KSR - 2025-03-27- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 27, 2025

KSR is Live at KSBar & Grille talking UK vs. Tennessee in the Sweet 16 and taking your calls.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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor?

It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Comedy Up Broadway and Lexington welcomes Mike Armstrong, March 27 through the 29th. Then it's the Lexington debut of Lori Kilmartin, April 3rd through the 5th. And Catch Rising Comedy star Sam Talent, April 11th and 12th. Comedy Off Broadway opened in downtown Lexington in 1987, and they're still bringing the best and stand-up comedy to the area 38 years later. Later, call 859-271 joke or visit Comedyoff-Broadway.com. Comedy Off Broadway.

This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now, here's Matt Jones. Welcome, everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday, March the 27th, just, what, 29, 31 hours away from our pregame show, getting you ready for cats and balls in Indianapolis in a massive Sweet 16 matchup. We are here at the KS Bar and Grill. You can give a shout on the Clark's Pubbit Shop phone line.

It's 859-2-80-20-287. A-Visian Autoglass Text Machine, 772-7-7-4 in this edition, sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office, you call T.J. O'Mayompe. This is a hugely busy day. All right, it's the NCAA tournament starts the Sweet 16 round today. Duke plays, Arkansas plays, other team, Alabama. You got the Sweet 16 for high school. Right down the road, Davis County already has a ton of red in here.

Is that where you all are from? Calloway County. That's Calloway County who played last night, unfortunately, lost, but it gave a good effort. And then it's opening day for the Reds. I'm wearing Reds gear, my new Reds hoodie. What do you think of it? We thought you were L.A. D.L.C.C.R. Look just like him.

Look just like him. Have the same speed, bat power. And I'm leaving right after this game. To get up there and go. to Cincinnati for opening day. Sold my tickets. So I'm actually sitting, I'm sitting like out amongst them. Amongst them.

In the outfit. Would you like to know what I sold my tickets for? This is the thing. I'm not going to tell you what I spend for the year. It's too much, but I still do it. But I get a big chunk of it, or at least, you know, a nice chunk of it back. Guess what those seats? You've set in them.

Guess what I sold them for for opening. And I know how big opening day is up in Cincinnati, So I'm going to say you sold them for 900 apiece. What do you think? I already know the answer, unfortunately. Yeah, I sold it for $650 a piece. That's good. So that's $1,300 for one game.

It's got to put a big dent in your season total. It certainly helps. It certainly helps. And, you know, when the Yankees, you combine selling opening day with whenever the Red Sox and Yankees come. And then if at the end of the year, the Cubs or the Cardinals are in contention, you can get a nice little chunk of it. back and then I just go watch them play the Diamondbacks like 50 times and then I'm good.

Well, it should be an awesome day. The weather's supposed to be perfect for opening day up there. So I don't know it's a big deal. For people who haven't been, it's an absolute circus. If you've never been to open it, you should go. I mean, you don't even have to go the game. It's kind of like SEC tournament in Nashville. It's just, but it is a circus.

You have a parade through town and, I mean, they really do it up. It's hard to explain. Like, think about Nashville, but you have like a fourth of the space. You know, I mean, there's not even that much space, and it's just people everywhere. And they're just swips. I'm making it sound miserable. It is actually fun, and hopefully they'll win. I get to see Hunter Green pitch and Ellie and all the girls.

Who do they play today? The Giants, I think. I don't know who's on the Giants. Barry Bonds, Will Clark, I think. I don't know who all. I don't know who all. Yeah. I do like the optimism every year in the Reds.

That's part of the tradition. You don't have a losing record yet. You're in contentioned. Well, Summer Valley, right? We've got Matt McLean's back. Little Spencer Steer. You've got Christian and Carsey-owned Strand. They brought a couple new guys in, somebody named Lux, somebody named Singer.

So I think with that, how could you lose? We look forward to hear all your belly aching in the next month or so. I'll be done with them tonight. If they lose, I'm out. I have a memory of a story. Is it an opening day where you ran over an old lady? or an old lady ran over you walking? That's true.

Something happened there? Yeah. You had tripped up. Yeah, there was an old lady. She kind of ran over me, which I thought was very rude of her. Got her feet tangled. But it's okay. You know, I just have to, what I have to do on today is it's the most crowded day of the

year and there. I just have to accept this is not going to go the way I want it to. So I just have to, you know, there's, amongst them. There's people everywhere and you just go from there. Being a four o'clock game, you could stay to the end and still get home in plenty of time. Or will this be one? No, no, I'll stay at the end. Yeah, this is more of a social gather.

Okay. The hubby's coming. We'll be with Tall. Usually the turkey hunter goes. He's not there this year. But it's more of a social gathering than it is a baseball game. One year, remember that guy almost got a fight? The guy started screaming at me.

Remember? He started yelling. That's what happens when you get out of the outfield. People start screaming out amongst them. When you get out amongst them. Make sure Tall has a Snoopy shirt ready for tomorrow. His phone is ringing. One of you has your phone ring.

