KSR - 2025-01-02- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: January 2, 2025

First show of the new year, standing in line, home crowds, looking ahead to Kentucky-Florida, the New Orleans tragedy, UK football expectations next fall, and moreSee 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 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 Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This week on Crimless, Rory and I welcome a very special guest. When I did podcasts, I wear my sleep masks. I like what this is going. So if you guys will indulge me. That's right, the incredibly talented and hilarious Will Ferrell on an episode dedicated to crimes committed by people named Will Ferrell. You're good for 300 crimes? Yeah.

We've got two. I'm ready to go right up to present day. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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. Look. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Brett. My mama want you to weigh better. What? Where's she at?

Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me.

This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Comedy off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Derek Stroup, December 19th through the 21st, then catch Lexington Native Lee Kemble for two hilarious shows on New Year's Eve and don't miss Brian Bates, January 3rd and 4th. Comedy Off Broadway opened in downtown Lexington in 1987, and they're still bringing the best in stand-up comedy to the area 37 years later.

Call 859-271 joke or visit ComedyoffBroadway.com. Comedy Off Broadway! Welcome everyone in Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday, January the 2nd, the first show of 2025 on a beautiful day here in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the calm before the storm as snow is coming. Well, what? Sunday, Sunday night, Monday morning. I think within that winter storm rolls in. That's right.

You can give a shout on the Clark's Pubmit Shop phone line. 859-280-2287. This show is sponsored by the T.J. Smith's the call T.J. He'll make them pay. Here's what I need to say to people. First of all, the A-Vision Auto Glass text machine. This happens every year. This is no different.

Like, people kind of get out of the habit of calling and texting during the holiday. Now we're back, though. So I want the text machine, 772, 775254. Get back into it. Let me know what you're thinking. I'll read your text on the air. We got Ryan and Drew. Shannon is not here, and if you listen to the pre-show, that was a surprise to some people.

As Billy, if you missed the pre-show drama today, you should have. First of all, you probably heard a voice that you've never heard before. Gus. That's one of our bosses. He's been working here since before me. Gus had to jump in. because Billy claims he didn't know that Shannon was doing the show, not doing the show today.

And so they had to just bring someone in because Billy was like, I guess he didn't, he didn't want to talk about himself. He says Shannon didn't tell him he was off. And Ryan, that was quite a to do. I could, you know,

I don't always get to hear all the pre-show because, you know, I don't want to get in their business. But somebody sent a message on the text machine, said, turn it on. And Billy was just throwing passive-aggressive shots at Shannon the entire show. I'm not to go back and listen on podcasts. I heard it. I was listening this morning, and I don't want to get all involved in the mix here with him,

but I do. I knew Shannon was off today. I mean, he told us he wasn't going to be back until tomorrow. I feel like, Drew, he said it on the air. I could be wrong, but I know he said it private. It's okay. You all are shaking your head. I feel like I knew he was off through Friday.

So, you know, I don't like to get involved in the Billy Shannon-Mario-Rew love triangle that often happens because, you know, for people who don't know, Drew, I think you would agree. Shannon, you know, he sometimes, like, has a little out for Billy. And I think Billy sometimes has it a little out for Mario. They get a little spicy. It's more like big, like picking on the last dude or whatever. So I don't like to get involved except I love this, that the two co-hosts claim they don't even know when each other's on.

I'm exactly with you. I always listen to the pre-show. I was very surprised to hear Gus. We love Gus. Gus does everything at I heart. He does. He has to come out of an office and hop on air today to help. Billy and I I don't even think it's a debate Shannon said several times on this show the issue there

Billy is not on this show so I think they need to have better communication amongst themselves is it the case the listeners is the general manager not listening to the show that he general manages could that be it case solved that might be it that might be it so we're learning what their show prep is when Billy found out at 9 a.m. he wasn't there no no discussions so we're We're going to have to have a team meeting, maybe a team bonding session, trust falls, something to get those, to get them back on the same page. Maybe another road trip. Yeah.

Well, Billy never goes because he's here doing all the JMI stuff. I may be wrong about this, but I think nobody in the Louisville building thought Shannon was off because even Gus had to produce the show. Gus was not only co-host, he had to produce. So you're saying no one. So, you know, when they called John in for us, I don't know when John got the call. Yeah, I didn't know he was off either. Oh, so when did you get called to come do this show?

show today. Oh, wow. Now, this sounds like, yeah, this sounds like a bigger Shannon issue. You know, what do I always say? What makes the biggest deal? First impression, last impression. New year? Is this new irresponsible, Shannon?

He's just not being very consistent. I think I've passed the baton. That's you. He's irresponsible. You've got to tell your bosses if you're going to be off. So I think they're both at fault. I think Billy's at fault for not listening to this show because I knew he was off. I think Shannon's at fault because he clearly didn't tell his bosses he wasn't going.

