KSR - 2024-06-05- KSR - Hour 2

Episode Date: June 5, 2024

Tom Hart talks with UK Baseball Coach Nick Mingione. Also the latest in UK sports news, and oddly-shaped shrubbery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories,

their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Looking for a mortgage bank to help you make your next major mortgage move,

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so we get ready to start hour number two um Ryan who cuts your hair I have the same lady who's cut my hair for like 25 years. Michelle Collins is my hairdresser here in Lexington. You should feel really lucky to have somebody who's done that for that long. Because you got such a great job? Well, she's consistent. Let's just say that. With you, she's consistent.

I lost the lady who cut my hair. I went to her for like nine years. And then she. Do we lose him? Well, we'll Drew and I'll pick it back up, and Shannon, you work your magic again with Tom. I mean, like, it's showing that he's on there. He's just on the phone. Now we're losing his connection through his phone. So this is not the on-sip app. No. This is the phone connection. Is this a best-of episode, you guys think? Maybe 4th of July.

Yeah, I think this is a perfect one to run. This is a show that makes me want to pull my hair out instead of worrying about a haircut. Well, we can chat a little bit while you get that. I'm looking at him. He's talking. Are we supposed to? supposed to be hearing that? Yeah, he's not on. I wonder if he thinks he's talking. He probably thinks that he's talking. He probably thinks that he's on and he's not because we can't hear him. Yeah.

We give him a thumbs down. I'll have to come back. All right. Well, Drew, you and I will, I want to, there's a story I do want to say because it's happening tonight. Okay. The high school state baseball tournament starts tomorrow. But there's a team coming in the night to KS Bar and Grill for a team meal. So we jump on board with these teams.

When you come to KS. Bar and Grill, we're on board. That you're our team. Oh, yeah. It's La Rue County. Oh, we do a little of Lerue County. We were just there in Leroux County to help their fundraising efforts to raise money for a new track and a new football stadium. Well, their baseball team, listen to this. Going into the tournament, from what I understand, lost 10 games in a row.

10 in a row going to the tournament, they're made up of nothing but first. Freshmen and sophomores, and they won the region tournament to go to the state baseball tournament. And apparently when the coach was talking to Monique, our manager here, setting up the team meal, they were both in tears. The coach was crying. Monique was crying. Everybody was crying. So, LaRue County, you know, Casey Clark? Yeah, we enjoyed our trip to LaRue right before the SEC tournament.

Did a little fundraiser at their football state. You know, they say you got to be hot going in the postseason. They were just resting. They're just resting up. They didn't need those 10 games. They were good. They were just waiting for it to matter. So, ladies gentlemen, without further ado,

we have reconnected with our good friend Thomas Hart in the ATL. Hello, Tom. It's not without further ado. There's plenty of do. In fact, double it up. There's been do-do. The technology has been straight do-do so far today. Okay, I gave you guys an assignment to jump on my Instagram story,

Tommy H-T-O-M-I-E-H-44, and scroll through. and see the picture, do you think they know? I'm on my walk last night, and obviously there are some shrubs that had been recently landscaped, and I don't quite know how to explain it on a radio show. Ryan, I'm going to put it

reluctantly, I'm going to give you the opportunity. What are you doing, Tom? This may be my first and last show by offering Ryan this responsibility. How would you describe the shape and how would you describe

the shape of the shrubs that were that were landscaped in a certain way there's only one way to describe it it is a guy's junk that's exactly what it looks like let's just say you know

back in the 90s Kentucky had a certain logo with a certain tongue that was shaped like a certain something yes the bushes are in the same shape as the Wildcat tongue they are no doubt

and whoever Valick. Fallick, there you go. They had to know what they were doing. That wasn't an accident. I think they had to know what they were doing. So if you've seen it, you know what we're talking about. Tommy H. 44 on Instagram, and you can scroll through and you'll see it.

Here's what happens. So if you're the homeowner and you walk out and you go, bro, what'd you do? Do you think the landscaper was mad at them and was like, this is the last time I'm working this house? They don't pay me well enough. I'm mad at this dude. They're going to have to live with it. Drew, in what scenario, assuming that the homeowner is a righteous family, and what that happened?