I think it's the restaurant phone. Oh, the restaurant phone. Okay. Well, you can come out to KS Bar. We're here. We had a great crowd here yesterday from Adair County. I can already tell Davis County is going to have a good showing. We got Moco in the house for the first time in what?

Since 2013? Since 2013. So it should be good. A lot of upset yesterday, Sweet 16. Preseason favorite after we stole their internet, Shannon. St. X gets knocked out. That's a huge. They hadn't lost all year in the state of Kentucky.

I think that really threw them off when we stole their internet cable. It just threw the whole team, radio crew off, the coaches off, the team off. But I only thought they would beat Jeffersontown. I thought they'd win like by 20. That was a huge upset. The old man line was nine and a half. Wow. And JTown wins.

So now, you know, great crossings probably the favorite. But if they were to lose, the thing might be like totally up for grabs. Yeah, we all pick Sanex. That was pretty shocking. But what's up? Jatown has a player that played for Huntington Prep this year and transferred heard a month ago. Can you switch teams mid-year in high school? We don't worry about it.

Okay. I do. I mean, it looks great. Good for them. It's unfortunate for the Sweet 16 that the two biggest fan base. I mean, you know, Adair County brought a million people lost. St. X had a ton of people lost. And, you know, you guys, I think Calaway County had a ton of people lost. So they've lost some of their big fan bases.

But no private schools. All the private schools are out. This is 14 or excuse me, 12 public schools remain. That's never happened. It has been like 25 years since they've gotten to the quarterfinals with no private schools. Yeah, Danville Christian also lost all the two private schools that made it. And those kids now can go play soccer.

They can go play soccer if they want to. But, you know, the public schools are making a resurgence. Last year we had Harlan County, Lion County in the finals. Now it's all public school tournament. And I think a lot of people that's still kind of a big deal to them. St. X was the big story from yesterday. But that first game that we got to see was awesome. Adair Bowling Green was over.

I watched all that Adair Bowling Green game. That was a really, really exciting game. Duce Bailey hit the ball dribbling it out with like 40 seconds, and they waited to call it time out with three left. I don't know what they were doing. I don't know what they were doing at the end of regulation. That coach, for people we didn't see, they got the ball, it was tied with 40 seconds left,

and he just held it, and then called time out with three seconds. It feels like you should have given themselves a little more time. They still had a good look and a good chance of the tip-in. Bowling Green ended up winning your boy, Deuce Bailey with the game winner. Deuce Bailey hit the game winner. Yeah. Best athlete in the state right now. Yeah, according to you.

All right, so Kentucky, excuse me, Kentucky and Tennessee, Sweet 16 starts tonight. We'll do some picks later on, and then Kentucky and Tennessee tomorrow night, 739 on TBS. I'm starting to think there's going to be an overwhelming amount of blue. I mean, I went ahead and got my parents their tickets last night. I just, you know, felt like it was time because the ticket prices are only going up. Are they? Yeah, I mean, sometimes they bounce back down before they, so far, no. They did release some more tickets.

So if you, I would actually say right now, if you're okay sitting in the rafters, if you go to the official Ticketmaster resale site, they released some more tickets yesterday. And so those tickets are like $150. Now, you're going to need a, like, a mountain climbing suit to get up there. But if you just want to go, those. Those tickets got released yesterday, and I looked this morning, they're still there. So there are some tickets up in the nosebleeds. Go right now and get them.

I bet they'll be gone soon. But the rest of it's going to be expensive, but I think, Drew, we're going to have a huge fan base. I think so, too. I think everyone I know is making the trip. And with the new tickets released, you might not have the best vantage point, but just being in the building will go away, a long way for a lot of people. I know people that are just going to drive up and not go to the game. So I think if you just want to get in the door, it's got into a place where you can afford a little

I mean, the energy, for people, again, you know, obviously we could lose. They're the favorites. But the energy for an NCAA tournament game, you know, even when I leave, there's something to be said, Brian, for that energy right before the game starts. Yep. You know, those 10 minutes before, like, it gets you, it gets you energized. And then when they win, it's just the best. I mean, when they win, you know, it's tough when you're the first game because then the second game comes on. and they make you get off the court,

and so you don't get to celebrate quite as much. They had to really, they had to kick Mark Pope off the court from the game in round two. But it is, there is something amazing about being in there, and then you throw in play in Tennessee. It's going to be awesome. That 10 minutes leading up to tip off is really some of the best times of the night.

Totally agree with you. Especially since Tennessee, they're going to have a ton of fans there also. There'll be a lot of booing. We'll boo them. They'll boo us. So it'll be pretty exciting, and I hope you can force yourself to stay.

there a little while to enjoy it. So how do you feel, I can't, I can go ahead and tell you that. How do you feel about the game? Like, are you feeling good vibes about winning? Unfortunately, I'm feeling very good, which kind of scares me in itself. I had more nerves about Illinois right now than I do about the time. All right, sir, you got to turn this way. I can't look at your, yeah, I can't look at your back the whole show, okay?

