KSR - 2026-04-17- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: April 17, 2026

Live from Whiskey Thief.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 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 Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Known for his crowdwork, comedy off Broadway and Lexington welcomes club favorite Ian Bagg, April 9th through the 11th.

Then from Saturday Night Live and the hit TV show DMV, catch Tim Meadows, April 16th through the 18th. And from Netflix and social media catch Amber Autry May 1st and 2nd. Four tickets to all comedy off Broadway shows. Call 859-271 joke or visit ComedyoffBroadway.com. Welcome, everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Wednesday. Friday, February, April the 17th. I'll get it right here in a second here at Whiskey Thief in Frankfurt off Crabb Orchard Road.

On an absolutely beautiful day, we are here at Whiskey Thief. And look at this crowd, everybody. Great to have you here today. It is awesome. We are here at Whiskey Thief. This is probably our, what, fifth or six remote here over the years, and we are here celebrating the new Derek Anderson AOK charity bottle release and more. You can give us a shout in the Clark's Pump and Shop phone line, 859-280-2287.

A Vision Auto Glass Text Machine is 772-745254 in this dish and sponsored by the T.J. Smith law office. If you call T.J. He'll make them pay. Ryan Lemon, Whiskey Thief. This is the place where if you've listened to this show, you know they'll put the whiskey thief into the barrel, get the bourbon out, shoot it in your face, and you'll be ready to go. This is, this place gets more beautiful every time we come out here. It is so pretty when you drive out here, come out. I guess they call it the farm. Now they love all the improvements they've made.

It's fantastic out here. I know whiskey thief's doing well because every time we come here, the road's better. Yes. Yeah. Much better than you. That's the best gravel road I've ever driven on in my life. It's immaculate. Now that the road is, now that the road is, you know, it's the road is.

great. Here's what I'll say to Whiskey Thief. When I bought my new car, I remember thinking, do I want to keep my old car for the drive to Whiskey Thief? Going off-roading. And now, that's as good as a road out in the streets of Lexington and Louisville. See, I thought I was the only one that noticed. I didn't think anybody was doing a because literally, as I pulled in, I went, oh, man, I forgot about this. And then it was absolutely perfect. So it's beautiful out here. They're giving tours. You could come out, and we are here. As I said, Derek Anderson, who's sitting in the crowd.

Give Derek Anderson a big round of applause. We're going to, we'll talk to him here in a little bit. He has his acts of kindness, a-okay bourbon bottle. It is an exclusive bottle raising money for his charity, and it is here today. And you guys, I'm sure, Shannon, going to try it. Oh, yeah, definitely going to go home with one of those bottles today. Although he told you he couldn't dunk anymore, which disappointed. He did.

He looks like he could still doubt. I think he can. Oh, you think so? I think he's being modest. We will talk with him a little bit later. And remember, there will be here at the Frankfurt location, a food truck. Thursdays through Sunday. They got live music, and you can also taste the whiskey thief bourbon.

And, guys, we also have a big announcement today. It came out this morning. I say came out like it was on the news. It did come out. Drew Franklin's baby came. Drew and Abby. Avery Rose Franklin, even though Justin. Rose didn't win. I think he still decided to go with Avery Rose.

Actually, had it a few, a couple days ago, but they waited until this morning to tell everybody. It's been tough, Ryan, because we've known since, like, Tuesday that he had it, and we've gone, people will say, well, what's happened with Drew's baby? It would be like, I don't know, man, they must not have cell service there. But now he decided to tell everyone today. It was tough, even like last night at Tribia. Everybody's asking, when's the baby coming? Anything about the baby?

You have to, like, no, I don't know. put our head down and lie to the people. What baby? Who's Drew? So I'm so happy for them. We're all uncles now, Uncle Matt now. We've got a new member of the KSR family and super proud of those guys. So if he needs a babysitter, he can just drop the baby off at your house, right? You got it covered? I wouldn't yet. I don't know how I had to work everything.

You need a baby that starts at like maybe four or five years old. Yeah. You know? Well, I went over there at night for the first time, and I realized I don't know where all my lights are. So that's a problem. You don't know where your lights are. Yeah, I know. If you had a realtor who could tell you those things, you could.

But Billy, beautiful baby. I texted Drew, have a good baby, and you did. And it's very nice. First baby born in the KSR radio air. Yeah, I can't wait to babysit. You know, I love kids, so I can't wait. I don't think they're going to have you doing. Oh, come on.

I can't wait until she can talk, so then you won't let her on the show. That would be great. No, I'm really happy for Drew and Abby. And, you know, can't wait to see. see what becomes. What do you mean what becomes? With her life? Yeah, just like how we adopt the baby into the KSR family.

