KSR - 2024-03-29- KSR - Hour 2

Episode Date: March 29, 2024

Matt, Ryan, Drew, and Shannon are joined by Vince Marrow to talk UK Football, John Legend's concert, and more. Plus, the guys catch you up on all the latest news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to Hour 2 of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now, here's Matt Jones. Joining us now is Vince Merrow, UK football assistant coach and out doing his recruiting thing and spring practice. Vince, how are you? doing good man just just wrapping up a meeting actually uh go to get kamari and a cat that's out of out of this meeting room going to get out by but just finishing up meetings just finished all right so tell me about i mean we announced yesterday the new uh initiative i don't know what

you're allowed to talk about so i'll just leave it to you what talk about what's going on with the new stuff there uh with john legend and all that well you know It started out, you know, when all this, you start seeing other universities, you know, have concerts and stuff. So me and Mark just threw out that, hey, I mentioned to him like, we should get John Legend, me, Mark, and Coach Grant. And we start throwing that around probably, I don't know, about a month ago. And so got invited to a party, his mom's 70th birthday party. Me and my wife got invited to that, and we went. And I met John for the first time.

How did you get invited to John Legend's mom 70th birthday party? How do you score that invite? Because, you know, the mom really liked, the family really liked me. I've been recruiting AB for really about three years. I recruited his older brother, Mike, who went to Minnesota. And I just knew the family. Mo Douglas is the high school coach who played here. Played here.

You know, I was in Springfield a lot. And then you had Mo Douglas who played here. and Looney and a lot of Isaiah Gibson. So I spent a lot of time down there, so family really got to know me. And, you know, we went to the party,

and he came in with his security people. And I got to admit, I've seen a lot of people. But when he walked through that door, I was starstruck. I was just like, man, that's really like, John Legend, like, I said, can I touch him?

Like, he just looked. You know, I was just like, serious, it was really, it was. And as we sat down and talked and talking to us, his manager, Hassan, and him, they just really, it was just like talking to another guy from Youngstown or from Ohio, just having a good conversation. And, you know, we, we talked about he knew my dad, his, his mom and his, his music guy who played, you know, who taught him, knew my dad and my

mom, my mom had a gospel group up in Youngstown. So we started talking about all that. And I asked him, I said, hey, you know, we, would you be interested in doing a concert to help our NIL? And, you know, he thought about it. And actually, he actually said, no, we actually reached out to him before that. And he was like, nah, but then when he met me in person, the whole thing changed. And it was more like, hey, we put a face together and we got to talk. So, you know, when I get a chance to talk to somebody and recruit him, I was like, hey, I sold my pitch. And so he agreed to do it.

We did a FaceTime with him to get the, you know, the final okay with, it was me, Coach Grant and coach stoops and he came here on the screen and I'm like that's about second time seeing him and I thought I seen a star again like I was just speechless like you like man this is john legend that's john legend so yeah so tell people Vince what what what's the what the details are and then like what do you all expect to be able to kind of raise from it well I think the money figure people put in there I don't even it's more of showing a of people who have helped us, you know, since NIL started. And just, you know, you got a lot of people, whether it's, you know, the crafts or assessor,

or I can go down the line. This is a lot of people who really help us. And we just want to say, hey, here's something that we want to give back and kicking it off. You kick it off with this guy. And so you get, it's called the 500 Club. you you they know the money so it's kind of like i think they already have put it out where i think it's like 15 000 for the year for three years and you get a lot of other stuff that comes with that other future events a lot of nice stuff i mean i think when when the people you know

sign up and they get more and know about it at u.s. like hey we got we're going to kick down the line where it's going to be another big time person that will come and do a concert having a Who do we think the other big-time person's going to be, Ryan? Alice Blue Gown. Yeah, what about Shannon? You performed with Shannon. What about getting him for a big show? Hey, I got to tell you this, and this is no lot.

I went to the Leonard Skinner console last night, and I'm telling you, Shannon Band sounded just like them. Yeah. I was sitting there and going through my head. Like, hey, and I was kind of like, I mean, and I got became, you know, I mean, one of the lead guitars was like a supposedly a fan of mine, so he wanted to meet me. So we actually been texting now, and he told me, hey, maybe Leonard Skinner might be a good person to get down the line. They were good last night.