This is a, you see you got you. There you go. I can't look. I see your shirt, but I can't look at your back. That's okay, now go ahead. Yeah, I actually thought I'd be a little more nervous. You know, being Tennessee should be, even though I think Kentucky has just as good a chance

of Tennessee does to win this game, the thought of losing to them should scare me more than it is right now, but I'm oddly very confident. I know people get mad when I get too confident because that's been. You've been very confident since we want. The Rick Barnes' high-powered offense like a Bama or Kentucky just hadn't worked out well for them. Now, they shot terribly in their first two games this season

that Kentucky won. And they do that again. I think Kentucky really has a good chance. But just overall, they struggle to keep up with teams that can score a lot of points. I saw some dorky dude on TikTok, but a smart one. He was breaking down Kentucky's offense against Tennessee. And he basically broke down both games and said, both games, they got whatever shot they wanted.

And essentially argued we could have beaten them by more in the game in Lexington. We just missed a lot of open shots. But he showed possession after possession. And he's like, Kentucky gets whatever they want. Because the way Kentucky plays offense, Tennessee just cannot defend it. That high pick, they just cannot defend it. They're a step slow. Maybe they're not used to working on it.

And he said, unless something's changed, Kentucky's just going to do it again. They did it in Knoxville. Tennessee came to Lexington. They did it again and just got open shot after open shot after open shot. So I felt better after watching that. Yeah, especially that game down in Knoxville, Jackson Robinson and Kobe Bray were just getting shots all over the place and they hit them. But his point was against Lexington, we got the same shots. We just didn't make us.

So they got to hit the shots. I'm a little scared that Ziegler or Lanier. One of the two guys will get hot because they've been shot so poorly against us the first two games. One of those two guys, that's what scares me. But remember in Knoxville, yes, those two guys shot poorly, but Ganey played great. And then the Igor, or what, is that his name?

I always call you Igor. That Igor guys had two great games against this. I mean, so you got to think, if people want to say Lanier and Ziegler will play well, you got to think those guys maybe take a step back. They've played great against us. Well, Ziegler usually plays pretty poorly, but in Rupp Arena, he had 17 and went 17 of 10 from the field, and they still lost by 11. So even when he has a big game, Kentucky's just able to put up a lot more points.

They had like 64 that game, still getting a lot from Ziegler and militia. All right, let's talk about what happens if we win, okay? Because, you know, you like to dream. If we beat Tennessee in the Sweet 16, in Mark Pope's first year to go to the elite eight in Indianapolis. That has to rank as one of the great non-final four wins in UK history, don't you think? I think it does. And this guy and this team that came in just so underrated, undervalued,

and if they are able to get to the elite eight after you beat Tennessee for the third, a Tennessee team that was number we forget. They were number one in the country for a short time. That's amazing. I tend to think the 20, if you were to go in my lifetime, non-final four wins, You know, in 93, when we just blitzed those teams, Wake Forest and Florida State, then I think 2014, beating Louisville in 2014 might be number one for me. In Louisville, or excuse me, Indianapolis, beating Louisville.

I think this one will get up there if you were to beat Tennessee in a game like this. Oh, absolutely. It would be very high on my list. And the season as a whole will be one of my favorites because you're telling me, Mark Pop in his first year, beat Duke in the Champions Classic, something we haven't done in a long time. a very good Florida team and beat Tennessee three times, one of them in the Sweet 16. Be awesome.

That's up there with one of my favorite seasons ever if he's able to pull it off, and even if they don't make it to the Final Four. Totally agree with you. 859-28027. We are at the KS Bar and Grill. I got my guy to flip around so I didn't have to look at his back. He was hosting his own talk show at the bar. But we're going to take a break and we're going to be here.

Good Sweet 16 crowd ready to go. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. 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 SportsClice 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, 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 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 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 Hard Way.

Open your free, iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hard Way 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.

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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 feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecki. 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, like, 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 IHeart Women's Sports. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here at KSmar Grill on opening day. 859-2-80-22-87. Text machine 772-7-7-45-254. We will have all the Sweet 16 games here on the big screen today. We'll also have the Reds on. That game is at 4 o'clock. One person writes, Matt, I don't think you're a real Reds fan. It always annoys me when you talk about it because it's clear you're a casual and some of us have done it for life.

Well, that's fine. But I do give, I mean, I feel like I pay for a fourth of Ellie Dela Cruz's salary. But also, I don't claim to be an expert, but I can tell you their rotation. Hunter Green, Nick Lidolo, Nick Martinez, Brady Singer, and Carson Spears. Seems like a fan to me. You go to a lot of games. I bet I go to more games. And I watch, not all of them, but I watch a ton of them.

It's hard to watch them, by the way, now. They're on, you have to subscribe. Like, it's so complicated. Why the dude got to fan shame you. You're a fan. Speaking of fan shaming, Matt, are you going to leave the arena in Indianapolis with your parents in the building? Yes.

