KSR - 2025-12-17- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

Matt and Shannon talk Mitch Barnhart's interview with the Lexington Herald Leader and take 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. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifferts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam?

It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hiring. You just understood. That's how personal it got.

Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming until he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. From hit podcasts to late night TV, comedy of Broadway and Lexington, welcomes Joe List, December 4th through the 6th. Then from her podcast, Disgraceful, catch Grace O'Malley December 11th through the 13th and December 18th through the 20th from the FX comedy series.

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I am Matt Jones here in the studio in Lexington, Kentucky. You can give a shout on the Clark's Puppet Shop, Full Line 859. 280 2287. A Vision auto glass text machine is 772-745-254 in the edition is sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office. We call T.J. He'll make them pay. It has been a disaster for the workforce of Kentucky Sports Radio. They're just falling like flies in the last few days. What's going on? Well, you know, Ryan, he had a wreck. So he's okay. But he's out. Drew can't move because of his back. The back per capita injuries for this show with me and him both.

So he's out. We were going to have a guest, but he got pulled today for reasons I can't even go into. It's crazy. Like they drop like flies when it's Annabelle, I guess. Yeah. So it's me and you. Old school. This is the way it was.

in what year did you start with KSR, Shannon? 2011. March of 2011, yeah. So year one was me and Zach, and then Shannon came on in 2011. We've talked a lot about the historic first day where both of us at the end demanded to not work with the other one. Right.

And, but we did a period of time where it was just me and you. It was. Right? Just me and you sitting here and we tried people out. Do you remember who all we tried out back then? Not tried out. Tried out's not fair. It was just kind of see what the vibe was like.

Who were some people back here? Mark Krebs. Mark Krebs was one we used a lot. Perrin Johnson. Perrin we used a lot. Who's now a salesperson for I heart. Did you know that? Yeah, he's right around the corner here.

Mike Pratt used to come in. Mike Pratt would come in quite a bit. Those were probably the three major ones. But we had a lot more come in. Wukosh, Orb Zoot. That's right. Yeah. My friend Jadi Bruce came in a couple days.

Yeah. We had a lot of random people. Romines. Romines. That's right. And then one day Ryan came in and, you know, you see that intellect. You can't let it go. Russ was history after Ryan came in.

You can't let it go. When you have that intellect, Shannon, you can't let that go. That's right. That's true talent right there. That's true talent. You can't say. So then we were like, okay, that's it. But there was a lot of period that was me and you.

And so today is almost an old school Matt and Shannon day. Kind of like back then, I used to be able to look through a window and see you. Yeah. Now I can't do that anymore, but I'm looking through this camera screen and seeing you. Mario's roaming around behind. We didn't have a Mario back then. We did have Maria answering the phone. My Maria, who now is one of the executives at On Three Sports.

That's right. Which is really an amazing thing for people. She came up to me in an Alabama Vanderbilt game, basketball. She was a former UK student working in the media department at Vandy. And she said, I'm going to be moving back to Louisville. if there's anything I can do, let me. And it was the perfect timing because I was like, well, we need somebody to answer the phones. You want to come answer the phones?

And now she is like one of the higher-ups at On Three Sports. Isn't that crazy? It's a great story. Yeah, it is. I would love to have somebody in her answering the phones for me right now because I have to do it all by myself. But yeah, that is a great story that, you know, just from a conversation comes into KSR. She literally came up to me. She seemed very nice.

She was helping me. I was working for CBS Sports and I was doing the Alabama. a Vandy basketball game, and she worked in the Vandy Sports Relations Department, start, and now many years later. So, I mean, it's a very cool, you never know what's going to happen, Shannon the dude. That's right. And I think just for old times' sake, that you should pull up your Facebook and give some shout-outs for birthdays, because we used to do this.

That was the worst gimmick in radio history. And for some reason, we thought that was so good. Why was it the worst gimmick? I would every day. Because nobody knew who you were talking about except for the person. And they probably weren't even listening to the show to begin with. It was just a random person. Sure. But I would just go through my Facebook and if it was somebody's birthday, I would say this is somebody's birthday, right? Yeah. But nobody cared.

I understand. Well, let me see whose birthday it is today. All right, never mind. Five. You've already ruined the gimmick. Can you even still do that on Facebook? I don't know if you can. 859-280-22. So we're going to make this and ask anything Wednesday because it's just the two of us. If you have a question for me or Shannon about any topic, I'm without Drew and Ryan here to hold me down. I will answer. 859-280-2287. Ask anything Wednesday. We'll go through the day.

