Ever wondered who Rocky Balboa's toughest opponent was? Join us as we unravel the legends and lore of the Rocky Balboa movie franchise with host Mike Bono and a stellar panel including Johnny "Fiddy" Falconi, Matt Altomare, Brandon Wiley, and Josh Himes. We kick off by reminiscing about our favorite non-Rocky boxing films like "Cinderella Man" and "Southpaw," before plunging headfirst into the heart of the Rocky saga. From iconic bouts to memorable characters, we debate and celebrate the moments that have left an indelible mark on both boxing culture and our hearts.
In a lively discussion, we spotlight our favorite characters beyond the Italian Stallion himself. Josh and Brandon find inspiration in Apollo Creed's complex persona, while Matt pays tribute to Mickey's gritty mentoring style. Meanwhile, Fiddy emphasizes the significance of Tony "Duke" Evers' fatherly guidance. We don’t shy away from critiquing Rocky V, agreeing its shortcomings make it the black sheep of the franchise. However, memorable comebacks and heroic feats in Rocky III and IV bring the magic back for Josh, who shares his admiration for their riveting story arcs.
The episode crescendos as we dissect the best training montages and music scores, pitting the raw intensity of "Rocky IV" against the emotional resonance of "Rocky II." We also reflect on deeply impactful scenes, such as the gut-wrenching deaths of Mickey and Apollo Creed. Wrapping up, we delve into the real-life inspiration behind Rocky, focusing on the historic 1975 heavyweight fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner that sparked Sylvester Stallone's imagination. Tune in for a heartfelt tribute to a series that continues to inspire and uplift boxing enthusiasts and movie lovers alike.
Ever wondered who Rocky Balboa's toughest opponent was? Join us as we unravel the legends and lore of the Rocky Balboa movie franchise with host Mike Bono and a stellar panel including Johnny "Fiddy" Falconi, Matt Altomare, Brandon Wiley, and Josh Himes. We kick off by reminiscing about our favorite non-Rocky boxing films like "Cinderella Man" and "Southpaw," before plunging headfirst into the heart of the Rocky saga. From iconic bouts to memorable characters, we debate and celebrate the moments that have left an indelible mark on both boxing culture and our hearts.
In a lively discussion, we spotlight our favorite characters beyond the Italian Stallion himself. Josh and Brandon find inspiration in Apollo Creed's complex persona, while Matt pays tribute to Mickey's gritty mentoring style. Meanwhile, Fiddy emphasizes the significance of Tony "Duke" Evers' fatherly guidance. We don’t shy away from critiquing Rocky V, agreeing its shortcomings make it the black sheep of the franchise. However, memorable comebacks and heroic feats in Rocky III and IV bring the magic back for Josh, who shares his admiration for their riveting story arcs.
The episode crescendos as we dissect the best training montages and music scores, pitting the raw intensity of "Rocky IV" against the emotional resonance of "Rocky II." We also reflect on deeply impactful scenes, such as the gut-wrenching deaths of Mickey and Apollo Creed. Wrapping up, we delve into the real-life inspiration behind Rocky, focusing on the historic 1975 heavyweight fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner that sparked Sylvester Stallone's imagination. Tune in for a heartfelt tribute to a series that continues to inspire and uplift boxing enthusiasts and movie lovers alike.
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike Bonham. I have probably my favorite episode to date to do, but first we did get a new sponsor in Buddy's Beard Care. Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price products that are made in Ohio, and Buddy's Beard Care supports local, too, as well. The majority of their suppliers are from the Ohio-based companies here, so support local, support America. You can find them on social media at Buddy's Beard Care, or online at buddiesbeardcarecom. I've used these products. I'm currently using these products. Media at buddiesbeardcare or online at buddiesbeardcarecom. I've used these products. I'm currently using these products. My beard has never felt healthier. It has never felt softer, according to my wife. So go to buddiesbeardcarecom, where size does matter. That being said, like I said, I've been waiting a while to do this episode, and I know Fitty has too as well.
Speaker 1:
We are going to be talking about the Rocky Balboa movie franchise, my favorite movie franchise of all time. I love the Rocky movies. We're going to talk all things Rocky, and I have a panel of guests that are here to discuss it. So, guys, I'm going to let you introduce yourself. So what we're going to do is you're going to say your name, where you're from and your favorite boxing movie. That is not Rocky. It could be the Creed series, just not any of the Rocky movies. So we're going to start with everybody's favorite manager of the podcast, johnny. So we're going to start with everybody's favorite manager of the podcast, Johnny.
