Scott, Bang & Merk start the pod discussing the Olympics and being fake patriotic then the guys go over this years election and how the landscape of politics have changed the past 8 years and is Drake really blocking TDE from performing in Toronto? and if so is he ready for what comes with that?
Ok, we took a small break but since we left you, the world has changed. Some Dude talks about the world-changing events that has happened over the last couple of weeks.
Scott & Flows recap the first week up at Halas Hall for Bears training camp
Summer Sessions is back (sans Pavy who is traveling) Scott, Bang & Merk kick off the pod with Scott recapping his week of travel last week, what it's been like covering the first couple days of Bears camp, the guys then discuss black actors who have been type casted, the Captain America 4 trailer & a deep dive on one of the craziest 2 weeks in American history.
Another Cody Rhodes friend gets taken out as Kevin Owens gets beaten down by the Bloodline at the end of Smackdown. Who does Cody have left to help him survive until Summerslam? Jey Uso feels like the odd man out for Summerslam. What could be next for Main Event Jey? Will the Wyatt Sick storyline hit with Chad Gable and The Creeds? Melo taking too many L's and more.
On this weeks episode of RAOP we bring back everyone favorite segment "Are You Smarter Than A Jit". Also we chop it up about Future's most toxic songs, Madden streamers getting #CLAPPED, the Friday sequel finally being green lit, the Pinky XXX cruise ship and a ton more. Also we answer some voicemails from the listeners. Remember to send in your listener questions, #TheyNeedTheirAssBeat or #RealNiggaOfTheWeek submissions, email us at MAIL@RAOPodcast.com or call 424-260-RAOP to leave a voicemail.
Pierce Rob and Chris recap last week's Money in the Bank, the fallout from the PLE and how it's leading to SummerSlam in Cleveland. Plus, John Cena's retiring, and Night of Champions 2008!
In the words of Adam Pearce, it is official: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa is now set for Summer Slam, on August 3rd in Cleveland, Ohio. Has this past Smackdown changed #theFBCPod’s mind about Solo Sikoa? Regarding the Bloodline, Jacob Fatu asserted his dominance by beating down the Tag Team Champs DIY (Champa and Gargano). Did the WWE bury the belts? Rhea Ripley is back but what does it mean for the future of Judgement Day and who are the best #2’s in Wrestling History?
Four years covering the Chicago Bears.
Four years. It can be bewildering to put into perspective all the work that this endeavor has entailed. It’s not a small number, yet not truly a large one either. Four years. What precedes those years are three decades of love and admiration as a fan. True “fan-ship” where Sundays as a child were a paradox between worshipping God at church but also getting home in time to watch the Bears play. Combine those and you have twelve thousand, four hundred and eighteen days of watching, cheering, crying, covering, contemplating, and sometimes wishing that this organization would truly change.
I’ve seen cultures introduced then fall apart. I’ve seen hope turn to dread, dread turn into hope, dazzling displays of skill, and perplexing displays of incompetence. It's this “merry-go-round” that is the hallmark of what it means to be a fan of the Chicago Bears. It's believing in a team that doesn’t seem to believe in itself and loving a team that will consistently break your heart. Having experienced this for so long, we’re left with the question of why one would continue to come back after all this inconsistency and why would this year be any different? It crosses all the boxes of a typical Bears season. New quarterback? Check. A staff that is poised to have a breakout season? Check. A defense that is amongst the best in the league? Check.
The question you’ll have for me is then, why are you writing this article at all if nothing’s changed? You’d be right. From an outside perspective, nothing has changed. But after having spent years covering this franchise, I can tell you that everything has changed. Not only in the player personnel department, but in the highest echelons of this team. While not perfect, the echoes are change are evident.
Three years ago, I sat at my computer during a season-ending interview with George McCaskey. He spoke about change and what was next for the organization, and there was a snarky grin on my face. Sort of a “here we go again” feeling as déjà vu crept into my mind. After another disappointing season, the Bears “brass” assured stakeholders that change was coming, but all fans could feel was discontent. Fast forward three years later, and an ineffable feeling of change is in the air.
