KSR - 7-10-2026 - KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: July 10, 2026

Live from UK Credit Union in Nicholasville. Harley's Hot Dogs are the best dogs around, Matt traveled to the Reds game last night, Mitch Barnhardt's payout and selling garbage from the Taylor and Travis wedding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Hey, what's up, y'all? It's your girl, Sam J. And we're the hosts of Everyone Watches Women's Sports, a new podcast from Together. We're breaking down the biggest headlines, the viral moments, and the stories everyone's talking about across women's sports. From game-changing performances to culture-shifting conversations, we'll give you our takes, our debates, and a few laughs along the way. Because everyone watches women's sports.

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Welcome, everybody. This is Kentucky Sports Radio here live in Nicholasville at the UK Credit Union, right off of Highway 21. Is that right? Is what? Seven. 27. That's close enough here on a, well, not beautiful day. Kind of a terrible rainy day, but we're under a tent. Great crowd, and you can give us a shout on the Clark's Puppet Shop phone line 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772.72. 7754 in this edition sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office. If you call T.J. He'll make them pay. We actually haven't done a show in the in the Nicholsville area in a while. And then even in Lexington. It's been, you know, probably since the end of the season. So nice to be out here. And great seeing everyone.

We are back, right? Excuse me, Shannon and Drew after being at a landfill yesterday, which was one of the more unique locations. I would go ahead and say, maybe. the most unique location, Drew, that we've ever done, I think. You know, I was thinking about it on the way back. We did a show once in a funeral home. Do you remember that? Oh, no, I do not. Oh, I do, because Ryan wouldn't stop talking about it.

He's like, everybody's dying to be here. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember. Yeah, that was down in Casey County. We did a show at a funeral home, but I would say this was right there with it. First time wearing those highlight or yellow vests, which we got to keep. I went and hung mine up at home. Yeah, I forgot.

I didn't know that we were allowed to keep it. I walked into my restaurant for lunch and I had that on. See, I feel like you could use this to your advantage. You hate traffic. At any point, you can just put that vest on a Glott and start directing traffic like you work for the state. Oh, I could direct traffic. Yeah, I got right this way. Come on around.

That's actually a pretty good idea. But we are here at UK Credit Union. The only credit union in Newsweek's best in state rankings, over 100 banks and credit unions in Kentucky who offer more than 200 checking accounts, but banking can just be simple here at UK Credit Union. one of our great sponsors. They have a mascot. Is it called whiskers? Whiskers?

Yeah. What is whiskers? Whiskers needed a break. Okay. The humidity was getting to whiskers. I understand. We've got to be tough to be in that suit. So yesterday, you know, we went there.

Here's what I didn't realize. First of all, you know, you go to a landfill. People want to talk about it, right? Like that's what I didn't realize until last night, I got a phone call from a local newspaper. I didn't know there was like a controversy in that town about. I don't really know the details of it. And they were like, do you have a statement?

And I said, no. I mean, I mean. Go with a podcast. You had two hours of statements. Yeah, but they asked me if I had a statement on the local controversy. And I was like, no, I didn't even know there was a controversy. Like, it was just a business that brought us out. So I had no idea what was going.

Well, the point is. I got called during the show, and that made me kind of look up and see what was happening. Or they're looking to expand the landfill. Yeah, and I don't have an opinion on that. That's between, I'm like, my name's Paul, and that's between y'all, the citizens and Rumpke. But the people were very nice, and you have to have landfills. And actually, what I took away from it is I've never been to a landfill, well, ever. But I've never been to one that smelled, that didn't have really a smell.

Sorry, Drew, my question would be like, okay, if you don't expand it, then what's the alternative? Don't get weighing into controversy, Shannon. No, no, I've got an opinion on this. Okay, Mount Sterling paper calls Shannon for his opinion. Yeah, okay, if you don't want them to expand it, then what's the alternative? I don't know. You've got to put it somewhere. Are you going to weigh in on this?

I'm weighing in on it right now. I got an email for comment too. Oh, did you get an email for comment too? I want to be like, look, I don't know my own local politics. I certainly don't know Mount Sterling. Yeah, well, all right. I enjoyed it. I had a good time.

Dear Mount Sterling advocate, if you have a question, Shannon the dude will be speaking on the issue. I'll see you at court days in Mount Sterling. I love that festival. I had a good time. Controversy side, whatever's going on. That was great time. They were very nice thanks to Rumkey, and they gave us, I don't know if you looked in that bag.

It had a ton of stuff. Wow. Those hot dogs were good. Flask with Roopkeke. Oh, that's, I didn't want to say that. Whatever Harley Hot Dogs is down there, that's the best hot dog I've ever had. Awesome. It was awesome.

I got one to go and one there. I followed him on TikTok. He's got a big following. He just TikTok's his hot dog maker. I'm going to say to you, I don't know where he's based, but Carly. What, Covington, Harley's hot dogs, that's the best hot dog I've ever had. And if you had told me, the best hot dog you ever will have was in a landfill in Mount Sterling.