Speaker 2:
So I'm Johnny Fittifo Coney, for nobody that doesn't know Hopefully everybody knows me by now and I live in the Cleveland Ohio area and my favorite non-Rocky Balboa boxing movie is probably I'm going to say Cinderella man about James J Braddock, because it's probably the closest thing to a real life Rocky that we've seen in this century.
Speaker 1:
That's a solid choice off the bat. So next we have Matt.
Speaker 3:
Matt Aldemore from Latonia, Ohio, which is near Youngstown. I'm also the head football coach here at Latonia and my favorite non-rocky movie is dusting this off a little bit is Diggstown from the early 90s with Louis Gossett Jr and Brian Dennehy.
Speaker 1:
Seen it probably more times than any other Rocky movie, but that's my second favorite, Matt, I got to say that's a solid choice to combat the Cinderella man. But next guest that we have here, he's kind of been a staple here, but Brandon.
Speaker 4:
What's going on, everybody? This is Brandon Wiley, uh, coming out of erie, pennsylvania, originally from uh, sharing the pa. Obviously, go way back with my boy 50. Uh, my favorite non-rocky boxing movie. I'm gonna keep it a little bit more recent because I'm just a big fan of it and, mike, I know your wife wasn't really feeling it too much, but I gotta go with the creed. Uh, creed 2, specifically because I love the return of ivan drago and his son victor. I thought that was a great storyline. I thought it was super cool and intense and, uh, yeah, I'm gonna go with creed 2.
Speaker 1:
I'm not mad at it. I just watched the Creed the other day. I'm not going to lie, they were on, I couldn't not watch it, and so, yeah, and last but not least, with the guest here, a former boxer himself, josh what's up, guys?
Speaker 5:
Mike, thanks for having me back. You and Fitty, you guys have been great. This whole cast boxer himself, josh. What's up, guys? Mike, thanks for having me back, you and Fetty, you guys have been great. This whole cast you guys got today is an awesome cast.
Speaker 5:
My name is Josh Himes, or some might know me as Dr Josh Himes. I am a retired professional boxer and former All-America champion. I say that proudly because obviously I hung up the gloves and used to punch people. Now I'm taking care of people, which I like it better. But this, this topic obviously is, is like, is dear because the rockies are staples, you know, the pinnacles of of boxing. Everybody's in the game has watched the rocky movies and we love them. But my favorite outside of the Rocky series and it's got to be my wife is with me in this bias towards this. It's Southpaw Because it just paints the picture of how a couple can be affected in and out of the ring and I love the messages it delivers. Obviously I hate that Mara got not a good outcome, but just to see how that was after the fight win or lose and just to see that people can come and go quickly. I love the movie and the message.
Speaker 1:
I'm honestly glad you said that. I actually watched that this morning. I knew we were recording the show. I didn't want to watch a Rocky, I wanted to watch another boxing movie. I watched Southpaw this morning. I'm not going to watch a Rocky, I wanted to watch another boxing movie. I watched South Paul this morning. Not gonna lie, got me right in the feelings this morning. I don't know why, but it did. But that's a solid movie, I would say for me, my favorite non-Rocky boxing movie, even though I watched South Paul today. I can't go against this. I love it when it comes on, but it's grudge match. Nobody really talks about it. It's a solid movie and I just, I, just I love the, the outcome with those two on the screen together. But we're not going to talk about those today. We're going to talk all things the Italian stallion, rocky Balboa and Fannie. We're going to start with you for this one. Who do you think was Rocky's toughest opponent? And I start with you because I know you have strong opinions about this.
Speaker 2:
His toughest opponent probably going to say, if you're going to look at it pound for pound, was Clubber Lang, because he did knock him out in the second round. Now, ivan Drago was probably the strongest boxer he faced, but Rocky was able to go to distance with him. They didn't have to fight him twice. Now, granted, he Rocky was dealing with some emotional things with Mickey and Rocky three, but I'm gonna say Clever Lange, probably because he just he did annihilate Rocky in that first fight and really beat him up pretty bad. So, uh, clubber lang is my pick all right, matt, what about you?