KS baby, that's right. I think it'll be hands off for a long time. I think I'll leave it to Drew and Abby. But he is very happy. You could tell. Talk to him this week and he's got that picture. It's a very sweet picture. I'll never, that picture with him on his chest, that was very nice.

You know, being a dad is the greatest job. I knew you're going to say that. That's one of your 10 phrases. Stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. Being Dad is the best job you'll ever have. That's one of your go-toes. I'm sure, like, last week, he couldn't imagine a day with a child in his life. Now he can't imagine a day without that child in his life.

His whole world has just changed, and I'm so proud and happy for him. That's beautiful. Thank you. I appreciate that. I stayed at a Holiday Express. There's number four. Should put that in a greeting card. So, so Drew will be, he'll be off the show for a few weeks,

and then I'm not sure exactly when he'll return. and probably, you know, second week of May, some third week, something like that. So we are here until then, and this is going to be a big two or three days for UK basketball. They have their roster is at this point, I would say, quite incomplete, but it could be more complete before we get on the air Monday. So the rundown is this. They got Zoom Diallo, the point guard from Washington. I think he is kind of penciled in as the starting point guard next year.

Over the last 24, 36 hours, they had Donnie Freeman, Alex Wilkins, and then Sebastian, is it Ransick? I think so. Rancic from Colorado, we're all in. Just on the restaurant update, they went to Tony's last night, again, trying to change up the mojo a little bit. Had multiple, they sat right in the middle, so I had multiple pictures coming from listeners at all ends, taking pictures. For Alex Wilkins comes from Furman. I think if he comes next year, I would bet you he'd be the leading score on the team. I think he is a dynamic score.

I don't know how he plays. He's kind of a point guard, but maybe we play with two. I know they want him a lot. He is choosing between Kentucky and Alabama, and Alabama apparently wants him a lot. They're offering him kind of the run of the team, but I understand their NIL offer is less than Kentucky, so we'll see how that goes. and then Donnie Freeman is Alabama, Yukon, and Kentucky, and he's a big guy from Syracuse.

So we talked yesterday about how Pope was going to be going against Yukon for two. It's now also looking at it's Yukon and Alabama for two. I sort of say what I said yesterday, which is this is, I think, a little bit of a test for Mark, because he's going to have, these are two players where the Kentucky and I offer is either more or equal to what the other teams are offering. And now we've got to see if he can round him up.

I think if he were to get both of these guys, it would be a feather in his cap in recruiting. It might be a finally people can say, all right, he can win some of these battles. If he doesn't, then I think the criticism will only amplify. And I think it's probably going to happen this weekend. What do you think he ends up happening? You know, I think it is a good test.

He's got to win some of these battles, especially when you're going head-to-head against Yukon and Alabama. Can he get all three? that's a big feather in his cap if he beat out these. Well, the Sebastian Rancet kid, those programs are not going for him. They should get him. If they want him, they should get him. I don't think any of his offers are as good.

I don't know how much they want him. He's here, so obviously they want himself. But the Wilkins Freeman, Shannon, I do think is a real test for Mark. And also a chance, though. I mean, look at it as a positive. Alabama and Yukon have been a lot better than we have the last three or four years. If you could get a player, if you could get two players to pick you over them, that's a good sign. You know, I think we can beat Yukon and Alabama.

I just don't want any part of BYU. BYU is taking all of our players. I'm not worried. That's a unique group of guys. I'm joking, though. If you can get two out of three, though, I think that would be a huge, huge deal for the roster building. And, you know, getting Zoom to Yalo softened below, I think, a whole lot. Because if we were going into this weekend with no recruits, the negativity would grow much, much louder.

Yeah, I mean, I always say, Billy, if you want to be really, really. good, you got to have three dudes, all right? I'm still worried about who our dudes are next year. You know, I think Zoom could be one. I think Alex Wilkins could be one, and then maybe you hope Malachi gets better, or, you know, maybe free. It's hard to know, but I'll tell you this, if they don't get Wilkins and Freeman, and then I look at the rest of the recruiting landscape they're going after, I don't really see dudes. I see guys that are good, but I don't see dudes.

And I think if you want to win, you got to have. I mean, you look at this year's team. How many dudes did we have? O.A. Aberdeen. Maybe Aberdeen by the end of the year. That was it. But then that was it.