There are things to get to, but it's kind of a slow day. So I'd love this is a perfect time to get in. Trivia is tonight. Yesterday I went for a walk. I walked by Bear and the butcher. In Lexington. Have you ever been to that bar down off Euclin? No, I don't think of us. I walked there. I walked in and they were having trivia.

And so I got to listen to another person's trivia. It was fine. But like, you weren't stealing their questions? No, I mean, because they ask one question, take five minutes. One question, take five minutes. It's a much harder process at the Matt Jones trivia. But we are doing it tonight. So come on out.

It'll be the last one of the year and you can qualify for the finals. But 859-280-2287, I'm finishing the questions today. If we're going to start with a UK sports thing, I think we have to start with the article today in the Herald Leader about Mitch Barnhart. He did an interview with the Harold Leader. It's a long one. And I don't know if it's behind the paywall or not. I'm not sure, Shannon.

I have the paywall. Can I read you real quick the top stories on the Herald Leader? Let's hear it because I don't have a subscription. Here are the top stories. I'm looking at the top four stories on the Herald Leader besides the Mitch Barnhart interview. Okay.

Story one, it's here we designed our new app. That's the top story. Yeah. See it. Story 2. The reason a public store brand dessert got recalled in Florida. That's the number two story on the Herald Leader. I thought we were supposed to be doing local topics. We're talking about Florida.

What is Trevor Lawrence's net worth as the Jaguars quarterback? And why do I care? Great question. And then number four, Kentucky's rally and Nebraska's breakthrough national college hoops takeaways. I'd love to hear their takeaways.

There we go. That's what I'm missing by not subscribing. And then the next one is father charged with murder at Kentucky State. Well, that's local and serious. But then there's Mitch Barnhart's interview. So it's a lot of words. Mitch, brevity is not one of his strong parts, I think we could say, Shannon. He likes to say a lot of words.

Here, I read it all. I would suggest, like, first of all, he did their interview with Harold. I have asked him to come on this show that we have gotten no answer. We haven't gotten declined, but we haven't gotten approved. I also have asked him to even talk potentially off the record, haven't heard anything. So I've done all that I can, haven't heard anything. He decides to do it with the Herald Leader. Just as a PR strategy, Shannon, just simply a PR strategy.

To me, this is an example of how behind they are. I don't say this to be rude, but I know how many subscribers the Herald Leader has now. I think it's sad that they don't have as many subscribers as they should because we need in Kentucky a newspaper. Forget about sports, just for news. You need somebody, Shannon. covering the news of the state. And the Herald leader in the Courier Journal did that for a century. And the newspaper business, it's tough. So I subscribe. I'll subscribe till they close the doors.

With that said, if you're trying to get your message out, Shannon, wouldn't it make sense to go to the people that have the loudest microphone? Absolutely. And definitely not hide behind a paywall. Yes. I mean, the Herald leader is just by its very nature going to be the place that gets significantly fewer views. With that said, that's who he talked to. I read all the years. interview. Mitch's does not speak directly. It is lots of words, often very little meaning. For me, there were two main questions I wanted to read out of that interview, and I didn't really get the answer to either one. Question one was basically in the most important, does the deal with JMI make it to where we can still get basketball recruits? Right?

yesterday, and this timing is probably unfortunate. Christian Collins. So Kentucky, if you're not following basketball recruiting, Kentucky has two guys that are amongst the best players in the country that it has been assumed for months we were going to get. Two top 10 players that at various points people have just assumed we're going to Kentucky. Tyron, Stokes, and Christian Collins. Again, if you haven't followed it, Duke has their guys, they've all signed.

Carolina has their guys, they've signed. Kansas has their guys. They've signed. Everyone has signed except our guys. But the assumption has been we were going to get these two dudes. Christian Collins was the one that was seen to be a lock. Like done deal. People had already put out the gifts saying he's a cat. Yesterday, the recruiting insiders all pulled their gifts from Christian Collins

and basically said, it's back open. Not good, right? Right. Yeah. It makes you wonder what was done. Some of the recruiting insiders have basically said he can't get a deal done with Kentucky. Now, I don't know because I'm not part of that process, but the recruiting people who that's what they do, they say. So to me, that interview becomes even more important.