But I'm saying when you're kicking it off with John Legend, there's just so many people who I think is going to be, you know, interesting. I think people thought we couldn't get them. Like, it was a little rumors going around that maybe one day John Legend to do a concert. And I got to say this about John before I go first. He actually was booked up all the way, like booked up for like the next two months. And he really wanted to help our program. He really wanted to help his nephew, Anthony Brown Stevens. And to get him to turn stuff around and say that he's going to do this is going to be huge.

And I can tell you this, everybody knows if you look up, what it costs to really bring this guy here. And for him to be doing this, it's really a blessing for our football team man for our university and for the state. I mean, people can actually see this guy in a closed private. Yeah, a small environment. So let me ask you a question, man. So we, for, when the NIL thing started, I think I asked you,

do you think there is enough in terms of donor resources for Kentucky football to compete? Is there enough out there? And you said something like, I hope so. It's now been two and a half, three years. Do you, and you've got this now coming, do you feel better about that than you did two and a half years ago? I really do. I think once people understood what NIO was, and I got to be, you know, I got to be honest. Our administration from Mitch on down really joined to help us do this.

Like, you know, once you were educating CISO, if you're asking me the question, yes, I really believe I go around town a lot and people ask me like, man, how do we? how can we give to the collective and people are doing a lot of different things. There's a lot of people in this town that's doing things where you say, hey, this thing making work. And I do believe we got the right support. This will just kick it off to raise the ad what other people are doing. Because as you know, Matt, if you did your homework and people do their homework, there's a lot of the schools raising money.

Like I just seen Texas about to have, I've got who this country got. but he's doing a concert for them. So Georgia has somebody do a concert. So, yes, I think it's our appreciation to say, hey, we want to give you John Legend. I will fly over the country to go have a private concert with John Legend. When I've seen him at his mom's birthday party, and he just performed four songs on like a little keyboard. And I was like, wow, this guy's better than what the songs even say.

So let's look at the question I know Ryan wants to ask, which is would you let Ryan? man yeah i think i think ryan maybe he can like i don't know hold up a tent or something in the back or just do i'll serve drinks yeah i'll serve drinks i'll pick up trash whatever it takes coach i'm in you know it's funny because people were saying even some of the people that work in our building it was like man i just want to stand in the back just to hear them just to see them i mean like i say i've been around and i've seen people I'm telling you, Matt, when I've seen this guy for the first time, it was like a serious man crush and like, wow, this dude.

Yeah, I haven't heard you talk about anybody like this, man. It's like you definitely have a little man crush. There's no doubt about that you with for John Legend. You know, I wanted to tell you, I would be there, but I know you're proud of her too. My mom's graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary that day. Yes, and I actually text Dr. Evans, and he told me yes. And he asked me, was I coming. I was like, I got a big event because I got that. And then my daughter graduates from college. Yes, how about that? He has that that weekend.

Big weekend. That is a big weekend. From Murray State, right? Isn't that where your daughter graduated? From Murray State. Yep, graduating. And then she's heading on in medical school at Cincinnati. Good for her.

That's awesome. Congratulations. All right. So tell me real quick about spring practice. What's going on? You all have had, what, five or six practices? How you like it, what you're seeing? I really like it, just, you know, on the offensive side.

Because when you look at the defense, when you got continuity, the staff been together, and they got a lot of guys returning, you can see Brad's footprint in that, that, hey, it's a solid. But where I'm more impressed with Bush of how the staff and the players have picked up the offense so fast, and you've got to get credit to our players. They've been putting an extra time, and it's allowing us to install more and more. You know, sometimes when you bring in a new coach and you try to put install one, two, Then you go on a three, and these guys are still messing up on one and two.

You're like, hey, we need to slow this down. But you've got to get credit to our players. They are bought in. They are really putting in the time, and it's starting to show and practice. I'm really excited about this team. I am. So you like – so tell me about Bush. I mean, Bush Hampton, the new offensive coordinator.