This year seems to be different, and not the “this year is our year” difference that is the rallying cry of fans of Chicago sports, but a distinctive cultural and environmental shift. It could not have been clearer than it was today, as I walked from the Abbott parking lot into Halas Hall on Day 1 of the 2024-2025 Chicago Bears training camp. Fresh faces that I’ve never seen, from all walks of life, with a distinctive and confident grin on their faces that says, “something’s changed”.
The Bears not only spoke about creating a successful and diverse organization, but they’ve created it. It echoes George McCaskey’s insistence that fair opportunity is key to a successful organization. What’s most striking is that at the top of the forefront of this change was a black general manager in Ryan Poles and a black team President in Kevin Warren. We’ve seen instances of the Bears declaring they changes they’ve made and how they’ll improve, but something is different.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the lightning rod of this seismic shift, quarterback Caleb Williams. His selection in of itself is a shift for a team; an electric, Heisman winning QB taken with the number one pick. While he’s not the first young QB expected to shake up the organization (as fans have seen this before), the situation that he’s found himself in is considerable. Three bona fide no.1 receivers next to him in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze and a defense that ranked amongst the best in the league in the latter half of last season. The position Caleb Williams’ finds himself in has catapulted him into role where he’s looked upon as a symbol of hope for the city. He represents a promise of skill and confidence that Bears fans have desperately craved and whether he understands it or not, there is a considerable amount of pressure on him to change the Bears’ fortunes.
This is not a declaration of a guaranteed change, in fact, it’s far from it. We’ve seen how far promises of change can take this organization. However, after covering the Bears for four years and seeing the highs and lows, the moments of brilliance, and the stretches of mediocrity. There is a different feeling that I can’t shake—one that suggests that the Bears might finally be on the right track. This season isn’t just about proving doubters wrong; it’s about proving to themselves and their fans that they are capable of greatness. That hopeful feeling that permeates the atmosphere cannot be denied but whether it’s justified or not, remains to be seen.
Scott & Dante recap House Of The Dragon Season 2, Ep.4 "The Red Dragon & The Gold"
This week on Summer Sessions Scott, J.R. Bang, Merk & Pavy begin the show recapping this past episode of House Of The Dragon & why black people love the Game Of Thrones franchise so much, the guys then recap their holiday weekends & why a lot of millennial men don't grill as much, thoughts on the Not Like Us video, where Kendrick & Drake go from here with their new music and a big debate on if there's a difference between classic albums & genre defining albums.
The Bloodline won big at Money In The Bank and Solo Sikoa pinned the Undisputed Champion, Cody Rhodes but who was the real star on the heel team: Solo or the debuting Jacob Fatu? John Cena announced his retirement and detailed the plan. What would you like to see during the Cena Farewell tour? We recap all things WWE Money in the Bank and the Tag Team Title Champions that Camp from the Port will surely hate.
On this weeks episode of RAOP we chop it up about Rick Ross & the MMG bandits getting their feet whooped in Vancouver, will Bronny have a hard time playing with his dad Lebron, Paul George signing to the Sixers, the BET Awards falling flat and a ton more. Also we answer some voicemails from the listeners. Remember to send in your listener questions, #TheyNeedTheirAssBeat or #RealNiggaOfTheWeek submissions, email us at MAIL@RAOPodcast.com or call 424-260-RAOP to leave a voicemail.
Solo Sikoa did the “unthinkable” when he and the new Bloodline squashed the Wise Man, Paul Heyman. What is next for this version of the Bloodline and what that means for Roman Reigns. CM Punk may have gotten over on Drew McIntyre in Scotland but he paid for it in Chicago. How invested are we into this feud. We get into the upcoming Premium Live Event, Money and the Bank and predictions, the WWE Hot streak going into Summerslam and more.
This week on Summer Sessions, Merk kicks off the pod with a deep dive into his Disney cruise trip with the fam, the guys then discuss the issue with the BET Awards, a huge debate on Usher & Jermaine Dupri's legacy, the worst fit you ever wore in your life & much much more.
Scott & Dante recap House Of The Dragon Season 2 Ep.3 "The Burning Mill"