I still will admit to you. I don't totally understand UK's deal with JMI. I mean, I understand their deal. I don't understand how it pertains to the NILPs. they've done away with the private collectives at UK. Most schools still have one. We do not. We've done away with it.

It's all in-house. And J.MI has this deal. And Mitch tries to explain it in the article. I think, Shannon, he uses so many words that I don't know what they mean. You know what I mean? When you just keep talking and so you don't understand. Yep. That's kind of how I am on.

Sometimes you just needed to be explained to you as if you were a fifth grader. Exactly. I think you're right. And I could explain about 60% of the deal to everyone as a fifth grader, but I think it would be kind of boring. Maybe we'll do a podcast on it one time. Here is the question that matters the most. This is what matters the most. As you're following this, there is one question that matters.

In the article on Kentucky Sports Radio.com, agents are quoted as saying, JMI is asking us to sign papers. that these other schools are not restricting our ability to sign in IL deals with non-UK-affiliated partners and basically we're not doing that. Now that's the agent side, Shannon. That's not UK side.

Right. So the next question is, okay, UK, is that true? Yes or no? And he doesn't answer. So that wasn't even asked? Nobody's asking that question. It's asked, but he doesn't ask it directly.

He says, are players prevented from signing with other non-affiliated businesses? And Mitch says, no, that's not true. But that's not the question. That is obvious. The question is, when we recruit a player and we say, you will get this much money at UK. Because every school's doing that, Shannon, right? They're going, you'll get $2 million, you'll get $2.5. you'll get one, whatever.

When we have that conversation, are we forcing them to sign a document to get that money that no one else is? The question is not once you're here, can you go get other stuff? I think everybody agrees the answer to that is yes. The question is when we are guaranteeing you the money to play here, and let's all be honest, that is what's happening. Are you free when you take that money? to also go to do other things.

UK will take a kid and let them do whatever they want. But the question is, with the guaranteed money, are you free to do what you want? Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah. And that question is not answered in that article. And it's not asked directly. It's asked whether or not they can do other things. But it's not asked, can they do other things after they've taken your money?

Clearly there has got to be something in there because other schools, these other Blue Bloods already have players signed for next year and we're the only one that still has nobody. And we don't. And I don't know the answer to that question. And they've not answered it. And then the second question that's not answered is, are you coming back? Are you resigning? And I'm going to read you after the break his answer on that one. That feels like a yes or no. That's an amazing. That's a yes or no. Are you going to be the AD next year? What would you say? Yes. Yes or no. Wait till I read you his answer. and tell me when it's over if you decipher a yes or a no.

Okay. All right. All right. Yeah. So all I can say is I've told you what I know about it. I've parsed that article as best as I could this morning. I couldn't really get an answer to either of those questions. I've asked him to come on here.

They have not responded. I have to assume that means they're not going to at least now, but we've tried. And it is what it is. 859-2-80-2287. It's an Ask Anything Wednesday. We will take your questions. We will give you the answers. At least the best we know them next here on KSA.

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 Slic 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.

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on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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 walks up to me, he goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office, Blue, 42. A rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What?

Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip. I'm Tad Ramos.

I'm Tom Bo. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Polisic. I'm not worried about balligan. I'm not worried. about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions.

If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever. you get your podcast. Yeah, I can't find the birthdays anymore. They stopped doing that?

I guess. That was the only way I knew when people had birth. No, wait, sorry, found them. All right. Pick a number one through eight. Seven. Seven. Happy birthday.

Tom Vernisi. Do you even know who that is? Tom Vernizzi went to Atherton High School. He was born in 1970. and he is my friend on Facebook. I do not know him, but there's a picture of him today working on his car. Happy birthday, Tom Ferenizi. Hope your car starts.

See, I don't know why you thought that was a bad segment. That's a really good segment. Do you accept people you don't know on Facebook as friends? I used to accept a lot of people. I don't know. So I would say most of my friends on Facebook are people I accepted over a decade ago. But then they have a rule you can't have more than 5,000. Right.

So now, if I. I accept you, I either know you or there's something about your profile where I'm like, got to have this person. And I delete people sometimes. Right. Sometimes I say you or you're, I don't know you. We're going to have. And if you write me one mean thing, you're out.

Yeah. I have a no tolerance policy on the friends because you only get 5,000 of them. Right. I feel like on Facebook is probably where I know the most people personally and actually know them. Yeah. More so than Twitter or anything else. 859-28027.