I would not have believed that, but that's exactly what happened. It's like the Toby Keith trash dogs. That's true. That's exactly right. Last night, Shannon, I went to the Reds game. I drove up there. I apologize. They are so terrible.

But enjoyed the game, went with Hubby. the thing I took away from it is it is very difficult to watch a baseball team where you know that they're not going to score like at any point during the game and you know when I with my seats I can like I'm right behind home plate so I can see the pitches and they had a guy named Jesus as their pitcher I knew we were in trouble when you're trying to hit against Jesus amen and Jesus he he had a what do you call it a sinker that's a pitch right yeah I And when he threw it, you could watch it. And they weren't even close to the ball ever.

So the whole time, it was like it's like you just dread. We're going to lose this game. It's just a matter of win. And then we did. And Brady Singer pitched really well, but didn't matter. We still lost. No, when Jesus throws the sinker, you're not going to hit it. I don't care who you are.

So I feel bad that you drove all the way up there, and they couldn't even be bothered to score one run for you. And they were never close to score your run at any point during the game. Eh, Huainio Suarez. You know, I like that he's nice to Jim Day, but he stinks. Everybody stinks. He always says they stink. Can we talk about? What's the attendance in the atmosphere like now that they are just completely out of?

Well, did you see the guy who dressed in full uniform? Did you see that video? I thought it was you for a minute. It kind of looks like you from me. You need to look. I post him online. There was a guy who stood in Wright Field and he was by himself and he was in a full uniform, Red's uniform the whole game, like by himself.

And he stood the entire game, had a glove. on and was just rocking back and forth the entire game, all two hours. I have no idea who that man is. He can't be married or have a girlfriend. No, no. That's what I was going to say. Full uniform ended up on SportsCenter last night. When they were leading into SportsCenter, they showed him in the crowd.

Is that awesome or weird? Maybe they should look into giving him a contract, you know, maybe he could hit. I think it's weird for sure. You know, we shame adults who go to games with baseball gloves. guy went full uniform. He basically put himself on the roster out there. He was wearing the pants. Yeah. You rarely see the people wear the pants. He was wearing the pants. I thought it was awesome. Now, if you do that at like Yankees, Red Sox playoffs, no, but if your team's a joke and there's no one around him, there's no one else. No one near him. Sure, go have fun, goof off. Like Shannon said,

maybe they'll call you. Maybe he was out there the whole game. Like he wasn't just out there for the camera shot. I watched him. He was out there from the first inning to the ninth inning the entire time. stretched, did a little batting. He would stretch. Yes, he would do this. And it was like he was going to be ready when that foul ball. If your team stinks, maybe you're taking that opportunity. Maybe they'll hit a ball.

I'll catch it and they'll call me up. Well, I mean, we can't be worse than the guys we have. So that was, so you're one awesome, one weird. I'm going completely weird. What are you going? You get the breadth of time. I'm leading weird because I saw him in person. And no offense, I would, I lean a little bit weird.

Now, when I got on the drive, the news broke about the Mitch Barnhart and Jaybat. contracts. If you didn't hear Mitch Barnhart, his deal with UK is now done. They've redone everything where essentially he agreed to take a little bit less money. He's going to be paid $40,000 a year to work one day a week. Amazing. I don't know what he's doing that day a week. American dream. But the total payout for the contract's going to end up being like $3.6 million. dollars. I'm going to have a view of this that's a little bit probably unpopular, but I actually think it's valid, which is you got to separate this into phases. The deal to give Mitch to extend his, you know, whatever you want to call it, to extend his retirement money back in March and

create a job for him was absolutely bogus and awful. And we called it out, the government called it out. It was a disaster. And so none of what I'm about to say changes that. That was a joke. It was called out as a joke, and it should have been. With that said, they agreed to that deal. Mitch has now agreed to take essentially about a little over a million dollars less than that deal. And I actually think he deserves some credit for that. He doesn't have to do that. He could just say, you pay me this. he's doing that so now it's 3.9 before it was 5 now I still think the 3.9 is kind of ridiculous

at the same time Mitch didn't have to agree to that so I do think it's good that he did that I think those are two different issues so when I heard that I was actually like that's a decent gesture by Mitch to do what do you guys think I think it's just more of a bad deal on the person who gave him that to begin with I think that you know him actually taking less is respectable you know

I still think, as you said, the $3 million is ridiculous. He's going to be all right either way, but he could have made it a lot worse on Kentucky. We could have just said, look, give it all to me. I agreed to it. I mean, I also think if you look at the language, at one point they say severance. I don't know if people realize you only get a severance if you get fired. Right. He retired.

And my, well, sort of. I mean, my view has always been he was pushed out. I mean, that's my view. They'll never say that. I do believe that's true. I do believe they pushed him out. I think maybe they slipped up and used the word severance in there because you don't use severance with retirements. So, I don't know.

What do you think, Drew? I mean, you disliked that deal even more than I did. I was head knucklehead. Yeah. Setser and Linda Blackford. For one, it just further proves how bogus the executive in residence of the UK sports. Yeah, it went from a full-time job to one day a week, $40,000. It was a five-day-a-week job, $1 million a year, and now it's one day a week, $40,000.

