the Commanders; and if the Rams have a shot at two straight upsets with a win over the Eagles this weekend.

As for the other storylines, Mark and I talk about the Patriots' hiring of Mike Vrabel; if the Seahawks should stick with Geno Smith for one more season or look elsewhere; why the Steelers platooning Russell Wilson and Justin Fields didn't work; and more.

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Intro music: "Trail Divide"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/be31aa76-8096-4bae-9dcc-9c7a7e56ce0a?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Acoustic Showdown"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/2fdd82e3-62d7-4f96-a62c-ed8cf8b5b7bf?utm_source=attribution

For the first episode of 2025, I sat down with Mackenzie Roark, a singer and musician who also fronts Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants here in Richmond along with her solo work.

This episode is in partnership with Richmond Magazine, who allowed me to publish this as a companion to my piece on Mackenzie in their January issue: there was so much we talked about that couldn't be included within the article's limits, so we wanted to showcase the full, unedited and uncensored conversation here. The band has a new album coming out in May 2025, and you can find the written piece online or on a local newsstand.

Mackenzie talked about her beginnings in music, navigating the RVA scene and her career as a whole, the style of the new album, how her approaches to creating and producing have evolved and so much more.

Read the full article: https://richmondmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/music/mackenzie-roark-and-the-hotpants/

Follow me on X: @adamncheek
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Check out Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants: mackenzieroark.com

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Intro music: "You Best Believe"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/b696dc15-febd-4734-8ecd-521218acf3ef?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Down Bayou Way"
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Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/9a918d88-1c95-4a1d-bb08-e4ddb1c54690?utm_source=attribution

Sound effect: "Fire Hiss"
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In our final episode before 2025 begins, my friend and coworker Alex Soderstrom joins me to talk all things college football ahead of the playoff beginning on Dec. 20. As a Georgia alumni and former Bulldogs football journalist, Alex offers a lot of insight into what's made UGA one of the most intriguing and inconsistent teams during the 2024-25 season, and talks about what could be their undoing on the right side of the bracket.

We also discuss Oregon and whether the Ducks are battle-tested; Penn State's exercises in futility; fun surprises in Indiana and Arizona State; Alabama missing out entirely; and a few other playoff-unrelated topics, including Travis Hunter winning the Heisman, the Army-Navy game and more. For what it's worth: we're hoping for an Oregon-Georgia natty so that we can go watch the game and be obnoxious about our respective teams.

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Intro music: "This Is The Game"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/48d73669-6f3a-4112-aa5c-ffc4042fbddd?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Urban Plum Fairy"
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With Formula 1 ending its season this weekend in Abu Dhabi, the Sports Movie Showcase returns as my buddy Jason Boleman and I reflect on "Rush", the 2013 F1 movie starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.

We discuss its portrayal of the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 season, Ron Howard's direction and the two actors' performances, including Hemsworth continuing to be underrated as a dramatic actor. Jason and I also take a look at its depiction of how dangerous the sport was at the time, as well as how we think it'd perform in today's cinematic market -- where F1 has risen significantly in popularity and exposure.

Follow me on X: @adamncheek
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Intro music: "Running Jokes About Running"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/8920e6ad-3732-4e6e-97b3-cb96990cb168?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Mercury Is In Lemonade"
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Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/c31b4f05-83e6-4607-b41d-d59ecf6cd1fb?utm_source=attribution

Former VCU baseball & MiLB pitcher Ben Dum joined the podcast for part 1 of a wide-ranging episode -- in this first half of the interview, we talk about his time playing with the Rams, what it was like to pitch at the Diamond and more from his time wearing the Black and Gold.

We also discussed being signed by the Twins and Braves, playing in those organizations, life on the road in MiLB and what he's been doing since -- tune in to part 2 in a few weeks for the rest of the interview!

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Intro music: "Slide Into The South"
Music provided by https://slipstreammusic.com
Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/06bdecc2-cda2-4962-9c5c-80e27668c1c3?utm_source=attribution

Outro music: "Tension Heartache"
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Download / Stream: https://slipstreammusic.com/tracks/87a31f21-f920-4cff-a5af-f8283b02a8f0?utm_source=attribution