Speaker 3:
and it's hard to argue with uh johnny falcone there, I have to go with clubber lang too. It immediately, immediately came to mind. Uh, same reasons. Uh, you know, maybe if we dissect the uh inner workings of the movie a little bit, we can get into whether Clubber Lang really should have lost. But that's another story, I think for another question. But I think so. Yeah, it's hard to argue with Mr T.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, Brandon. What about you?
Speaker 4:
I got to go with Clubber too, obviously for all the reasons that were stated, but also because he played a great mind game and mental. He screwed Rocky up a little bit. He was really intense and intimidating and I think he just threw Rocky completely off. So he was able to play that mental game that often boxers like to do. You know what I mean? They made it a spectacle and then when he was able to put down Rocky like that, it really put a lot of things into question about Rocky and boxing. So I think Clubber, on many different levels, both physically and emotionally, he was probably the toughest opponent for Rocky.
Speaker 1:
All right, and round us out here. The former boxer Josh, who do you got as the toughest opponent.
Speaker 5:
This is a good question. You got some good answers. I think Apollo Creed is the best boxer out of all those, but the best, pound for pound, that I think he would win is Drago With his size and power and strength. I don't think Clubber Lang would beat him.
Speaker 1:
Okay, I thought we were going to have a clean sweep for Clever, because Clever's my pick too. Just that whole, everything that was said here. I mean you can't argue. I mean he did knock Rocky out in the second round of their first fight, albeit going through what Rocky was going through. It's tough to go against that, but Drago's a very close second for me. Yeah, that's definitely that.
Speaker 2:
Clever Lang, though he had no cardio. That's why Rocky was able to beat him in the second fight.
Speaker 4:
Drago did have cardio.
Speaker 2:
to Josh's point, he did go the distance. He was big, strong, physical. It showed him. Clever Lang had no cardio. All he threw was power.
Speaker 5:
Exactly, and think about it. Clever Lang didn't have the repertoire or the resume. Ivan Drago killed somebody in the ring.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, valid, absolutely.
Speaker 4:
Does Thunder Lips count in this conversation? He was a worthy opponent as well. Absolutely.
Speaker 1:
So you know, Brandon, we're going to go with you because I think we just answered this question for you. But who is your favorite character from rocky, the series that isn't rocky?
Speaker 4:
oh, um, you're asking me. Yeah, you're up. Um, man, you know, um, you see, I was always a big. I was always a big wrestling fan. So, yeah, um, I I did enjoy thunder, but I wouldn't say he was probably my favorite character. I probably would have to say my favorite was I loved Apollo Creed. I think Apollo was. You know just how the friendship manifested. You know they were enemies but they respected each other. And and when, of course, when Apollo came and was like Rocky, we got to get you, got to get your mind right, we got to get you prepared for, for Clever, you know, coming through. He was always a genuine friend and, uh, and I hated, of course, the way he went out. You know what I mean. So that was, that was hard and I one of my favorite characters. All right, Josh what about you.
Speaker 5:
I think, Josh, I'm going to have to agree with Wylou on that one. I'm not a fan of the Creed movies, but Apollo Creed was my favorite character outside of Rocky. Their relationship was second to none and they pushed each other from a brotherhood that was formed from through through the fifth absolutely matt.
Speaker 1:
What about you?
Speaker 3:
um, even though he's only in, I guess, two and a half movies you got to go with with Mickey. Yeah, mickey, you know I find myself quoting some of his quotes on a daily basis, sometimes you know whether it's to my kids or my football players. But you know I got to go with Rocky's trainer. He had probably great characterization and, like I said, very quotable and just very relatable. Like I said, very quotable and just very relatable.
Speaker 1:
You can't go wrong with a Mickey quote, you can't. They're staples of those first couple of movies. But Fetty round us out here.
Speaker 2:
I'm actually going to go with Tony Duke Evers, apollo's trainer and then later Rocky's trainer, one of the only three people to play in all six of the Rocky movies. And you know, rest in peace to Tony Burton, who's passed on now. But I really liked him because he spoke the truth to Apollo what a trainer is supposed to do Right, but he encouraged him. But he spoke the truth to do right, but he encouraged him. But he spoke the truth. Um, he talked about the relationship in rocky four when he fought drago, about how apollo was like a son to him and he raised him.