They can take care of themselves. They're grown adults. I mean, I'm going to get them to their seat. Yeah. And then I'll make sure that when it's over, I help them go away. Not going away, but like, like, leave the arena. But no, I mean, I, you know, I bought. them seats. I don't have a seat up there. I still have my media credentials.

Have you scouted out the local banks, picked a good spot to pop in and watch the game? Maybe a hotel lobby? Well, see, remember, I remember the workout room in the hotel where I watched the 2014 games. Okay. Yeah, that's right. I will go back there. Yes. That worked out well. Because in 2015, I tried to watch it in my hotel and we lost. I'm going to go back to the original workout room, although I worry now somebody's going to come looking and figure out which one it is. You got to get a hotel key to get in there. You're going to be staying there? That doesn't matter.

I'll figure it. I'll figure out. No, I want to be in there until it tips. I want to feel that energy. You've got to. That energy before the game. And I would say, you know, our pregame show will be at five. It's over at six.

If you're in Indianapolis, even if you don't go to the pregame show, get in there early. So you can, that energy leading up to the game is really, in my opinion, what it's kind of all about. And just soak it all up because this is pretty special. Like we said, you know, the Kentucky fans, we're more than, just kind of happy to be there. I think all the pressures on Tennessee. They're the higher seed. They're the team that's supposed to make

a big run this year and maybe Rick Barnes last season. I think you keep hearing the Rick Barnes thing. We'll figure out if that's if that's it later on. Let's quickly go through from Draft Kings. You could bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets if you're a new customer

at Draft Kings, promo code KSR. Let's look at the games tonight for a second. All right. You make your, they start tonight. First game, BYU, Alabama. This is in Newark. Alabama's a five and a half point favorite. Mormons versus Todd. What do you got?

I like the Mormons to at least cover the spread, and I don't know what the total is, but this game's going over. I think this is going to be a shootout. It's fun to watch. It's a big number. Maybe not. Okay. Regardless, I still like BYU to give them a good game, but Alabama squeaks it out in the end.

Yeah, this could be 100 to 105, but Alabama's going to win. Roll tide. I think they win. I think BYU's good, but this is a game. I feel like this game like I did Arkansas, St. John's. BYU ain't seen dudes as athletic as this. You're right. And this is a different level of athleticism.

And while they're good, I kind of think Alabama's going to do to BYU what they do to us when they play us. You know how they just kind of, we just can't keep up with them. But he's got better dudes. I just think they got better dudes. And so I'm going to take Alabama. Florida and Maryland, Derek Queen has become the sort of star of the tournament with his, how did you get the guts to make that shot? he said, I'm from Baltimore.

That was the end of, which is a great answer. Crabb 5 versus the Gators. Did you see what Queen said when they asked him why he likes playing for Willard? His direct answer is because he pays me. He said he pays me. That's why he liked playing for Willard. Willard put his hands in his, put his head in his hands, just looking down. He pays me.

I feel like Florida's got another gear that they still haven't hit yet, and I think maybe tonight's the night. This is not better than night. Florida runs them off the court. I agree. And Willard seems to have a foot out the door talking to other job. Six and a half. To me, this is the gimmee of the night.

Florida runs them off the court. Although I do like the nickname Crabb 5. It's a great name. Great name, but I'm picking Florida also. Arizona and Duke. Duke played earlier this year at Arizona, and it was a close game, but Duke won. Duke's a nine and a half point favorite. That's a lot.

That's a lot of points. I think Arizona covers, but Duke wins. What do you think? I agree with you. I think Duke's going to win it, but that nine, that's a lot of points for a team. They're kind of, Arizona's kind of hot right now. Yeah, I didn't even have Duke in the tournament. my bracket right here.

So I'll go Arizona. Caleb Love has played Duke approximately. Just covering the spread. Okay. That was a big number. Caleb Love's played Duke for 15 years when he was at North Carolina. I think he'll be ready and have a big game. Tyler Hansborough said if Caleb Love wins this game,

they should retire his jersey at Carolina because he will not Duke out of the tournament two different times, which would be pretty good. Then finally, Caliperi versus Texas Tech. Texas Tech's a five and a half point favorite. That's a lot. he's not going to win this one, is he? Because I kind of think he is. I think I'm picking in Arkansas.

I think they get the right matchup for him again. Although Texas Tech's got athletes now. So Arkansas is not going to be able to out-athlete them like they did St. John's. I'm definitely betting on Arkansas to cover. They've been an underdog in both games so far about five, seven points. It's been easy money. I think they can win it too, but I'm definitely on the five-and-a-half. Arkansas is like plus $1.95 to win.

I can just tell you, I'm emotionally hedging this bet because I'm like, this is a classic. I'm betting on Arkansas. So if they lose, I go, well, it's just money. And if they win, I go, thank you, Cal. At least I get money out of this. So that's why I'm betting Arkansas to win because of that. Part of me feels like these are the games where Calchokes. He wins the game.

