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While others are sitting in lecture halls, you're already building your future at Ferris State University. Hands on training starts from day one. With real world skills that lead straight to careers in construction, engineering, automotive tech and more, you're not just learning, you're earning, building a life you can be proud of and with in state tuition for out of state students, success is within reach. Ferris State University Unleash your potential. Register now at ferris. Edu that's ferris.
Ryan Seacrest
Edu did you know that parents rank financial literacy as the number one most difficult life skill to teach? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app for families. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores, automate allowance and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Kids learn to earn, save and spend wisely and parents can rest easy knowing their kids are learning about money. With guard guardrails in place, try Greenlight Risk free today@greenlight.com iheart hey, it's Ryan.
Albertsons/Safeway Representative
Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway, now through June 24th. Score hot summer savings and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags on items like Pringles, Ritz Crackers and chips, sliced soda, Wonder Buns and bread and Natural Choice lunch meat. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery subject to availability restrictions. Apply Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.
Matt Jones
Comedy Up Broadway in Lexington welcomes Country Wayne May 30 through June 1, then catch Eric Griffin June 5 through the.
Shannon
7Th and don't miss club favorite Greg.
Matt Jones
Morton June 12 through the 14th. Comedy Off Broadway opened in downtown Lexington in 1987 and they're still bringing the best in stand up comedy to the area 38 years later. Call 859271, joke or visit comedyoff broadway.com.
Shannon
Comedyoff broadway this is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.
Matt Jones
Welcome, everybody. Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday, May 29th. I've Matt Jones here at the KS Bar and Grill, where you can come out, have lunch. It's gonna be a beautiful day today. Tomorrow for the KSR golf scramble. We'll see. But today is. Is beautiful before. Well, let me just do Clark's puppet shop phone lines. 859-280-2287. A Vision auto glass text machine. 772-77-7452. This edition sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. You call TJ will make them pay. As we started the show here, I was saying that I felt like you are not giving me enough credit for the joke I made yesterday. I've had it in my holster for almost a year waiting for a do the Arrow to go to the draft. So I could say that now that the Arrow has gone to the draft, Arkansas had to bid him a dog. And I thought, that's a great joke. And I. And I. And. And Shannon goes, oh, you like puns? That's a great joke.
Drew
I'll give it. I'll give it a 5 out of 10. It's not. It doesn't completely just bomb. It gets a little bit of a laugh.
Matt Jones
I mean, I would if you had responded, because you tend to respond to my puns with other puns. I was then gonna come and see Ark and say, arkin saw their future is not as bright. See, it was gonna be good. These were just gonna be a whole thing.
Drew
I'll let you down. Big opportunity there. We could have had a good pun thread. Shannon, you didn't point.
Shannon
Well, yeah, I mean, I said if Ryan had made that point or made that joke, you would crush. There's certain things on this show that if like, we say it, we get crushed by you, but then you say it and you think it's okay.
Matt Jones
First of all, that's outrageous, and I think that is very true. You. I'm gonna. I'm gonna channel Donald Trump. You are a bad person for saying that to me.
Shannon
No, it's true.
Matt Jones
No, but when Ryan does it, though, it's. His jokes are sexual and creepy. That's what makes it different when he does it. Mine is just a pun. I liked it. I don't know.
Mario
That sounds like something Ryan Lemon would say.
Matt Jones
Okay, well, as you can hear, Mario is on with us today. Ryan is at graduation as we speak. Josiah is about to graduate from high school. I'm sure he is just mere minutes drew away from babbling his eyes out, crying, and so hopefully. Hopefully he's having a good day.
Drew
I bet he woke up crying. Actually, I saw photos. Had a lot of family in. Looks like they went to the Legends game last night. I bet Ryan's been crying for 24 hours. Saw we all made it. Traffic. I went all the way around New Circle. I went to the complete opposite side of town to not even get near downtown. But did you have any.
Matt Jones
I went outside my house to get in my car and drive away, and there were two kids smoking in my. In my driveway. That's how I knew graduation was coming. First of all, I didn't know that that's. They didn't have robes. I think it looked like to me, maybe siblings of people going to graduation. And Shannon, they were just blatantly sitting in my driveway smoking, about to walk to graduation.
Shannon
That sounds about right for the Highlands. That's what I was.
Matt Jones
This is Lexington, my Lexington place, right next to row. Okay. They're just sitting there, just puffing on a cigarette, you know, hey. And then they, like, acted like when I got in the car that I was bothering them. They're like, hey, it's my house. What are you doing? I'm out here smoking. Like, can you give a man some privacy? I got a sig.
Drew
You can't smoke in a Stranger's driveway at 9am where can you smoke?
Matt Jones
Where can you smoke? So. So anyway, do you remember your graduation?
Drew
Not at all. I remember my high school when I didn't attend my college one, but my graduation one was fun.
Matt Jones
Yes. What about you? Did you. Did you win any awards? Were you valedictorian?