Speaker 2:
I think josh knows, and we all know as boxing fans, a lot of trainers take on a fatherly role to a lot of, a lot of boxers, especially underprivileged boxers from, um, you know, minority communities, um, so I think that really like hit home, that was really cool and he took over. It was that guiding light for rocky through rocky four, just in a little bit of that rocky five stage. But just, you know, said how proud he was of him. Uh, when they opened up rocky five, rocky was having his issues and then, um, you know, and in rocky six, you know, bringing him back out of retirement and being encouraging. Tony Duke Evers was definitely my favorite character. Who was not Rocky?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I think I'm going to shock everybody with mine. It's Pauly. How do you not like Pauly, the guy that just gave Rocky shit, the whole franchise? In all six movies I love Pauly and I quote some of his lines too all the time Just mainly to myself sometimes, but to my son and everything like that. I don't sweat you, it's just stuff like that. My son starts acting tough. I don't sweat you, it's just stuff like that. My son starts acting tough. I don't sweat you. But yeah, just the comedic aspect that he adds to it. But, finney, what is the worst Rocky movie in your opinion?
Speaker 2:
You know what I got to say, probably Rocky V, just because of the ending fight, not the story behind it, because I think we can all agree we've seen boxers go through the highs and lows of their career. People do get hurt, people get, you know, unfortunately, crippled and disabled from the sport with what Rocky went through there and I think that you lose people along the way, like he alienated his son to try to live through Tommy Gunn. Rest in peace, tommy Morrison. But the ending fight just ruined it. There was a good movie up to that point and it just ruined it. So Rocky five All right, matt.
Speaker 1:
What about you?
Speaker 3:
about you. Yeah, you got to go with rocky five. I mean it's by far, you know, panned by everyone. But I mean not only just the ending fight, like uh johnny just said, but the soundtrack was awful too, and that's just. I can't re-watch it just for the soundtrack.
Speaker 1:
Man, it's bad yeah, got to have a good soundtrack with a movie, and we're going to get to that here in just a bit. But, brandon, what about you?
Speaker 4:
I think definitely Rocky V, the big fan in me of Rocky, the character. It was deeply saddened when he lost everything and I was like, oh, what a what, like how much more stuff is rocky gonna go through? Like this guy has really been through the trenches. But I guess that's what made his story so great. Um, I wasn't the biggest fan of the storyline in general. I mean it had its moments, I understood where they were going with it, but it didn't really have that cultural impact into it. I don't think about it as a top-tier movie. When I think about the Rockies, I can go. If I'm binging the Rockies, I can go without watching that one. Like it's not a necessity. You know what I mean. But you only do it by obligation because you try to. When you're in the mood to binge something, you want to watch everything. But if I had to go without it, yeah, I.
Speaker 1:
I think that's why, when they have the rocky marathons on tv, they stop at five. I don't know why they don't. They don't play six on tv, but they always stop at five, and I think that might be the reason. But j? What about you?
Speaker 5:
I'm actually going to have to agree with all you guys. It's the only one that's not really a fight in a boxing ring, it's not. A whole set up is different.
Speaker 1:
I agree with all of you guys, all right. So we'll switch gears and we'll stay with you, josh. What's your favorite Rocky movie and why?
Speaker 5:
Josh, what's your favorite Rocky movie and why? It's a toss-up between the Rocky III and IV with Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago. I love the comebacks. The comeback stories are amazing. From Apollo with Rocky that again we talked about the relationship, my favorite character outside.
Speaker 1:
Those two are going to be a tie. Okay, not mad at it, brandon. What about you?
Speaker 4:
I gotta go with, uh, rocky for with drago. I think I love the sequence when rocky was in russia training, um, and he came back and he was all swole and he was ready to go and he was ready to take on Drago. Like I just loved that. I loved that whole segment and of course, like you know, the sadness that came along with it with Apollo unfortunately dying in the ring. But again Rocky was with that whole you know vengeful spirit but also honorable spirit that he had made for. For me, like that was, that was the peak, that was, that was the one of the best Rocky movies for me.
Speaker 3:
OK, Matt, what about you? Yeah, you know all of you guys here with me. But Rocky IV, solely because I actually got to experience that at the Salem Twin Cinema Theater. I was pretty young, my dad got to take me, but I still remember that old theater, the smell of the popcorn and the theater being packed. So not only just a movie, because all four of them, or even five, you can find good parts in, and all four of them are good. I mean, I tell you, over the years I've went through you know, one being my favorite, two being my favorite, three being my favorite, but just for the experience and the nostalgia and the memories, I have to go with four.
