KSR - 2026-03-26- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 26, 2026

KSR is in Cincinnati for MLB Opening Day and talking the latest news. Also, Thom Brennaman joins the show.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. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum.

by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. 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, 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. Dude. Hey, Rhett, my mama want you to weigh better.

What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. From YouTube and social media, comedy off Broadway and Lexington, welcomes Josh Wolfe. March 19th through the 21st. Then from late night TV and the Bob and Tom show catch Nick Griffin, March 26th through the 28th. And don't miss New York Comedy Superstar and, podcaster Mark Norman.

April 2nd through the 4th. For tickets to all Comedy Off Broadway shows, call E-59-271 joke, or visit Comedy Off-Broadway.com. 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, 8th.

Sixth? Sixth. One of those days. here live in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Holy Grail right outside of the Cincinnati Reds Great American Stadium, where today is opening day around America and here in Cincinnati. You can give us a shout on the Clark's Pump and Shop hotline. We'll talk more about that later. 859-280-2287.

A Vision Auto Glass Text Machine, 772-745254. This edition is sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office called T. T.J. I'll make them pay. Ryan is in his happy place right now because we are at outside of baseball stadium Reds opening day the game is not till 4 o'clock but it is 10 a.m.

And this holy grail bar is already full. We are out on the patio. If you are in Cincinnati, you can come by and say hello. Ryan, this is like you got that little glee on your face of being here at opening day. I'm definitely in my element.

It's a baseball day and Cincinnati treats this day like it's a national holiday. The city shuts down, schools, clothes, parades, and there are people already out here partying six hours. We're six hours from the game. We're six hours from the game. And we drove up through here, Shannon. It was a torrential downpour driving from Lexington to Cincinnati. And I'm thinking, oh, no.

Yeah. Like, are we going to be sitting out in the rain doing this? And then we get here, and the skies are cleared. There's a parade here in a little bit. I mean, for people in Kentucky, like where I grew up in Kentucky, Cincinnati was not the team. The Braves were the team. Right. So Cincinnati and the games were not on.

So Cincinnati was just like whatever. And then you go out to the western part of the state, a lot of Cardinals fans. All St. Louis Cardinal fans. A lot of Cardinals fans out there. And then there's even parts of the state that like the Cubs. Yeah. So I didn't realize what opening day was Reds-wise until I started buying season tickets. And this is like a whole crazy thing here.

They treat this like we do the SEC tournament. Wouldn't you say that's a good analogy? That's a great analogy. Even though I'm a Cardinal fan, opening day of Major League Baseball means Cincinnati's playing in the afternoon. It used to be that the first game was here. Absolutely. Now they've changed that, but it used to be the first pitch of the season was always here. Because this is the oldest team.

Tip off the baseball season in Cincinnati every year. But they don't do that. I guess they had one last nine. Yes, they did. So we're here. Now, we are also where the official Reds radio is. So they're right here next to us. They are.

Which means that guy's Shannon that always yells at me is going to be here. He's going on right as we're going off. Bill Cunningham? Bill Cunningham. Is that right? Yes. So maybe you can catch him. The rats this year are going to be got like that guy.

That's him. I'm sorry. That's my Bill Cunningham impersonation. Why is that 100 grade starting? Like that. He's going to be here in just a little bit. And I'll get to, these people are looking to me like I'm insane. I'm sorry.

I'm on the radio. Yeah, we're good. I'm just doing my Bill Cunningham. Anyway, he's going to be here a little bit later. See, John Short's kind of torn. He loves you and he loves Bill Cunningham, and now... This is going to be the first time we've ever been in the same place. Have you ever met him before?

Never met him. You got to. During a break or something, you got to go up and talk to him. I'm going to meet him because we've kind of talked trashed each other from afar. I respect the guy. He's like a legend of radio. Oh, without a doubt. I just think it's hilarious that he screams like that.

Yes, he does. And now I'll get to meeting. Plus, the Cowboys is going to be here. Oh, the Cowboy. I'm a little excited to be. the cowboy i am really excited to meet the cowboy cowboy is how i passed the night yes right listening to the cowlowe you do too when you were doing uber all cowboys see i like i said i'm a cardinal fan but i love listening to baseball on the radio and he's really good doing the reds on the radio and then

marty brittamon's going to be he's a legend a legend and has called kentucky games yes he has explained to me when marty brittamon did kentucky games it was in the 80s on the tv broadcast only like when they were doing the uh jefferson pilot games or whatever he was doing play by play before Like Rob Bromby started going to play by play. But somebody told me he did something with Leitner's game, with the 92 Duke game. Maybe he was working for Westwood One or something like that at that time. He might have been working for Westwood One. Yeah.