See, the moment I saw it, I see this as like a next level of vandalism. You can't live in this house and want that. I don't think there's a scenario where someone says, I want to look out my window and see that. I want people to drive by my house and associate that with me. So I see this as an attack by an angry neighbor. This looks like a wealthy form of vandalism. He's like, you know what, I'm going to pay a company to go shrub your bushes to look like what Ryan described.

So I see this as a form of attack within the neighborhood, not as someone requested this, because I just cannot think of a scenario where you would want your landscaping to look like that. If you, Shannon, if you pay somebody for a service and they do that, do you walk out, be like do you do you pay them i mean they mowed the lawn right they probably you know picked up all the leaves they did everything else i would assume properly what do you say to the guy when you walk out to hand him a check or to venmo i think i say you're fired i think this is one or two one of two scenarios happened here either the one you mentioned they're a disgruntled landscaper who was angry at the owner for whatever reason

or maybe b these people are like trying to put off some sort of symbolism maybe these are swingers or something that live there, you know, like a not so subtle sign to the neighbors like, hey, if you're down, if you know, you know, come on over type of thing, like the upside down pineapple. This is just their form of maybe advertising their lifestyle to everybody. So one of those two scenarios. It is not a pineapple and it's definitely not upside down. No. It's coming out of the ground. Will you keep us updated like at Christmas? Will there be lights? Will this get decorated? I want I want to know if it's seasonal, maybe some cobwebs. I think we all agree, though.

Somebody did it on purpose. I don't think that was an accident. Somebody purposely shaped him that way. You don't think that maybe they were going on the cheap and they hired somebody who didn't have a ton of experience and like, hey, can you trim the hollies out front, just trim them up on the side and make him look good. I'd like him to be uniform.

And the guy was like, I've never done this before. I usually just push the mower, but I guess I'll try. I mean, that's possible, right? That it's just somebody who didn't know what they were doing. What if it's like this situation? Because, like, you know, the higher up you go, it's longer. What if the person was just short and couldn't reach the top? So they trimmed from their height down, and it was a complete accident.

How tall are those shrubs? I was really nervous taking a picture as I walked by the house last night. Because they were home when I took the picture, and I didn't want them. I didn't want to come across any creepier than their shrubs are, but I really wanted to get the shot. But I would guess, yeah, they're, you know, taller than me by a couple feet. They're probably eight feet tall. Well, Shannon may have nailed it then.

That may have been as high as they could reach with their little pruners or trimmers. That's a really unfortunate mistake, if that's the case. Oh, no. I think by you taking the picture, they're waiting, looking out their window, hoping someone notices, and now you're all. on their radar and I'd be just watching my house. I'd be watching my walks. You might have new friends you didn't know you had before that walk.

You think it was a trap? You think they laid a trap? They were waiting for a walker to notice what they had done and this is their window. Hey, we saw you take a picture of those bushes. What you think of them? Do you let me, I tell you what, I walked a lot faster home once I got the picture. I was like, I've got to get out of this part of the neighborhood. So I can talk about it on radio.

I want to keep this low key. I want to make a whole bit about it. Yeah, I got to bring something that Ryan could relate to. Like when I walked, when I saw those, Ryan's name just popped in. This is what's going to happen. Do you have like a Facebook group you could ask about? Like what's the next door app? Is it one of those communities where you can just throw out there?

Hey, what's up with this? It's a fair question. I'm not on the next door app. This is, it was a very long walk. It's not actually my neighborhood. It's like the neighborhood adjacent. So I don't go down there that often. But I think maybe I should keep swinging by there and see if they make me.

Swinging. Yeah, you should keep swinging. I would, the second I saw that, I would be like, I would just lop them off or cut them down. Like, I'm sorry, it's got to go. Like, if you get a really bad haircut, like, sometimes, like, your kids try to cut their own hair, got to shave your head. Sorry, we've got to take it all off. I cannot have those in front of my house.

Tell the wife they got struck by lightning. They're going, dug them up the moment I saw that. Can't have that outside. Keep us updated throughout the summer for sure. Well, if you get a bad haircut, do you still tip? Do you still, you go back to that same person? You go to St. Brineswood's going to the same person forever. Shannon, how about you?