One person says, I'll tell you one person who's birthday. day it is. It's my wife's grandmother, Myrtle, Kimmel. She turns 92. They don't name kids Myrtle anymore. No, Myrtle. They don't. I don't know when Myrtle went around. I had a great aunt. I had a great aunt named Myrtle. I think there used to be a time there were a lot of Myrtle. Gertrude. Gertrude's another one. Bertha. Well, Bertha. You know, don't want to use their kid Burtha anymore. I'm just saying. But Myrtle is definitely like that one got lost somewhere. And they don't. I'm going to read you Mitch Barnhart's answer before we go to the phones.

Here's the question. There's been a lot of speculation about your own future. Have you made a decision on that? Are you ready? See if you can follow this. Okay. Let's go. Two things.

I love competing. You know that. You know I love this place with all my heart. We came here in 2002 and planned on staying six to eight years and stayed a lot longer. I know there's people to get frustrated because I've been here a long time and that's okay. I sense that. An old boss of mine told me one time, every time you make a 50-50 decision, and use 50% of your friends.

He's probably not wrong, but we love Kentucky. I get up invigorated about what we're doing at work. I'm still not even halfway through. I love watching our kids compete. When that day comes and I don't know, I'll sit down with my family and we'll talk and determine what's best for our family and for me. But more importantly, what's best for Kentucky. I got a couple two and a half more years left on my contract.

The Ambassador Clause is out there. It can go anytime after December 31st. If that's something that's best for this university, then we'll have that conversation. If it's something that we want to continue to work at, I would like to win some more things I like winning. Volleyball has been a blast. I'd like to win it some more things and see what we got.

And I love our coaches. We've got good people and it's fun to work with. So in other words, maybe? That's not even a maybe. That's like, that's a nothing. Yeah, it's a lot of words. It's a lot of words. To get no answer out of it.

Are you coming back? He likes to compete. 50-50, volleyball. Yeah. I mean, to me, those answers, like, they do more harm than good. He says he has two and a half years left. I know less now than I did before. Right.

You know? Yeah, he says he's got, what, two, two and a half years left on the contract. But then again, he can step away after December 31st, right? But he doesn't give any sense if that's what he's going to do. Right. He said, we'll have conversations. Yeah. Okay.

He's great at not answering the question. I mean, that's a great political. You want to know why we don't know what? what's going on? Yeah. Answers like that. Let's go to Justin. Go ahead, Justin.

Hey, fellas. Appreciate you taking my call. I'm actually headed to the airport to go to Kansas City to watch the volleyball team play. Oh, that's exciting. I mean, that's, I'm excited about the volleyball. Tomorrow night, nine o'clock, we're going to have a watch party. I think it's going to be fun. But I'm also just excited to watch them.

They are the favorites right now. They're the betting favorite. And are you going, do you go to a lot of volleyball games? I'm actually an alum. I actually used to be a student manager for Craig. Okay, got you. I graduated in 2018, so just to support. And, yeah, just really excited to have the chance to watch them compete for their second title.

And I guess I really didn't have a question planned, but since I am going, and you and Shannon are the only one on duty today, do you guys want like a hat or a t-shirt from Kansas City? Yes, of course. Yes, yes. In radio, we never turned down free swag. Send volleyball. Send volleyball swag to KS Bar, and if you get it there quickly, if UK gets it over there tonight, we'll give it away at the watch party tomorrow. Okay, perfect.

What sizes do you guys wear? I'm an XL, Shannon's extra small. Large. Large. Large. All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

No, that's going to be exciting tomorrow and I. You think we're going to win? Yes, yes, I do. I do have a little bit of PTSD seeing Wisconsin in the final four. but that was basketball. It has nothing to do with this. Well, do you think this would erase it at all if we were to beat them in volleyball? It would make me feel a little bit better about it, just a little bit. You still got Pittsburgh on the other side of the bracket, who's the only team.

Do you think you can dance in between the sets at the final four? We talked about how they were dancing at the elite eight. Can you dance at the final four? Why would you stop now? You know, if you dance in the elite eight, why are you going to stop when you get to the final four? I had somebody write me and go, the hard thing for me about volleyball is I never know if we've won or lost the point because our players celebrate the same either way. That's right. You get a state.