And these may be the last two guys on the board, except Tyron Stokes, which is a different situation, that are dudes. No matter what dudes that they get next, they need to fit Mark Pope's scheme. I think last year he was. is so reactionary to how physical the SEC was, and you get a guy like Mo Diabate, who's not a stretch four, that's not best for your outside shooting. So whoever it is, they need to be shooters and play up that up-tempo offense that we thought we were getting. But we also just got to be able to, we just got to be able to go get guys who can get buckets. You saw in the Iowa State

game. How many times we just needed a bucket, and we just didn't have guys who could go get it. O.A. was really the only guy who could consistently go and get his shot. And even he was better Ryan going to the basket. He wasn't really a great jump shooter. So I just, I think this is a big weekend for Mark. I don't know, I don't think it's like do or die, but I think it's pretty big, especially after you lost Rob Wright, who I think would have been your best play. So we've talked about this a lot, the perception, and you can go out.

Oh, the perception's huge. Yeah, because if you spend a lot of time online, it is, Zoom helped a little bit, but it is crazy, not just Kentucky fans, the online college. basketball community is so skeptical of Mark Pope like the the jokes about what the visits are like and then all the the the national people he just needs something shanan and to turn it around for him because you know look at Derek over there Derek was one of the best at like being interactive with me mark has gone radio silent and it has made people the void has been filled with honestly a lot of people just making fun of him and giving him a hard time, and he needs to change that

perception. Yep. If he could get Stokes, that would shut everybody up. But, you know, they lost another player. Well, that's, yes, for sure. They lost another player yesterday that committed to Texas Tech. Cruz. Yeah, but I think he was a secondary option. I think they, the part of the problem for Mark is sometimes waiting on a guy, your backup thing goes somewhere else. Like, so they were waiting, they were trying to wait on right, and then Wilkinson went to Arkansas, if you read reports. I think they were waiting on Wilkins, and like you said, the Cruz Davis guy goes to Texas Tech. If you wait too long, you don't even get your second choice. Yeah, and every time you see a name that's on the target list that has a scheduled visit that ends up recruiting somewhere else,

again, it just gets more negative online. Now, the portal also ends Monday. So let me throw one more thing out there. And this is not like, this is not scoop. I'm not saying there's anybody that's like this, but I know this is going to happen for other schools. So it could happen for Kentucky. I think there are guys out there, Ryan, that are going to enter the portal the last day, knowing where they're going. And the schools have asked the guy, don't get into the last day so you don't scare this other recruit off or something like that. So I think you're going to see potentially for some programs, because you go look, Kansas has no players. Arkansas has very few players.

Kentucky doesn't have – like, there've got to be guys for these schools. And I have to think that there's at least a couple dudes out there who are going to enter the portal at the last minute already knowing where they're going. Is it possible that Mark Pope in Kentucky? It could be. And if so, it might be the old Cal, what is it, real G's moving silence like lasagna? Good job. I didn't listen to Little Wayne back in my day.

Say that again? Is that to listen to a little Wayne? No, no. The phrase. Oh, Real G's moving silence like Lazzania. That could not sound less like Little Wayne when you. you say it. Yeah, a little different. But it could be, who knows? Maybe he's been silent, Ryan, and he's had this card up his sleeve the whole time. We'll see.

You kind of hinted? I'm not saying he does. I have no idea, but I'm just trying to figure it, because there are too many really good programs that don't have any players right now, and they've got to come from somewhere. You've hinted a time or two about possibly a European player or an overseas player. Is that still on the table? I think they're, I think they'll definitely be one on our roster next year. Now, how good are they? I don't know. Because like with the European players, how do you know? I mean, like you see grainy footage of them and so who knows? Sometimes you might get a kid who's awesome. And then sometimes you might get a kid like, well, take Big Z and his brother. Big Z came in a lot more touted than his brother and his brother's better than him.

And I don't know that anybody knew one way or the other. Right now it's just going to take a lot of patience from our fan base, which is a lot to ask for because we are just like, no, we are just like, you know, we got to what August for this whole thing to completely wrap up. We do, but I, but, but, you know, what, what, what happened the last few years, which is where a player would just magically become available in June and July, the NCAA has cut that off. They're saying if you played college basketball last year, you have to be in the portal by April 21st or you can't go anywhere else. So after April 21st, the only players that can come join, Ryan, would be people from overseas. The American players are off the table after April 21st. That's why you think a lot of people may wait to the last minute.

It's still got most of the summer to try to make a decision. There is one caveat. If the NCAA decides to give all the people that just graduated a fifth year, because they're going to, if you remember me saying, they're going to add five years for players now going forward, but they're not sure what they're doing with the guys that just finished. So you could have a scenario where all of a sudden everyone that just graduated is available. And that's a whole lot of players.

Why wouldn't you, if you're one of those guys, why wouldn't you put your name in just in case? Well, that might happen on Monday. You might have all these seniors put their name in just to see. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-745254. We are here at Whiskey Thief. A beautiful day out in Frankfurt. Come join us if you're around.