Like, if you get a bad haircut, you roll the dice again and go back and think, oh, okay, maybe they'll be better. It's funny to bring this up. It just got one a couple of weeks ago. that gave me what looked like the dumb and dumber haircut. But it wasn't my normal person, right? It was one of those situations to where I go into my normal person to get a haircut. And they go, oh, she's on vacation for two weeks.

And I go, I can't just go around looking like a, you know, like a bomb. So I got to go get a haircut. I go to one of these places where you can get a $10 haircut. And you get what you pay for, right? So, no, I'm not going back to that person. So you look like a shrub. You came out of there looking like a shrub. Yes, yeah, yeah.

He's been getting hit with a lot. lot of mean people on the internet when that picture went out. We're mad at what people were saying about Shannon's haircut. Yeah, bullies. It's okay. I can take it. I'm a big boy. That is not polite.

It's a gamble. It's a gamble anytime you go in there, right? You go into somebody you don't know. Did you hear about the pitcher for the Oakland A's? He was in AAA three years ago. Made $99 of bets on baseball. It costs them $850,000. Oh, my goodness.

Wow. 31-year-old pitcher was having. his best season. Actually, he suspended for a year and will forego most of his $740,000 salary. And all he won was $99 in the bets that he made. He made 10 bets on MLB games for a total of $99. Jared Diamond of Wall Street Journal wrote an article about it. There's been a couple guys that went down.

There was another minor leaguer who bet a ton and didn't win any games, but he was in the Pirates organization. and a bunch of parlias involving the pirates. He bet over $80,000, $87,000 on it. So he's been banned for life. There's a one, two, three, four guys have been suspended at least one year for betting. Chohay Okani was cleared. They hammered his interpreter, but this just happened, you know, yesterday or the day before.

Did you see the Duke picture yesterday? No. His last game, or I guess it was last weekend. moments after his last game, he tweeted goodbye college baseball, hello draft kings, like minutes after the game ended. So it was clear he was moving on from his college career into the gambling world. Well, we already had the gambling candle at Iowa, right? Yes, a total overrease.

But I'm just worried, man. Do you lose me again? Yeah, we did for a like, yeah, a couple of days. We got you, though. You got me? Technology is a gamble. This is a gamble. I just crapped out.

Again. I feel like we're like one new cycle away from some really bad stories involving college kids. The pro dude should know better. Like if you're playing baseball, it is explicitly stated every clubhouse you walk into, no matter what form, you cannot gamble on baseball. There's some leeway in gray areas and other sports, but you can't gamble on baseball. And it's even tighter for college athletes. And I just think with the proliferation of every.

that we deal with that you're going to have something big go down and you're going to lose big major players and lose their eligibility. Well, like you said, they know going in, man, you can't bet on your sport. They know that. So if they're going, if they're, like Matt always says, there can't be a punishment if you don't break a rule or you can't break a rule, there's got to be a punishment, something like that. The rule's not a rule without a punishment.

There it is. That's it. Can't break a rule. You can't have a punishment? Yeah, something like that. So this dude is breaking the rules, so he's got to have a punishment. I mean, I think he probably knew. You know, it's not like a secret.

Like they were going to surprise him. Oh, you can't ban on baseball. They knew that. Jonté Porter got banned from the NBA. That's Michael Porter's little brother. Right. And they just arrested his co-conspirator in Brooklyn. And now that guy's going to jail for taking the under on all the Jonté stuff

when he took himself out of the game. And that came about because Jonte Porter himself, according to the reports, was a gambler and owed a ton of money. And that's why they have the rule in place, right? That's where the original baseball rule came across is. If you owe somebody a ton of money because you're a bad gambler, then they're going to have your over-barrel, and they're going to try to find ways to use your information

or use your skill to then win that money back. Yep. And that's why it's banned. Everything's got to be on the up and up. I mean, Shannon, could you imagine a sport where the outcome was already decided or impacted by those, you know, those participants to say, I'm going to let you win. Like, I don't know, wrestling or something like that.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you talking about? You're not saying the four-letter F word, right? You're not saying fake. No, no, I never said fake. Okay, all right, you're saying predeterminate. Do you ever go against the script? You're like, you know what?