Mainly, I'm just glad this is settled. I almost said he's out of here. I guess he will work 52 days a year. But my biggest takeaway is they said Eli's going to go raise it with private money. Who is just going to be like, I would love to give you $3 million just for a man to be retired? Would you give anything to that? Hell no. And also, if Eli is so good at finding that much money, hopefully you can find more because that would take some.

You know who can find that money? Kirkreaser. Kirkreisa. Irene and Kirkresa could get that money if it needed to do. Mario post a picture of Kirkresa. Okay, you know what? Mario, we have to have a conversation. Yeah.

Put that phone down and come over here. Buckle up, put your phone down. Come on, Mario. You're going to get a Billy moment here for a second where we have to talk about something because I love you, Mario. And I'm very uncritical. Mario. Are you there? I'm there. Okay. What's up? You know I love you. But you put a picture up yesterday of Kirk Creza. I did. Just walking down the street. Did you take that picture? I did it. I was

sent that. Okay. All right. That's fair. That's I guess I did not take that. Wasn't so much the photo. Why did you hashtag free Kirkreaser? Well, I mean, it was a joke. It wasn't supposed to be like But you can see how people might not think that's a joke. Yeah, I noticed that on social media. You noticed the 100 comments say, what are you doing? Yeah. Did you consider taking it down? I did on Twitter, but Facebook I left it up.

Facebook, they reacted a little bit different. They got it on Facebook. They got my joke. What did they get? What's the joke I didn't get? Yo, it's free Kirkcisa, yeah. No, I understand what the words. I know the words, but what was the joke?

You know, if he's free, hopefully, not hopefully, but we'll see, let's just wait and see what happens. Stop talking. I think it's made the worse. He's a big fan of the legal process. I'm going to defend you. I'm going to say that you're saying that he is free right now. Like, Ezra. Oh, okay, so you're saying he's at this moment. He is free.

Not saying he should be free, but right now he's free. See, let me defend you, Mario. Yeah, maybe you need legal counsel to talk to you. Just as a general rule of thumb for KSR. Yep. When people have had a federal indictment less than a week ago, we generally don't take the position, free them, without some knowledge more than just the indictment.

That's true. Now I know. And no one's out of the battle. So just for the future, maybe not as much free, you know, because I don't know where that goes in the future. That's very true. We don't want to be on the wrong side of his. Yeah, that makes sense.

That makes sense. So is that, do we understand that? Yes, I totally get it. Okay, good. All right, nice to see you. They could do hashtag lock them up. We did free in us. We did free Big Z.

Yeah, it's a little different with free Big Z and free in us. I wanted boozy free. Sometimes you free people, but maybe. We got to be free. We got to be careful freeing federal crimes. We do need to be careful with that. 859, 280, 2287. That's weird.

Facebook would be more forgiving of it than Twitter. Yeah. They're the ones that got scammed. Exactly. Yeah. Text machine is 772-752525. People still coming up and joining us here at U.K. credit union. We're going to take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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Download the app or visit Western Union.com and send money today. What's up, fam? I'm sports journalist Ari Chambers. Hey, what's up, y'all? It's your girl, Sam Jay. And we're the host of Everyone Watches Women's Sports, a new podcast from Together and I heart women's sports. Because let's be real. Women's sports is giving us way too much to talk about these days. The highlights, the rivalries, the breakout stars, the moments to take over your entire timeline. in the conversations that start during the game and somehow keep going all week.

Every week we're breaking down the biggest stories across women's sports. We'll give you our takes, our debates, and probably a few disagreements. We'll talk to athletes, celebrate big moments and get into what's happening on and off the field, court, track, and beyond.

Because we're not just interested in what happened, we're interested in why everyone's talking about it. Because everyone watches women's sports. So if you're already a fan, you're just getting into the game, there's a seat. for you right here. Listen to everyone watches women's sports.

On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Hoda Kotby, host of the podcast, Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby. Okay, if you know me, you know this. I'm always searching for inspiration, for support, and useful tools to help maximize joy. So this podcast lets us uncover all of that together. We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people. Like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw coming. I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer,

and that was more difficult. There's a lot of people who understand postpartner depression. I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety. Olympic champ Sean Johnson revealed why she had no choice but to be a gymnast. There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to find it. Listen to Joy 101 with HOTA KOTB on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at UK Credit Union. Let's say you need a high yield savings account, Shannon. Yeah. Just thinking, do you know what a high yield savings account is? Yes. Yes. Well, let's say you need one. 4.0 APY right here at UK credit union.

That's actually a great deal for a high-yield savings account. You can do it right here, up to $25,000, perfect place to give your savings somewhere to chill while it works hard for you. I don't know why I touched your belly. It's okay. You can touch my belly. I have one here. I bank here, and I have one of their high-yield savings accounts. Well, good.