He's not supposed to against St. John's in the very next game. Historically, you're right. Historically, you're right. So I'm going to Texas Tech. You are? Yep. Shannon, what about you? I'll take Texas Tech on that one as well.

How many, let me ask the people here, because we've got a good crowd here this morning. Let's be honest. How many of you root for Texas Tech? Raise your hand. How many of you are rooting for Arkansas? Not one person is rooting for Arkansas. Why would you? I mean, I'm just saying, like.

Conference pride. I mean, we don't care about that anymore. When they ask me on Field of 68, how do Kentucky fans feel about Cal? I said, I don't think we hate him. but we want him to lose. Do you think that's a good description? Yes. I think that's very fair.

Deep down there's no real hatred there, but we do not want him to succeed there. I think that's the explanation. I mean, even personally, for all the stuff that I had going back and forth with him, I don't hate him. I don't hate anybody, but I had too many good memories with him to even severely dislike him. But I do want him to lose. I mean, is that how you are? And it's not wrong to want him to lose because we are still in the middle of this breakup, and you want Kentucky to win.

And he says, I just moved headquarters. If it actually shows that it's working out, it kind of is a stain on Mark Pope, at least in going and recruiting. See, you got to stop saying. It's not a stain on Mark Pope. No, I'm saying when he goes into a house and recruiting, we need Mark Pope. We need to Kentucky to still be Kentucky. I think he's already made it that far. But if Cal keeps saying, me, me, me, and I was Kentucky, and then he goes to a final four, he has a little bit of...

I think it helps him, and I think it helps that argument. Yeah. But I don't think it has anything to do with Mark Pope. Mark Pope had three weeks to make a roster. He took most of his team with him. You know, he had a couple people, but he took all the recruits, and he took a lot, they weren't in the same situation. But going into a recruiting room and Cal says, Kentucky's just there, I left it, it's me,

me, me, and then he goes on and has a great year. That does give, I think Pope's already won the breakup, but that does give Cal a little bit that he can say to recruits. True. I mean, I think that's right. All right, we'll take your call. 859-2-8027 here at KSbar, Kentucky Sports Radio. I'm going to feed them hog.

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. I hope it's not Texas Tech that feeds them hogs. Because, I mean, he can't get out and roam around like his old hunting dogs. Hopefully tonight, Texas Tech makes sure that the hog feeding is over. I feel good that Florida will beat him in the next round.

But if Maryland were to somehow beat Florida and then Arkansas were to beat Texas, Tech. I can't even like, come on. That can't happen. Is it a do still out? He's not playing? They said UDoo may play eight to ten minutes tonight. So shout out to Mario over there with the old Apex UK jacket on. That's a cool old school the Wildcat scratch jacket, Drew. I didn't know. Where did he get that? Oh, Apex I think was even better than the Converse Denham. I think that was our best we've ever had. Mario wasn't born yet when they wore the Apex. So that's a good sign. I can't see the tongue on that, but it might even be the... Oh, does that have the tongue?

I'm trying to get a good look. Mario's a little too far away. Does it have the tongue? Go look. It's still can't. Oh, it's got the tongue. Oh, my. Man, that is a high piece of value.

Volunteers of America, mid-states, part of Volunteers of America, region's largest nonprofit provider of human services, including housing, veteran support, justice, shelter, and more. There's a new building in Louisville and downtown, the community care campus. I just drove by it the other day. They do great work, learn more at VOA mid.org, helping those that are less fortunate. It's VOA mid.org. 502-6-3-6-0771, VOA mid.org.

Before we go, the phone's a little bit of news that I think got lost in all this NCAA tournament news. The Players Festival has announced that starting not next season, but the year after that, they're going to do a 32 team tournament in November. Basically, it will be March Madness, but in November, they're going to try to get the 32 best teams going into the year and have them play each other in sort of a pre-season tournament. It would be pool play, so they would like take the 32 teams, put them in eight groups of four,

you'd play three games against your teams, and then the eight teams that win their brackets would go to Vegas and play each other in a tournament. I love the idea. First prize would be a huge NIL fund. If you look at the teams that have already signed up for it, it's basically every great team that's not a historic power. So Duke, Carolina, Kentucky, and Kansas haven't signed up for it.

But Alabama, Auburn, U.C., like, those teams are all in. So in my opinion, we've got to get in. I mean, if they're giving away that level of NIL money, if you win, it's a tournament where the winners get money, so you know they're into it. Now, they did that earlier this year. I think Houston was in it, maybe Alabama, but they're talking about doing a massive one.

So that's part one of the story. Part two, in order to be able to do it, the NCAA is now going to add starting next year instead of 31 games, we're going to get to play 32 games. So you're going to get one more game during the regular season, which I like. Mark Pope says he thinks we should play a 40-game regular season. I'm not sure if that'll ever happen.