Forget this. I'm just going to, I'm just going to be shamed. That's what's called going into business, going into business for yourself. And yes, that does happen sometimes. Never happened to me, but it has happened to some other people. You get hit with a little stiff right hand. All of a sudden, you start throwing some live rounds. Yeah, that happens.

It gets a little two reals sometimes in there. And then you go out of business. Drew, do you have a library? Do you need to do at this point? Yes, and it is perfectly timed because I'm not playing baseball. I can gamble whenever I want. So can our listeners. and it's horse racing time.

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Download the DK. Horse app now. New customers get that 100% deposit bonus up to $250 when they opt in with code KSR Horse. Only on the DK Horse app. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler, 18 plus, 21 plus in certain states to open or access an account in a resident of a state where DK. Horses is available. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void were prohibited. One per new customer. Match calculated on first deposit up to a maximum of $250. Deposit, two-time play-through of settled wages within 168 hours. Bonus released in $25 increments. Deposit, eligibility restrictions apply. See terms of DKHorse.com. Yeah, I nailed.

Draft Kings. The crown is yours unless you're a pro baseball player. Don't dabble, but we like to dabble in it over here. That was a really good read. It was, he nailed it. We're going to come up with a big KSR parlay for the NBA championship series, right? We got Thursday. What is that? Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Yeah, finally some basketball. That was a long break. Yeah, long break for basketball. I was speaking of breaks. Let's take one. And then at the bottom of the hour, we'll have Nick Mingeona. We'll talk to a little Kentucky baseball, getting ready for the Super Regional. How about that?

We should do that, huh? Do it. All right. We'll be back in a moment. You're listening to KSR. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning. The internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host and your favorite therapist, Kier Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it.

And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth.

And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42.

Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back Kentucky Sports Radio. Tom Hart hosting in Atlanta, I guess every Wednesday throughout the course of this summer.

We've got Ryan and Drew in Lexington. Ryan, you got something to talk about? Yeah, you know, Tom, you know, to be competitive in college athletics, schools need a strong NIL initiative. You know what NIL is, right? I do. Name, image, and likeness. Did you think he's going to say no? We know, Tom, that helps the top athletes maximize the amount of money they can make.

Did you know that? I was aware. Okay, all right. Well, listen to this, Tom. You should write this down. Club Blue is an official partner of the University of Kentucky and is helping to make sure NIL at UK is among the best in the nation. And you too.

Hold on, Ryan. Can anybody be a part of Club Blue? Just anybody? I'm so glad you ask. Listen to this. You can join Club Blue now and learn about what they're doing in this space by visiting Club Blue NIL. club blue nil.com or visit them on social media at club blue nil.

Tom, you choose your sport and you support with club blue. There you go. That's really good. You guys have some treats over there or food? What are you got? Yeah. What is in that bag, Mario? He sent us a, oh, it's like fudge.

Oh, my goodness. Wow, like really good fudge from. All right, I'll let you guys stuff your face with fudge. We've got some collars on the line, Shannon? We do. Let's talk to Scott. What's up, Scott? Yes. I was on the comment on what y'all were doing. I'm Monday with Myron and talking about cheering or not for Callip Perry.

I don't think one thing was brought up and not that, you know, he didn't get compensated for it, but he actually saved the university of $43 million dollars, by leaving. And also, he did raise a whole

lot of money for people in this state. So, I would applaud for him. Scott, thanks for the call. I appreciate it. I got one more thing. I got one more thing.

I think I might be wrong, but I think Oregon State's former head basketball coach was Michelle Obama's brother. Craig Robinson. That's right. You know that Scott. Appreciate your history lesson. I think thanks for the call. I think Arkansas fans are already learning about John Calipari's human side in terms of using his platform to help.

They had some, was it two weeks ago? They had some tornadoes come through, and he already, you know, kind of got off on the right foot, just like he did with all the, every time he helped when there was a natural disaster in Kentucky. And I thought that was amazing. And we just lost them. Lost Tom? We lost Tom, too. Well, what's Tom saying, though, he's right. That's when Caliperi is absolutely at his best.