So what a way to start for pre-show 2025. What a way to start with tension. You do need to go back and listen because it was definitely sassy Billy, the first part of the pre-show. He is. They're shaking their head. He was sassy. He was doing the, you know, I mean, there were snaps in a circle. And it was, he was very, very upset.

Then there was the drama of whether or not I would be on this show today. That's true. I wonder myself. You know, my contract expired. on my drive to Columbus to Columbus to see the hurricanes and the blue jackets and still is not done I agreed to sign basically a all right I'll stay on the air through next Monday so I still expect yeah so I mean I still expect so I've agreed to do the show today tomorrow I guess all the Saturday shows and then Monday

And then hopefully something at that point will take place. But, Ryan, there was a part of you that thought you might come in here today. I would have told you if I wasn't going to be here. Well, I was kind of winding down last night, and it crossed my mind like, hey, are we doing a show tomorrow or not? And I thought to myself, well, I haven't heard from Matt, so I guess that means we're on. That's the first question I asked you when you came in today. Are you good? I didn't know if you're going to be here or not.

Well, I mean, look, I think we'll probably get it worked at me. But, you know, and this is nothing again, this is good advice for everyone out there about everything. And I don't say this to be like, I like, I genuinely enjoy working for I heart. We have worked, I've worked for our heart in some form for nearly 15 years. It will be 15 years this September or this August. Yeah. And I enjoy it. But one of the things when you work for any company long enough,

enough, and you all know this. I don't know what you all do. Everybody's going to get fired one day, right? Like, they're either going to push you out the door and give you a watch. I don't even think they give you a watch anymore in places. He's shaking his head. Or, you know, they're going to get rid of everybody. So you do have to, like, protect yourself because the grim reaper comes for everybody.

There's not, except for Gus, who you were talking about. Yeah. There is not one person. working in that building that has ever managed me that has been here this whole time. Wow. Gus is the only one. Shannon might be the second longest employee. It's like Terry Miner's Gus, Venetti, Shannon.

Yeah, that's probably right. That's probably the group. So you do, so you can't, like, you have to protect yourself because one day it's coming for everybody. I mean, I'm not trying to be, but I don't care what you're, just listen to Uncle Matt. I don't care where you work. If you work for a corporation, like, they're going to get rid of you one day, or at least hope you leave. So you always have to protect yourself, true. Because, it's not like back in the day when you knew the boss and he lived down the street and he owned a company and you all went to church together.

Like, that doesn't happen anymore. This is very motivating for year 2025. That's just true. It's just true. I know what you're saying. I worked at WLEX. You know this. There's people that were at WLEX for 30 years.

And when it was time, what they say? Bye-bye. Get out. That's what they say. Like, that's what they do. You know, I'm not. Lee Cruz. Yeah.

One word, he said. He'd been on the air for 25 years. He made a big mistake, but he made a mistake. Go on. Out. Out. Like, that's what happens. Amy McGrass campaign manager calls and says, you know,

Amy's not happy about Matt Jones. Bam. Out. Bye-bye. Like, that's the way it goes, and you just have to know that. Well, I got to ask you as a guy that's Besides you every day here, are we going to have a show on Monday? Well, we'll have it on Monday.

Okay, we'll have the show on Monday. Now, Tuesday. Tuesday, okay. Tuesday, I guess we'll wait and see. But nevertheless, went to on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Eve, drove to Columbus, where everybody wants to spend their New Year's, Columbus, Ohio, watched the hurricanes and the blue jackets. The hurricanes is the second time I've been the last two years.

Both times have gone to overtime. Hockey overtime live, best thing in the world, Drew. They go three on three. They take two people off the ice. So it's just three on three. So it's very spread out and it's fast-paced and it's exciting. Then if that doesn't work, they have the little shootout where they go one-on-one. Yeah.

And we lost in the shoot-out. In the shoot-out. In the shoot-out. But it was a lot of fun. Shoot-outs can be the most fun. You had a scoreless three-on-three? I don't even know how it works. Scorless three-on-three-three.

Yeah, three-on-three is great because normally they score during that because it's so spread out and all that. But this time they didn't. And they went to the shoot-out. You know, but you already get in hockey, if you tie in regulation, you get a point. And then if you win, you get two. So it makes the overtime kind of fun. So how long do they play three on three? Five minutes.

Five minutes. But they get tired in that three on three. I mean, like, they're just going. And hockey is so much better in person. It's so much because you can follow the puck. Yeah. You know how on television it's hard to follow the puck? In hockey, you can follow it.