They really do. They really do. Both teams clap no matter whether they score or not. It's really the happiest sport I've ever watched. It is. Oh, it's definitely the happiest sport. It's the most life affirming sport that exists. You know what I mean?

Cheerleading is not even happier than that. Like volleyball cheerleading, it feels like there's a darkness under it. Well, you've watched, what was it, cheer on Netflix? Yeah, but it feels like they're like, they're smiling, but we don't know what's inside. It feels like volleyball is pure joy everywhere. After every point, you're great. No, Mario, you're great. Everyone is great.

And cheerleaders are smiling, but they're dead inside. Joey, go ahead, Joey. Hi, guys, first time caller. Who are? Yep, I'm mad. I want you know we're thinking about your family up this way, man. Thank you. But you kind of answered my question earlier in the show. I was calling about the recruiting.

You know, I'm kind of worried about that. Is there any way you could get a coach or coaching some of the staff on to explain? Well, it's tough because they can't talk about individual players. I mean, I think once the roster is built at the end of the year, then I am going to say to Mark, to Mark Pope in an interview, how's this working? Because here's the thing.

You can argue we shouldn't recruit these elite freshmen anymore. I'll listen to the argument. But the thing is, he has recruited them. He's recruited like six or seven and tried. And if we get none of them, then that's an issue. 859-28027.

Open lines. We'll be right back. T.J. Smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. He'll make them pay. Now, more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones. Welcome back. Techies Sports Radio. Some questions from the text machine. 772-744.

One person writes, no one knows the JMI deal. Let me ask you a question. What was the reason to the best of your ability for why UK signed it? I think that's fairly easy. JMI provided a backstop in terms of financial support. And it was probably one that UK believes they need it. From what I've seen of the JMI deal, and granted, I give myself the ability to

modify this when I learn more about it. I think it's a really good deal for 95 to 97% of the student athletes at UK. It provides an athlete that doesn't have a lot of market value as him or herself a chance to make some money. So I think it's a really good deal for women's basketball, baseball, volleyball, and most of football, probably almost all of football. I think the JM idea works for those people. The question is, does it work for elite basketball recruits? The elite basketball recruits, who themselves have market value, does it work for them? And right now, the answer for me seems to be no.

And that's why they're not getting these guys. So the question is going to be, will it be modified for the elite guys? And we'll have to see. and maybe it already is, but nobody's answered the question, so I don't know. One person writes, Matt, you talk a lot about your fellowship. It sounds cool. How did you get chosen? Shannon, they just called me one day.

They read an article. You may remember, you remember there was an article about me in Politico in like 2019 about me potentially running for Senate? Right. And the guy came down here, he made fun of my haircut. Yeah. Do you remember that? He was like he has a crooked haircut. and he's got a stain on his hoodie.

And the guy's got to be running for office. I was like, man, I bought you wings. Give me a bird. Why are you doing that to me? But they read that article and ended up, it was a lot about how they talked to all these people who were Trump voters who liked me. And so the whole felix, this woman called me up and was like, you sound like what we're looking for.

And that's how I ended up in it. And it's been a great experience. Well, the best experience is my life. I've absolutely loved it. One person writes, you and Shannon, Shannon was big on the Epstein files. Yeah, yeah. Matt, wouldn't the FBI have already arrested people if there was information into arrest them? That's always been my view.

I always have thought the Epstein thing, while it's so odd to me that they won't release the files, I also think like, I always think it's been overblown. But it's like the dog that catches the, what's the dog that catches the car? Like you catch the car and then what are you going to do with it? It doesn't know what to do with it once it catches the car. Yeah. So like all these people were rambling about the Biden administration's hiding the Epstein files. Then they got them and then they haven't done anything either. They caught the car.

And like you could say, well, it's such a huge conspiracy. They don't want to release it. Or you could say like I do that like there's not as much juicy stuff as people said there was. There's no list according to the latest that we're hearing. There's no list at all. But see the woman that's the attorney general, and Bondi, she said there was a list. So now they're saying there's not.

Well, then how do you explain that six months ago you said there was? I don't even know what to believe anymore. That's the problem. They create confusion. And then nobody will believe anything. Right. That's what I've always told you about conspiracy theories why I don't like them. You create so much confusion that nobody believes anything.