That's right. UK credit union people, thanks for having us out. Stop talking. We are here. Sell your bank gear later. All right. Now, in addition to the Mitch Barnhart news, Jay Batt has agreed to start July 28th. We ended up having to pay a buyout of $3.9 million.

Remember it was originally 2.5, but then the deal could have been five. They come to 3.9. I will say, Drew, you know, you many years ago got me with the phrase of it's not my money, which is kind of true with this. at the same time, he better be good if you're paying a buyout of $4 million. That's a lot of money for an AD buyout. He better be good. What are we paying in buyouts?

What is our buyout budget? Well, you got Mitch, him, and Stoops. I mean, our buyout budget has to be over $10 million a year right now. Yeah, but I mean, if you want to go out and get one of the best of the country, which is what they believe he is and he's got a buyout, I mean, you got to pay that and make it happen. So I guess I'm fine. We're sitting on Scrooge McDuck money, so it's just. said, not mine. Yeah, that was a bad phrase for them to use. But, I mean, the Stoops buyout is like

$7 million a year. The Mitch buy, the Mitch thing is $760,000. This is $3.9 million, and it's all this year. And we're lucky we don't have Cal on top of that. I mean, it's, it is an amazing amount of money that the school owes. We're doing it wrong. I mean, my God, these guys are getting paid that much money to not work. To not work. It's incredible. What a deal. One person writes, Matt, here's my thing about the Mitch Bout. It shows the, it just is even more proof the original deal was bogus. If you are able to buy it out with that level of money and he doesn't need to do the job, then that means the job was ridiculous to begin with, which means their explanations were ridiculous.

That's true. I mean, that's a completely fair point. They did say they're going to fill it, though. I mean, do you think they'll pay a million dollars? No, but do you think that will ever even exist? No, I don't. I mean, maybe they'll create it for a year just to, but like, do I waste more money? Yeah, just to save face, but no, I do not think it will.

I will say I've never felt more validated on that one than the recent Mitch News. You should. 859-280-2287. We got a bunch of random stuff here today, but this is maybe my favorite story of the day. Did you see about the guy who's selling garbage from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey's wedding? No, no. This is one of the most, like, end-of-the-society things I've ever seen. So a guy went to Madison Square Garden.

and you know by the way you all may not know this it's a good thing for you know if you're especially if you're engaged in criminal activity maybe somebody should have told kirk crease it is when you throw your trash out the police can come and get it and it's not a fourth amendment violation and it's even further once you put it out on a public street people can grab it and there's not a whole lot you can do about it so you got to be careful what you're throwing the trash so i so this guy claims that when Madison Square Garden threw out the trash from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey's wedding, he went and got a bunch of bags of it,

took it home with him. And he has made crystal cubes out of the trash from the wedding. And he went on TikTok, and he sold them for $100 each. Now, here's what's crazy. He made 150 of them sold out within 10 minutes. It's incredible.

I really wish I would have thought of this yesterday. day when I was in a landfill, I would have filled up some bags and said this is from Taylor Swift's wedding. It's from a KSR remote. Yeah. Well, that's okay. That's, like, first of all, there's no proof it's from Taylor's from. You don't know what it's from.

How are you going to, like, do you trust the TikTok certified trash guy? But if people are stupid enough to pay that. But let's just say it was from their wedding. Yeah. Would you want, would you want $100 worth of Taylor Swift wedding? I do not need a half-eaten hot dog from George Kittle or Mike Frable. I will say the guy who did it, this is genius. And I knew it would sell out because Swifties are crazy.

I also saw someone is putting air in jars they claim is from the wedding. You can buy the air. Okay, well, that's just if you buy that, you're... But I think it's genius by the guy and ridiculous that someone would buy it, but I'm not surprised people are buying it. I'm a little surprised. I mean, I'm a little surprised. Because if you look at it, if you go look at them, you can see,

and it's like a napkin or it could be whatever. Yeah. I know that people, I mean, some people will buy anything. Remember when Tom Brady did his retirement video on a beach? There were people that were selling sand for where he was sitting, and people were actually, some people were buying that. I mean, I guess some people will buy anything. So would you, if you knew it would be sold, would you have stood outside Madison Square Garden, gotten that trash, put it in the dude mobile and take it at home? I'm not too proud.

I've done it too. Also, you're recycling? Yes, exactly. I'm trying to help out. Yeah. You are recycling. Okay. A couple basketball news tiplets.

Marcus Spears Jr., the number one ranked player in the class of 2027, a guy that Kentucky has recruited heavily. Some people thought Kentucky was in the top two or three with him. He announced yesterday that he's going to Texas but also reclassifying to this year. So he is skipping this last year of high school and reclassifying. He'll be in college for two years, and the number one guy will move to the class of 2026. I've not seen anything to see where he'll end up in the rankings in 2026, but it'll probably be pretty high because the class as a whole wasn't great. This is Marcus Spears on TV's son.