What will folks see from him? I think what you're going to see from Bush, he's just more laid back with a very smart man. Very smart man. And he's, I think Bush, and it's not a knock at Liam, because I love Liam, but I think Bush wants to be in college. He's been in the NFL, but I think Bush, you know, he's raising young kids, and he's, I think, just coming here, he was at Boise, and I don't think he thought about leaving him, but then, you know, coming here, you can see already, his daughter's already in school,

his oldest daughter's going to school now. He has two young kids. I think what people are going to see from him is that he's more laid back, he's attention to detail, but he's a smart man, and he knows how to call plays. But the thing I love that I've seen probably already in three practices, you know, you still got to coach coaches, too. And I've just seen how he knows how to get in with coaches and really jail with them,

but also picking up on guys who are our stars, he is really, really connected with these guys. And I just think, you know, you're going to see a guy that's, you know, He's going to call plays. He's going to be very laid back. But I think people are really going to love just the structure of his office or how he run a lot of motions, a lot of movement and all that. And we're going to play faster.

I like it. Last question. You know, the portal opens up, what, April 17th or April 24th? I don't remember. Do you, are you worried about losing guys to the portal? Are you looking at adding guys in the portal? What will Kentucky be like in the portal this spring? Well, it's kind of like the NFL, and they're getting ready to draft.

I really like the core of our team. There are some things that we might say, hey, if this guy becomes available. But I like, and I think Coach Stoops likes the core of where this team is. But you never can say never. It's like, hey, if somebody's available, it's like the draft. The draft say, hey, I'm not going to draft a receiver. I'm not going to draft a running back. And next year you know, this running back is available in the draft that's really good.

So we're never going to pass up on talent, but I just really feel good where we're at right now with this roster. Will we lose some people? I think we got a lot of depth, like even on offense. I know we got a lot of depth, and I know even Bush was like, man, it's going to be a lot of competition. And so maybe somebody may.

But a lot of our guys that we really want here, when I say that we want on here, that's going to be in the rotation and play, we usually don't we don't lose some guys as much but you know there's another portal I just wish they had all these portals I like man every every month is another portal so you just got to be you just got to be diligent of how you want to be with your personnel and like I say I think our roster is pretty good right now perfect Vince Merrill uh the group is the 500 club john legend we now know who his biggest fan is and he's a dog from youngstown so Vince

Thanks, thank you very much. And I hope you have a great weekend. Appreciate you coming on. All right. Thank you guys. You guys have a good weekend, too. There you go. So the 500 Club, ready for John Legend.

I've never seen him sort of be like so, I don't know, man. He loves some John Legend. He's fanboying to the hit. And of course, John Legend knew Vince's mom and dad. Yeah. We know why he's such a great recruiter. If you can recruit John Legend to come forward. John Legend to come.

It's like, my goodness. You know what? John Legend would probably like while he's here's a clear-cut hero hydration drink. Why are you laughing at that? You don't think he'd want a three-flavor variety 12-pack? He's got to keep you know, lubricated. When I think John Legend, I think

Cosmic Blue Raz, Dragon Fruit and Apex Frient Fruit Punch, that's what I think. And when I think Fallout Boy, I think Nova Orange, Nexus, Peach, Mango, and Eclipse Lemon Lime. It's all there as part of the clear-cut hero hydration drink. It's a wonderful way to get a essential electrolytes, perfect blends of carbs, sodium potassium to keep you fooled.

Grab your variety pack exclusively at Amazon today. What are you waiting for? Try clear-cut hero. We are here at KS Bar for lunch. Come on out and join us. We've got bullet counties in the house. That's how you know it's a party. We'll take a break.

Be right back. This is KS.O. There you go. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. Here live. KS. Bar and Grill. Nice to have Vince on with us.

We're going to go to the phones here just a second. 859-280-80. 2287. One person writes, Matt, I'm excited for John Legend to come there. I won't be able to go, but do you think it will be videotape? Probably not. That makes it exclusive for these donors. They are there. A lot of people don't want to be seen. They don't want to like be. Thank you for trying to get me in, though. I was doing what I can. I appreciate that. You know, we're going to have here in Lexington the same night. I want you to think about Lexington, Kentucky. The same night, you will have

Nate Bargazzi, Pete Davidson, and John Legend, all in town the same evening. That's a lot of people in this little college town. That's three big stars. Big stars. In Lexington at the exact same moment, Drew Franklin. Got to be in a couple different places at the same time somehow. Maybe we could get them all to have a round table here on the show, which rank in order, how you'd want to see those three.