So he's going to be here, and they're telling me he will come on here and talk Kentucky with me. He actually listens to the show. I am. Shannon, he's going to geek out if Marty Brindamins. Because we've had him on by phone, but we've never had him in person. You didn't even tell me this until right now. But I just, well, I wanted to surprise you. I want, look, look at you.

Wow. I'm kind of star-struck. Today's like Meggouge Ryan Lemon Day. It really is. Like you get to, like, so they tell me that Marty Brunabin's going to join us around 10, 30, 11, something like that. He is a legend. He's probably the most famous person. I feel like I have his phone number in my phone.

I've always said that. But have you ever met him? I think I've met him a couple times. But nothing like. Will you not embarrass me? I probably will. You promise you will not like, don't rub on me. Can he sign my chest or something like that?

See, Shannon, this is what I'm talking about. I don't have Drew here to kind of calm down. because he's on baby watch. Mario's roaming around. He's interviewing people for social media. So it's just me and Ryan and you. So I'm excited. I'm not going to spend, don't worry,

I'm not going to spend all day talking about the Reds. I'll probably talk about it a little bit. But I didn't want to be here, soak up the atmosphere because I go to this every, and this is, I think, going to be a lot of fun. And thank you to the Holy Grail. I mean, they were full when we got here and saved us a table to do this.

It's really quite a spectacle to see how the city of Cincinnati treats opening day up here for the race. and they've done it for long as I can remember 20, 25 years. Don't embarrass me with Marty Brittenman. Well, first you said the cowboy was going to be here. Then you tied back with Marty Brindman. But Marty Brindman may be coming on this show. I think Marty Brindman is one of my heroes.

Do you think if I could get Bill Cuttingham to come on, I should have him on. Yes. Do you think I should get him on here? You guys could just yell at each other back and forth. Why is it? It would be great radio. Yeah, I'm scaring this man right here every time I scream. I'm sorry.

This is just going to be one. it is, sir, if you're going to sit here. Okay. It's crazy. It's six hours before first pitch, and it's like the SEC tournament in downtown Nashville. All right, let's talk just a little bit about, there's a ton, again, another ton of news around the world of sports. I think the thing that probably Kentucky fans heard yesterday that had them the most, I don't

know, I don't want to say angst-ridden, but it's at least the most interesting. There is going to be a parade of things happen here over the next few days with college. basketball. You could make an argument that the North Carolina job being open might set off a chain of events that changes a lot of college basketball. I think it will. Because normally North Carolina hires in family so it's not a big disruption. This is probably going to be a disruption. The chatter is the betting favorite right now to get the North Carolina job is Billy Donner. He's plus 175, which is a pretty high number for a coaching change because like normally they don't know. then the guy at Iowa State, I think, is second,

which we obviously know about his coaching bill. Yes. I don't know about you, Ryan. I don't really care who's the North Carolina coach. I mean, I do think North Carolina needs to go outside of the family. I think they're going to. I think they'll hire somebody good. If they end up getting T.J. Ottsle Burger or whatever, that's fine.

That they're talking about Tommy Lloyd at Arizona. They asked Tommy Lloyd about it, and he specifically, like, wouldn't answer the question. So it's clear he's open for business. But what if it's Billy Donovan? Okay, Billy Donovan, who we tried to hire twice, and if you'll remember, so let's go over the timeline. When we hired Billy Gillespie, we tried to hire Billy Donovan. You were saying to me this morning that Billy Donovan said yes and then changed his mind. Is that like really the case?

If you believe the people that are in the no, they said he verbally agreed, and then like two days later called Mitch Barnhart and said, I've changed my mind. We're going to open a school down here for, I think, autistic kids because they had an autistic child. Yeah, and that's why he's the reason he gave. Now, I never believed he was buying a horse farm in Bursale. You don't think he bought the horse farm. No, I don't think he... See, Shannon, that was an old school rumor.

Those were early Internet days. Now, again, I feel like an officianto of old Internet. We were at the Super Bowl. Dave Portnoy and I went and talked about old Internet. Because old Internet was a different work. It was. You know, it was rag-tag. You could get away with things you couldn't now.

but you also had like strange things happen. I think in Kentucky world, Billy Donovan bought a horse farming for sales was maybe the original, the whole world was talking about internet rumor. Would you agree with that? I totally agree with that. And you don't think he bought a horse farm?

Never did. He never enrolled his kids at Lexington Cowling High School. All those rumors that were going around. But I do think, like the people that were in the know, they said he verbally agreed. They were trying to work out the details, and he changed his mind. Changed his mind. All right.