A couple things. One, stinks for Kentucky because I think Kentucky had a legitimate shot at him at one point. So you lose a chance to get a really, really high in recruit. Two, Drew, I think this is a symbol. You're going to see a lot more kids do this. I think now that NIL exists, you're going to see a lot of kids. of kids who have the age ability to just go and be two and done, right? Why not go and get paid for two years instead of one? He still won't be eligible for the draft, but he now has two years

of college, and if you think about it, he could make $4, $5 million each year, and now you're getting $10 million for you go. So I think it makes a lot of sense. I think you're going to see a lot more kids who are able to do that, do that in this new air. Yeah, I mean, what, you've got to give up your senior year. Most of them are going to academies that's not even their hometowns, So what's the matter to double dip on NIL and you're playing up in competition at a younger age, which should help your development. Or in his case, I think he's going to be pretty good right away. He might contribute pretty well for Texas.

That's a big get for them. But I think this is going to be very common. Even Costa Rica, he's kind of doing the same thing. This two-year plan is going to start getting very common for the top players. I'm glad you brought up Costa Rica. I think with Spears and Costa Rica, those are dudes that become very valuable because they might stay two years. Kentucky probably came in second on both of them. I mean, I think they probably were second best on both, so it stinks you don't get them.

And by the way, Texas is going to be really good. Like when you talk about the SEC, I think Florida and Texas are national championship contenders, and then we're kind of in that group of the next three or four schools. But when we play tech, we play them here or there? I don't know that off the top of my head. If we play them here, that's going to be a heck of a game. I kind of think we might be there. regardless, that'll be great.

We'll take a break and be right back here at Nicholsville. It's at UK Credit Union. KS.R. Welcome back, Tucky Sports Radio, here in Nicholsville. We are right off of Highway 27, UK Credit Union, come on in. I was saying during my drive here, it is insane to me how much the road from Man O'Warr in Lexington to hear, how much has been added just in the last year or two on this drive. I mean, this is basically Nicholsville Road extended now in terms of business out here. Nicholsville growing at a huge rate.

If I thought about it, since we're in Jessamine County, I'd probably had Billy do his Jessamine County facts today, but I didn't think about it, so it'll be Bracken and Breckenridge. But it is amazing this area. I mean, I remember when there was nothing out here, and then there was the one place, which I guess is across the street there, and now it's almost like extended from all the way from down. town. Yeah, we did a summer show. There's a Clark's right over there and they got a Long John

Silvers that popped up. I didn't know that was even that popular. It's so popular. Remember when it came when it came out here? People were down the road waiting for Long Johns. I'm even thinking about maybe growing some Long Johns on the way home. I haven't had Long Johns in so long. You're right. It has popped up over here. I used to come out here a little bit, but it was nothing. And now, I mean, there's just something on every turn. Thanks to UK Credit Union who's been a longtime sponsor of us for having us. person writes, Matt, I don't understand why you and fans continue to go crazy about Mitch Barnhart's deal and don't say anything about Mark Stoops deal. We're paying him $9 million a

year. That's ridiculous. Mitch takes all the heat, but Mark Stoops is the one getting all the money. Well, who gave Mark Stoops that money? Mitch Barnhart. Mitch Barnhart. I mean, I get, like, you know, I can't get mad at Mark Stoops for taking money that was offered him. It was market value at the time they were trying like do i think that deal in hindsight was dumb yeah but i understand why they gave it and i'm not mad at mark stoops like why would he not take money given to him that's actually you know that's the thing about Mitch barnhart's legacy it's good and bad right like he did a lot of good stuff he also gave a lot of bad contracts it's really good of him that he's taking a million dollars less it's also

bad of him that he gave the deal to Mark Stoops that were paying $9 million for. Like, not everything is black and white. But I actually don't blame Mark Stoop, Shannon, for taking that money. If they offer it, he's going to take it. Who wouldn't take it? I think the bigger issue is that the buyouts just in college sports in general are absurd. And they're going to continue to grow. And, you know, you have to do it because everybody else is doing it.

So you're kind of stuck back into a corner, and that's the situation they're in. Now, this can't go on forever, this money they're spending. Even that LSU email went around. I know they're spending more than anyone, but they're like, we can't operate the way we're operating right now. So many places are going to have to figure this out because you can't just keep stacking. No one can.

I mean, I- stacking these buyouts and then pay players and everything else. I was talking to somebody at ESPN that told me there are three or four SEC programs who will not be able to make budget this year, and they're not sure what they're going to do. Like three or four, I mean, that's not like random schools, SEC programs that will not be able to make budget,

this year and I was like Kentucky one of them? They're like, no, that's not one of them. But, you know, I don't know who they are. You could probably take some guesses, but, you know, if you were to guess, which I would say, what, Mississippi State? They came to mind. I mean, who's Owen a lot?

You wonder about Auburn. They've spent so much money on buyouts over things over the years. So I don't know who they are. Ole Miss being that situation, maybe. It could be LSU with the way. Well, I mean, Old Miss got bailed out by the fact they don't pay, They're not going to be paying nearly as much now that Lane's gone. So I don't know.

I don't know. Who's up next, Rick? Have Isaiah up first. Isaiah. Go ahead, Isaiah. Hey, Matt. Can you hear me? Yes, go for it.