Mario
I was definitely not valedictorian, but, yeah, I remember it. It was cool. It went by pretty fast. Expected to go by that fast, but it was cool.
Matt Jones
We. We. At my high school graduation, for whatever reason, we voted on the class song. Did you all have a class song? Shannon, did you have a class song.
Shannon
Like a prom song, but not a class song?
Matt Jones
Well, we had a class on that. People thought best exemplified the class. There's zero chance Mario knows the song. Shannon, you might. David Ball. When the thought of you catches up with me. Do you know that song?
Shannon
I'd have to hear that one. I don't know.
Matt Jones
You can play it the next segment, but one of my classmates at graduation got a guitar and sang it, and he's a nice guy, but it wasn't the best rendition. And you know how when somebody's singing slow and it's not going really well, you still have to sit there and take it so Every time I hear that song, I think of him. It's about someone like, breaking up and dying.
Drew
I didn't feel like it was a great title.
Shannon
Great class.
Matt Jones
And, you know, the class has gone from there, but very happy.
Drew
So I had some, we'll just say minor attendance issues my senior year and I had so many hours to make up to graduate. The day before graduation, I worked a full shift with the custodians. I cleaned out all the lockers, I put out the chairs.
Matt Jones
They made you work a full shift?
Drew
Yeah. It was like mathematically impossible for me to go to after school makeup hours, so I literally make it up with the janitor.
Matt Jones
So you're a perfect example of how kids, if you are graduating today, if you've been a failure, don't worry because you, you didn't go to class in high school. You failed.
Drew
Okay. Grades.
Matt Jones
You failed English 101. How many times?
Drew
Twice.
Matt Jones
So you took it three times.
Drew
A child. I don't call it failing. I just call it wanting more. English 101. Before I moved on to 102, I'd missed a few semicolon. Still not real sure how those work.
Matt Jones
Yeah, nobody is. Nobody's sure.
Shannon
And you turned out a writer, so.
Matt Jones
I think, yes, you ended up being a writer. So it just goes to show, follow your dreams.
Drew
My mom saw the professor that failed me and in Kroger one day and he asked what I do for a living. And she said that and she said he almost passed out. I couldn't believe it. So great. Well, everybody has time to figure it out.
Matt Jones
It's gonna be an ask anything Thursday with us. You know, if you listened back in the day to the Fade, this podcast, or you listened to episode four of the new Matt Jones show, Interrupted by Matt Jones, you know that it gets a little off the rails a little bit when it's me and Drew and Mario's joining us here. The big news today, Otega away back at Kentucky, made his decision, came out, didn't make us wait all night. Came out about five o' clock yesterday. Returning, he had a video kind of interestingly, the video was in his old haircut, which he hasn't had for about a month, which makes me think he made that video. Well, I don't know what that makes everyone think, but he's back. So let's start with him being back. It's obviously huge news in terms of returning. It's one of the biggest players to return. How excited are you that he's back?
Drew
Very excited. I never thought otherwise. That he'd go somewhere else. But it was still exciting to see the video he put out, the fans response. I was ready to put it behind us and move on. As you said, he didn't wait till midnight. You know with the website. We're sitting there constantly waiting talking about on the board. I'm glad he got it out of the way while it was still daylight. But it's huge piece and now we have the complete team. And when you just like there's some graphics out there that show the entire 14 man roster it is just crazy deep. What Mark Pope built and I love you got a little bit of everything. You especially upgraded the defense. But with Oway coming back, it just puts the final stamp on what I think will be a Final four contender.
Matt Jones
They're loaded, Mark. They're loaded.
Mario
They're loaded. Drew said it. Final four contender.
Drew
I believe it.
Mario
I honestly believe that they have a chance to make the Final four. And like I said, you saw you, you saw what Mark Pope did with the group last year. A lot more talented this year. Last year the best player got injured. Jackson Robinson in, in the tournament. Now you have Ortega away, you got Jasper Johnson, you got Jalen Lowe who's expected to have a big year. I think Jaden Quatance might take some time for him to come back but. But you still have a loaded roster. You can't forget about Colin Chandler. He's not getting talked about a lot.
Matt Jones
Then you get Denzel, Aberdeen and Mohammed and then you get Brandon Garrison we haven't even mentioned yet. Right. You get all those guys and pieces and this is now I think Drew will be expectations. I mean I think you know Mark Pope in year one it was really kind of like well let's see what happens. We have no idea. I think they probably outperformed. They outperformed what people thought would happen in the non conference, maybe maybe slightly underperformed in the conference but then kind of got to where we hoped thought they'd be in the tournament. So it ended up I think being a very positive year. He'll go into this year though with expectations.
Drew
Yeah, like he said his formula will be to retain players, hit the portal and get a few talented freshmen. He would have nailed that with pertaining Garrison, Chandler, Noah and now O way. And then of course we know what he did with the freshman, the transfer. So I love that he had that plan that he said when he first got here. And in his first full off season of building a team he nailed exactly.