So then when Cal, comes, let's go forward. When we hired Caliperi, there were three final candidates, which is pretty amazing that these were the three final candidates. It was John Caliperi, Billy Donovan, and Tom is. That's the

That's like the Mount Rush for. I mean, that might have been the best coaching search of all time. Yep. This man, did you, Shannon, I wish you could see behind me. There's an old man and I'm not, I'm not, I'm not make, you know me, I would not make fun. No. We're just, there was an old man.

He is dressed, Chanon, in a Pete Rose uniform. Full uniform. I don't see stirrups, but it's a full uniform and new balance shoes. And he came walking over here, and he walked to where we are, and he had to look like, this is

where I stand. Didn't he? Yeah, he did. He had a look. Like we were going to interview him or something. You are in my spot. This is where Pete Rose watch his stands. And then he kind of stared at us and walked off. But this man, how old do you think that man is? Oh, he's got to be

Close to be 70s, right? He's got to be in his 70s. He's wearing a full Pete Rose uniform. Well, he thinks he's part of the squad, it sounds like. Well, I don't know. It's kind of cute. It's kind of sweet, sort of. He's probably done this for every opening day for 25 years.

This is what he dressed like. Pete Rose died. He died. Has he died since the last opening day? I believe so. Didn't he die just his past year? So maybe this is like his tribute to Pete Rose. I bet he did.

I've never seen a month. man that age, Shannon wearing a uniform to a game. Well, you sound like you see a little bit of everything out there. You got guys pounding beers at 10 o'clock in the morning on a Thursday. Thank you very much. We brought us another chair. So anyway, the, Billy Donovan. So the story is Mitch Barnhart was going to interview all three guys in Chicago, right?

Yes. He had it scheduled. Cal Donovan. Then Izzo upsets Louisville in the elite eight. Correct. Many people will tell you that Mitch Barnhart, was leaning Tom Izzo. And Izzo beats Louisville.

Louisville was heavily favored. To go to the Final Four, that was Earl Clark and Terrence Williams team. Okay, all right. So then he has to postpone the interview a week so he can go to the final four. Mitch then decides to interview just Billy and Cal. He'll interview Izzo the next week. Billy backs out. Yeah.

He only interviews Cal. Cal wins him and President Todd over, and they just decided. to not wait on Izzo and just hire Cal. It's funny how history works, because if Louisville beats Michigan State, Izzo might have been the coach. We might never have had Cal. If Billy Donovan doesn't cancel the interview,

I think he almost certainly gets hired. Cal was probably choice three, but timing and events led to him being the coach, and obviously it worked out very well. The report at the time that, yeah, Izzo was also leaning a little towards being open to taking the Kentucky job. It was both sides were open to it. So the point is, is, Donovan came close twice.

Now let's get to when we hired Pope. Donovan had expressed to Barnhart that he'd be willing to talk about it, but not until the season was over. Right. Because the Bulls were going for playoffs. Correct. And we're in the play. And he said, I'm not talking about until the season's over. So Mitch Ball had a choice to make.

Do I wait for the end of the season and hire Billy Donovan? But we have no players. We had no players. And the portal was open. And the portal was open earlier last year than it is this year. Now it's been postponed until after the season. But back then, I think, Ryan, it was open right now. Even right now, I think you're right.

So he ends up having, he decides to not wait on Billy Donovan. So now my question is, what if Karen? Carolina actually gets Billy Donovan. After all those times, he almost was the coach here, and he ends up there. We were talking driving up here. I ask you, are the Bulls, are they going to be in the playoffs? Is he going to also tell North Carolina? Talk to me after we're done.

They're bad this year. I don't even know, Shannon. Are they even in contention for the playoffs? They haven't been officially eliminated, but this is his worst year as coach. This is his worst year. And almost everyone agrees he's leaving at the end of the year, matter what. And I believe, I'm gonna look real quick, I don't even think they are in contention for the play in this year. I think they are below. They're like 29-43 or something like that.

So they are out. They will not be in the player. So they've got 12 more games or whatever, but they're not in contention. So I don't think that worry. So Carolina's timing, after our timing kind of hasn't worked for three straight times, it might work for it. So let's just play it out. North Carolina hires Billy Donovan. There's a section of our fan base's heads will explode, thinking you couldn't wait one week to hire Billy Donovan for the, watch him to get to be in playoffs? But I'm going to have to take up for Barnhart.

I don't think they could. Because I don't think we, like, it was moving a lot faster then. We already had Cam Williams. I think it already committed, right? Well, this is two years ago. I tried two years ago. This is the Lamont Butler class. So, but it will just be interesting if.

There will be people that will be, If Carolina ends up with Billy Donovan, after three times, we may have come close and then not ended up. And we couldn't wait it in one week to maybe get him. Well, 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-74525-4. We are here at Reds opening day. We've already seen a 75-year-old man in a Reds uniform. There's a lot going on.