I mean, his very best when it comes through the philanthropy work that he's done here with tornadoes, floods. whatever it is he steps up and he did the same thing in Arkansas yeah no surprising that he did that there and even people that wanted Cal gone here I was one that thought it was time to go no one is saying he's a bad person no help the state I mean we're all very aware of what a good job and things he did from end to end in Kentucky Tom is doing something on the Zoom does that mean he's there he was dancing he was dancing but I don't know he can hear us no I don't think he still can hear us I'm back now there he goes

that was my i can't hear you dance i wanted to get your attention to understand that i'd been cut off and i i couldn't hear you uh how's the fudge did you dig into it and is it ever too early to try fudge mario kind of confiscated it he hasn't even not shared any of yet pronounced that name there ryan it's a it's a it's a shop downtown but i want to get his pronunciation that's dollhouse dollhouse dahl house dahl house fudge doll hoose doll hoose yeah doll whose fudge so you say whatever you want brought it in he's the one i mentioned he was serving Fudge and Joe was singing in his shop and he couldn't get it turned off. Yes.

So he made a note for Kentucky Joe on there. I'm not, I don't usually use the word fair or unfair, but in this case, I will. How is it fair that I'm doing the heavy lifting on this show and you guys are the ones gifted the sweets? Like, what's the deal with that? You know what I'm hearing, Drew? Weh. That's what I'm hearing.

We're Tom, we've been doing the heavy lifting on this show for years. So this is not just you. There is nothing more annoying than a grown man doing the crying sound. If I hear that again, you know who would never do that? Nick Mingeon, we're going to talk with the Kentucky baseball coach about the Super Regional. Coming up next, KSR continues after this. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations

with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't really really that we are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross,

because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts show,

I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42.

Hey, Rhett, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 to Kentucky Sports Radio. What a huge weekend on campus at Kentucky Proud Park. We're pleased to be joined by Kentucky baseball coach Nick Minge. Young. Coach, how are we feeling today? What's up? June baseball at Kentucky Proud Park.

Feeling good. Feeling good today. Well, you should feel good. If for no other reason, then I've been your bad luck charm. Because each of the two supers, the one in Louisville, and the one last year at LSU, and you guys didn't make it out. So now that I'm not going to be there,

I will not be present. So I'm out of the way for Kentucky to make its first trip to Omaha, and I will start our discussion today with the same question I asked you when we're in Louisville years ago and we were in Baton Rouge last year. If this team is able to pull this off

and get to Omaha for the first time, in the history of this program, who do you think would feel most, Outside of the current players and coaching staff, who in the history of the program would feel most rewarded by that? Start with our athletic director, Mitch Barnhart. I'll start with him, the guy that has continued to invest in our program. You know this, Tom, but we have a beautiful facility, and there's a guy that had a vision for this, put it in a whole new location, invested a lot of time, effort, energy resources,

to build something like Kentucky Proud Park for a moment like this. And then the next person I would go to is Keith Madison, who I just spent the morning with these lead and our coaching staff in a Bible study for eight straight years once a week. And it's a guy that has invested 25 years of his life into our baseball program.

So those are the first two people that come to my mind. I love it. Your team, the program as a whole, has such great positive energy. And I feel like that's a direct reflection of not just your coaching style, but your personality. But at some point, the players have to, that has to be authentic with them. They have to take that on themselves.

How did this team's personality grow over the last couple of years? I'm glad you said that because it's taken a couple of years. And, you know, back in 22, I just keep going back to that year how, you know, we lose our Friday and Saturday starters. And I often use the example of, you know, when you lose a Friday guy or a starter, it's much like driving down a road and you're having a flat tire. You're like, man, I don't, I hate this, but you got to pull over and you've got to change your tire, right? You know it's going to take you 20, 30, 40 minutes. Tom, a guy like yourself, I'm sure you could probably do it in like seven or eight, all right? But for me, it's going to take it.

It's going to take me 30 minutes, right? Whatever. Well, then we lost our Saturday starter. Well, now that's like having two flat tires at the same time. You're sitting there. And while you're sitting there, the rest of the league is just moving along and they're going down the highway. So that was a hard year. I thought that team, we had a regional caliber team.