Speaker 1:
All right, fetty, you got a difference of opinion on this one. Yeah, so I have to go with four. All right, fetty, you got a difference of opinion on this one.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so Rocky Balboa, rocky VI and I'm going to give a couple different reasons why Love Rocky. Everybody sees the background. It is from Rocky VI, got my Rocky and Adrian hoodie on. But here's the thing it's the first Rocky I got to see in theaters when I was in college and I think it shows like, especially now, right, everybody on this is not super young, this show right.
Speaker 2:
And it shows like, as life goes on, things get taken from us and we don't want them to get taken from us, like our youth, our athleticism, sometimes our family members and I and I think it's a story about what life truly is, that you will always be defeated by time. But I think it can resonate with people because everybody wants to get back in for that one more round or that one more game or that one more event, or they want to try it so much and we sometimes just physically can't, or they want to try it so much and we sometimes just physically can't. And I think when you can see something like rocky six I'm coming out of retirement, is late 50s that resonates with people because we all get things taken from us and we just want to experience that glory he had like one more time, and I love the storyline. I mean it's super sad with, like, adrian dying, but I love the love story behind that as well.
Speaker 1:
I just think it's a terrific movie, terrific soundtrack, you know, and it's just a great comeback story for, like every great champion, having one great fight left in him yeah, and I believe I don't know why I always mix the movies up, but Six has probably my favorite monologue from Rocky Balboa when he's talking to his son about life and about how that refers to. In boxing it ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. I quote that all the time. I love that. That's probably my favorite quote, so I got to agree with you on that one. Fahey for that all the time. I love that. That's probably my favorite quote, so I got to agree with you on that one. For that reason, right there, rocky VI and Rocky Balboa was definitely my favorite for that monologue right there that he has in the middle of the movie. But yeah, that's definitely one of my favorites. But speaking of that, I know they all have their training sequences and all that. Finny to you, which movie had the best training sequence?
Speaker 2:
I love the training sequence in 4, and I love the training sequence in 6. But I think the training sequence in four and I love the training sequence in six but I think the training sequence in two is really cool. He's out there throwing a sledgehammer around, you know, smashing metal, doing pull-ups on the old jungle gyms that we all remember here, that they probably can't even have out today, you know, cause they're like dome and all that. He's running through the streets jumping over benches you know in the gym doing, you know, push presses that you probably behind his back. That's not good for you, we all know that. So but that training and coming back from, like Adrian saying there's one thing I want you to do for me, and he goes what and she goes when and he goes into that type of training, I think it's incredible. Just because he had no will to go without her and with her, it made that thing, that training sequence, that much better all right, yeah, not a solid choice.
Speaker 1:
Uh, matt, what about you?
Speaker 3:
yeah, you know, um, I think, uh, one of the beautiful things about the rocky movies is, you know, starting with one, they found some things that worked cinematically and then they just rolled with it through 2, 3, 4, 5 and even 6. You know, I thought it was an excellent training sequence in Rocky 6, but you gotta go right back to the beginning. I mean, you know the iconic running up the steps. I still have visions in my head of them punching a frozen piece of meat, you know know, piece of beef, the side of beef. So, yeah, I got to go back to the beginning too.
Speaker 1:
All right, brandon, what about you?
Speaker 4:
I mean I know I earlier I mentioned, you know for one of the reasons of being in the training sequence, but he made some great points about too. And that got me thinking now because, um, it was pretty like um empowering when, when uh, adrian was in the hospital bed and she had just awoke and she kind of encouraged him because, everything you know, he centered everything around adrian. And so when she said that he got in the zone and he was like, oh yeah, it's, it's on, like I'm gonna, I'm gonna do this, all this doubt that I have in myself, like I'm gonna, I'm gonna pour it all into my training and everything. So you know, it's I, I, I think I still have four slightly edging uh, but two is definitely creeping up right there and, and Fitty, you just, uh, you enlightened me a little bit and made me reconsider uh, for being a complete, clean sweep all right josh, what about you?