Who knows? This could be sparks with Bill Cunningham, Marty Brennam, the Cowboy. I'm on Marty Watch. I'm watching for him. Or it could be nobody. We'll see. It might just be us and our waitress Delaney. We'll take a break and be right back.

It'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.

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 Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast. Podcasts learn the hard way 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, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

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

or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Turn someday into right now with Body by Jake Radio. Nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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?

Come on out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss. Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

All right, I got some bad news for you. They just told me that they got their Brennamans mixed up. The Marty's not coming to one, but Tom Brennaman is returned to the Reds for the first time since the famous incident. Yes. And that we can have him at 11, but Marty won't be here. Now, they did suggest to me that Marty's a big UK fan and likes this show that maybe you could text him and,

and ask him if he wanted to come by early to come on. I have his number. Shannon, do we think he should do that? Yes. Do we think Ryan Wright should text and beg? Yes, because when else would you ever call him? Right? So this is your chance, Ryan.

Let's do it. Now, they asked if we wanted Tom. I thought, why not? Right. It's kind of a historic moment, him coming back to the rage after what happened. Well, and also it's an example if someone makes a mistake. Yeah. I'll make you.

I'll turn the mics off, I promise, during the breaks. but pay their penance over time. Yes. And then, you know, so we'll see. We'll see what happens right now. 859-280-2287. We have some breaking news. One-ee-na-na.

Will Wade is going back to LSU. He is leaving NC State after one year, and he will be the new coach of LSU just a handful of years after he was fired, for NCAA violations while at LSU. If there's ever an example that college sports has completely changed, they fired a man four years ago for NCAA violations, and now they're bringing him back

because everything they fired him for is now legal. I've never heard of such a thing. Well, you fire a guy, and then four or five years later, bringing back. That's amazing, isn't it? It's truly amazing. It really is amazing. Will Wade. Left in shame.

Now he can make a strong-ass offers, and it doesn't cost them anything, you know? Strong-ass offers are now completely legal. Wow. That really is unbelievable, isn't it? Especially at NC State, you'd think, might be a better job. I would think on paper that NC State is a better job than LSU. But I guess not in his mind.

I guess they don't want to have to deal with maybe John Shire and Billy Donovan. Yeah. Oh, that would be true. Maybe he thinks Donovan's coming to North Carolina to Chapel Hill. But there you go. So now he's back in the L.S. You know, LSU really hasn't been good since he left. Now, maybe LSU back in, back to Matry.

You know, he's obviously a good coach. He won at McNeese State. He was, you know, he had a good year, even in NC State this year. The man knows he's basketball. But to leave with your head in shame if you just got fired, and they call you, they want you back. Shannon, I got to tell you something. You know, I'm in one of these, but I'm about to be on vacation for a week.

Yeah. So it's one of those moods that sometimes you just say stuff. Mario is on a kick of looking to. at Will Wade pictures. Yeah. Will Wade is oddly shaped. And we'll just leave it at that. You can say it?

No. No, I'm not you. But Mario especially, just sits in the backseat of my car looking at pictures of Willway. So once you see it, Shannon. No, I'm not, now I'm looking. Once you, because the problem is the red and white of NC State was not flat. Yeah, you got to wear dark colors in your shape like that. He's a dark color guy.

Purple, maybe purple. Purple will be better. Okay. And there, Mario just likes to sit and look at pictures of Will Wade and giggle. He's been doing that since we watched him in the first four last week. Mario ain't the only one that sits at giggles. No, you do too. I would never do such a thing.

899-280-2287. One more thing, and then I want to go to the phones, talk about a couple stuff. yesterday at the end of the show I was talking about the whole Derek Johnson and cousin stuff and you know I had a lot of people like calling to check on me I guess I sounded much I sounded very down you did and to some extent that was true Tuesday and Wednesday were difficult for me I'm better today but also part of that is all night just kept getting comments on the text machine. Really nice, thoughtful, positive comments.

And I just wanted to thank everyone for that. You know, I do kind of wear my emotions on my sleeve for better or worse. I think that's partially why this show is good. But, you know, those two things back to back had kind of eaten at me a little bit. But I just want to thank everybody who reached out and was nice. I said this to you in the car. You could hear it in your voice yesterday when you were talking about it. And the more you talked about it, it was like you were going through a therapy session.

Maybe a little bit. I think it was. It was kind of good for you and your spirit to kind of talk about it and talk through it. And we could hear it. You know, it came through in your voice that it definitely upset you and bothered you with the things that had been said. It bothered me in part because I didn't want those two guys to feel like that. It also bothered me because it became like, it's hard for me to know who are the people that are listening and our fans and who are the people who only have peripheral knowledge of us.

because this show has been so successful, like there's a lot of people who've never turned it on once that have strong opinions. Yes. You know what I mean? Which is interesting, because normally a sports radio show is such a niche that if you don't listen to it, you wouldn't even know what's happening.

