Yet Cook says when industry executives circled around the film adaptation of his spiritually-driven book, “Seven Days In Utopia,” they weren’t sure it could draw a crowd.

It’s one reason Cook took control of the film adaptation. He started his own film studio (Utopia Films) to produce the movie and served as both executive producer and co-screenwriter.

“I’m a sports psychologist. What do I know about making a movie?” he asks. “But I do know about telling stories, and that’s what filmmaking is. I just made sure the story didn’t get botched up.”

Cook wouldn’t let Hollywood warp his beloved story about a young golfer who finds his stroke again after spending a week in a tiny Texas hamlet. That meant the film’s spiritual component stayed intact, but just as importantly the main character would be played by an actor who knew his way around the golf course.

“I’ve been playing golf since I was six. All these golf movies coming out are so fake. [Non-golfers like] Kevin Costner, Matt Damon … you put a club in their hand and it always discredits the movie,” he says. “We wanted to make sure we got it right.”

So Cook’s studio reached out to Lucas Black, a scratch golfer who just so happens to have a few impressive films on his resume (“Get Low,” “Sling Blade”).

“He read the book and felt like this was the story of his life … plus, he loves to hunt and fish, too,” he says. The book’s emotional themes also helped snare one of film’s biggest stars, Oscar-winner Robert Duvall, to play the main character’s spiritual mentor. It helped that the project’s casting director previously worked on Duvall’s film “Crazy Heart,” and that Ducall had a rare gap in his film schedule.

The script for “Seven Days in Utopia” took two years to complete, in part because the film’s interior monologues were tricky to translate to the big screen.

“The book has a lot of introspection. You can see what’s going on in his head,” he says of Black’s character. “We had to bring that out through characters and action. It took a while to get the story right.”

Cook found making a movie somewhat similar to working with a football team.

“Hollywood’s business model is so un-businesslike that it scares you to death,” he says. “You raise a lot of money and then you spend it all in 30 days. You don’t have time to sit around in a board meeting and say, ‘what do you think about this decision?’

On top of that, Cook’s crew had to deal with some “intense moments” on the shoot, from a helicopter nearly hitting a pole to a fan breaking at an inopportune time.

“There are so many moving parts that move so fast … people coming in and going out … you just have to trust ‘em,” he says.

At times, the production reminded him of his duties helping sports teams be the best they can be.

“We had 30 days to pull this off, and any day over that cost $100,000,” he says. “We’re doing it outside, we needed the weather [to cooperate]. It’s lots of patience and persistence similar to training camp. We’re going all day every day to get it right.”

The film’s sports themes also tie into the greater story of personal reinvention.

“What does it take to be the best at your sport, to come out from crisis? We tried to answer it without getting preachy,” he says. “I don’t think we turned too many people off.”

“Seven Days in Utopia” couldn’t repeat the box office success of other faith-based films like “Courageous” and “Fireproof.” Cook looks at films like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Ultimate Gift,” movies which underwhelmed at the box office during their initial runs but found new life on cable and home video, for inspiration.

Cook may be a neophyte movie maker, but he’s savvy enough to know today’s audiences hunger for G-rated family fare that tips its cap to religion.

“150 million people go to church twice a month. There’s a huge faith element out there,” he says.

Cook is working on a new chapter to his “Seven Days in Utopia” story, but he’s not pursuing it for the usual reasons.

“You don’t write a sequel [to 'Seven Days in Utopia'] to sell another book. It’s such a part of my life. I don’t want to do it unless it’s done right,” he says.

Day 6 was set to be a 35-mile ride from Hampton to Virginia Beach. During the course of the ride, the riders would be given a tour of Ft. Monroe, one of the most picturesque military bases in the world. It is also the location where the African slave ships would come to the new world in the 1600s and 1700s. While on base, we stopped to take the big team picture.

"American Idol" David Cook

After the tour, we had a stop at the nearby American Legion post to load up the bikes to drive through the Hampton/Norfolk tunnel.   With the help of the Virginia State and Virginia Beach Police, the ride restarted on the other side.