Legend Bargazzi Davidson, what's your order? Let's say it costs the same. That's a great question. I would probably honestly say Nate Bergotsie won, John Legend 2, Pete Davidson 3. I can tell you they do not cost the same because I bought Burgotsie and Davidson and that was a big gap. And I bet the legend gap is 10 times that. Mount Wooder would be exactly what Ryan had.

Bargazzi number one, legend two, Davidson 3. See, I'm actually, I've seen Nate a bunch. He would be first in theory, but I think I'm probably going to have seen what he does. So I'm going to say Legend 1, Davidson 2. What? Because I've seen Bargotsie a bunch. I'd say three. If I hadn't seen him, Bargotsie would be one, but that's the way that I would do.

What about you? I'm living this predicament, and I've left it in my wife's hands because it's her birthday night, so I can't make the call. But it's tough. If it were a John Legend concert that just anyone could go to, I'd pick Bergotsie. But I mean, you're talking about a private concert. You've got to be rich to get into it. If I found a side door, I think I would have to pick that.

Yeah. Who's up next year? Let's go to Anthony. Anthony, go ahead, Anthony. Hey, how you doing, fellows? Last night, I was listening to the post-game interviews after the basketball games last night. And what I got out of it was if you can't beat him, you better join them. And talking about a change, that coach Hurley was talking about Connecticut

and how he talked these guys into staying and how he's got these older guys. And I heard the analyst on the Clemson game talking about these older guys. Man, you've got to have older guys if you want to play for the big dance. That's all there is to it. Have a great day. 80 starters in the Sweet 16, only three of them are fresh. That's, I mean, that's it. There you go.

Like, that's the whole thing. I appreciate the call. I mean, that's the whole thing. So you're going to have to get older, whether you want to or not, if you want in order to consistently win. Yukon right now is an insane story. I mean, Yukon won the national championship last year. They've won the first three games of the tournament this year.

That's nine games. You want to know the average margin of victory in the nine games, six games from last year and the three games this year? Close to 20. 22.2. Wow. They have won nine straight games. There was somebody on TV saying,

it was, I think, maybe Steve Lapis or somebody said, this is one of the best college teams of all time. And that's hard for me to say because most people listening to this probably can't even name more than one person on the team. But if I told you objectively that Yukon has a chance to go back to back, even though there's different personnel, back to back, and their average margin of victories, 22.2 points a game, at some point you do have to say that's kind of amazing. I mean, last year I kind of felt like Yukon stole one, even though they won those games by, so much. But this year, they are the best team.

And for someone to beat them, it will be a big upset, right? I think they've been the best team all season coming off that national championship. And this will be their sixth title if they win in less than 20, in less than 30 years. Six since we've had two. That's crazy. Six, I mean, they're going to have a chance to have six in 30 years. I told you, man, like kids like Josiah, they think Yukon is what we look at North Carolina. That's how they look at Yukon.

their first one. Was their first one 99? 99. So that's six in 25 years. Yeah. Six since we have won two. That is nuts. I mean, six in 25 years is like,

you know, I mean, that's kind of, I hate to say this because I don't want to give Yukon that credit. But that's the second most impressive run since UCLA. If you have six and 25 years, right? And for three different coaches. That's what I'm going to say. they're just getting started with Dan Early. I know.

They have six with three different coaches, and he is just starting. I mean, it's annoying. Like, I hope they get beat, but I don't know that I think they're going to. I mean, I don't know who's going to beat them. Who's next? Steve. Steve, what's up, Steve? Hey, guys.

I, you know, I have a comment about Cala Perry, but it's hard not to switch to football after listening to Vince, and Vince needs to know flipping his comment about John Legend, that when he walks in the room, I want to know if I can touch him. No, I mean, there's a lot. Listen, Vince, has there ever in the history of UK sports

been an assistant coach more popular than Vince? Not an assistant coach, no. I don't think so. And that's really a testament. I mean, he's my friend, but that's a testament to him. Because, like, the fact that the way he's been, not just a coach and a recruiter, but a PR for the program is amazing.