You can see the shots. You can see things developing. It's so much more fun. I've been to hockey one time, and it was awesome. I have a hard time watching it on TV for that. Yeah, it's so much better. Yeah. So much better.

And, you know, I had my Zvetsnikov jersey. Good for you. Well, the jersey. And people would just, you know, it's like when you're in a road environment, people just holler at you. Yeah. Do you holler back? I would holler back.

Go canes. You know, it was fun. Was it New Year's Eve themed? Did you have a little champagne? They said they were going to have indoor fireworks after the game. As you know, I hate fireworks. Then I certainly. I'm going to hate them indoors.

And after the game, you waiting for fireworks? Yeah, I'm not sticking around. I'm surprised you saw the shootout. I'm not. You're going to beat the traffic. That's true. I considered it. Second period's about to start.

Let's get out of here. Yeah. But I'm not. I hate fireworks, and I certainly hate fireworks, Ryan, indoors. Like, what's a point of end? Look at the little lights up there. Like, it's not, that's dumb. Well, did they time it where the game ended late close to midnight,

or were people going to wait around for an hour? No, they were just going to celebrate the new. year at 1115, like it was like it was the new year, which is also kind of lame. But it was kind of nice because you may remember, do you remember during the offseason, the two hockey brothers that died? You remember that? They were riding their bikes. They were at their sisters' wedding.

Oh, yeah, I do remember that. Yeah, and I guess one of the two played for Columbus. Okay. It was like one of their really good players. So they kind of, it looked like they were kind of doing something for him. I see. I missed it because the other thing I hate besides fireworks are lines. And I guess their Wi-Fi was down.

So you had to stand in like a 30-minute line to get in, which almost made me get in the car and drive back to Lexington. I mean, at 30-minute lines, Drew, there's nothing worse than that. But it shows you how dependent we are on technology, because they have these scanning tickets. And if your scanner's not working, yep. Everybody just looks at each other like, well, I guess we all go home.

What do we do? When I went to the UK football game at Texas, I had 10 tickets on my phone. I was scanning everybody in, and the guy's thing went working, and he looked so helpless. He was like, man, just go. I think they were all down. There was no backup plan whatsoever to get people in the building. Yeah, there is no, at least with tickets, it was like something in your hand. Yeah.

If technology just breaks, everybody just looks at each other like, I guess we all just explode. Like there's no backup plan at all. We had several people walking in. weren't even with us. The guy's like, whatever. My scanner doesn't work, so I guess anyone can come in now. Yeah. So that was unfortunate. I like that you saw a 30-minute line after driving four hours and thought, I guess I should just head on back another four hours. I nearly did. You know how I can't, there is nothing on this planet. I hate worse than a line. If I see a line to anything, I'm like, I'm out. I'm not standing in a line. Did you stick around staying Columbus to watch the

Ohio State game then the next afternoon? Well, it wasn't Pasadena. No, but you can watch on TV and sports bars there in Columbus. I went ahead and drove back. I didn't stay there. But yeah, Ohio State destroy Oregon. Kind of a little bit of a surprise. They just ran them off the field. I was heavy on Ohio State.

I figured, not to that extent. I knew Oregon State was going to suffer a loss eventually, but, you know, that wasn't even the main game. I'm sure we'll get to the other one soon. Yeah, well, we'll talk about what happened with the game that's now going to be today. And, of course, I haven't been on since Kentucky because we, I didn't do the post game show. Kentucky beats Brown on Tuesday.

We will talk about that and more from the weekend. 859-280-2287. Couple open lines. Let's get back to it, folks. Get back to our conversation. We'll be right back. We're here at KS. Barr's 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. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice 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 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, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness.

So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant, this went to a billion dollar fraud.

But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small.

The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions. To talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them. going from the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't

belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything.

I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. What are you playing here, John? What is this? This is weight in line by James Bay. A weight in line. Okay. like it. John tries to, you know, Rick never tries to stay with the topic. John sometimes tries to stay with the topic, and I like that. He's, he's got weighted line here, Drew. Rick's got a little period in music history. Yes. No, Rick has, Rick has 12 songs that are queued up, and he's like,

it's going to be one of these 12. And if I try to get him to vary, he gives, he, through the radio, he gives me a look of, uh, no, not happening. He's like, you're going to listen to this. You're going to listen to this and you're going to, you're going to like it. All right, let's talk about the, the game Thursday. I listened to it. So I had to hear it through the voice of Tom Leach and Jack Given. So I'm not going to be able to provide visual details. Seems like they did a lot of things right. Shot a little better. Defense, I think, was the big thing a lot better. Rebound Amari Williams played well. What were your thoughts drew on the game? I'm glad they turned it on late. The first seven to ten minutes, it's a little bit like goodness gracious. What is what the slow starts with

this team? Luckily in the first half, Andrew Carr was very. very aggressive. He had 14 points before halftime. Didn't really do much in the second half. That was enough to extend the lead at halftime the Kentucky pushed forward. But the slow start was a little rough at halftime. But they were still up. I mean, they were playing good enough de events. They were still up eight,

even early. Yeah, I mean, six minutes of the game, I think it was six to six. And then at half time, it was 2110 rebounding, and Amari Williams had zero rebounds. But to give them credit after halftime, they hit the gas, going to win by 30. Williams started rebounding. They rebounded better in the second half. But the slow start was a little frustrating. I don't know if