But 32 is one more. I mean, just a few years ago, it was only 28. now it's up to 32. I like both those developments. If they have a tournament like that, Drew, I feel like Kentucky has to be in it. Do you agree? Dude, also, you know, when you're out trying to get players, you want to be a part of that saying, hey, you could win a lot of money early in the season before we can get focused on March

Madness. Just something else to add saying you're a part of that. And as a fan, more meaningful basketball that early in the year? Of course I'm up for that. I mean, who's not going to love? They're basically talking about during Thanksgiving, you would play, like, when the Maui invitational happens, you're playing in a basketball tournament, the finals of which are in Vegas, but some of them will be home and home. So say we got paired. I think their ideas, they take the

four major conferences, and we'd have one big 10 team, one big 12 team, one ACC team, and let's say us, and we get home and we get to play them in home arenas, right? Like we would play a game at Rupp, we'd go there. I mean, Ryan, that sounds awesome to me, don't you? Doesn't it you? I love everything about it to play an early season tournament like that will not only be huge for the fans but like Drew said huge for the players I mean this competitive edge you'd rather do something like that than play Pooh Tooth State or somebody that comes into Rupp Arena you love you know what's funny this is a true story folks I was sitting at the game yesterday when Adair County was playing bolling green and I was talking to one of my very good friends one of my lifelong friends and he

he literally said this yesterday Shannon he said to me do you think Ryan could go a week without saying the word poop and i said i think he could and he said i don't think he could and then we come in the next day and drew he has already said it hasn't been 24 hours like i hope you took the under on that on that i mean he's exactly right and you are 56 years old of 58 really i'll be 59 this summer pushing the big six oh yes we're another block party for 60 You better believe I will. Unbelievable. Anyway, I love the idea.

I do too. I will say, if they keep adding these power teams, though, Kentucky's got to get in. They have to. Like, they have to get in. I mean, no offense to the stupid tournaments we have here. We cannot allow these programs to have these big things in us not do it. And Duke and Carolina, Kansas, one of these teams is going to break the seal and play in it. And once they do, we have to.

It was nice winning the BBN invitational this year. The players and UK didn't even know that was going on when we were asking about it. So I think this tournament will be better. And for us personally, I'm going to get selfish a Vegas trip, maybe a KSR road trip. A Vegas trip during thanks. I mean, it would be great. Who's up first? Tio.

Tio. Go ahead, Tio. Matt, Joe. Good thing here, Brum, coming in hot today. Big Blue Nation has got to hear this. First things first, baby Crockett was half the man that Daniel Boone was. Couldn't have covered half the area that he did. If anybody said anything different about that? You're saying Daniel Boone is better than Davy Crockett,

so Kentucky's going to Tennessee. Absolutely. That's right. He crossed the Cumberland Gap. He left Tennessee to come to Kentucky, if you'll remember. Yeah, I'm pretty sure most of Davey Crockett's legends are all just stole from Boone anyway. That's kind of a Tennessee thing. Okay.

Anyways, boys, when I was seven years old, I stood in front of Jamel Martinez, and Jamal Mashburn and a stereo store in Fayette Mall. And I got an autograph on the back of a bank receipt. And I felt like the biggest superstar ever. And every Kentucky person that loves this team

and is blue-blooded has got the same experience. We all understood the assignment when we got it. Now, the evil war pigs of Tennessee are gathering at Black Delico Mountain. And our troops are going to have to mount up. We're going to have to send

everybody we got to this game going to have to own that arena. We're going to own the arena. We're going to own the arena. I think Purdue's going to have a lot of people, but I think, this is just my opinion, we'll find out if I'm right. I think we'll have more fans there, Ryan,

than both Purdue and certainly than Tennessee, but I think we'll have more than Purdue as well, even though it's only an hour down the road. And I think it's because, like you said, we did it at the SEC tournament, didn't do it much as Milwaukee because maybe a lot of people when they saw the brackets thought we'll just go to Indianapolis and they make the Indianapolis we'll go there

I think we'll see a huge turnout of UK fans Also being the first game the Purdue people They'll linger, they'll be out eating and drink And kind of waiting to their game starts so you won't have that All the other fans are early maybe for the end of the game But in the beginning they still won't be there yet Let's talk about sort of the vibe in Indianapolis So we won those games in 2014 there

But then we lost obviously in 2015 there and we lost to St. Peters. Now, somebody gave us some sage to burn on the pregame show tomorrow to try to get rid of the Indianapolis curse. I think we're going to do that just to be careful if Ryan doesn't drop it, Shannon, into the water like you did. Don't let Ryan be responsible for those. He screwed up already.

But do you feel like, you know, Indianapolis, we remember the bad, but 2014 was a heck of a run there. We won, I think, one year with Tubby. I think we won our first and second round games there. We played like Ui Pui and somebody else. Played EKU and... EKU, that's right. Do you think Indianapolis is a curse or a blessing?