Yep. And that's actually not good for society, in my opinion. Shannon, did you see the video of the guy who's a, dart player in England and loses and beats up his table. No. You need to look this up. There's a guy, he's playing

darts in England. One of those dart matches like I went to where everybody screams and he's like, ooh, like all that. I'm watching it right now. And he loses and he just takes his fist and he starts beating the, I mean, beating the table. Yeah.

And then he comes out and his hand is like bloody. and it's like blood going down his hand and they escort him off the stage. They're like, please stop beating up our table. I didn't know darts could be so violent, but this guy, yeah, he's just wearing it out. And not like kind of punching him. Oh, he's, yeah. And what did he think was going to happen?

I think he wanted to make sure that table didn't fight back. Yeah, the table didn't do anything. It was just sitting there. That is a violent reaction. Yeah, I mean. Have you seen the picture of his? his hand afterwards? Yes, it's like all bloody. It's disgusting. We need to see if he was on like some sort of performance enhancement drugs or something with that kind of rage he's got going on there.

Performance enhancing drugs for darts. Well, maybe just something, you know, to keep your hand steady so it doesn't shake. Oh, that's true. You got to have a steady hand. See, I don't think I could do it because when I hold my hand up like that sometimes. You shake a little bit. You shake a little bit. He doesn't. If you take some sort of thing like calm. Is there something you can take to not do that? Calm your heart rate down, you know, slow it down. So you're nice and calm. I feel like that that would be something you could take. Performance enhancing darts. That is the angriest person to ever play darts right there.

I've never seen anyone get that mad about darts, ever. Kurt, go ahead, Kurt. Hi, Matt. Second time, really long time from London. Well, thank you. I have a question that you may have already talked about on your gambling podcast, which I didn't unfortunately listen to. What are your honest thought?

on the Raiders kick against the Broncos two weeks ago when they kicked a field goal to cover the spread. So is that the game they were down 10 and they kicked a field goal and it made it three? Or excuse me, it was they made it seven, but the spread was seven and a half. Is that right? Yes, sir. Was there any time left on the clock? There was five seconds left on the clock and Pete Carroll's coach forever. And you know he knew there would be no chance in Hayes.

Here's the argument. Here's the argument. I mean, the argument is you quickly do an onside kick. If you get it, you can throw a Hail Mary. Whereas if you throw the Hail Mary, it'll take up all the time and then you have no chance. I mean, it's suspect. The field goal was 50 yards, Matt, and you know that takes five seconds from 50 yards. Oh, so did the game end on the field goal? It did. Okay. Yeah, then that's weird. Yeah. Is there any argument, Shannon, to say, well, it's better to lose by seven than 10? I guess, yeah. You know, at least we lost by single digits, not double. It is suspect.

I'll agree with you. I appreciate the call. It is suspect. But I think, you know, there's probably a thought that maybe you have a second left on the clock and what you were saying. Maybe you get an onside kick and maybe something crazy happens. I mean, that's really the only chance you're going to have to win if you kick the field goal and try to go for the onside kick.

Or maybe you're just like seven looks better than 10. Or maybe. Otherwise, I feel like you're just giving up on the game if you try to help Mary with five seconds to go if you have a chance to kick a field goal. I don't know. Yeah, I mean, by your logic, I guess I would say, sir, why don't you just kneel down? Yeah. If you're going to go for something, why not go for points that are actually realistic? Right.

Or maybe there was money on the game. Yeah, or maybe Pete Carroll's betting on the game. That's right. I think that's less likely, but no, no, Bob and James Town. Go ahead, Bob. Matt, what about these tickle fans? I was out in Kansas City. Pickle fans?

What's a pickle fan? Listen to the sports radio, and I couldn't believe how they were running down to Chiefs. I mean, it's just, you know, they were, and that was before Mones and getting beat twice by Texas and the Cowboys. Well, I mean, we're the same way, though. I mean, when we're good one year, I mean, last year we made the Sweet 16, and now this year we're upset.

I think that's just the nature of fans. You want to be good in the year that you're in. And so, like, even if you won every championship the year before, the year that you're in, you're going to be like, we want to win this year too. A real fan supports a team regardless. I've been a Bengals fan for years. And you know their record.