We'll take a break and be right back. Kentucky Sports Radio. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies,

and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,

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

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, is 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come

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Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going.

From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki.

The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast.

Podcasts for wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at Whiskey Thief. Whiskey Thief Distilling has expanded its presence in Louisville. They've paired with the Louisville Bats to support the America's favorite pastime. They have the backstop, a speakeasy bourbon lounge, debuting at the Louisville Bats. I saw, by the way, this weekend, the Louisville Bats are changing their name for the Bucson. weekend to the Louisville mint juleps.

Oh, really? So if you go to a Louisville Bats game this weekend, you can buy mint julep's hat. I like, I saw it. I actually like it a lot. It's like a weird color and it's got a mint julep on the thing. I think I'm going to buy one. I enjoyed it. The mint julep remains the worst alcoholic drink.

Okay, come on, you can't say that right when we, right when we're promoting the mint julep. No, I mean, I'm just saying the drink itself. Now, I'm excited about the bads. I love the bids. It sounds like it. You're big fan of the mint jolots. Just saying that just saying the mint jolubilip. itself is an over.

Thank you. She said for me. There you go. Thank you. Wow. You guys. How harsh you all are about Mitchulips. That's the $20 price. I just want to tell you. I thought it was nice, and whiskey thief will be partnered with the Louisville Bats. Don't let Shannon tell you about it. One person writes, Matt, you're going to have to start learning. You have to call the baby her and not it. Did I do that?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know what? I don't know. I feel like it. I just did it. I said it again. I feel like she. There you go. I'm glad she is in the world. How about that?

In that sweet? No, go ahead. Drew said they're going to bring her everywhere. Like he'll bring her to remotes and bring her to out to eat. They're going to, like, not be shy. I bet they stopped doing that after a while. It's going to be tough to go everywhere. Yeah.

One person writes, Shannon will appreciate this. When I heard his name, I thought, Avery Rose has its thorns. That's good. Yeah. Yeah. You know, Rose, just a couple of letters off from being Rory. It would have been Rory, Avery Rory. Avery Rose has it.

That's going to be hard. I'm afraid I'm going to be doing that the kid's entire life. I'm just, Matt, I didn't think of that. See, why did this person have to tell me that? Now we're going to do it every time we see her. We're going to be doing that. That's going to be in my head the whole time. One person writes, Matt, I feel bad for Mark Pope.

Everyone acts like he whiffs on everyone. The reality is we've only whiffed on one person for real, and that's Rob Wright. So why does everybody out? act like he's swift on everyone. That's actually a fair point, I think. If you're talking about somebody they went all in on, I think there's only two kids as of this moment that have committed to another school that Kentucky really wanted.

One of them was Rob Wright, and then one of them is the kid from Virginia Tech that went to North Carolina, but he had decided before, even when UK, he was going to North Carolina. So I don't think UK really had a shot at him. Now, I think part of it is, is we don't think we're going to get Tyron Stokes.

So I think that's part of it. And then there's just worry because, you know, last year, yeah, Donovan Dent, Lamar Wilkinson and those guys. But it is fair to say it's only been one. And the kid just went back to the school he was at. So, I mean, that's why he could turn the narrative around a little bit. Yeah, that's what I was going to ask you. It seems like maybe we're still gun shy from last year.

I think that's part of it. Yaxel, one of them, you know, seemed like we missed on some guys that really went all out. last year early now in this season we kind of maybe miss out on our number one point guard target so i think people just a little maybe a little gun shy we'll we'll see i do think this can with this weekend can help a lot which gets me to my bigger question for today an 859 280 20287 i want this coming season mark to have success and the coaching aspect i'll trust him to do it i'm never going to be able to tell him what to do but let's just talk about from a from an imaging

standpoint with this fan base until we can win enough games that everybody's happy okay because like ultimately it'll be whether or not he wins or loses but from now until December when the season's really going Ryan what what can Mark do to get to where the people in this room etc everybody feels more positive about it I think if you're laying in Stokes that's going to be a big Well, let's say he doesn't get him, because that I do agree with you. But let's just say he gets a normal roster. He gets guys, how do they kind of get that energy back? Great question, because the only way you're going to do is we win games.

You know, you can't come out of the gate and lose some of these games in November like you did last year. But what do we do for the six months prior? I mean, like, this fan base, part of what makes it great is how excited it gets, how into it it gets. And I'm even as a radio host trying to figure out, how do you get people to believe? leave again in this guy that two years ago they believed it. Honestly, one year ago they believed it. Talking to the media would be a good start. Yeah.