Speaker 5:
in terms of training. That is correct, right, yeah, training sequence yep, I love three. I love when apollo creed had enough and said, let's, let's go to his game. He brought into his gyms. He started to learn the rhythm and the footwork and I think that's unbeatable. It was, it was rocky's change in dynamic as a fighter and he was then able to do both, go back and forth, and obviously start off boxing but then resort back to the brawling.
Speaker 1:
But I love that, that change of dynamic as a fighter all right, I mean that's a lot of great points, but for me I gotta go rocky. For when he's trading in russia and he doesn't really have the equipment and all that and he's running through the snow that's up to his waist and everything like that, and just that whole sequence and being away from Adrian, and then she shows up there and everything like that, and then his training gets better when she shows up because she's with him and she's been with him through everything. But yeah, that whole sequence in four. I got to go with four, just with how archaic the training was, with not having anything out there in Russia and running through the snow and everything like that. But, matt, I want to start with you on this one because I said we were going to bring it up. But what movie had the best music?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, well, six had a good soundtrack. You know the original music is iconic. You know Rocky IV, though I mean by far it had both instrumentals by Vince DiCola and you know, of course, the Survivor songs. I know Eye of the Tiger is probably going to get mentioned there from three. But you know I probably wore out my blank cassette tape that somebody made a copy of the soundtrack for me, you know, written in pen on the side of it. I probably wore that out over the day, back in the day. So yeah, I have to. I mean, even now I catch myself YouTubing that Rocky IV soundtrack, you know, late at night or something. So definitely IV.
Speaker 1:
Okay, benny, what about you?
Speaker 2:
I do really like four because they have two like like great songs with that like no easy way out and then hearts on fire, um, so I think they're like both a staple of that. But I I like the soundtrack from rocky to the most, just because the going the distance and alone in the ring, um, like combination that's like five minutes long, I think is great, because that going to distance is really like that second part of the fight, um, and then that like alone in the ring is is a great method. Rocky six was great. They all have great music, but I'm gonna go with rocky too okay, brandon, what about you?
Speaker 4:
I was actually gonna say, I was gonna mention go to the distance and and all that. I probably will have to say again uh, I'll probably have to go with rocky too as well. Um, but then I always say, man, as long as they're playing eye of the tiger, I don't really care. Like, is it that? Is it in all the movies? That? If it's in all the movies, then I like all of them. I like all the soundtracks for every single movie, because Eye of the Tiger was the best damn song out there.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, Josh. What about you?
Speaker 5:
I got to agree with everybody. I'm not a big sway one way or another. All the Rocky songs, I love them all. My kids love them all.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, this was a tough one for me but I got to go with. You know, Rocky, I the original, you know with the Eye of the Tiger and everything like that and all the sequences, and that you know it's hard to beat the original with that one for me. So, Rocky, I does one for me, so Rocky 1 does it for me. But, Josh, we'll go back to you on this one. Do you think the Rocky movies are more of a love story between Rocky and Adrian or a sports movie about boxing?
Speaker 5:
Sports movie first, love story second.
Speaker 1:
Okay, brandon, what about you?
Speaker 4:
I have to agree. I think I have to agree with Josh on that Sports movie first and love story second.
Speaker 1:
All right, fetty, fetty.
Speaker 2:
I think Rocky and Adrian are the greatest love story ever.
Speaker 3:
That's why I have this on.
Speaker 2:
That has a heart that says yo, adrian, we did it and even in death he still loved her unconditionally. So for me, I think it's a love story first, because without Adrian, rocky never accomplishes what he wants to in that to become a boxing sports movie. So for me, love story first, greatest love story ever transcended five decades in the testament of time, and then boxing movie after that.
Speaker 1:
I knew that's where you were going just with the shirt and everything with those two with the heart around it. I knew it was going to be a love story for you, but, matt, what about you?
Speaker 3:
Boy. I tell you what he's tough to follow man. He keeps changing everybody's opinions on here. I follow him. Wow. I mean, of course you know you immediately jump into saying sports first, but then you know, johnny comes in with the well-thought-out answers and the jury deliberations are out. I don't know, I guess. I think, now that I got to follow him, I think you can't have a Rocky series without it being a love story. First, you know, I mean it could just be an action-packed boxing movie, but because of the success of that love story and the characterization of them, I think that led to them being such a big hit and continuing on with the movie. So I don't know, johnny, I got to quit following you. Man, that was a good one. You changed me, changed my mind again.
