Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2: October 10, 2025

Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Dawson
Podcast: Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) by iHeartPodcasts and SportsTalk 790
Date: October 10, 2025
Episode: 10-10-25 KSR Hour 2
Location: Wild Eggs restaurant, Lexington, KY

Episode Overview

This lively hour of KSR centers on the latest UK basketball recruiting news—including the anticipation around Tyron Stokes’ decision—debates Kentucky fans are having about Halloween free speech, and all sorts of cultural topics, from the controversy over dog training shock collars to the secret success of Build-a-Bear. The hosts keep their trademark blend of Kentucky-centric sports knowledge and good-natured, irreverent panel discussion, mixing serious basketball talk with community news, call-in Q&As, and lots of laughter.

Key Discussion Points

1. UK Basketball Recruiting: Tyron Stokes Hype

• Hosts dissect the chances of landing Tyron Stokes, a consensus number one recruit, and what it would mean for new coach Mark Pope.
• They place the pursuit into UK recruiting history, drawing comparisons to past top prospects.

Key Quotes:

• “I think he has proved the point. It's gonna be hard to take him off the court. He's earned the right...” – Matt Jones [03:56]
• “How many times in the history of UK basketball has UK gotten the number one player in the country?... It’s happened less than you think.” – Ryan Lemond [04:43]
• “Mark Pope has checked a lot of boxes in his one year here, but the question has been: can he get a top recruit? And I think this will be it.” – Shannon Dawson [06:17]

2. Powell County Halloween Decorations & Free Speech

• Discussion of a Kentucky man putting skeletons in his yard labeled as local politicians.
• The city claims it’s threatening; the man asserts First Amendment rights. The issue goes to the Kentucky Supreme Court.
• Hosts debate: When does parody become a threat?

Key Quotes:

• “It’s all in good fun. I don’t think there’s anything ...” – Shannon Dawson, supporting the homeowner [08:56]
• “Halloween’s supposed to be fun, man... I think it’s almost crossing the line to make it a personal attack...” – Matt Jones [09:35]
• “To me, tombstones with people’s names on it is even more of a threat than skeletons...” – Ryan Lemond [12:02]
• “If that's true—that there was a noose—then yes, it does change my mind, because that is the act... starts moving towards threat.” – Ryan Lemond [43:07]

3. Dog Shock Collars: Inhumane or Useful?

• The hosts jump into a social media debate after streamer Hasan Piker is accused of using a shock collar on his dog.
• Each shares their own beliefs and anecdotes; the audience at Wild Eggs is polled.

Key Quotes:

• “I grabbed a hold of it and did the shock myself. Like, whoa.” – Matt Jones [14:00]
• “I feel like it’s a little inhumane. I’ve never used one before. I’ve had dogs before.” – Shannon Dawson [14:49]
• “If you felt guilty, it's because it's inhumane—that's why you felt guilty.” – Shannon Dawson [15:49]
• “Apparently there's also a vibrating collar... it wasn’t a shock, it was a vibrate.” – Ryan Lemond [20:02]

4. MLB Playoff Heartbreak: Philadelphia Phillies’ Loss

• Quick recap and empathetic banter about the Phillies’ extra-innings loss the night before.
• Discussion centers on the pitcher’s mistake and emotional aftermath.

Key Quotes:

• “That’s a routine play that dude has made since his little league game... I guarantee it's gonna make it.” – Matt Jones [21:44]

5. UK Basketball Game Drafts (Home & Road)

• Segment where each host picks their most wanted UK home and away games to attend for the season, including exhibitions and neutral-site showdowns.

Memorable Draft Picks:

• Florida and North Carolina (Ryan), Tennessee and Indiana (Matt), Michigan State and Arkansas (Shannon)
• “If you’re going to take an exhibition, I’ll take Purdue. Number one team in the country.” – Shannon Dawson [23:33]

6. Food, Bar & Local Event Recommendations

• A call-in question prompts the hosts to list their top picks for food at KS Bar and Grill.
• Short discussion on hosting and event specials, plus vague hints at mysterious upcoming events.

Key Quotes:

• “Wings, cheese log, beer cheese, queso, and now... burgers, because they're very good.” – Ryan Lemond [33:03]

7. Big Blue Madness Nostalgia & TV Timing

• Callers and hosts reminisce about Big Blue Madness at midnight, discuss whether UK should reinstate the late-night hype now that the event is no longer on national TV.

Key Quotes:

• “There was something magical ... when the clock struck ... There’s something that was kind of cool and special about that.” – Matt Jones [35:15]

Notable Lighter Moments & Callbacks

Build-a-Bear is Booming!

• The hosts are astonished by the enduring popularity (and rising stock!) of Build-a-Bear, with Matt admitting total ignorance that the brand is more relevant than ever.
• Audience members chime in about features like voice recording for keepsake bears.

Notable Quote:

• “At Fayette Mall... apparently you have to have an appointment [to Build-a-Bear] now, like you can’t just go.” – Ryan Lemond [37:46]

Savannah Bananas Baseball Controversy

• Discussion about the entertainment baseball team Savannah Bananas coming to Lexington—actually, two other teams from their new league will play, not the Bananas themselves.
• Comparisons made to the “Harlem Globe Travelers” vis-à-vis the Globetrotters from Matt, referencing a similar bait-and-switch experience.

Quote:

• “This feels like a bait and switch to me. You put the Savannah Bananas label on it, but it’s not the Savannah Bananas.” – Shannon Dawson [48:06]

Memorable Quotes & Banter

• On the Powell Co. skeleton case:
  “If you made it like a body, then that's a whole other thing. ... To me, tombstones with people's names on it is even more of a threat.” – Ryan Lemond [12:02]
• On shock collars:
  “After I grabbed it and felt it and did it to myself ... whoa, yeah, I’m not doing that anymore.” – Matt Jones [15:56]
• On Big Blue Madness nostalgia:
  “Can you imagine what those streets and those bars would be like?... a cool way to get energy into the season.” – Ryan Lemond [36:03]
• On the surprise success of Build-a-Bear:
  “You have to pay off people on the street to get to go to Build-a-Bear.” – Ryan Lemond [37:47]

Important Timestamps

• 03:16 – Show opens, discussion on UK player Trent Noah’s physical transformation
• 04:39 – Tyron Stokes recruiting news and UK’s top-recruit history
• 06:55 – Powell County Halloween skeletons/free speech debate begins
• 13:46 – Dog shock collar controversy
• 20:02 – Audience responds to the vibrating vs. shock collar issue
• 21:00 – Phillies’ heartbreaking MLB loss discussion
• 22:13 – UK Basketball Game Draft (home)
• 24:39 – UK/Basketball Away Game Draft (including neutral sites)
• 33:23 – KS Bar & Grill food recommendations
• 34:20 – Big Blue Madness and midnight traditions
• 36:50 – Unexpected popularity surge of Build-a-Bear
• 43:02 – New info about the Powell County skeletons: allegation of a noose
• 47:23 – Savannah Bananas event in Lexington (not with original team)
• 49:44 – End of show, hosts preview upcoming weekend events (Big Blue Madness, Matt’s father’s 84th birthday)

Final Notes

This hour of KSR blends basketball buzz, local news, legal debates, pop culture surprises, and offbeat Kentucky humor. The segment on Tyron Stokes underlines its importance in UK basketball circles, while the skeletons in Powell County and dog collar debates capture the show’s affection for quirky, conversational topics. Not only is this a must-listen for UK fans, but it’s also a vivid slice of Kentucky life for any radio/podcast enthusiast.