Go ahead, sir. So the comment on Calipari is I was one of those leaning in the camp of letting him go. But I understand the bringing him back, hard decision. The problem is I think we're setting ourselves up for an even harder decision. Because if going forward, Calipari doesn't have a clearly successful season or a clearly non-successful season, then what do you do? Because I think even the Calipari backers

would agree that we've just come off of four straight seasons of not meeting the standard. I agree with you. I'm with you on that. To be fair, though, that's also what we said about this year. Yep, that's what we said about this year. But yes, I think, you know,

it's back to it all coming down the next year. I think the difference, though, is now the administration agrees with the average fan, which they didn't before. We'll take a break. We'll take a break right back. T.J. Smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J.

He'll make them pay. Now, more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones. Welcome back, Tucky Sports Radio, here at the KS Bar and Grill. Again, if you're around this weekend, come watch the games.

We'd love to have you. This would be a nice weekend for you to visit us because we had hoped there would be Kentucky games this weekend. They're supposed to be a big Kentucky game tonight, actually. and there's not happening. So feel free to come join us this weekend at some point. We could use your business, as always.

You have to go. I like how during the break, Ryan, or excuse me, Drew, Ryan just looks at us and goes, yep, I'm out. It's 11.30. There's still 30 minutes to show. You're just like, I'm gone, and then you're gone for a week. Would you like to say bye? Bye.

Peace out. I got to leave the Lord. I got to closing at 12. then we're leaving for Florida after that. So, Shannon, I packed the lotion. I can rub your back down with lotion. You know, thanks. We'll see you down there.

Yeah. All right. Do I get to leave 30 minutes early, too? I like how he just does it. Like, he's just like, I'm leaving. Okay, well, thank you. Thanks for letting me know. All right.

I'll miss you guys like Jock Itch. What is wrong with you? I'm on vacation. He's on vacation mode. Good. You have to deal with him, Shannon, over the next week. We have a new advertiser, Drew. Would you like to hear about it?

Yes, I would love to hear about it. The Bluegrass, homes. Home Center is now open in London, Kentucky. Yes, you can visit bluegrasshomecenter.com. It's a family-owned business specialized in meeting the needs of homebuyers with standard-built single-section and multi-section manufactured homes. You can get it with two, three, four, and five bedrooms. You can learn more at bluegrasshomecenter.com. They offer homes as low as $48,900. There's affordable, flexible, and fully customizable floor plans at Bluegrass Home Center. Again, it is 606, 215, 3,300, or go to their showroom on Rudy Bear Road in London, Kentucky.

Rudy Bear Road. Did you know there was a Rudy Bear Road in London, Kentucky? No, that's why you get spots on KSR. Now lots of people know about Rudy Bear Road in Bluegrass Home Center to do it. I want to go back for a second on Danny Hurley. Shannon, Danny Hurley said last night that he makes his wife clean his underwear. before every game so he can wear the same pair of underwear for every game. Is that weird?

Yes, I don't want to hear that. I mean, look, we don't need to hear everything that goes on behind the scenes. Some things are just better off left. So let's talk about how he does that just practically. They're in a different city for the game. So he wears the underwear on Thursday night. Does he make his wife go to the laundry mat and go clean his underwear? Like, how does that work?

Maybe in the hotel coffee pot? Yeah, I mean, first of all, if I'm his wife, I'm like, I didn't marry you to clean your underwear in between games. Clean your own damn underwear. That's disgusting. Clean your own underwear. I'm not your underwear cleaner. If I'm his wife, I stand up and go, it's your underwear.

You deal with it. Is it weird to have the superstition that you have to wear the same underwear every game? Yes. Yes, that's weird. I know a lot of people do that. A lot of players do that. Baseball players are the most superstitious athletes out there, but it's still strange. Here's what I don't understand about superstition like that

When he loses, which he does sometimes Why doesn't that then change the superstition? It clearly didn't work that game. She didn't clean enough, I guess. Got to have spotless underwear. Deep clean. It's weird. I know a lot of people have superstitions.