Rust with the long break or just another slow start on the resume? I'm going to be more positive than you. They won by 34 points, and there was never a moment they were down. And even when it was, you know, 6 to 6, they were up 17-9 very soon after that. This is a team that I think could be in the tournament, and you beat them by 34, and I don't know that the game was ever in question. Yeah, my two big takeaways you guys kind of already hit on. Andrew Carr, very aggressive offensively, finally took a couple threes, hit a three.

that's good to see him kind of maybe get that mindset going into conference play. And the other takeaway was the defense. I mean, they shut down Ivy League Iverson, kind of held him in check pretty much the whole game. And I thought the entire defensive effort was good. I like how you said Ivy League Iverson like that was just obviously his name. Like just they shut down Ivy League Iverson and that's just what they did. I kept waiting for him to like break out. But they did a real good job when it's kind of rotated Lamont and O way together on that guy.

Yeah, I mean they got pretty much everybody played pretty well, right? and then you got Trent Noah hit two three. Travis Perry hit a three. They made all of Kentucky happy that those guys got in. And they also, again, I'm talking about what I heard, but Givens was saying he thought those two looked more comfortable than they've looked at any time this year. Yeah, Perry shaved the mustache and hit a three right away. He said he accidentally shaved a mustache. How do you accidentally shave a mustache?

I've done that before, trying to trim the beard and like, the guard will slip and then you just take out a big chunk and it's like well I've now committed to I can't have half a mustache yeah so I assume that's what he did I think he should keep it off one for one now yeah and he makes him a little baby face but I think he should keep it off he played a season high 13 minutes he played pretty well I thought without the mustache and you're right that he's more comfortable but no it looks as comfortable as a senior these days he has no hesitation shooting three he even said afterwards if I need a three I just need to put trin no in because he'll Shoot it.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, I still think some of the other guys are sort of inflicted with the pump, pump, like, you know, fake. Even Braya turned down an open. Don't. Shoot. Yeah. Like, shoot.

But, but nevertheless, I thought it was a good win. You know, Mark Pope said after the game, only at Kentucky do you get a crowd like this? And that made my, I'll tell you when that was even more clear to me, didn't any of you watch the Louisville, North Carolina game last night? I mean, Louisville's playing at whole. I'm not trying to back. bag on Louisville. Okay, they had a great weekend. They won their bowl game, and then they got a commitment from a top 10 guy, maybe the best player that's committed to Louisville in years and years and years. So I'm not trying to bag on them. And they beat North Carolina, which is good for us, too.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. With that said, couldn't even come close to filling it. I mean, they're playing, you know, it was one thing when we were talking about their crowd for the non-conference games, but they're playing North Carolina at home on January 1st when everybody's off work at 6 o'clock, and there were 3 to 5,000 open seats at least? Like, isn't that crazy? That's a bad look. It really is. I mean, you should show me there showing your support for this new team and new coach

who actually have been played pretty well, you know, then the non-combers. And that's, if you look at their schedule, that's the best home game they have left all year. Is it really? Yeah, I mean, they don't have another. I mean, they've already played Duke. So, like, that's the best home game they have left all year, Drew, and it was not full. Just another example. They're permanently broken.

They really are. I mean, at least to what they used to be. If I'm Kelsey, I'm like, where in the hell is everyone? I don't get it. I really don't. I could not believe it. And that kid committed at the game. At the game.

I mean, you wouldn't have known that they didn't keep people at home. But that was a great one that you should have been at if you're a little fan. UNC. You had a recruit. as you said holiday you're off work how are they not filling that place there was a time that louisville got the third most people at games in college basketball it was Syracuse because their arena was so big Kentucky and then them and I am I continue to be amazed because their team is decent right like I mean they're not they're not bad but anyway back to our game Kentucky uh you know

overall I felt positive about it and now you get to Saturday with Florida, where 11 a.m. By the way, we're going to open it nine. So we'll serve breakfast and open at nine here for you guys pregame. So just keep that in mind if you want to come. I am nervous about Saturday. I think it is, you know, I hate when coaches everybody go, well, it's the most important game until the next one.