Well, also, you know, the 97 Final Four, we got the championship game in Indian lost to Arizona. So there are some hiccups in Indianapolis, for sure. We've lost four straight games there if you throw in the Champions Classic. I don't love that. I'm staying in the same hotel as I was for St. Peter, so maybe we burn the sage in my room. Okay.

Maybe you can really get the reverse. the curse there. I mean, I still like us being there because I like the fact that our fans, I mean, if it was in Newark or San Francisco, we wouldn't have the same fan base. Now, they're also playing in Atlanta, which we could have, we would have probably packed too. But I mean, I think there's a lot of people, like my parents wouldn't have been able to go if it was in Newark or San Francisco. They're going because it's in Indy. I think there'll be a lot of people like that. I agree. I'm glad it's close. I'm kind of glad it's Indy. But if we were to lose, I think we just have to boycott that city forever.

That would be 2015 Wisconsin that I think broke it for everyone, St. Peters and losing the balls. Those would be three of the worst tournament losses ever all in the same city. I do agree with a decade. I do agree with the caller. We don't give enough credit to Daniel Boone. Like Davey Crockett gets all the songs. You know, Daniel Boone is the one that crossed the mountain, right?

Daniel Boone went through the Cumberland Gap. He doesn't get enough credit, and he intentionally left Tennessee to come to Kentucky. It's right. So that was a conscientious choice that I think is positive. I mean, we've got the Daniel Boone House here just south of Lexington, the Daniel Boone Park. I don't know if Davey Crockett has a house in Lexington. Boone County? Boone County.

You're right. What else is Boone here? Boone's butcher shop? I don't think that's a different boon. Maybe descendant. I don't know if Boone's butcher shop was... I think Davey Crockett just had better marketing. Boone, he was humble.

He was just out, you know, exploring. He didn't need to be talked about for years to come. He had a better PR firm. Davey's trying to sell hats, still selling hats of Galenburg. What did David Crockett do? I thought he did everything in Texas. Didn't he like fight in the Alamo or something? That sounds right.

We'll go with it. Stay with, stay on that track. I didn't pay attention those days. 859-280-2287. We're going to take a break and come back. Sweet 16. We'll do some more pre-again. Again, wide open now with St. X out.

Anybody can win him. We'll take a break. Bury back. KSR. Last night, a blown, 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,

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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 Hard Way with me,

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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 Ledecki. 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. I didn't expect Daniel Boone to be getting this much publicity today, but he is. Daniel, but we have Boones Burrell, is this lady right here from Moco just said to me. You got Daniel Boone's buried in Frankfurt, apparently. I didn't know that, yes.

Although there's somebody claims here that's not true, that it's actually in Missouri and it's a fake body in Frankfurt. Oh, controversy. That's a conspiracy. That's a conspiracy theory. Fake Daniel Boone body. I think he's a Kentucky guy He's probably buried here in Kentucky

You got the Daniel Boone Festival in Barberville Oh, I've been there You got the Daniel Boone Motel in Pikeville Not been there I've not been there I can't imagine that's extremely nice The Daniel Boone Motel Maybe it is but I just have a hard time believing it

I'll stay in it You will place that might be haunted Yeah Yeah about Daniel Boone I mean I've got Something I'm going to talk about in the second hour but I want to throw in here before I go back to phones. Did you see, you probably didn't see,

do you know who's going to be the graduation speaker at the University of Maryland this year? Don't say it. Okay, so give me an example. Like, let's say your University of Maryland and you're trying to figure out who do we get to be a graduation speaker, okay? A lot of different ways you could go.

I mean, they used to bring politicians. Now people are hesitant to do it because people get booed and all that. So you bring celebrities, maybe famous people. If you were at Maryland, who would you bring? Scott Van Pelt, maybe. That's the only Maryland grad I know. CEO of Under Armour?

Yes, CEO of Under Armour? Let me tell you what Maryland decided. Yeah. They went a little different direction. The graduation speaker for the graduates at the University of Maryland this year is Kermit the Frog. Oh, okay. I didn't see that coming. Kermit the Frog is going to be the graduation speaker.

They said Kermit the Frog brings a message of hope and happiness, which I think is probably true. But how does that work logistically, Shannon? Like, how do you get Kermit the Frog up there without having... Give them a stool. I know. But it's not a real frog. So, like, I mean, they're going to have to have somebody with a hand. Slat a hand, you know.

So Kermit the Frog. If you went to the University of Maryland, would you be happy that your graduation speaker was Kermit the Frog? No, nothing against Kermit. But if I'm graduating from college and I'm sitting there in the arena and my parents in the crowd, and I got to sit and listen to a puppet, it seems like. like we're not taking it very soon. We don't like Kermit. We want Miss Piggy.

But chances are it's going to be really short. It's true. Right. The chances are, I mean, Kermit doesn't have, he's not going to write the Gettysburg address. Like, he's probably going to be something pretty short, so that's good. I have no memory whatsoever of whoever spoke at my Kentucky Wesleyan graduation. But I tell you what, if it was Kermit the Frog, I would definitely remember.