I have my own. I fully support sports superstitions. That was hard to say because I believe they changed the outcome. But the same pair of underwear in a tournament setting is odd. One person writes, Matt, online over the last couple days a lot of people have been blaming kSR writers for ado leaving do you think there's anything to that i now know what it must be like to be Biden or trump in the sense of whatever happens in the world is all this magical power that we have first of all i've never said

one negative word about ado next to Antonio reeves he might have been the player i had the most respect for last year just in terms of how hard he played. So I know I haven't had said anything. I'm fairly certain you all have it. I'm a big a new fan. He's number two on my wish list. So I sit here and wonder, where are these people like where is this stuff even coming from? Then I saw that a writer on KSR, I've forgotten this. I guess he made some criticism of Adu and then Adu's dad responded.

All I would say about this is, if I, I, refuse to believe there's any fan that at any point hasn't said this player is doing X wrong. If you haven't, good for you, but I don't think most has. But if you want there to be any analysis of sports, you're going to have to note when people don't play well, right? Like you're going to have to note, I don't know how you can analyze sports without sort of noting. So part of me wants to look at a lot of the folks that are our critics and go, what do you want us to talk about? You have now told me I have to be positive and say everything's good no matter what.

And I have to say all the players are playing well no matter what. So what do I do when we lose? Just go, the refs cheat? You can't do that either. No, I got sued for that. Cross that one off also. We tried that Avenue. So there's a part, I just, look, I, this has become like to where it doesn't even matter.

And then it doesn't even, what, there was a woman last night who I was watching the game. And she wrote, you said that a dude faked his injury. And I was like, I know I didn't say that. So I said, show me where I said that. And she goes, well, no, it was the writers on KSR. Well, first of all, so Shannon, it's already not me. Yeah. So then I said, I don't believe they said that either.

Link me a story. She links a story in which the article is just quoting John CalPerry saying he's hurt. And I said, there's nothing in here saying it's fake. And she responded, that's semantics. First of all, do you know what the word semantics? means. And secondly, no. Like, now you're telling me we can't even quote John Caliperi. I don't know what people want. I have been absolutely fascinated in these last few weeks at the way people have just wanted to pass the responsibility from a coach onto, first of all, players. The way people go,

well, he can't make the shots for him. He can't ball. So yeah, let's not blame the nine million dollar coach, let's blame the players. And then to members of the media, it's like, is there anything you think Calipari's responsible for? Anything at all? Isn't it weird to you or my? No, it's very weird. I don't understand how.

Some people will be like, man, you're negative today. And I'm like, yeah, we lost a basketball game last night. If they'd won, I would have been positive. It's directly correlated with the results of Kentucky basketball. I don't wake up, but I'm like, I want to be really negative today. I'm probably sad because we're not in the NCAA tournament that day. That might be why I'm not negative. I can't just get up here after we lose and for two hours say,

I go to Billy Button. And do you really believe that a dude? I want to ask people seriously. Do you really believe that Adieu Thierro is choosing his college based on one tweet in January from a guy with 1,500 followers on Twitter? You really think that's how he's deciding his college? Hope not.

I love a do. I'm certain that's not how he's choosing it. But if he is, he ain't going to make it in sports. Right. If you're choosing it, like, he's not choosing because of that. He's choosing because probably he'll get a better NIL deal somewhere else. Let's be real. That's probably what's happening.

And while we're on, it's not, I mean, we have some crazy fans to go too far. I'm not acting like there's not bad stuff out there. And there have been times that people that have worked for KSR, including the guy who just got up and left, have said things that I've said you need to not say that and I've asked them to apologize or whatever. So people make mistakes. And I'm not excusing those. But sometimes I feel like they act like the Internet's not supposed to have people being mean.

The Internet's mean to everyone. I mean to this. So I'm sorry these players see mean tweets. That happens at every school. That happens to high school kids that put up a picture of themselves. That happens to anyone that does anything. The Internet is just a mean place. Outside of the, you know, the really bad stuff that's completely excusable.