Well, by the time we got the end of that year, you remember, we make it late run. We were the 12 seed in the SEC tournament. No 12 seed has ever won a game. We win. We make it to what? We were in the final four. And we were one win short with all of that that happened. So we had some guys in our current team now that have been through that.

And in 22, we just changed at the end of the year the way we were approaching our offense, the way we approached the game of baseball. We just started with attacking and being aggressive. on every level. And that's carried over to last year and then this year. So we have a core group of people that have been there and done that. And the players have taken it over themselves. And I just remember being at Southern Illinois last year and making Ryan Hakenau our dugout captain and turned the reins over to him. And he started running our dugout. And I never had to go to any individual player about anything. If there was something going on that we didn't like,

I would go straight to Ryan Hagan out and he would fix it. and he's done a great job and the players have bought in and the building block of our team, sure they have fun, Tom, but it does start with and I don't want people to lose this, how competitive they are. If they don't compete, we will hold them accountable and they compete at a high level, but then they also have fun while they do it.

But I'm not interested in having fun if we're not competing. That will not happen. So don't lose sight of, and I tell people all the time, how competitive they are. They're Uber competitive. Well, I think, first of all, having a player-led team is the most efficient way you can manage a team, right? Like you said, you just take that off of your plate and let the players lead themselves. But from a fun and loose standpoint, baseball season's a long season, man.

And so to avoid, you know, the stress of, okay, we're two wins from Omaha. I think that's incredibly important. Now, you get an opponent coming in here. from Oregon State that is a nationally ranked opponent. They had a good year in the PAC 12. They're used to having success in the postseason. We talked to West Clements in the first half of the show about some of their talent. Their number one guys got velocity, we'll hit 97.

You've seen that in the SEC. I feel like you've seen all of Oregon State's strengths in the teams you've already faced over the course of the season. Not saying you face them. Obviously, you haven't. But how does this league, which had a record 11 in the tournament, how does that help prepare you for the postseason? It absolutely has, and you're right, Tom. Now, obviously, they're a team that we haven't faced.

But when you go through an SEC weekend, you know this. It is an absolute dogfight. And it is an absolute emotional, mentally, physically. it is a full-on battle, a battle. And the goal coming out of every weekend is to win the series. That is the goal. So, man, that means, you know, for us this year, we've lost a Friday game. We've lost the first game of the series, and we've had to win the next two, and we've done that.

We've won the first game. Lost the second. You've got to win the third one. So having been in a league where you are required for 10 great week. to perform at the highest level. And the second you take your eyes, surprise, and the road and the thing, the next thing in front of you,

the second you try to sit there and you chill out and you try to catch a breath, you're getting passed by. And it happens quick. The margin of victory, and you know this, Tom, is so small. It's so small. And you come out of those weekends

and you go, hey, listen, if we didn't make this play right here, we would have lost that game, which means we would have lost the series. Hey, if we didn't get this hit right here, we would have lost that game, which means we would have got swept. Hey, if we would have done this play or we would have made this play, we would have swept or we got swept.

We are two plays away. Instead, we win the series, but we are two plays away from getting swept. That's how close and how small the margin victory is. And you know this, Don, super regionals is no different. But our league has put us in that position to where we hit for 10 straight weeks. Yeah, I was in Stillwater this weekend, and Florida knocked off Oklahoma State based on one catch in center field with the bases loaded. Florida made the play.

Oklahoma State didn't Florida plays on. I don't want to hijack the entire interview because I know Ryan and Drew are at KS. Barr right now, and Ryan is a huge baseball guy, so I want to get him involved too. Ron, you want to jump in with Coach McGill? Yeah, Coach, man, it's good to have you back on. We miss the motivation Mondays where be a fountain, not a drain, and the water softens the potato but hardens the egg. We miss those days, for sure.

Well, I've missed having you on. Thanks for having me on. Now, the fans this past weekend were insane, Coach. I mean, they set through the end of the game Saturday, set through the rain at the end of the game, and then they stood in line Sunday for like an hour and a half in the rain as they had to rain before it got started. That shows you, I think, how baseball crazy this town has become over your team. Yeah, and we're very appreciative and we're thankful, Ryan, because this has not been something that has just happened overnight.