They've been to the Super Bowl twice. But a real fan is a fan. They don't. It's fickle me. know if you're a real fan. They've been to the Super Bowl three times. Kenny Anderson made it, Boomer Assison made it, and Joe Burrow made it. Yeah, that's right. I forgot about it. Yeah, you're not a real fan. Yeah, I appreciate the call. You're not a real fan. You're not a real fan, you don't even know. Yeah, I mean, that's the only thing you can know as a Bingle fan is how many

times you've been to the Super Bowl. There's nothing else to know. Yeah. You never won. Happens maybe twice a lifetime. Three times a lifetime. Well, it depends on how old you are. Tom. Go ahead, Tom. Hey, Matt, how you doing? Good. I want to give a little insight as far as JMI goes. And this is years and years ago.

I used to work for International Management Group. And I was curious. People who don't know, that was the company that existed IMG before JMI, that was Kentucky's rights holder before JMI. And they are also basically the founder of sports marketing through Mark McCormack. And, of course, you represented Arnold Palmer and Nicol. us and player.

And I worked, I was one of the first employees that worked in basically our track and field division. And we basically took this. So what's your opinion on? My opinion is that it's a very, uh, close,

almost incessuous relationship. If you look at the president of JMI and the person who's head of NIL, they're both former UK employees. Uh, I see a little bit in regards to baseball marketing, but not a lot of like at IMG, we had so many different divisions. within golf, track, tennis, whatever, and also TV, there was a big cross-fertilization of

leads from different companies. My fear is that, you know, you can only go back to central banks so many times and that you have people who've been dealing with the same companies year and year out without basically getting any exposure, maybe some outside leads. The other thing is, and it's pretty clear to me, that Mitch was definitely betting that the score act was going to pass. Oh, there's no doubt. And that these collectives would be outlawed. No doubt. No doubt.

He got rid of our private club. Tom, I appreciate it. We got to move quicker. I, he got rid of the private collectives because he assumed they were going to be illegal. And they're not. And that's,

maybe that'll end up being accurate. But it's not accurate right now. And that probably has had an impact. Hey, bourbon lovers, you don't want to miss Commonwealth Causes December bourbon raffle. The next ultimate bourbon collection drawing is tomorrow, December the 18th. You get an iconic Pappy Van Winkle vertical, and just for the holidays, Buffalo Trace, old-fashioned copper vintage 2006 bottle, the Weller Vertical Blanton's $20,000 worth of bourbon. Secures now at commonwealthcauses.org and add a little cheer to your Christmas spirit with Commonwealth Causes.

causes. We'll take a break. 859-280-2-807's KSR. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapy. Kier Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month,

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

and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, and 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 healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clifford Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff.

Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like,

after you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out. real quick. Get your ass up and down the court and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back, TuckySports Radio. 8592-80-2287.

I'm sorry I had to cut off that dude. I'm G-G guy. I would like to have heard more about what he was talking about. But, you know, there wasn't a hard break, but we have to be out of here by 46 or they lose their mind. 859-2-80-2287. there are performance enhancing drugs for, if not darts, rifle. There are beta blockers that make your hands not shake as much.

Right. Yeah. I mean, I was halfway joking about that, but, I mean, it makes sense to keep you steady from shaking. You would need that in darts, I would think. Interesting. Yeah. Well, they test them, you think? Yeah.

No, I mean, I'm sure they do. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. One person writes, Matt, you and Shannon are wrong about the Epstein files. This involves the entire world. I mean, that may be true. But it also may not. This person doesn't know. Nobody knows except for the person. The problem is we'll never know. The problem is we're never going to know. And so people, I understand, people will believe what they want to believe. I don't know. Maybe it does involve the whole world.

But I don't know. Yeah, I don't think any of this is ever coming out. We'll never really, and they're supposed, I think it's, isn't it this week, they're supposed to release it? I've been hearing that for a year. They're supposed to release it. And then they, they, they're supposed to release it. Then it's just, something else happens and they forget about it.

And then they never do. One person writes, this song is question is only for Shannon. Thanks a lot. What is the best cover of a song of all time? Hmm. I'd have to think about that one for a minute. I mean, The most successful...

Oh, wait, it wasn't for me. It was just for shame. Sorry, I don't want to get involved. I think it's probably got to be Whitney Houston. That's what I was going to say. Covering Dolly. Whitney covering Dolly is the most successful. I will always love you. It's the most successful. I mean, whether it's the best is everybody's own opinion.

Right. But it's the most successful. That's got to be the most successful cover of all time. Right there with all I want for Christmas is you, Mariah Carey. I mean, say what you want about that, but it's the most... You love that. that song. No, I hate that song, but I mean, it is... You always bring it. No, it's Ryan that always loves it. Yeah, no. It was controversial, I think, at one point in Ryan was like, but I love it and he got really, you got really frustrated.