Right. Right. This show's a little different. This is different. And so, you know, you got people who don't even know when the games are on, but they know who we are and may have a strong opinion having never listened. And then you throw in that Mario has done such a good job.

We show up on people's ticker. talk feeds who have no idea about anything we've ever said right and so I just that was I just had to get through that and people will say I man don't let it bother you well Shannon says that all the time I wish I could but that doesn't that's not always the good well those people that know you they know you care I mean you yeah I do care you know and especially when it comes to like you know the the cousins thing and then Jasper you know he's such a nice kid he was it was awesome when he came on at But then he also, like, what are you going to do? We saw what happened in the Iowa State game.

So, like, that balance. But I just wanted to thank everybody for that and tell them my impression. But you feel like you're in a good, better headspace? Yeah, I'm in better. I need to just kind of have 24. I didn't turn my phone on last night except to talk about neighbors. I'm going to go ahead and tell you, man, that show, I've never seen a show that just gets more and more crazy every episode. I watched the first episode, and I thought, well, these people are a little strange.

But then I went to number two. And then I went to number three. And now I'm on number five, and there's a grandmother, and she starts doing something that I'm like, oh, my. And then people tell me when I get to number six, apparently episode six is. I'm just going to tell you, neighbors, if you ever think that you are around odd people, just turn that show on. It's the best thing I've seen in a long time. You just wait until you watch it this weekend. We'll take your calls right after this.

KSR. 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. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. We have another set of breaking news here at the Reds game.

Running on a... Kentucky has announced the hire of Keegan Brown. You remember we said that he originally, UK, had said, would be hired as a director, as a assistant with personnel. The job title now is director of roster management. It sounds like a GM, doesn't it? Is this as close to a GM as Pope is going to bring on? Pope probably for stubbornness,

because I think he's got some stubborn in him. I ain't going to call it a GM. So he's director of roster development. But he is calling the director of roster management. So I would suggest that means that Kentucky now has a GM. Roster management, general manager. I think that's clearly what it is. You just don't want to call it that.

So there you go. Are you happy with that? Yes, much needed. In this day and age of college basketball, you need somebody like that to help manage your roster. Yeah. And is he good? We don't really know. I mean, I will say, I think when his name first got floated, I went back and read a bunch of his old tweets,

because that was really all there was to read. And I liked what he said about kind of what he was looking for. Now, I mean, the one concerning, he seemed to suggest, look, this is a business. We have to make good offers. Like things I really agreed with. The one thing that concerned me is he said something like, it's not about getting the best players. It's about getting players that fit what you want to do.

I think we need to get a couple of the best players. Yes. But he may have been saying that because he wasn't at Kentucky, and it's harder to get those, you know. But he had very strong in-isle thoughts. I'm sure somebody at KSR, I think they may have already done this story. If not, I'm sure they will, sort of going through his tweet so you get a sense of what his thought process

Yes, he is. He seems like he has already a plan in place how a roster should be developed. And Jacob Polichick reported last night. He was introducing himself to people as a director of roster management. So now that is actually his official title. You know, this is between us. He should say, I'm the general manager of Kentucky basketball. I know it's on paper.

No, we're saying director of roster management. But if I'm meeting, you know. We have to use the correct title. We are director of roster management. All right, I want to go to the phones, but we've got to quickly talk about the story from Jeff T. yesterday. Did you see this story, Shannon, Jeff Teague?

I don't know which one you're talking about. All right, so, well, if you don't know, then you didn't see it. Jeff Teague, that's Marcus Teague's brother. Older brother, who played in the NBA for many years. Played the NBA was good. Very good. Marcus was probably better in college. Jeff was probably better in the pros.

Yes, proved it. Jeff played at Wake Forest. Yep. All right, so according to Jeff, his coach, I think, when he was at Wake Forest, died. Skip Prosser. Oh, yeah. Which is while he was at Wake Forest. and the NCAA gave all the players at Wake Forest a waiver back then

that because he had passed, they could transfer to somewhere else. So Jeff Teague said his phone immediately started ringing and coaches were called. He ended up deciding not to leave. But he got a call from Kentucky. And he said that Billy Gillespie, one of the assistant coaches Shannon, called Jeff Teague at Wake Forest to recruiting. Then put Billy on the phone. Billy got on the phone and goes, hey man, just wanted to say,

I don't think you're good enough to play at Kentucky. Why would you call him if you're going to tell him that? Called him to tell him that he wasn't good enough to play at Kentucky. And then you look at the players that Billy. After his coaches just died. No wonder did work out here. Yeah. Like I said, I'm looking at the players that Billy had lined up to come here,

and then there's Jeff Teague. You say Jeff Teague's not going to play? But why not just Shannon not called? Yeah, can we call up somebody right now and tell them they're not good enough to play at Kentucky? I mean, Jeff Teague was like, I just kept saying, like, why did you call me? That's true. Why did you call me if you're just going to tell me I'm not good enough? Call it. Can you, it's kind of crazy we got his brother after our coach before I got a different coach, but our coach called up and told his brother, hey, by the way, you're not good enough to play here.