But there is going to be criticism. if you play basketball and national television on the internet, that is just going to exist whether you're at Kentucky or anywhere. People are going to watch you and put their feelings out there, and they're not always going to be positive. And that goes too far. If it goes too far, you can't just make that disappear.

You can't make criticism disappear on Twitter. But the idea that people are going to be playing college basketball for a major program and not be criticized, or that a coach that's making $9 million a year is not to be criticized, guys is, again, that's cultish behavior. And like that's what Louisville was like for a decade. Was if you suggested, you know what, maybe it's weird that the city of Louisville is paying Louisville what they are and giving them a portion of the concert fees from tickets.

Shut up, Matt, you look, Kentucky hater. Well, now the Yom Center is going bankrupt. Did anybody think maybe that was an individual? issue a decade ago. Get it! Anyway, I just don't want to see us be like that. Who's next, Shannon? Let's go to Chris from Jacksonville.

Chris, go ahead. Hey, normally I am a podcast listener, but off today for Good Friday, so happy Good Friday and Happy Easter. Happy Good Friday to you. Also for Ryan and Shannon's head of the Florida. Thank you for your tourism dollars. You're welcome. With that, normally, I'm just sitting listening.

after the fact to all the shows. But some of the things that I would call and suggest for Coach Cal, he did one of the biggest things this past couple of days ago when he sat down with Keith Farmer and they did that show. I would encourage him if I could talk to him. I'd encourage him to do interviews with the other news stations and the Harold Leader and the Courier-General and Kyle Tucker and you guys. Will he do that?

I don't know. I would encourage him too as well. I love Keith Farmer, but like that's a UK official show. show, right? Like, that's not. I would encourage him to do interviews with all media. I think that would be a good step. I agree totally with you. The other thing I would suggest that the so, blowing off so much during the season and putting all the emphasis on March has got so much pressure on those players. Totally agree with him. Totally agree with you. Yeah, every, every game matters. He talked about the SEC tournament matter. Your phones break it out. But your phones break it out. But you're

You're exactly right about. Yeah, I appreciate the call. When you do the thing, I think this is what's happened in the last few years. When you do the thing that in the regular season, everything that goes wrong, it doesn't matter. It's all on March. How can you be anything but nervous when you get to March? Like, how can you be anything but terrified when you get to March? If you make it to where you celebrate the small victories along the way and you make

it to where, you know, along the way, it's part of a thing he likes to talk about the journey. But when you say we're built for March, so none of the rest of this matters, I can see why if you're a player, you're like, oh my goodness, we've been waiting for this second, you know, and it would be tough. Yeah, and I think you would have more goodwill when you do lose earlier if you're not 0 and 4 in the last four Champions classics or have lost the SEC tournament as soon as you get there. I said this year you win the SEC tournament, you got a lot of grace with me going to the NCAA, whatever have you are knocked out early because you at least had a good run there,

but then that didn't matter again this year either. One person writes, Matt, maybe because you all say you don't believe what Cala Perry says about injuries, that's what she's talking about. Well, okay, first of all, I don't ever believe a kid is faking an injury. I think when dudes, kids have pride. When dudes get hurt, they're hurt. With that said, if I have one piece of. like advice to everyone in sports,

entertainment politics, when people want to know something, the void is always going to be filled with noise if you don't fill it. So like use the Kate Middleton thing. I hate what everybody was saying about her when it turns out she had cancer. But everyone's always going to be interested in Kate Middleton.

So if they don't say what's happening, people are going to fill it with conspiracy theories. They just are. So Cal has been so weird about injuries that then when someone has a legitimate injury, people are going to be weird. Just be up front all the time. We don't know what PGA Washington when he'll be back. Not I haven't seen him, right? You know what I mean, Shannon?

Like just be, just be honest about it. And then you won't get to a point that when a kid is legitimately injured, as I always thought ado, Justin Edwards and those guys were, nobody will speculate because it's normal, right? Yeah. I mean, that's natural human reaction when you don't hear any news. You create your own news. No news will always be filled with people guessing. It just will.