Okay. I just had a hypothetical question for you. By the way, just assume that I can, just for the future. Assume that I can hear you. If I can't hear you, I will tell you I can't hear you. You don't, just assume. Now, go ahead. All right.

I appreciate it. If you guys had to choose either one season without, a head coach or one season without fans, which would you pick? In what sport? Basketball, sorry. I appreciate the call. Without question, Drew, one season without a head coach. I mean, we went through the seasons without fans.

It's a different atmosphere. It was also the worst team in the history of UK basketball. So I'm going to go ahead and say, you know, just give us without a coach. There have been times over the years it felt like we didn't have a coach anyway in various games. So I'm okay with that. Yeah, those cardboard cutouts were interesting for a year in 2020. No, I'm sorry. You go back and look at that and go.

I can't believe that's what happened. It was weird. Yeah, you're right. A lot of fans said, well, Coach Cowell just rolls the balls out there. Well, if you really believe that, then you think we went years without a coach. Yeah. I mean, it is crazy that we just put cardboard cutouts of people's faces in the crowd. Because I was media.

I got to go. I would have people write me. Will you go get a picture of my cardboard? I spent more time finding friends than their kids. That's right. I forgot they sold that, didn't they? No, they did. People.

I forgot about that. Yeah. Wild times. Okay. A couple open lines, 859-28027. Fair or foul? Did you see the controversy with my Carolina Hurricanes? I heard about it on the pre-show, but go ahead.

All right. So the Stanley Cup, which is one of the unique trophies, you get to carve your name into it for all time, or at least for 40 years, then they take all your names off. but you have your names and they put everyone on the team and the theory is you put the head coach the assistant coach maybe the GM the owner and the players but in recent years teams have started the owner wants his family on there so he gives his family like titles with the team so that they'll get on there

and the owner of the Hurricanes put his wife his stepchild and his four children on there and if you look at it, they're the first seven names on there. A lot of people are upset about this and going, you know, what did they do? They shouldn't be on there. If you were the owner,

put your children and your wife on the Stanley Cup if you had the opportunity. No, because they didn't do anything. They weren't out there skating and getting checked. Well, the owner wasn't skating either. Their teeth kicked in. Yeah, but at least he owns it. They don't even work for the

that organization, right? And it wasn't there another guy that... Are you going to look at your wife and kids and say, no, honey, you didn't do anything? Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. I don't want to raise a spoiled little of bread anyway. Pick up the hockey stick.

Get out there and play. So you're telling me, if you own the team and Abby said, honey, I'd love to be on the cup with you, the owner last year did it for his wife because the Florida Panthers owner did it last time. So he wasn't the first one. The Florida Panthers owner did it. Honey, will you please do it for me? You're going to say no.

If you want to put your wife, put Drew and Abby Franklin or the Franklins. You don't need a bunch of spots for all your kids. Heck, a different sport, but the Titans coach has 16 kids. If he did that, I mean, like... He has 16 kids. Oh, my gosh. It's too many vans. That's a little.

The owner had a bunch. Sounds like you already did. Yeah, you can't do that. I would get her a replica. She wouldn't know the difference. Yeah, this is you. I'll put your last name. I'll put her entire family tree on there.

Put the Jones family and they can put your family. Well, I mean, it's come out there. people who've worked for the organization for a long time that didn't get on there. So like, see, that's the, like the head of PR didn't get on there, and he's worked there like 27 years, and the announcer, Tripp Tracy,

who's worked for the team for 25 years, that may be bad that he's not on there. I would make the argument, honestly, shouldn't it just be the players? I don't understand why they put the management people on there anyway. If I was the owner, I wouldn't do it. Unless I had, like, extra spots. I'd make sure I was last,

but PR or anyone that participated, I'd put them first. I get head coach, general manager, owner. But I think that's it. That's where you draw the line. I kind of agree with it. Wasn't there another guy that played like 38 games that Billy was telling me that didn't even get on there? So the NHL has a rule that if you've played 41 games, you get on there. Imagine he played 40 games.

And this guy played 38. He was three games short. And you don't get on there, but there's snotty little kids get on there. Also, you're the owner. You're rich. You got enough. You'll be fine if your name's not on the Stanley Cup. How do you know their kid was snotty?

All kids are snotty. Every one of them. Show me a kid that's not snotty. Is there a kid here? No, Billy agrees. He hates kids too. Wow. That kid's not snotty.

Right there. That's the one kid that's not snotty right there. By the way, I'm playing devil's avic. I completely agree with you. I would make a strong argument the owner shouldn't even be on there. But you know what? I'm with you, Drew. If the owner's going to be on there, he should go last.

I don't like that the owner, I don't like when teams win the NBA title. When the teams win, they hand it to the owner. I don't like that. You know, in hockey, they hand it to the players first. And then the coach, and then the owner gets it last. To me, that makes the most sense. But then on the Stanley Cup, his name's there first. I don't like it.

I wonder if you want to be on it, play 41 games for your own team. And I think they should have made an exception, Jen. you're allowed to make exceptions. They should have made an exception for the guy who played 38 games. Yeah. I mean, that's... You're fighting for your life when you're playing hockey. It's rough.