So did Jeff Teague just tell this story or something? He just told the story. And Marcus Teague is on his show with him. And Jeff Teague was talking about, they were talking about Tubby Smith, and I think the co-host thought this story had happened with Tubby Smith, but it happened with Billy Gillespie. And then after it was over, Jeff said that he later found out from Jody Meeks. He and Jody Beeks became friends that Jody basically told Jeff that Billy was crazy. Said when he scored 50, you remember when he scored 50? Oh, yeah.

That after the game, Billy Gillespie told him he shot too much and was mad at it. That was the Tennessee game. He's just a ray of sunshine, isn't he? No kidding. Can you imagine looking at the guy who breaks UK's all-time scoring record in a single game and then goes, you shot too much? It makes you wonder how he won any games at all. It makes you wonder how he lasted two years. You're right.

But calling a player whose coaches died to say, by the way, you're not good enough to come here. I know your coach just died, but you suck. We don't think you're any good. Bye, and then hang up on him. What unbelievable. The Billy Gillespie stories. It's a book. Why didn't somebody write a book on this?

I thought about it. You want a piece of random UK history? Yeah. Clay Travis, pre-Being Mr. Politics, called me and wanted to make a documentary about the Billy years. It would be good. And I was like, you know, it's not a bad idea, and then it just didn't go anywhere.

It's still something out there. We ended up not doing it. All right, who's up first? All right, we got Brett. Brett, go ahead, Brett. Brett, I want to tell you, you're not good enough to play for Kentucky basketball. Well, yeah, absolutely. I feel you.

Well, I wouldn't want to be ridiculed by Matt Jones and Ryan Limits, so, but no, just kidding. So, fellas, three quick questions, Matt Jones, if I can. They're real quick. One, who's your favorite since I say a red player? Two, you know, we were told all this Nintendo style big motion offense was coming with Pope, all the cuts. And it's not a negative question. It's just understanding why. Why did we see players dribbling down the court shooting or players dribbling down the court driving to the basket with three people that even Nate Oates called out?

Why was that? Why couldn't we run a motion or cut or just why why is no one asking folk that that hard hitting question? Why didn't we see that? And then third, what do you think about next year? What big time recruit? What's one big-time recruit next year you want to lay in this time? Yeah, I appreciate the call. All fair questions.

First of all, my favorite Reds player is, of course, Ellie Dela Cruz, summer of Ellie. We need him to have a good year this year, but Ellie is my guy. Probably second is, I like Hunter Green, but he's hurt until July. Your second question is a great one. We were sold on this Mark Pope offense that was movement, threes, etc. We didn't have that.

And I think the answer to that question is, recruited a team that couldn't play that way. Don't you think that's ultimately the answer? I think that's the fair reason why our offense looks so awful all year long. And then teams started playing defense at us saying, well, you can't, you can't shoot. So we will let you shoot, and then you can shoot yourself out of the game, which is what happened a lot of times to us. Absolutely it is.

Especially early in the year. Then we switched and stopped playing like that and had maybe a little more success, but that became a very ugly team to watch sometimes. You know, the people that defend Pope as a coach, so you've got to look at the adjustments he made at halftime all these games when they would play better. Yeah, but why aren't we better to start? I don't know that.

I mean, I will grant you. I think he seems to do a very good job at halftime adjustments, maybe not against Iowa State, but in general. In general for the season, he pretty much did. Then why so much struggling to start to game? I don't have an answer for it. Yeah, and then what players should we get? I mean, I don't know.

If Bill Self-retires, we may get Tire in Stokes. If he doesn't, I mean, Dink paid, I thought we had a good chance, and now Jason Hart is gone, which was his point of contact. So I don't know. I ask you this driving up here, you know, we're driving through Northern Kentucky. Tay Kenney's from Newport. He's already committed to Kansas. It was interested in us. If self-resigned, maybe Tay King.

Maybe. I mean, you could have a situation that Bill Self resigns and two very good players come open. Yeah. Or he might stay and we get none of them. So I don't know. Part of my nervousness is I don't know. who the person is that we're going to get that is like that. Who's next?