Great point. It's a really good point. Yeah. I've told this story bunch, but my graduation speaker almost was the best one ever. William T. Young when he said that, you know, the number one thing, he said, he got up and he said, my graduation message to you is don't give up,

and then he sat down. I would stand up. Yes. And then the president was like, no, you got to give a speech, you got to give a speech. And he kept saying no, and then he finally went up, and he didn't have a written speech, because all he was going to say was don't give up, which led to, no offense to William T. Young, just rambling for 25 minutes because he didn't have a speech written.

They should have let him stop it, don't give up. I think Don't Give Up to be a great speech in an event that takes several hours. I'm a big fan of his library, too. Yes. And he funded my scholarship to Trancy. Oh, he did. Shout out to William T. Young. Who's up next?

Brock. He did Jeff Peanut Butter. Yes, he did. So, for those of Jeff Peanut Butter, that was created by Mr. Young. Okay, go ahead, Jeff. No, it's Brock. Okay, Brock. Jeff.

I said Jeff Peanut Butter, which made me think that the caller was named Jeff. Go ahead. I'm on the way up from Georgia meeting cousins from Florida and Alabama coming up too, so I agree. I think we're going to have a real good crowd there. I got two quick questions. First, oh, are y'all doing the morning show? Are y'all doing the morning show? Let me answer question one before we go to question two.

So the morning show tomorrow will be here at KS. Barr again. So if you are in Lexington and you want to come to KS Bar, restaurant opens at 11, but we let people in here. Got a lot of people here right now at 10 so they can do that. The pregame show, we're going to get in the car right after and drive up. We'll be at 5 p.m. at 10 roof in Indy. So if you are in Indy, they're going to cut the bands off and let us go at 5 p.m. in Indy. And I can't wait to bring Larry Blondell into a 10 roof at the age of 87 years old. That's going to be a site in and of itself, but we will be there at 5 o'clock tomorrow.

So what's your second question? All right. When KSR is over, I'll have about six, seven hours left on the drive. Do you have any podcast recommendations to take up some time for me? Yeah, I appreciate the call. I mean, there's a lot of podcasts I like. It's hard to, I don't know what you're into, so I can't really say. I mean, I will say that if you go back and listen to the part of my take where they

preview the NCAA tournament and give a fun fact about each school we listened to that on the way to Milwaukee and I thought it was great fantastic job that plays to their strengths and I would definitely recommend that one yeah so I would I would say that also want to note you know I leave I have I want Kentucky to win both games this weekend but I also am scheduled to fly to Amsterdam a week from yesterday and I have to tell you Drew the idea of making the final Final four and me not being able to go is really haunting my mind right now because I don't know. I mean, I'll be thrilled we make it, but having to miss it. And I can't get out of this trip.

I mean, it was scheduled a year and a half ago. And it was scheduled when Cow was here. And I was like, well, Cal's not making the Final Four. So that's fine. That will be tough. Yeah. And if they were to make the Final Four, not just any Final Four, Pope's first year with this group we like so much. They've just thrown together.

beating Tennessee to get there and all the fun we've had leading up to it. I know you're in this commitment. I might just have to say, sorry. I mean, I can't, though. This is like a fellowship. It's a three and a half year thing. I can't just say no. I've already told them, though, if we make the Final Four,

I'm going to miss one of the meetings to do the pre and post game show for the games. I'm not missing the pre and post game show for the Final Four. But if we were to make the national championship, I was realizing that post game show might start at like five. 5 a.m. And at the final four, it might start at like 3.30 a.m. for me. When's the last time you saw 5 a.m.? Wow. Intentionally?

Yeah, not just waking up in the middle of the night. And then in the middle of the morning. I turn down things. Anything I have to do that I have to get up before 6 a.m. I just say no. Anything. You're busy. Anything. You could tell me, Matt, I'll fly you to the Masters.

We're leaving at 5. I'm like, I'll watch it. Oh. That time of day is brutal. But what if we want a national championship? No, if we want a national championship, I'm going to get up and do it. What I wonder is if we made the Final Four is how do I even watch it? Do you think it's even on television there? You could probably find some UK fans nearby.

One of my good friends lives there. I'm going to go ahead and tell you, if you're in Amsterdam and we make the Final Four, whoever's there, if they're a Kentucky fan, we have to watch it together. somewhere. Two people I grew up with live there. One of them is Frank Ramsey's granddaughter. I'm sure they'll want to... Okay, Frank Ramsey's granddaughter. We're going to be friends if we make the Final Four because I can't watch it.

I bet you'd have a lot of UK fans show up. I mean, some might take a train from far away to go be a part of that. It would be fun, even though that game would be at like three. I mean, we've got a ways to go to get to that, but it's just something that's been on my mind. We're going to take a break and come back. Hour number two, we are here at the KS. Bar and Grill. It's Sweet

16 time. This is 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.

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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

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I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last?

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