Second of all, just getting players on the roster. I mean, you look at how this fan base got excited about the announcement of Zoom Diallo's commitment. A lot of fans were going, you know, I'd rather have him to rob right anyway. So I think just getting guys on the roster. That is true. There's a part of it, Billy, where as soon as you get somebody, we do talk ourselves into them. Yeah, sure. You know, we do sort of go, yeah, that guy's going to be good.

Even if you didn't think he was going to be good, you talk yourself into the fact that he's going to be good. And then you say you never wanted the guy from BYU to begin with. That's just the fan base. I wanted him. And most of us will probably talk ourselves into Kentucky being good again. That's just part of being a fan. But maybe bring back some stuff that made the excitement before, like the camp out, a big blue madness. I mean, you can relate to fans in ways other than just winning games before the season starts.

Well, they're going to have a new athletic director in the next little bit, too. I think part of that will depend on. I will say I want, I want to sort of contrast it with Will Stein. And folks, by the way, spring game, we're going to talk about. Spring game is tomorrow at 11 o'clock. Will Stein, I don't think is getting enough attention for how much he's killing it right now in terms of recruit. They just flipped a guy from Auburn to Kentucky. They've signed the number one quarterback in America that has committed to a school has committed to Kentucky.

Kentucky. Kentucky is ranked right now 11th in the recruiting rankings. 11th. We used to dance when Mark Pope got or Mark Stoops got us to 23rd or 24th. They are 11th right now in the recruiting rankings. I want to see Mark Pope get some of that energy because I want him to have it because right now, you know, you get online and it's bad, right? It's a shame that the basketball has overshadowed what Will Stein has done in football because he got that kid, the defensive line, and even from the state of Alabama to commit to Kentucky. He's killing it right now. Yeah, 859-280-2287.

We're going to take a break. We'll take your calls. Maybe some more rap lyrics from Billy. This is Kentucky Sports Radio live at Whiskey Beach. That's right. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. There's another baby over there.

You know it's a KSR remote when you're at a whiskey place and there are babies. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-7-7-7-7. 45254. Derek Anderson, A-O-K charity, Acts of Kindness, Bourbon. Here he will be signing them a little bit later for those of you that, for those of you that want it. One person writes, Matt, here's a way that Mark Pope could get everybody excited. They play on a summer trip this year, and then they are good and show a good offense. That will help. That will help. I mean, the summer games, you never know.

I mean, I think the only time we've ever lost a summer game was the year we ended up going 38 and 1. We lost, if you remember, we lost a game that summer. So you never really know. I think I'll probably be always a little skeptical of exhibitions after we beat Purdue and lost to Georgetown and then it ended up with that. But it still would be nice to see, you know, it'll be great to see the team play. And I love, as we said yesterday, the idea of doing one of those every summer, giving this fan base a week or so to get to watch their team will be exciting. There's no doubt.

If we see them play this summer, we're going to talk ourselves into it. We did after they beat Purdue. Final four national championship, make your reservations now. We'll do the same thing in a summer game. When I miss, and it's a holiday, Billy and I have to choose what best of are we going to play? She'llie and Shannon and I. We talked about we were going to play the one after we beat Purdue. Because if you could listen to this show after we beat Purdue, the excitement was insane.

Now it might be a little sad to listen to when you go back. Post-game show, too, if you go back and listen to it. It was out of control. People are like, this is the best team we've ever had. And so staying healthy is going to be a big part of it, too. Mark Pope's been snake-bitten at the point guard spot. And so if everybody can get to the starting line, then I think many will talk to themselves. When we turned around, I lost to Georgetown.

Maybe that should have been a little. Yeah, we did. Unless Lou, we got beat by a lot in that game in Georgetown. 859-280-2287. Let's see. We'll go to the phones. Who's up first? Joe is up first.

Joe, go ahead, Joe. Hey, Matt, I got a really cool Derek Anderson story I'd like to share. All right, you got to go quick. Okay, so I'm in the Army. I was at the captain's career course. It's a six-month-long course and became really good buddies with a guy named Trey Anderson. We hung out every day, working out the whole nine, never got into basketball, football season while we were there.

One day, you know, it started getting close basketball. I start my usual trash talk, and he's like, you're a Kentucky fan. And I'm like, yeah. Like, he's like, what do you know about Kentucky? And I'm like, well, you know, grew up, you know, 90 for my team. You're not telling me quick. You got to go quick. Okay. Get to it.

And then I was like, well, Derek Anderson is my favorite player. And he's like, that's my uncle. And I said, no, it's not. He calls him, puts him on the phone. And I went from being 40 years old to 11 years old in about five seconds. Well, that'll do it to you. Where is he? Absolutely.