Let's go to Matt. Matt, go ahead, Matt. Happy opening day, go Redlegs. Happy opening day. You talked about Marty Brennaman earlier. My brother and I met him in the bathroom of a young singer at an Alan Jackson concert. And my brother said he got a selfie before he even had an opportunity to watch the 10. But he could not even.

bizarre. He couldn't be nice. I've heard that. I heard he's very nice. Did you text him? I did. What did he say? Well, I don't know if he's texted back yet. He probably hasn't. He probably has you on ignore it. Go ahead. He did text back. What did he say? Hang on just a second, sir. What did he say?

It says, Ryan, I'd love to, but I'm in the parade and won't be at the grill until 130. I love to have been on with you guys. Oh, okay. Well, he's in the parade. I understand that. All right, go ahead, sir. Yeah, I had one of football question. I saw that 2DS projected the over-under for wins this coming season at four and a half. Wanted to hear your thoughts on it. For UK football, yeah, I mean, what do you think?

Four and a half over under? I appreciate the call. That's the magic number. I mean, I think that's what's making it so hard to try to predict what this team is going to do next year. And it's not that I think they're going to really stink. It's just the schedule is so crazy. Schedule is so hard. I mean, you play Alabama, LSU, Texas, A&M. Florida, Tennessee. I mean, you're going to be playing a lot of people, right?

So a good team. I don't know. Four and a half, I'm going to say Will wins five. That's where I'm going. But I think here's what's going to happen. I think even in our losses, it's going to be a lot more fun. I think we're just, I think this is going to be a fun team. Yeah.

I think you're going to see improvement. Whether we win six, seven, four, five, it's going to be a much more pleasant experience as it happens. And if the fifth win means going into that Louisville game before we needed, I think that's even better. That's exactly right. Hey, it's that time of year, everyone. Everyone checks their bracket. Ryan takes a shirt off, but it means you should check your skin. Kentucky Skin Cancer Center has locations all over the state.

Owensboro, Bowengrim, Franklin, Glasgow, and Powderly, Kentucky Skin Cancer Center is here to take for you. You take care of your bracket, and the dermatologist will take care of your skin. Make an appointment today. It's a Kentucky Skin Cancer Center 270 842, 1999. 270842 1999, or go to Kentucky Skin Cancer Center.com. We're going to take a break. We might have Tom Brinam in here. in a minute. Marty text me back. I'm a very happy man. I mean, this is like I just heard from

Darius Rucker. Oh, really? Yeah. Move over Darius. Just him saying he couldn't come on? Yeah, just the fact he, you know, just said he acted like he knew you. Yeah. That's nice. I like seeing you geek out. I'm done for the day. We've got a long day ahead of us. Be careful. We'll take a break. Come right back. KSR. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where 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 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.

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a great day. I heart radio. What's up guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, the Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. 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, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio 859-2-80-2287.

Text machine says, Matt, I'm an August 28th birthday Virgo like you. And criticism, I'm sensitive to it as well. It is in our nature and our sign. Don't worry about it. You believe that, Shannon? Like, is it like your personality and your sensitivity based on your birthday? So I'm supposed to believe that every baby born within this 30-day range has the exact same emotion, feeling, and characteristic.

No, I don't believe it at all. That might be true. No. I can't believe you believe it. Well, I don't, but I'm trying to give the guy the benefit of me out because I think he's trying to be nice. So maybe it's August 28. That's what happens to those of us born on August 28.

We are. That's what people call me. And I'm like, oh, that's sweet of you. That's very sweet of you. How are you all? Look at all these Kentucky fans. That's Johnny Rocker. That's John.

Oh, you're Johnny Rocker for the Johnny Rocker. He's the Rocker. The Rocker role player of the game. That's him. You know what? You look like to me what I thought Johnny Rocker might look like. You got some Johnny Rock. Well, I hope you thank you for being on our thing.

Hope it's been good for you. Good. All right. Look at that. You never know who you mean. Superstars. How about the guy who wrote in? So let me read this from yesterday.

He wrote on the KS board. You know a KS board? Yes. We're a discussion for it. Right. Yes. On KSR Plus. And it was one of my favorite comments.

He said, look, I need to preface by saying that although I've been a cat fan since birth, I do not and have not ever lived in Kentucky. Okay. I have little to no knowledge of local businesses. I always thought it was Clark's puppet shop and just found out it was Clark's pumping shop. I'm an idiot. I love that.