But I think it's like one of the most successful, like, of all time. It hits number one on the charts every year at this time. Yeah. And even though I hate the song, it's still one of the most popular ever. 8592-8027. The Kentucky Indiana basketball game got the highest TV rating for a college basketball game on ESPN this year, and it is Shannon the highest TV rating for a December basketball game for ESPN in five years. What that tells me is put these games on Saturday night, prime time, and put Vital and Barclay on more games. Well, I was going to say that has a lot to do with it. Two million people, according to the numbers, watch this game. And I think Barclay and Vitell together have a lot to. I don't think it's just Kentucky and Indiana. No, it's not. It's

Kentucky, Indiana, and Vital and Barkley. Right. Yeah. So I think we need more games with Vital and Barclay. If you're ESPN, you'd be smart to do that. If I'm ESPN, do Vital and Barkley once a month, right? Yep. You don't want it too much because then it's, you know, it's an old, tired act. You don't want that too much. But once a month, I think it would be good. I would like to see it. I think it works. I think you put it. I actually think I would enjoy it, Shannon, even more on a game where my team was not playing.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, because you don't care. Because you don't care. Because you don't care. You don't care. Just put it on them only. But I am glad if they're only going to do one, I'm glad they did ours. Because I do think that was a cool night, and it'll be something we'll remember. Barclay said it was one of the coolest nights of his career. Yeah. And him saying, Shaq, you're giving that $100,000 whether you want, fat ass or not.

I'm like him saying that. That's a great, that's a great lie. Brandon, go ahead, Brandon. 859-280-2287. Yeah, good morning. You guys opened the show talking about KSR people from yesterday year. And you failed to mention intern Drew. Yeah, that's how we had the job for Maria.

That's how we had the job for the – Maria is Drew the intern, moved to Chicago with his woman to work at – What was it? Bacon Sports. Hedgefung girl. Yeah, Hedgefung girl for Bacon Sports. And then that's how we had the opening for Maria. That's all I had.

Appreciate it. Yes, Drew the intern. Don't want to forget him. He came to our bar about a year ago. He was friends with Zach. So the chronology is I create the show with Rob Gaddell, John Wilkinson, hubby on podcast, the turkey hunter, all those guys. It moves to radio.

Well, first it moves to radio, not KSR. And it's me, it's a sports mob with Matt and Rob. Right. Then Rob moves to me. Florida and it becomes me and Dave Ragon. I people don't remember that. And then I had my own show for a little while at night on a black gospel station in Louisville. That's an interesting choice to put you on there.

Well, it was on 38th and Broadway in Louisville. And it was at night. And then get KSR, bring Zach in, drew the intern. and then the kind of the rest is history. You know, Zach is still very important to this show because about once every six or seven years, we lose the login to the podcast, and Zach's still the only person.

Did he ever tell us what the password was? Zach is still the only person who can log in the podcast. He won't tell anybody else. It's like a secret that he holds over our head. That's how he stays connected to us. That's right. He still is the only person that can log into the podcast. Drew, go ahead, Drew.

Hey, Matt. So I think it's pretty clear that NIL is an issue. So I guess my question is, what do we do? Are we just kind of stuck until this J. my deal goes away? Here's what my optimistic view. If they lose all these basketball players. And again, now if they end up getting Christian Collins and Tyron Stokes,

I think that means it worked itself out. But if they don't, then I think JMI is going to have to change their deal or UK is going to have to change their deal so that they get these elite players. I mean, the deal goes for 15 more years. So I don't think that deal is not going to end. The question will be, can they, if it works for 97% of the players and it doesn't work for the other 3%, why not just make an exception for the other 3%. Now, UK might say, well, if you make an exception for 3%, then the other 97% are going to

want it. And maybe they're right. I don't know the answer to that question. But I'm concerned about it with these top guys. Maybe they fix it, but you had like four dudes in this class locked up. And right now it's looking like we might not get any of them. 859-280-2287. We'll take your calls.

Be right back. Ask Anything Wednesday. KSR. 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 headwriter Streeter Side. help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports.

and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up, guys?

This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle. of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office, Blue, 42. Hey, rep, my mama wants you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was funny. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come until he's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.