Okay, I was all right. I was just making sure he was getting to hear. Yes. What was your name? Joe Cummins. Joe Cummins, he says. Yes. Here, actually, he's going to jump on with you, Ro.

Look at how nice this is. Go ahead. What's up, Joe? Good to see you, 11-year-old. Uncle Derek, what's up? What's up, nephew? Yeah, yeah. That was the funny part was from that day forward.

I told Trey, I was like, he's my uncle now, too. So that's where we're out. Good, good. You didn't even ask for any money. You're a great nephew. Good talking to you, I appreciate the call. Thank you, sir. There we go.

That's a great line. See, now that's a showman right there. That's a show. Derek, you got to get your former teammate. You've got to teach some of that showmanship to Mark. You're coming back here, and you're going to be here in a second hour, right? Okay, all right, just making sure. All right, just making sure.

Yeah. That was great the way he reacted like that because there are people that grew up with that team. That 96 team was so. incredible. I mean, they not just beat people. They beat them by 30 points every time. We get mad if we didn't beat somebody by 20. One person writes, Matt, I think part of the thing that makes, we offered 17 of the top 25 high school players in America last year. Pope visited 11 of them, and we got none of them. Well, now that's a fair point. Well, yeah, when you put it like that. That's a fair point. I hadn't really thought about it like that. But yeah, that's a fair point.

Yeah. It's been brutal. But again, you know, just getting a couple more commitments, I think we'll soften a lot of us. One person writes, Matt, does it bother you that a lot of the other fan bases are mocking our fan base and you about the meltdown over the last week? Well, I don't care that they're mocking me because I don't know what they would what they would mock. But in terms of the, we did as a fan base, we have melted down online. Like I, you know, I was telling Drew, I was talking to Drew and he goes, what have I missed? and I said you picked the perfect week to have a baby, like the perfect week,

because everybody was kind of going nuts, and I get it, but we went collectively a little, probably a little off the deep end. You know, I feel like other fan bases, other programs wish they had fans like us that cared as much as we do. Well, I do agree with that.

I think there's a little bit of jealousy. Like, if you're an Alabama fan and you like college basketball, Billy, you don't have, a lot of your Alabama fans don't care. Right. you know, we do care. There are only a handful of fan bases that care like us.

Kansas cares like us. You know, North Carolina used to. I don't know if they do as much anymore. I mean, there's not many. And so there is a sense that I do think that part of why people talk about it is we're just kind of the thing. Well, like Florida. I mean, they had another great year. It won the national championship a year before.

You know what they were talking about the next day on Florida Sports Radio? Football. Getting ready for SEC football. They're going to have the number one team in America. year. If everybody comes back that's supposed to, Florida's going to be the number one team in America. And if you were to go to a Florida fan thing, you wouldn't even know. You would have no idea that they're going to have, they're going to have like a rocket ship of a team if everybody comes back. And, Ryan, you wouldn't even know.

No, that's why they wish they had a fan base like we do. We care every single day of the year, man. We're talking UK basketball, recruiting. You know, whatever the situation is, we care about our basketball team more than anything in this. How many other fan bases do you think know that their players got dropped off at the airport in a blue beat-up Kia? There we go. Only our fan base. We pay attention to that stuff.

Yeah. I got crushed for that, but I still think... Well... I still think that was a good story. A couple of little dings. By the way, people will now send me pictures if they're driving down the road and they see a blue Kia. That was the one in their mind. And they take the picture and go, that's who took Tyron Stokes to the airport.

Who's next? Gary is up next. Gary. Go ahead, Gary. Hey, Gary. I said, I said to go with myself. Hello, Gary. I apologize.

This is for the Aarhart radio people. The Liberty Mutual commercials have gotten out of hand. I've actually taken my policy away from them. I went to State Farm. Well, okay. So while you're on this point, we do have some ad. Hang on just a second. I'll let you finish.

We do have some ads. I have to tell you, I've been listening to podcast and stuff. Chumba Casino, Billy. I don't know what it is. How many of you hear all the Chumba Casino? I don't know what it is. I don't know what, but they don't stop the Chumba Casinos. Why is it so much?

That must be a podcast ad that's playing. And a lot of times those are national. So we have our local ads on live. I understand. But somebody's got to tell Chumba Casino to just take a break. Take a deep breath. And along with the timeshare guy, just everybody, just take a deep breath. All right, go ahead, sir.

Yeah, that in the WNBA podcast that nobody wants to listen to. Those are good on my nerves. Question for you, if you had to pick one stock to invest in today, and you had to hold for five years, what would it be? Oh, gosh. I don't know. I'm not in the business frame of mind right now. I appreciate the call.