It's been a lot of time, effort, energy on a lot of people. And I will say this about the Big Blue Nation. when they have a team, whether it's on the field, a court, it doesn't matter where. But when they have a team that genuinely loves each other and they want to compete and do everything they can to help Kentucky win, they appreciate that. And this fan base has realized that about our teams the last couple years. It's about, hey, listen, they love competing at the highest level. they want to win for Kentucky, and they're very unselfish. So that means if the third base is back, we're going to bun.

That means if we have to steal a base, we're going to do it. If it means we've got to hit a home run, we're going to do it. And if that means we've got to intentionally walk their best player to try to get somebody out, to let somebody else beat us, like, they're going to do it, and they're going to do everything they can to make the pitch. And this fan base has done that. And, you know, we have this thing in our program. You know, we've been hit by over 100 pitches.

right we say we don't move like we do not move in the batters box like that is like a mantra of ours like we don't move well you know who else hasn't moved is our fans they've sat there in the pouring rain they just let the water just pour down on them for an hour and a half the other day and they're not losing their seat no and we came out and competed really hard for them and gave them like much our players gave them an experience and that's what we're all about is giving our players and our fans an experience, they'll never forget. And we'll never forget them sitting there wearing it

and being the way they were for our guys. We're thankful. Hey, Nick, Drew here, I'm still drying off from the weekend. That was a lot of fun. But I noticed on Sunday night, you said this one feels different. I was ready for a dog pile. You didn't dog pile. You're coming back home next weekend instead of being on the move.

Now that it's, what, three days later, does it still feel a little different internally as you're heading to another show? out at the Supers? Yeah, it does because, you know, to Tom's point and he's been with us. And Tom, just thank you for not being there this weekend. Just, you know, this time, you know, in 17 and last year you're packing up, we're getting ready to load up.

We're, you know, trying to figure out our plans and when we're going to show up to each, you know, different venue. And now we're at home. And our guys are doing the early ones. work on the field and they're preparing and they're sleeping in their own beds. And, you know, so, yeah, it does feel different. And, you know, I've always said this. And you guys know this.

But it helps when you have a group of guys that have been there and done that. And we have enough guys off of last year's team that have been in this position. So for them, yeah, there was no dog pile. They knew what it felt like last year being in Baton Rouge and losing and not being able to make it. and being two wins from baseball's version of the Promise Land. And so they want something different and bigger, and they help make it feel that way.

Nick, I should know this, so I apologize. But you've been to Omaha as an assistant, correct? I have, yeah. In 13, we played in the national championship. We lost the UCLA in the finals. It's like, I've gotten to the spot time where it's like, I want all this for the guys. I went to the NAA World Series four different times.

I've been there. I've played for the national championship twice and lost. My wife, she's hardcore. She was like, in 13, when we lost, that was the second time I lost in the finals. The other time was when I was at Embry Rittle. And she looked at me and she's like, you ever going to win one? It's so hard. Are you kidding me?

She's like, you know you're over too? And I'm like, oh, always sweet hard. So, yeah, I've been there. And it's just in a spot now, Tom, where I want this for all the players and the staff and the Big Blue Nation because they've never been. They've never been. Well, I just, you know, as someone who worked that event for a few years, knowing what it is, I can't, I want it for the fans too, because I see Big Blue Nation absolutely taking over Omaha. We know how well they travel for everything. And I think it would be amazing. And we

could talk about it again next week when I'm back in this chair on Wednesday. Before we let you go, So the start times did not do you any favors. You don't have to say that, but I will, especially the late start on Sunday. But your crowd support has been so incredibly important to this team. How are ticket sales looking for this weekend? Are we still trying to push some on Sunday? I haven't heard. I haven't gotten the update.

I know we've had a ton. But I appreciate you bringing it up because this gives me an opportunity, Tom. And you're really good at this. You just threw me an alley-oop. and I'm just like going reverse dunk on you on this one, okay? So thank you. But I've been here for eight years. And I think people know this about me.

I love and support the other programs as much as my own, right? And they call us the Big Blue Nation. And my favorite hashtag is, we are UK. And anytime I tweet out anything or about any other sport or anything, I always put we are UK because we are the, University of Kentucky, and we are one. And I've been here for eight years, and I've sat in Rupp Arena. And Tom, you've been in there at 9 o'clock at night on a Tuesday.

