Rocky (Episode 4) - Mickey's Burns: Tomatoes, Apes, and Ad-Lib Retirements
In episode four of One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast, Katie returns triumphantly from her Ecuador quarantine (armed with superior coffee), joining Ryan and a late-arriving Kyle for a lively dive into emails and fan insights: Bob Oor's fascinating location crossovers linking Rocky's Main Street Gym to blaxploitation flicks like Hammer and breakdance classics Breakin'/Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (with the youth center echoing the Spider Rico ring), plus YouTube commenter EcCentric Views' take on Sly's NFTs as a misguided relevance grab. Hosts geek out over Rocky II trivia—Apollo's sparring chant as literal boombox hype (not internal monologue)—and a fresh religious read on Rocky's crucifix clutch during his "I don't do that stuff no more" vow to Gazo, questioning Sly's real-life faith arc amid the sequel's overt prayers and chapel scenes. The film breakdown hits the bustling Mighty Mick's Gym: Rocky's snappy banter with short-statured cutman Mike (Jimmy Gambina's twin nod to Rocky V), the ironic "no kissing" sign (women-weaken-legs jab or anti-glory-hole reminder?), a prop lock smash showcasing Sly's strength, pin-up locker irony (black women pics in his space?), and Mickey's (Burgess Meredith, 69 playing 76) gruff debut roasting Rocky as a "tomato" ape-fighter with un busted nose—ad-libbed burns like "retiring?" hinting brain damage themes—culminating in a steamy escape tease amid 1970s fashion flair and Vietnam draft dodges
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