No. The most important game of the year was Louisville because it's our rival. It's at home. Then it was probably due because of everything. But this, in terms of the SEC, this is as important a game as we will play the rest of the year. Yeah, we've talked about it. You've got to hold serve at home where the SEC schedule is, and so you open up with a really good team, a team that we didn't talk much about going into the season, but has proven themselves, they're legit, man.

The Florida team is really good. Yeah, I'll admit, I'm worried. I'm not shy about that at all. Florida isn't just beating teams. They're winning by like 30. North Carolina came back against them and made it respectable, but they were up huge on them, too. The game they just played Stetson, somebody like that. I mean, a 40-point blowout against a lower opponent,

but they're not just winning these games. They're destroying teams. They're undefeated. I'm worried about it. You've got to think your next two games after that are at Georgia and at Mississippi State. You know, you'd love to win both those, but you've got to think there's a decent chance you drop one up. Just just the fact that you're on the road.

Then you're next to her at home, a really good A&M team, and then, oh, I don't know, Alabama at home. Then you go on the road the next week you're off. You go at Vandy, at Tennessee, then Arkansas here at Ruff. So, I mean, this is a heck of a start, and you really got to start it with this win Saturday. I mean, if you go 0-1 with your next two games on the road in conference, you know, that can get away from you, Drew, if you're not careful. I'm just thinking even first home game is Georgia.

No one's really been paying that much attention to Georgia. They have one loss. It's a top 10 loss to Marquette. They're beating everybody. I know Georgia's one. We kind of think of a freebie going to the SEC play, and that's your first road game, one that normally we just count as a win.

There's not going to be a given any night this season. There's not. So I, in 11 a.m., I still, so I guess we're playing at 11 a.m. Because after that are NFL games all day, and so I guess that's what it is. But I don't know, man. We can win.

We're going to be a favorite. it. What do you think the line's going to be? One. I mean, a lot of the analytics are pick in Florida. So you think the line might be Florida? No, I'm not saying. Before, I'm saying the spread will be like one, Kentucky, but like one or two. I think it'll be more like three or four.

But it's going to be close. Yeah. And will our crowd be ready to go? Like, are people going to, are you guys, everybody going to wake up? That's why I brought up the slow. I know it was Brown. We've started slow most games. We have.

Starting now, Brown's the last time you can do that. Starting now, these teams will make you pay if you start slow. That's true. We do have to start well. All right, we'll take your calls. 859-2-80-22-87. It's Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back, TuckySports Radio.

859-28027. We, by the way, obviously on this show and myself personally are prayers with everybody in New Orleans. Awful situation. Scary situation, too. I mean, 15 people killed on Bourbon Street. with the with the truck just a just a terrible terrible situation I mean I can you imagine we've but we've all been there on Bourbon Street I mean can you imagine I just it's just awful to think about you know you're starting to hear who

the victims are there's a couple of college students former college football player a mother like you just it just breaks your heart every single time it comes out and then you know it turns out the guy the story of the guys kind of crazy. Like he was in the military, he was an American military guy, and then he was like working as a real estate agent. And I saw a video of him introducing himself as a real estate agent. Seems like a normal guy, right?

Just seems like a normal dude. And then all of a sudden, they said a couple years ago, he started, like, changing. And then he was threatened his family, and he ended up joining ISIS. And it's just, you know, it's kind of be hard to comprehend, you know. It's extremely sad, yeah. And like you said, all the details are coming out. out about that guy. U.S. vet. You know, he served in the United States military.

Served in the military. Like, you just said, you go, oh, man. I mean, I think part of what scares people so much about stuff like this is the randomness, you know, like when someone kills someone and they know them, it's awful, but you think, well, who do I know? You know, that wouldn't happen to me, even though it could. But when it's random, just completely. random. That makes it to where you just go, whoa. Like, I just think that has a different effect on

people, Drew, when it's just random like that. Absolutely. I kept thinking throughout the day yesterday, just the innocence of these people standing on a sidewalk. A lot of them probably excited for a football game the next day. Otherwise, ringing in the new year, you're with your friends, doing whatever, got your back to the road. And then just, as you said, completely random, you're gone. I just, the innocence of just being there enjoying having a good time and celebrating the holiday. And then that happens. Yeah. And then, and then, And, you know, well, I hope they, I mean, I say I hope they, I've heard mixed things. Do they think he worked by himself or not?

I heard he didn't. Then I heard he did. And, like, has there been, it's so hard to follow these stories now because people just say stuff. Everybody wants to be first. Including now politicians just say stuff that isn't true about it. So I don't really know what, have they said yet definitively whether or not they think he worked alone? I know the FBI person in charge of the investigation down there. I heard them on the radio this morning in the news report.