Ft. Monroe

We talk about how the ride is very family oriented. Today was the perfect example of how the family plays a big role in the overall healing part of a wounded warrior’s rehab. For the first time, Nate Hunt’s wife took the road on a bike to ride with her husband. She had been secretly training since the end of the Texas Challenge so that she could ride the last day today and surprise Nate. She has been a very valuable member of our support team along with Patty Bruder, Leah Edmonds, John and Jessica Austerman, Neil Stewart, and Scott and Lisa.

Nathan and Michelle Hunt

After our arrival at our final destination, many of the wounded warriors had their family including their kids waiting for them and cheering them for the challenge just completed. It was great to see the cheers and tears for a goal accomplished.

For the final piece of entertainment, we were all treated to former “American Idol” winner David Cook in concert at the beachfront. Thanks to the City of Virginia Beach and the USO for the experience. The coolest part was when David Cook sang Happy Birthday to Patty Collins on her 40th B-day.

R2R reaches Virginia Beach

It was a fitting end to a great week of fun, riding, and making friends for life.

Now we are all thinking about California… Hope you all can join us…..

Road2Recovery homepage here.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine talks to the media after speaking to the Wounded Warriors

The route to Williamsburg again took the riders through some of the greatest roads in Virginia. The 72-mile route had a couple of long climbs, something that the riders have not seen many of.

Williamsburg is part of the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which also includes Jamestown and Yorktown, is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Williamsburg is the original Capitol of Virginia dating back to 1698. Williamsburg was established in 1632. Prior to the arrival of the English colonists at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia in 1607, the area, which became Williamsburg, was largely wooded.

New Kent turns out to welcome the riders

As the ride went through new Kent Township, hundreds of students came out to greet the riders and hear stories from them. The daily USO rest stop was next door and each of the schools teachers brought their students by to talk with the wounded warriors. They were especially fascinated with Jim Penseyres prosthetic leg. When we were in Texas, the kids came out every day, thanks in no large part to all of the efforts by the American Legion Auxiliary.

Jim and the kids

The main development was that Scot Moro, the ex-Mercury Cycling Team mechanic rigged up a push bar for Nate Hunt to enable him to get help on the days big climbs. The unintended consequences were that now Nate was like a rocket and instead of coming in behind most of the regular bikes, he was at the front and actually led the group to the finish in Williamsburg.

Rolling along the roads of Virginia

Tomorrow, we head down the Colonial Parkway on our way to Hampton and Ft. Eustice, home to one of the largest WTU’s will host dinner. In addition, the movie “Brother’s at War” will be shown to a standing room only crowd that will include all of the R2R participants. Thanks to the movie’s creator, Jake Rademacher, for making this possible.

We are only 2 days away from the big concert finish with “American Idol” winner David Cook.

Nate cooling off after a long day in the saddle

The weather again cooperated with a brisk tailwind to get to the ballpark in time to throw out the first pitch. The last day was full of celebration and looking back at the week that brought us all together. The ride is full of stories that none of us will ever forget.

The three handcycle riders, Travis, Nate and David, who made every mile of the ride. A true show of strength and courage, especially with the wind of day 4. They loved getting the new Michelin tires to help them go faster.

The face of Ryan Clark the 3rd day of the ride after he learned how much fun cycling could be with the proper shoes. The new electronic Shimano shifting kits that Dean and Kenny used changed men and kept them riding strong.

All of the riders surpassed what they thought was possible going into the ride. To see the faces of the riders like Allan Annert and Chad Fleming, who was to ride a hand cycle until Roger Staubach stepped up. Chad was able to get President Bush to sign the bike also, making it one of the most unique bikes in the world.

The towns and schools who came out to greet us waiting until we got there, cheering and singing as we rode by. There was some disappointment as Juan Guerrero was not able to finish the ride.

The public and guest riders like Steve Hayes, Adam Baldwin, and Rich Arthur, who added such a great dynamic to the ride. Our wounded Vietnam vets, Duane Wagner and Jim Penseyres, who helped guide and mentor the younger guys. To all of the volunteers and wives that come along and help out. To all of the sponsors like the American Legion, USO, Star Trac, and especially Benetech of Texas who helped get the Shimano electronic shifting.

We hope that you can join us for the next R2R event….the Memorial Challenge May 25-30… the finish features American Idol winner David Cook in concert in Virginia Beach….

Coverage of the President with the wounded warriors here and here.