That's just natural reaction. Yeah, and on the injury thing, we don't have to go back to I haven't seen him. But like, no one's asking to see the x-ray and give us the exact memory that we'll be back. But it's simple, he's going through this, working hard, we'll see him when we see him again. is a lot better than I haven't seen him today because if you haven't seen him, who has seen him? Let me give you just, I know I'm way over, but I'm going to give you just a little story about a coaching search back in the day. So when Kentucky hired Mark Stoops, I knew Mark Stoops was coming for a couple days. And I was asked by the folks looking, hey, please do me a favor and hold off on it because we need to get it done.

And so I did. Well, fast forward to Kenny Brooks being hired as a lot of the time. the women's coach. I put out that I heard he was being hired or he would been interviewed about a week before he was hired. Someone got frustrated at me and goes, if you put that out, I'd already put it out. They were like, why'd you put that out? He's still playing. It might ruin it. And I said, because it's news, people are wondering. I was like, if you knew it was him, why didn't you ask me not to, you know what I mean? Like, it's always better. to work with the media than to fight with them because they can help you.

And so the Kenny Brooks thing, it did come out probably before they wanted. But if I hadn't put it out, Drew, somebody else would. If it's happening, it's happening. If it's happening, you're not going to be able to stop. Especially in this world. In this world, like, I mean, I had 10 people text the text machine. It's going to be Kenny Brooks. So finally I made a call and I realized it was Kenny Brooks.

But I wasn't the only one that knew that. So, like, you can't, you've got to, like, work with the stuff because if you leave silence, silence will always be filled by something. We'll take a break. Be right back. It's KSR. Welcome back, Tegi Sports Radio. All right. We've got some breaking news here.

Sponsored by cornbread hemp. Go to cornbread hip. Runny-na-na-a-na. For your promo for your full-spectrumower-only hemp CBD Gummies. promo code KSR, help you sleep, help you relax. It's cornbreaddhemp.com. Check them out. all use them. You can too. Preston Spradlin, the coach at Moorhead State, has been hired by James

Madison. Oh, what is James Madison? The somethings in Virginia? I guess that they had a good run this year. Be a good next stop for him. Yes, the Dukes. The Dukes? Yeah, the James Madison, excuse me. So congrats to him. Congrats to him. Miss him at Moorhead, but good luck to him. Let's do our Draft Kings picks of the night. Go to promo code KSR with Draft Kings. We've got, where are the here. NC State Marquette, who you got? Marquette. I'm taking NC State. Who you got, Shane? Pulling for NC State, but Marquette wins.

All right. Gonzaga, Purdue. Purdue, but I have got Zagas as a sleeper in this whole tournament, so it wouldn't shock me if they took this one. I'm taking Purdue. Give me the Zags. You don't bet on Purdue in the NCAA tournament. Duke and Houston. Houston. Houston. I think Duke wins. You got Duke, Shane.

I think Duke pulls it off. Wow. Cretton, Tennessee. I'll be rude for Creighton, but I think Tennessee does it. I'm going to take Tennessee, unfortunately. Yep, Tennessee. Good games tonight, though. I think all those games in anyone could win. One person wrote me, Matt, would Calipari have been fired if Louisville had had a great season

or do the cards being terrible give him more grace? What if they had won the game? Well, that's a little different. I think it helps that Louisville stinks, but I don't think that would have been the deciding factor. Do you? No, it certainly helps, though. Their fire was much bigger than any fire we've ever had. Yeah.

But I do think, though, just in the fan base, like Louisville being terrible keeps our depression down a little bit. Oh, as soon as I get mad that I won't see Rob Dillingham again, I just look at a picture of Kenny Payne on the Louisville sideline and know that they haven't won much of anything lately. Yeah. Makes me feel bad. But that's an interesting point. I'm not, yeah, I think it may have something to do with it. Big weekend air. for you con alop for me you con Alabama Purdue and Houston in my actual bracket I still have

Purdue alive I'll go you con does it even though I thought they'd get out Houston gosh I don't even know on the other one yeah I'm going to say you con Alabama Purdue and Houston Shannon enjoy vacation next week it's going to be me and drew we will have Billy here with us a couple days and maybe even a couple guests, so we appreciate it. Have a great weekend. Come watch the games here at KS Bar and support our fine staff. And thank you all very much. This has been Kentucky Sports Radio. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

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