What did they say? They're investigating that he did not act alone. Okay. That I guess is the one person I would listen to because a lot. So at least they're investigating that. Yeah. Well, it's sad situation. Prayers to everybody.

You think they did the right thing postponing the game to today? I think you had to. You had to. Especially, as Ryan said, if they're investigating other parts of this, you want to make sense. Now, let me ask you question. Would you go to the game today if you were there? Let's say you had made the trip down there. You stayed in your hotel yesterday.

Would you go to the game today if you were a Georgia or a Notre Dame fan? I probably would because my thought would be it's probably safer right now than it's ever been. They probably have swept that stadium two or three times. They'll have all kind of security all around the stadium. I would feel safe going to the game, actually. Not having lived it, I would say I would go, but I don't know what kind of mindset I would be in right now. If I were down there and had just been on Bourbon Street when one of the lucky ones. So I would go out of thinking that they're going to take care of the place and won't happen again,

but I might just not feel right and want to go home, you know, haven't been there through it. Yeah, I would go because I think it's very important in these situations that you sort of don't let, I mean, I know it sounds trite, but you don't let the terrorists win, meaning like you don't, we can't stop what we're doing because of this, because that's really the goal. I mean, the goal is to disrupt American life. I think you postpone it a day just for safety. Yeah.

Right? I think you do that. But then once the government or the FBI, once they feel like it's secure, and ultimately, this is part of what I was talking about a couple weeks ago. Ultimately, you almost have to trust them. What other choice do you have? I mean, like, we can't each go solve these crimes by ourselves. At some point, you almost have to trust them.

Once you get to that point, then I think you go. Because then I think you can't let these people who want to disrupt our way of life. You can't let them win. You just can't. Because if they do that, that's the whole goal. The whole goal is to make us scared of each other. The whole goal is to make us hate each other, and we can't let that happen. I agree.

If we show them that they're capable of single-handedly shutting down one of the best point of them is, then there's going to be repeated. Then there's incentive to do it again. So who's up first? Nathan. Nathan. Nathan, go ahead, Nathan. Hey, guys.

I was one to ask y'all, what next year for football, what would you consider a, a more, I guess, a successful season. Well, I consider, you know, kind of. That is going to be, this is the $64,000 question, and I appreciate you asking. I said online about Mark Stoops, like, he's got to get it done next year or, I mean, he's lost a lot of the fan base already.

But there's a lot that still are kind of hoping it will succeed. What does he have to do next year? What is the record you have to get to make fans go, okay, let's do it another year? Because I think this answer is going to vary wildly with people. Yeah. So what is it for you? For you personally? I want to see him at least go to a ball game.

I would be, I think, as a fan, if they go six and six with that schedule, understanding I know this schedule is like ridiculously hard. If they somehow go six and six go to a ball game, I think I would be happy. So, but do they have to go six and six? Yeah. What if they're better, but they're five and seven? That could be a good argument. I'm asking you, though.

I would say, yeah, five and seven, if, like, they lose by a point to Georgia again, or they hang in there with Texas, some of these better teams, they do show a lot of fight. I would be okay with five and seven, but I'm more leaning towards six and six. Yeah, five ain't going to cut it for me. You got to go back to a bowl. And, I mean, I know how hard it is, but we don't lower the bar because you've lowered the last couple years.

I mean, you went to eight straight bowl games. We like bowl games. There's an expectation. I think at a minimum you go to a bowl game, which I think is a very difficult task. Yeah. You have to take everything in context. So, like, I don't think with the schedule Kentucky has, I don't think every time they don't win six games, it's a bomb.

But this year was a bomb. This year was a disaster. This year was a complete and total failure. It's not just that they went four and eight. It's that outside of the Ole Miss and Georgia games, they basically looked unprepared most of the season. They were undisciplined most of the season. The games were not competitive.

You know, you lost the teams. You were not competitive with Louisville, right? Not competitive. You were not competitive with South Carolina. Vandy came and beat you at home. So because of that, to me next year, the, we lost one that could have gone here or there. They go out the window.

That's what you should have done this year, right? So to me, you've got to win six. If you don't win six, then I think we got to look at something else. And, you know, that's just how it is. Stoops will be in here one day. I don't know if I'll say it to his face, but if he asked me, I'll say it. Like, you got to win six. And for some fans, I think they want more than that.

You know, I don't know if that's going to happen. But I think you've got to get back to a bowl game. You've got to make people think that this is the program that it was, where guys are disciplined, where there's a positive culture. You got to get back to that. but then you also have to win. And, you know, they've had so much trouble winning SEC games at home. Those home games next year or maybe some of your toughest games of the season.