I have no idea. Chee-chees. It's about to explode again. Chee-chees? Yeah, there's one in Minnesota. Okay, which gets me to, since you said that, we had a trivia question last night. So Ryan has heard this. This then will be Shannon and Billy, we'll have to guess. What eight fast food and casual restaurant chains, which eight lost the most locations last year net?

So which restaurant chains are going down in terms of location? net, like total, in the country, can you get one of the eight? Hmm. I'll let you go first, Billy. How about Cracker Barrel? That's not a bad guess. They were like 12th, but no. Cracker Barrel was not on the list.

Chili's. Chili's is actually resurging. It's up. Oh, really? Wow. There are new chilies being built, thankfully. We're terrible with this game. Yes.

Applebees. Applebees is on the list. Applebee's eighth has seen the eighth most closings. White Castle. No white. Castle. I got food poisoning from Wendy's. Wendy's. Oh, don't say that. We used to have a Wendy's call of the day. We did. Still waiting on gift cards.

And many of you are still waiting to get it, if I'm correct. Wendy's is on the list. Well done. That's not you've gotten two. Maybe you just let Billy play. How about Arby's? Arby's is not right. Billy, you're better at this. What else is terrible? Give me Sonic. First of all, Sonic is wonderful. Yeah. No, they're not on the list. I gotta pick somebody.

Taco Bill. No. All right. So number one, most locations, Denny's. Oh, I didn't even know they were even still around. That's why I didn't guess Denny's. Second, red lobster. Oh, the cheddar biscuits. Endless shrimp got them. Third, subway.

Subways. Yeah, they had some bad. Then Wendy's. Then fifth, hooters. Oh, what a shame. Of course. Yeah, we know Hooters. TGI Fridays. Yep.

Papa Johns and Applebee's. Those were your answers. your team do on that that was Matt's first question of the night and we got one out of the gate my team my superstar all-star dream team got one of the eight place did you all come in 10th 10 you were bragging about how you were gonna win you get any finish in the top 10 and we got one in the first question who's up next steve is up next steve go ahead steve hey good morning guys Hey, the other day on the Tom Ridge show, Jack Givens said the best big man player on the UK team last year was Brandon Hawthor.

Well, it's Braden Hawthorne. And I'm not saying Jack's wrong, okay? So I'm not, Jack would know more than me. So if Jack says it, I'll go with it. With that said, if he was so good, Why didn't he play? That's my time. I mean, we needed him. And if it was, I've heard people kind of whisper that, and I'm not saying it's wrong. Maybe we get out here, and he's, but if he was so good, he was not hurt. He could have played, and he could have done the five years thing that's

coming. So like, I'm not saying he's wrong at the same time. If he's right, why didn't he play? Well, I agree, but I didn't know if we heard anything about him coming back or not. Well, he said, appreciate the call. He said back in March he was coming back, but he was on a stream with some guy the other day. I don't know how that. I don't know how that. He just was on a stream with the guy where he asked him, are you coming back and he said, well, I haven't thought about it,

which is hard for me to believe he hasn't thought about. Not one thought. But so I don't know. I would assume he's coming back, Ryan. but I don't know that. I got a little scuttle butt on that. Oh. Just a little.

I'll tell you, let's tease it. Okay. We will tease it. We will take a break. And Ryan's potentially correct scuttle butt will be right after this here at 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 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, 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

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

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It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at Whiskey Thief. All right, I got a message from Jack Givens himself. All right. Jack Givens said, I did not say that Hawthorne was the best.

big men because he's not a big man. But I did say that at times he could be the best player in practice last year. Well, that's still good. It would also, though, made me say, why don't they play? Because we actually could have used a dude that was like him after Kim Williams got hurt. We could have used that kind of long-rangey guy. We heard legendary stories from practice, you know, guys that would go 95 or 100 from three and then get in the game and couldn't hit anything.

Josh Carrier was the best example. example of that over the years, but there have been guys. I mean, I've seen it sometimes. We heard it last year. Well, I'll tell you the big one was when the 2012 national title team, I went to practices, and Ryan Harrow was good. He would sometimes work Marcus Teak. And you were like, man, when we get him next year, watch out. And then when it started, just. The only problem in the game, you're not playing against Marcus Teague. Yeah, but like Marcus Teague was good. And sometimes you'd see him practice and you'd go, man, he's just working Marcus Teague.

But then it didn't work out the next year. Everybody who saw those two go head to head came to the same conclusion. Ryan Harrell was the better point of. There's a lot of people who thought, especially remember when we lost to Indiana in the early in the season, there's a lot of people that thought we're not going to win the title because they won't play Ryan Harrow. And then obviously that didn't end up working out. All right, so you say you have scuttle butt on Hawtham? I don't want to oversell it.