I love that he thought it was Clark's puppet shop. And instead it is Clark's puppet shop. I think a Clark's puppet shop would work really well. I think if he thought about it, Clark's puppet shop would have a half. heck of a budget for all the advertising thark's pumping shop actually does tom tom oh here he come here we go he got him Mario he said he could see all the fans are distracting him we were actually going to have him on really quick how are you tom put this on right here this headset so we are going to be joined now by tom brittiman long time voice of the reds and uh back here in cincinnati tom how are you i'm matt

i know matt nice to see you man you doing all right i am doing uh one Wonderful. You guys are out here in the sun. This beats the heck out of being in there. It's good to see you. We're out amongst them today. So, am I right? Is this your return to Cincinnati?

Well, for a Reds game? Well, first, I don't go to many Reds games. I think I've been to one since I got fired. Okay. And I'm not actually going to the game today because I work every morning now in WLW doing the morning show. Gotcha. So I've been doing that for the last year. It's been a lot of fun.

You, I hear your games you do it on the CW. Is that right? ACC, football and basketball. Has it been good, getting back into the flow of all this? I'm so grateful, and those guys give me a chance after going, you know, almost five years without working. So I am very, very grateful. Are you just dropping money all over the ball, money falling out of my pocket?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Tom Briniman's just dropping money. That's right. That's right. Making it rain over here. Did I hear, did you do games in Puerto Rico for a little while? No, we were supposed to go down there and then COVID hit. Okay.

So believe it or not, I mean, I was like some of the 20-year-olds right now. I was in my basement doing baseball games every single day. So a couple nights a week, and it was fun. So you would do Puerto Rican baseball games? Puerto Rican Winterle. From my house. Wow. Yeah.

But see, part of that makes me think, man, you must love it. Like, you've got to, like, you wanted to keep doing it, you must love it. Well, I mean, I just wanted to keep working. It didn't have to be baseball. I love doing football. Love doing basketball. It just so happened. And they were the, you know, they were somebody that called me and asked me to give me a chance to do something again.

And so I had a chance to do it, and it was fantastic. Did you think that might not happen? Did you think that, like, maybe? Well, yeah. I mean, you always. No, you know, I thought it might not happen to answer your question. But I never believed that was going to happen. There's a big difference.

You know, you can sit there when you go dark and you can start saying it's never going to happen again and that kind of thing. but I really never, thank God, really never went down that road. One of the reason I wanted to have you on, I'm someone that has always in life thought about, you know, good people can make mistakes. Right. And you can have it and then like how it's, it stinks. And then how do you move on? Like, what does that feel like?

And I think your case is really interesting to me in that. You made a mistake that I know you regretted and apologized. and then you had to like bounce back. What was that process like for you? Well, I mean, even the night that I got fired back in August of 2020, I remember getting back home. And look, there are a lot of people that are comfortable talking about their faith, uncomfortable talking about their faith.

You know, there's a meme out there about me talking about being a man of faith and all this kind of thing. And, you know, that's fine. But, you know, the bottom line is I truly believe that, you know, look, maybe, not maybe, I had definitely, I think, gotten a lot of, a little too big for my britches and probably need to be humbled sometimes. And so, you know, God says, hey, look, you want to do it your way? We'll do it your way.

And I'll just make sure that if anything needs correcting around here, that we'll take care of that. And that's exactly what happened. And, you know, I just thought to myself, okay, I'm going to trust his plan's a heck of a lot better than my plan and and you hope that you come out on the other end is a better a better person I hope and you feel like that happened I think so I mean my wife would probably tell you no but she would say no there's nothing good about it well let me ask you a couple fun questions first of all what's the best game you ever called sport any sport I think the most exciting game I ever called was in football

when Boise State beat Oklahoma oh you were on that game that's right I think He does the most exciting game, start to finish, that I've ever had a chance. The most exciting stretch of games was when I was the announcer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and about a month and a half after 9-11. Of course, yes. We played the Yankees in the World Series. What an amazing. And so we were there.

We actually went to ground zero. Did you see Bush throw that bitch? That was an amazing. It was amazing. It was amazing. The 10 days, seven-game World Series. your team wins in the bottom of the ninth of game seven

it was just it was unbelievable I don't know what time you have we have to take it's a little bit of break here no problem can you of course I'd like to talk to a few more minutes is that okay no problem all right we got to take you know how this is I know I take our little hour break here we will come back I want to talk a little reds

with you as well and some Kentucky your dad did Kentucky games for a lot big blue should have never lost cow I don't want to hear that stuff pretty Tom do you want to stop through the break. We're not, we are not crying over Calipari spilled.

But I was a Cali guy. I was a Cali guy. I know. We all have our weaknesses, Tom. We were just talking about that. Okay, all right. We will take a break and be right back. This is 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 Up, 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 Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7.

Hey, head over to Eye Heart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worst that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. 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? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.