Speaker 2:
If you look at it, think about it like this We've all seen him right. So, like in Rocky 1, you know he found Adrian, he got the fight, his life's coming together. But really after that fight when she said I love you, it really set him apart. Rocky 2, he gets married to her but he can't go through with the fight. Adrian's not backing him Right Until she says I want one thing I want you to do for me. When Rocky 3, she challenges him after Mickey died, he says I'm afraid, I'm afraid of losing what I have.
Speaker 2:
Rocky IV can't really get going in the snow until Adrian shows up. Rocky V the conversation they have in the street about losing their son, losing the family coming together after this. And Rocky VI, and it's sad, but him going to her grave and talking about it. And when his son shows up at her grave with the flowers and he says it's been a long time since I seen you train, you know again, that brought Rocky back into that method to fight. So I think it just has to be a love story. It's just transcended, transcended time.
Speaker 1:
For all the listeners out there. If you don't think Fitty has been thinking about this since birth, you're out of your mind. This is the deepest I've heard anybody talk about Rocky. But he's not wrong. I mean, you're not wrong. It makes the movies for me and Matt. Since I know you're getting kind of tired of following Johnny, we're going to let you go first on this one here. What is the saddest scene in Rocky in your opinion?
Speaker 3:
Well, you know they play Rocky movies really like to play on your heartstrings. You know they really do. They've got that formula down. I've got to go with the Rocky six. I mean, that's that scene got me, you know, at the grave, at the cemetery, at the grave, that's that's probably what I got to go with. You know, younger, when I first saw the original five, you know it was a lot younger, more of an adult, more of an adult. And you know Mickey and everybody else, they weren't central to the character. So you know, as John just explained, what a love story it was. You know it doesn't get more final than you know, being at the cemetery and having, you know, rocky and his son there together. So that's what I'm going with. All right, bitty.
Speaker 2:
Bitty, having, you know, rocky and his son there together. So that's what I'm going with. All right, biddy, I'm gonna go with, because it's all like one shot scene when he, when it's the anniversary adrian's death and they reminisce about like the ice skating rink, he says, like when she grabbed my arm I felt electric, you know, and he like points and it talks about like putting his arm through the door and like the adrian's ghost there and going back to the pet shop. To me I think that's the saddest thing because, again, things in life get taken from us. Sometimes it's our loved ones and all we have is memories like that. So I think that really like uh, was like the saddest thing all right, brandon.
Speaker 1:
What about you? Um well, no, I gotta agree.
Speaker 4:
You know, I'll say this. I I definitely am hearing everybody in regards to rocky six and obviously, adrian not, uh, you know, passing away but I gotta say that the one that always gets me every time is when apollo died. I mean, I think it was just so like traumatic, and every time that episode, that scene, comes on in my mind, I'm like can this change? And can Apollo? Maybe maybe he can live this time, maybe he'll just throw the damn towel and it'll be okay and he'll be here, even though I know the outcome. I'm always hoping for a different outcome, and so that's how I know. When something impacts me is like when I'm like I know the outcome in my mind, I'm like just throw the towel, let's, let's get this fight over with. So when opalo died, man that was, that was a tragic scene, and so that to me that was one of the saddest scenes, uh, aside from, obviously, the adrian scenes in six, but that was a rough, rough scene brutal.
Speaker 1:
I I gotta tell you this. Uh, I know we're talking about the sad thing, but it made me laugh when you said that. Because my wife looks at me when I'm watching rockies and I, because I watch them like I've not seen them 5 000 times, like I don't know what's gonna happen, like yeah, but it's yeah, I get what you're saying. Like just just throw the damn towel, like it just it's, it's every time and it's just how I watch them. But, josh, what about you? Saddest, saddest scene in Rocky.