It sounds like you. Too late. We already built it out. We spent a whole break getting you ready for it. There's a reason he's waiting to the last minute to put his name in the transfer portal or not. He's waiting to see who Kentucky brings in. He's kind of watching the roster develop waiting until the last minute. So he's going to hold out until Monday whether he enters the portal or not.

So what I was saying about other guys, you're saying might be true about Hawthor himself. I think he's exactly one of those guys. That's interesting. Well, I wonder what he's, but like who could we be getting? I guess if you got Tyron Stokes, he would not want to come here. Probably. I would think that's, that might be what it is. What is Hawthor? Is he six, nine? He is, but he'll play more on the perimeter. He'll play on the perimeter. He's not going to be banging down low. It's just strange to see a red shirt in now to today's college landscape. I don't think people like wait around anymore. You kind of go to wear the playing time. And now there won't be red shirts. Starting next year, if they pass this, where there will be no more red shirts in football or back. I think that's a red shirt's kind of a common thing in football not happening anymore.

Right. You go to school from it's it's when you, the rule is as soon as you graduate high school, you have five years unless you go into the military or you have a religious mission trip. You have five years. And then if you're from overseas starting at the age of 19, you have five years. And after that, it's over. I'd be all for that. I mean, some of this stuff is ridiculous. But then you can play all five years.

Yeah, sure. I mean, but you wouldn't have, you know, cases like Cameron Fletcher, who is now going to go into his seventh year at High Point this year. But you also wouldn't have a dude. You may remember many years ago in football, the guy that played Florida State Chris Winky, who, like, tried to go play one sport. And then he came back and he was playing at, like, 27 at Florida State. The day you graduate high school, your college eligibility starts then. Like you said, for football, there was a lot of fifth-year players already. They did redshirt, could play their four years.

That's why schools like Georgia, Alabama, LSU could build up all that. depth. They could do it now. These guys are coming in. They're going to play. Yeah. Well, or they're not going to play, but it still count. Here's what I think you're going to see in football. I saw, I heard somebody say this, and it makes complete sense to me. What you're going to see in football is you're going to see some guys who make the decision out of high school to go to like, you know, a school like Western and play right away out of high school and then transfer to a Georgia or an Alabama rather than go to Georgia, Alabama, sit the bench for two or three years and play someone. I think what's going to happen is some of these secondary football

schools will actually get better players out of high school, and they'll actually get guys on their campus for a couple of years who are big talents because they don't want to, they don't want to just sit the bench, they want to plet. And Western has always been a stepping stone school for a lot of coaches, like Bobby Petrino gets back into it, Jeff Brom, these guys find better jobs, and now it looks like we can get some better players to do that. I think it'll make a lot of sense for guys to do that. It does. I mean, if you're not going to be an elite recruit, why go and just waste two years, go play two years, then get in the portal?

You've got a chance to make a big payday that third year as well, you know. Go to some school like Alabama, Georgia. You're a tackling dummy for a couple of years. Don't get any reps at all. Go to Western. You're actually got your playing every single Saturday. Who's up next? Jeremy is next.

Jeremy. Go ahead, Jeremy. We will never, ever, ever forgive you all. After your recommendation, I watch neighbors all six episodes. And? I'm scar for life now because. I know, but it's a good scar, right? It's a good scar.

You're going to be thinking about that yellow bikini bottom for the rest of your life that guy wears. I can't wash my eyes out enough to get that out of my mind. It's so awful. The only thing I have disappointed in, really no resolution in that first episode with the guys with the land and the fence. I agree with that. I mean, I know that they had a mediator guy, but they never really said, hey, this is what happened. You know, with all the rest of them seem like there was some finality.

Yeah, I appreciate the call. That's my only complaint about the show is that they leave some stuff, like you don't know how the show, how their resolution ends. That's what season two is for. I hope so. But I'm still, everybody, more people now come up to me and ask about that show. The most questions I get is, Kim Pope coach, wins Drew having his baby, and then something about neighbors.

Those are the three things people now bring up to me. The caller's right, though. There are some images that are burned in our mind that we cannot get rid of from that. I skipped over the first five and just went right to six. Like just go ahead, rip the band-aid off. Let me see it. Wow. You just decided to burn your eyes right at the start.

Well, we will take a break when we come back. Derek Anderson is going to join us. We'll talk more recruiting, and they're giving away more bourbon here at Whiskey Thief in Frankfurt. It's 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 head writer, Streeter Seidel,

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind,

and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear.

Listen to Sports Slice on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women

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I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last?

Tell me what you know. is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.