You know, you're getting beat up and you're going to get your game. And you're like, nope. That's lame. If you play one game, you belong on there more so than the kids. Well, you can't do that. Then you'd have 50 people. Well, you got everybody's kids on there and their wife, their third wife and their second wife. I don't think they put your ex-wives on there.

You can't all that kids. I do. I would like it if they had to put all their wives on there. Third cousin, twice for her. moved. Baby mammas, they have to go on there too. The wife finds stuff out just by looking at the same. Who's Jennifer?

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The highlights, the rivalries, the breakout stars, the moments to take over your entire timeline. in the conversations that start during the game and somehow keep going all week. Every week we're breaking down the biggest stories across women's sports. We'll give you our takes, our debates, and probably a few disagreements. We'll talk to athletes,

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for you right here. Listen to everyone watches women's sports on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Hoda Kotby, host of the podcast, Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby. Okay, if you know me, you know this. I'm always searching for inspiration, for support, and useful tools to help maximize joy. So this podcast lets us uncover all of that together. We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people. Like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw coming. I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer and that was more difficult. There's a lot of people who understand postpartner depression.

I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety. Olympic champ Sean Johnson revealed why she had no choice but to be a gymnast. There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to to find it. Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at UK Credit Union.

You know, they're not just for some. They're for all, y'all, Kentucky. Minimum $1,000 to open up a high-yield savings account up to 4.00-A-P-Y today. Come check it out at UK Credit Union. There's one all around, probably one near you. One person writes, Matt, my friend. I had an argument yesterday. We live in Montgomery County,

and the argument was about whether or not you had taken sides in the debate about the landfill. My buddy said it was rude of you to take sides on a local issue, and I said Matt had no idea what the issue was, and he said you were not stupid enough to not know. So that made me taking up for you, but arguing that you were stupid. I mean, you said on the show you didn't even process where you were. we're going.

Yeah. I mean, I guess was it nice of you to take up for me and remember stupid? Like, I, listen, the people there were great, and I actually really enjoyed going. And I, I had no idea. I mean, I have no, I still don't have any idea what the actual debate is. So, no, I mean, we were there because it's a business. I mean, you know, we're here at UK Credit Union. I don't know if they're involved in a dispute on anything.

If so, you know, I'm not taking aside in that either. But yeah, thank you for taking up for me and saying that I was stupid. I appreciate it. Well, I think, yeah, they just want to expand it. That's the argument. But apparently, Facebook, somebody sent me to the Mount Sterling City Facebook pages, and we were quite the topic yesterday. But Shannon is taking a position.

Come at me, bro. I'll talk to trash with you. Talks trash. That's right. I get it. Look at you. Great pun. One person.

One person writes, Matt, I really enjoyed your interview with Mark Pope. The thing that disappointed me, though, the only thing you didn't ask that I would have is when Mark got here, he said we would play marquee games and fun tournaments like the Maui Invitational, and it seems like we're doing none of those. I wish that he would explain why. That's a fair question. I didn't really think about it. You know, we're not playing.

Every program except us and Duke is now playing in all these things. Duke's doing that deal with Amazon. So we're still kind of left with, well, what are we going to do? Yeah, I understand. I mean, the Maui Invitational is dying. Yeah. Malianvitational is basically, unfortunately, dead. So really the Players' era thing is the big thing,

and most of the big programs are doing it except us and Duke. But you can understand with Duke with the Amazon deal. So, Drew, I do kind of wonder, okay, what's our thing going to be? If Duke's doing the Amazon thing and everybody else is doing the players era, what do we do it? Old Takes Exposed could use a lot of his comments about camps and foreign trips and getting back into Maui and having all these fun events because it hasn't quite panned out so far. But as he said, the landscape's changed a lot and things are so different now and they're trying their best and he's still learning on the fly.

But it is a little disappointing that they're not doing some of the things that we expected. And you know, Arkansas announced their Cal playing Michigan State on Thanksgiving. I mean, listen, far be it for me to give Cal credit, but I actually think that's a brilliant thing to do. I mean, the last two years Arkansas's played on Thanksgiving. Two years ago, they played, I think, Illinois, and it was the second most watched game of the regular season. Last year they played Duke, and it was the most watched game of the regular season.

It's brilliant because you get the NFL audience when it ends. So the way it'll work is the lines play the bears. That's going to be a big game, right? Lines and bears. As soon as it's over, Arkansas, Michigan State. Now, the Cowboys are playing the Giants at the same time. Obviously, most people will watch that. But a lot of people will just keep it on their channel.

And they'll get five or six million people, just like they did the Illinois year. I think last year they got like $8 million. Arkansas, that's a smart thing to do. And then, Shannon, if the Cowboys Giants game becomes a route, people flip it over to the. So it's a brilliant thing. You get that spillover audience. I wonder what our thing would be. I mean, maybe if this West Virginia game,

Black Friday. That's not. I mean, I'm glad we're doing it, but that's not. If you want to be Kentucky, you've got to do some kind of splash. The Duke Amazon deal is a splash. Duke is going to be playing on a platform that's going to be all over the world. All over the world. No other college basketball team is on a platform that plays all over the world.