Speaker 5:
I gotta agree with my man, the, when Apollo dies from a fighter standpoint. I just had a friend come out of a coma. I've had other friends that I thought, that I fought with at tournaments that passed away. You don't get to play boxing. It's the only sport where you see people die. I mean that's scary, it's sad. So from seeing it firsthand from my old training partner, my sparring partner, come out of a coma just recently, that's seeing a fighter who's still full of vitality and life pass away is just shattering.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, this one was a tough one for me to think about. But ultimately what gets me every time is Mickey's death. It kind of goes along the lines with what Fitty said about Adrian that you lose something, you lose somebody or something in your life. It's just Mickey's death to me is the saddest scene. I mean, it's up there, adrian, and the graveyard scene with him and his son is a very close second to me, and Apollo's right up there too. But Mickey dying for me is the saddest scene for me. But I want to round it out with this, and this is going to be very interesting if nobody knew this. But, josh, I want to start with you, since you are the resident former fighter here. But have you ever watched the real life fight that inspired the Rocky movies? It was Muhammad Ali versus Chuck Wipner at the Richfield Coliseum in March of 1975 for the heavyweight championship of the world. Have you actually watched that actual fight in real life which inspired the movies?
Speaker 5:
I have not. It was his turn.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I don't think a lot of people realize that's what inspired Stallone to make these movies. But Brandon, what about you? Have you ever seen the actual fight?
Speaker 4:
I've never seen the actual. I never watched the whole fight in its entirety. I remember just watching documentaries about Rocky and I remember certain references to what was the inspiration. So I've seen clips but I've never watched the fight in its entirety.
Speaker 1:
Okay, and Fiddy, I'm skipping you to go to Matt so Matt doesn't have to follow you and get on this one.
Speaker 3:
But Matt, what about you? The entire fight? No, I know it is available somewhere. There was a really good documentary on Chuck Wepner that I was able to watch, and I've actually watched it a couple of times. I can't plug anybody else's show because I don't know where I saw it or what streaming service or whatever is on, but it was pretty well made and it went in depth about Chuck Wepner and his life and subsequent lawsuits that he filed against Sylvester Stallone. So I don't know, but I am kind of aware of the you know basis for the movies.
Speaker 1:
All right, Fiddy, I know you got a lot of comments on this one. That's kind of why you were last, so go ahead.
Speaker 2:
So I actually watched it on like ESPN a long long time ago, probably 20-something years ago. They had like a replay of it but you can find it on YouTube. For people that don't know, the Richfield Coliseum was actually in Richfield, ohio. That's where the Cavs used to play before they moved downtown in 94.
Speaker 2:
People that don't know, chuck Wepner, the Bayonne bleeder, was literally a million to one shot Former Marine, mixed up with the mob a little bit and yeah, he had a chance to fight Ali Did knock Ali down. People say he to fight Ali did knock Ali down. People say he stepped on Ali's foot and Ali fell over. But Wepner just took an absolute ass whooping in that fight to the point that they had to stop the fight in the 14th round. But it's very interesting. Espn 30 for 30 did it. It was the real life.
Speaker 2:
Rocky was a documentary. Liev Schreiber has played it. For people that know the actor, they had a movie about him as well. So a lot of cool things about Chuck Wepner. But it was a very interesting fight and you could see why somebody could get inspired from that. Now Chuck Wepner, the human you know, a little bit different of than what, like rocky, was right. He was, you know, former marine, bigger, all this stuff, but very interesting, um, you know, and really the first guy that that truly, truly tested um ollie, when he was really like in that prime of his boxing career. You unfortunately before he had some losses at the end. So it is cool, you can find it on YouTube, it's pretty great.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, like everybody else other than Fitty, our resident boxing nerd there that watches everything that has to do with boxing and fighting I've only seen the documentary. I've only seen the 30 for 30, the real-life box, the real-life Rocky. I haven't actually seen the entire fight but yeah, that threw me for a loop, finding it out that it was actually based off of a real fight and a real fighter and everything like that. So that made me like Rocky a little bit more than I already did. I mean, I was already pretty much obsessed with the Rocky series and the Rocky franchise. But that is actually all the questions I have on the Rocky franchise and the Rocky Balboa movies.
Speaker 1:
I'm so happy we did this episode here because I could talk about Rocky all day. I was trying to keep it to a minimum because I know once I get on a Rocky rant, the day's over. That's all I'm talking about for the rest of the day. My wife is probably going to lose her mind tonight because this is probably what I'm going to be talking about for the rest of the night. But that is actually going to do it for this week's episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. I want to thank all of the guests, dr Josh Hines, brandon Wiley, Matt Altmer and, of course, everybody's favorite manager of the podcast, johnny Fittipaldi, for coming on and bearing with us and talking about Rocky, as always. If you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend. If you didn't tell them anyways, they might like it just because you didn't. That's going to do it for me and I will see y'all next week.