Well, you better win a couple of them. I don't know if they can. I'll be honest, I almost said seven instead of six, too. I think there's a lot of fans out there that would say seven or even eight. And I'm not there because I know how hard it's going to be. But if he wins five, I just don't think the fan base, they're not going to be there. Who's next? Mitch.

Mitch, go ahead, Mitch. All right, guys. I'm sorry, I got a little cold. But at first, I got my resolution for that last year. I finally watched wrestlers. Okay. I apologize for taking too long. Very good.

Although my wife said, Merge, a opinion of you changed from the beginning to the end. Well, I mean, Matt, it was a great show. If you, when that show came out, first couple days were rough on me on social media as the world watched the first couple episodes of wrestlers. But then people would get to, like, episode three, and then they go, oh, okay. Well, that's not as bad.

So your wife was like a lot of people. That was, I always tell people, don't quit before episode three. If you quit before episode three, it's tough on me. I think you said that. Please just get through three before you judge. Get through three because they kind of curve one and two not in the best way. But go ahead. All right.

So here's a question. I've got my resolution for next year. I want to be healthier. What are all your resolutions? And Matt, what is a resolution you would give to everybody on the show? Oh, that's great. Wow. Okay.

All right. So first, our personal New Year's resolution. For me, learn to cook. Okay. You're still beating that drum? I'm serious. I'm going to learn to cook. And this is something I've been much better at, but I want to continue to get better.

Try not to get as stressed out about things that ultimately are not a big deal. But really, cook is the big one. What about you? 2025 is going to be a big year in my family. I'm going to be an empty nester. My kid, my youngest kids going to college, so I'm looking to maybe have to, you know, sell my house, move into a new house, and downsize a little bit.

You know, I've got a lot coming on. The real estate market has been not so good, so I may be looking to get another career, start a part-time job. So 2025 is going to be a big year in my house. Maybe a part-time job. Yeah, I'm going to have to get something. I can't keep doing this. In addition to this job, have a job in the afternoon.

But I know what you do. You do pretty good with this job. Yeah, I got bills, big bills from things. All right. I mean, you see the closest man has on those don't buy themselves. Is that 46 solutions? Forty-six solutions, buddy? Somebody's got to pay for this fashion.

Yeah. Well, all right. That's the first time to heard of that, okay? I have two. One is kind of like the collar and most people. A little health. Going back to Seattle, I think I've gained 20 pounds since we left for Cincinnati. I've eaten burgers and pizza every meal.

That's our road trip. Got to get that in order. And really, I just got to find more places to wear my cowboy head. Since we've gotten back with it, I've realized not as many opportunities as I thought. Yeah. So I got to find, I got to find out where I can wear that. There was something I wanted to go to the other day and put the cowboy head on, and I just couldn't do it. It feels like when you go out, it feels like I'm wearing something that's like, hey, look at me.

And I'm not a, I'm not really a, hey, look at me guy when I go out in public. And so that's why I've got to figure out. You know, there's a guy that Jamie Roberts, who's his, excuse me, Dave Roberts, who is sick, and they're having a benefit for at Manchester Music Hall on the 17th, and there's going to be a lot of country music singers. Perfect. So I may wear it there. That's perfect. That will be probably the first time I get to wear.

As far as resolutions for you, I don't really have one for Drew or, you know, Ryan, the resolution would be like, just consistency. Just get more consistent. But, you know, maybe prepare a little bit more for shows. And then Shannon would be tell your bosses when you are going to take off. It seems like we're not the KSR show that needs to do the reflecting and building. They're going to have to go to a team camp or something at the pre-show. Hey, if you wouldn't buy tickets to a big game and then not go, so why would you not use court physical therapy? A lot of your insurance will pay for it.

The benefits are there. can make it to where you can, where you will not feel pain. Go to court physical therapy, get rid of your aches and pains right now after the holidays, experience the best in rehab with court. That's k-or-t.com. We're going to take a break and be right back here at KS-Bars, 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 athletes 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 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 rapidly. 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, 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, is we have real conversations about All healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets. meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met, Levin, this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history.

You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my. life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards,

If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecky. The ability to show a gold medal to someone

and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world, Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard.

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back, and here's Kentucky Sports Radio 859-2802287. I want to do a kind of pulse of the fan-based question, at least a pulse of the KSR Radio listener fan-based question. Text machine 772-744-5-254. Just text in. How many, what is the amount of wins you feel like Stoops has to get next year? Not the amount you want him to get, not the amount you think he's going to get, but for you to be like, I'm good going forward into another year, how many wins? I just want to get a little gauge. 772-774-5-254. One person writes,

Matt, you say six wins, that's settling for mediocrity. We have to stop doing that at Kentucky. Well, that's the great divide amongst the fan base, I think, which is mostly an age divide. But it is also just a divide in general, which is what do you expect? I mean, the people who sort of say to me, we've got to consistently win more than six or seven, I think, you know, I think you're asking to be disappointed. But there are people that believe that, and they can say, look, Indiana did it. And what I would say to you is, yeah, Indiana did it, but what about all the other teams?