And you look up, and there's 24,000 people there. 24. You've been there. You've been there. You've seen it. You've been in our football stadium. We've had over 50,000 people. So, look, a 9 o'clock start, I'm really not concerned one bit because I've seen what our fan base is

done. They've done it for basketball. Oh, and by the way, in 2017, we won our first ever regional championship. And that game did not finish until after 1 o'clock in the morning. The game did not start until after 9 o'clock, after a lightning storm on a Monday night, and the fans were there. So I actually am not concerned, and I know they'll come, because that's what they do. they support our programs and as well as anybody. I mean, and it doesn't matter if it's a midweek or a Sunday night. There's no school.

So I know the kids and where they're going to want to be. And this is what my message to the Big Blue Nation would be. They're like, hey, I know the kids got to go to bed. I got a nine-year-old. But we're interested in not giving Reeves our son things. We're more concerned about giving them experiences. And a kid at 11 or 12 o'clock at night, will remember that baseball game more than they would

staring at the back of their eyeballs in a bed on a random Sunday, June night. So Big Blue Nation, let's give our guys and our kids an experience that they will never forget, and they will not forget that. So I'm confident. The judges give you a 10 on the dunk, Nick.

Congratulations. That was, that was my best. Let's go. And here's the thing. And we'll let you go in just a moment. But here's the thing. And you talk about basketball on Tuesday night. This is the opportunity.

Imagine being at a basketball game at Rupp Arena and you win the game and you're going to the final four. Imagine being at Kroger Field and you win the game and you're going to the national championship. Like there is nothing bigger on the line than what would be on the line Sunday night and Saturday, too. So, hey, you know, I'm a huge fan. Congratulations on the regional win. Can't wait to see you guys perform this weekend and best of luck. Hey, Tom, I do want to give you some credit on something. I do.

I love the fans to hear this. All right. So we sat in Baton Rouge, and I don't know if you remember telling me this, but you love the SEC. You do an unbelievable job for this conference. And I know you know that, and all the fans know that. We know that. That's why you're hosting today. And I said, hey, Tom, I believe that feedback is the breakfast of champions.

There's my quote, Ryan Lemon. There it is. There's my motivation on Monday, guys. The breakfast of champions. Yes. All right. Real quick. Tom, I said, hey, tell me something I can do better.

You said, Nick, you're a little vague sometimes. Tell more stories about your players individually and talk about them and give people something to grab onto. So you know what I've done? I've tried to do that. Nice. So thank you for making me better. And I think it's helped and the fans are showing up.

So thank you, Tom. You made me better. Oh, you're the best. You're the best. Thank you. Congratulations. We go to break. Good luck this weekend.

We'll put a bow on this show and get ready for whatever's happening tomorrow right after this. You're listening to Kentucky Sports Radio. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo.

Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes,

hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio,

Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Kentucky Sports Radio wraps up our number two. Shannon, tell us about Shady Ray's. Yes, quickly, if you're tired of overpaying for sunglasses, you need to check out Shady Ray's. They are an independent American-owned company that started right here in Kentucky. They have premium polarized shades for every activity. And if you use the promo code KSR,

you're going to get 50% off two pair or more in store with their flagship location or online at ShadyRase.com. I got a lake trip coming up this summer. I need some shady rays. How awesome is Minjeon? I mean, that dude is great. Like this relentless positive energy. And we had that conversation in Baton Rouge.

And now he's selling his team. And other TV guys have told me they're like, oh yeah, we had a meeting with coach before our series. And he said, well, Tom told me I should be doing this. That's awesome. I know people are going to show up for that game, that entire series this weekend. That's going to be great.

Fellas, we should do it again next Wednesday, huh? True. Absolutely. And don't forget, for all your mortgage needs, go to Stockton Mortgage, Stockton.com, an NMLS8259, Equalsy Linder. Lovely. That was awesome.

Have a great Wednesday, everybody. Bye-bye. See you, Tom. Six and a half days or so. 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. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriters, Street or Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or

wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments. in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline.

And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, rep, my mom want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker.

Listen to the Cliverts show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.