So maybe we can do something with Netflix. I don't know. But I do think we need to find whatever our thing is. I have a different Cal take. I think he just doesn't want to spend the holiday at Fayville because he hated holiday games in Lexington. There were times skip press conferences on Thanksgiving to get home. There was one time I think you said I have to get to my car and we're like, what does that even

mean? Cars waiting on me. But now suddenly he's like wants to be out playing on holidays. I think he just doesn't want to be in Arkansas. Okay, that may be a fair point as well. Who's next, Rick? Johnny is up next. Johnny, go ahead, Johnny.

All right, fellas. Hey, if Will Stein turns this program around here in Lexington and we become national contenders, Are we going to be able to keep him here in Lexington, Kentucky? Yeah, so that was a conversation yesterday. I think Nick Roush said something like, I hope in five years we're not going to be able to keep Will Stein. That's how much success he had. I will say, Shannon, in today's college football, I think it's different.

I think you can keep everybody. You know, Indiana just won the national championship. That's changed everything. Indiana winning the national championship means anybody can win the national championship. They're the worst program in the country. In a power four. They won it. If they can win it, anybody can win it.

And Indiana kept their coach after they won. I appreciate the call. I don't see any reason, Shannon, that if we had a lot of success here, you couldn't keep him here. That's the best problem to have, right? Your guys winning so much that we can't keep him here. I think Will Stein loves Kentucky. But I don't think that's true anymore. I think you can keep him.

Yeah, but I'm saying that's a great problem to have, though, if everybody wants your guy. But I think that Will Stein, I would like to. to think that he loves Kentucky so much that he would stick around here. It's a great gig. We talked about the expectation level. What was the publication that said it's the best job in the SEC because the expectation level is below the standard line. But the other thing is, everybody's happy.

Put yourself in the mindset, Drew, of a guy that's just won a national championship here. I mean, think of in basketball, Scott Drew. Throughout our lives, the coach of Baylor would have left for Kentucky, everywhere. But then Scott Drew wins a national championship at Baylor, and he's kind of like, well, I wanted it, Baylor. Why do I need to go to Kentucky? I think that could easily be true here, too. We did creep him out at that Mexican restaurant that day when he was.

That was a little weird. Yeah, his wife didn't have the best trip here, I think, when she visited. With Will specifically being from here, you know, just down the road in Louisville's dad playing here, I think that'd carry a lot of weight specifically with him. But also, if you move, you've got to think about the new fan base won't have that built-up equity. It could be quick to fire you. Like, Kaelan DeBoar, I mean, Alabama might throw him aside soon if this season doesn't go well. when he had a great gig before that,

if you want to go to these other places where you haven't won yet, and they're placing with high expectations, if it doesn't work right away, they could be quick to fire you. That used to be something I would be worried about. It's actually not something I'm worried about now. Who's next? Isaiah's next.

Isaiah, go ahead, Isaiah. Hey, I also have a question about Mark Pope. I thought he did really well in the interview. It seemed like he was really laid back and everything. But if he told you all he knew about Nicola and why the media, was saying that we're in front running for him or top three or whatever. Why didn't he come out and nip that in the fight?

Is it a recruiting issue if he come out and said we don't, we're not looking at him? He's not. I think you should have kind of came out. He's not allowed. He's not allowed to make a statement about a recruit, even if it's a statement of we're not getting them. Okay. In my opinion, and I might have said this in the private conversation, in my opinion, if the media is out saying you're about to get somebody and you're not, you should let the media privately know so that people don't get their hopes up.

I'm a big believer in that. Controlling expectations to me is a huge thing coaches need to do. And I said that to him, and we'll see what happens over time. We'll take a break. Come back. Hour number two. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. What's up, fam, it's sports journalist Ari Chambers.

Hey, what's up, y'all? It's your girl, Sam J. And we're the hosts of everyone watches women's sports. A new podcast from Together. We're breaking down the biggest headlines. the viral moments and the stories everyone's talking about across women's sports. From game-changing performances to culture-shifting conversations, we'll give you our takes, our debates, and a few laughs along the way.

Because everyone watches women's sports. Listen to everyone watches women's sports. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Joy is essential, and it's all so elusive. But now, there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy,

tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Open your free IHeart Radio app. Search Joy 101 and listen now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby is presented by CVS. I'm Jake Brennan, and on my podcast, Disgraceland. I tell the stories behind music's biggest names. Like how the story of the foo fighters isn't just about music. It's about grief, shock, in the moment everything changed. Imagine that.

You're in the biggest band on the planet, as Dave Grohl was in 1994 in Nirvana. And the phone rings. And you learn that your singer, your friend, the reluctant voice of a generation, Kurt Cobain, is dead. Listen to Discresland on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My first guest is Karen Tilton. Luke and Yerrin. You have surprises? Many surprises.

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