And I bet Indiana doesn't do it next year, right? Like, I mean, I, you know, but I get it. But here's one of the things I've learned over the years after doing this. Regardless of what anyone thinks the standard should be, for the fans, the standard is what they say it is. right? If they say it is, it is. People all make their own standards. I'm interested to see, and that's why I asked, what is the average fan standard of what next year has to be?

Indiana did it kind of with a favorable schedule. And I think there may come a year where Kentucky gets a favorable schedule. Well, they can win nine or ten games. But next year is not that year. That schedule next year is brutal. But to make the other side, yes it is, but that's why you needed to be better. this year. And that's why that's why this year was such a screw-up. Yep. Yeah, this schedule is,

last year's schedule just flipped, and you had the easy year of it already and completely blew it. We're not just going to change our expectations because you didn't do well when it was more favorable. It's like if the NCAA tournament comes and you need to win one of two games and you play Vandy at home and then the next game is Auburn on the road. Well, your game to win is Vandy at home. But if you go and lose that, you can't think go, well, how do you expect me to be? beat Auburn at home. You had a chance to beat Van, you had a chance to be Vandy and you screwed it up. So it's not our fault that the one left is Auburn on the road. Right. Like that's kind of, you know, that's kind of how I feel this is right now. Who's up next? Chris. Chris, go ahead, Chris.

Hey, Matt, I just got a quick question. You said coming into the off season, there was no scenario where Kentucky would pay for the buyout. So what is the difference in the buyout next year? this year to where they would pay for it? It's a great question. I think so the buyout this year was around $42 million. For a variety of reasons after next year, it would go down to about 30, which is a little more less. It's a little less than what people think it is,

but it would end up being about 30, maybe just a little bit less. I think it's a combination of the mounts less. we will finally be getting the checks from the new SEC deal rather than just theoretically getting them, we'll be getting them. We'll be actually starting the payouts to the players, so we're going to know our budget, whereas right now it's still a theoretical budget.

And then I think the other thing is two years of losing in a row leads people to think a different way. We'll also see what the home crowds are like next year. So, I mean, there's a lot of stuff, I think that can change in that time. But it's a fair question. It still will be a significant amount of money. He dropped.

Yeah. So I will tell you this. And I will know more detail. We'll talk more about this probably next week. But Mitch Barnhart set down with probably the 40 biggest donors outside the top two or three donors, but probably the 40 biggest donors. Mitch Barnhart sat down with them a couple days ago. go and explain to them what the future is in terms of money, basically once the payments to players start.

And I was told people in the room were shocked at how much money UK is going to need. And, you know, Mitch Barnhart was saying apparently, this is what we need to be competitive. This is what we're going to go do. but I want you to understand what we have to go do and that there was a lot of people going, oh, I didn't realize that. So it was a, I don't want to say a come-to-Jesus moment, but there was an eye-opening for Kentucky's biggest donors like, oh, this is what's on the horizon over the next few years.

And I'd say those donors. And that happened, I think, right before the Brown game. Did you, am I right about that? Were there, Ryan? No, I wasn't there. How do you know? Like, same thing. I had some people around the time.

me that were there. It was right before the Brown game. They had had, I guess, Barnhart wanted, brought the biggest donors before the Brown game to have this meeting. And I guess they, you know, a lot of them on holidays, so they thought this was the time to do it. And they had that discussion. And so you think those donors have been donating to football, you bang out another four and eight season. They'll be a little reluctant maybe to donate some of that money. Yeah, I think that's right. I mean, you know, we're going to start.

The SEC money will come in May, the first new contract money. And it is a significant increase. but the outflow is about to significantly increase as well. You're going to see a story at some point about how our budget this year, we made like probably $20 million. But now remember, there's $22 million more going out starting next year. And that's why they have to figure out what they're going to do. 859-2-80-2287.

We're going to take a break. Come back. Hour number two here at KSbar. We're open. Come see us. 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.

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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed the 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 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the stuff. the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This week on Crimless, Rory and I welcome a very special guest.

When I did a podcast, I wear my sleep mask. I like what this is going. So if you guys will indulge me. That's right, the incredibly talented and hilarious Will Ferrell on an episode dedicated to crimes committed by people named Will Ferrell. You're good for 300 crimes? Yeah. We got two.

I'm ready to go right up to present day. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, 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. A rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.