Matt Jones
Returned four guys, he brings in four new high School players or new players in terms of Jasper Johnson, Malachi the Hathorne, Brandon Haythorn, and then the guy from Croatia has not been in college basketball either. So I'm going to take him as a new guy. So four, four and then six transfers. You know, I kind of think that that is kind of the recipe for college basketball now. You know that, that mix.
Mario
You got some veterans, you got freshmen.
Matt Jones
Yeah. Because you have. Think about it like going beyond this year. You have two guys in no way. And Chandler. No, and Chandler. That might go another year. Right. These freshmen. I still think there's a world where Jasper Johnson's a one and done, but then there's a world where he's back. So those four guys you could conceivably get back and then the six transfers are probably all gone. I guess there's a world where Jaden Quaintance. Probably not though. He's probably gone. And so you cut, you keep some stability, but then you bring in guys who can help you on a one year basis. I love it. That's, I think, how you got to build a program.
Drew
I like that. Their weakness that he kind of learned on the fly was just how tough the SEC is. And then some of his transfers, you got one from Florida that's known as a defender. And then Diabate, who shut all the way down to two points.
Mario
He's got tough.
Drew
Yeah, he went out and checked those boxes too.
Matt Jones
All right, so you, Mario, you're one of the. You like end up knowing all the players. Like, I mean, Mario's already like texting them. They're.
Drew
They're playing 2k last, going to the.
Matt Jones
Getting haircuts and all this. So like now that you know all of them. Sure. You know, mo, like what, what are you most excited about?
Mario
Jasper Johnson.
Matt Jones
I'm probably, yeah. So you are much more into Jasper Johnson than I think the average fan brings him up. Why is that?
Mario
I just think his qualities, man, he has a game where it can help Kentucky number one and then he has a game that can translate to the NBA. I mean he can when the play's broken. Jasper Johnson is a player that can. Can.
Matt Jones
Do you think he can do that? You think he can do it?
Mario
We've seen it with Rob Dillingham. We were a little bit. I know I was a little skeptical with Rob Dillingham when he got first. I was wondering, I was like, is he going to be able to do that at the colle level? And we saw what he could do. And I think Jasper Johnson, I've been.
Matt Jones
The one person saying that I think by by SEC play Jasper Johnson starts. Do you agree with me?
Mario
Depends on the team.
Matt Jones
You're supposed to be on my side here. You were supposed to be the one.
Mario
He can like I'm not gonna say he he has the talent. Yeah he. I can definitely see him starting.
Matt Jones
I don't.
Mario
I don't know. It's too early now to see to.
Matt Jones
Say that's a ride lemonade. Well I mean he could or that.
Mario
He could I let these guys come come and compete. You know everybody's gonna have opportun Colin Chandler he may start like who knows that that's a good thing about having a deep roster.
Matt Jones
So who would you if we went to Vegas Drew and we said okay guaranteed to start away. Guaranteed to start right. No way he doesn't start.
Drew
No way.
Matt Jones
Jalen Lowe guarantee.
Drew
Those are two absolute locked in is.
Matt Jones
Brandon Garrison guaranteed to start in November.
Drew
I think that can change over time but I don't believe that quite and is going to be ready day one. He could be but I see quite as more stepping in a little bit.
Matt Jones
Behind you feel like we have three spots that's locked and loaded barring a.
Drew
Miraculous quite and then you're basically looking.
Matt Jones
At depending on whether you think always a two or three. I think he's more of a three but whatever you want to put him at the the other spot of that two other spots and then the four. I think those are the spots and the leader in the clubhouse at the 4D abate and the leader in the clubhouse at the 2 or 3. Maybe Aberdeen, maybe Johnson, maybe even Chandler depending on how it goes. Is that how you look at it.
Drew
At the two Eileen Aberdeen just because his experience I really think they'll all play similar minutes as the year goes on. Pope's going to use that bench but I think Aberdeen will be in the starting five and Diabate having the starting five. Unless yellow bitch just gets over here and he's just something they didn't expect and he's even better or dude do.
Matt Jones
You think he like what do you.
Drew
Think he's such a mystery because yeah.
Mario
No.
Drew
You looked at Big Z's highlights in Croatia and he looked awesome. He got here and he had his moments but he just couldn't guard and getting acquainted to the game and just being over here took him a while. I wonder if there'll be a little bit of a slow getting Z would.
Matt Jones
Have played better under Pope.
Drew
Oh absolutely. Pope. Pope would have had him at the top of the key Passing and shooting threes.
Matt Jones
So this kid is. This kid has accomplished more than Z has at this point.
Drew
Yeah, he's plays better program. He's farther ahead than Big Z.
Mario
Better score.
Matt Jones
So. Yeah, well, we'll see. I'm excited. What about the video? Had hair that suggested he did it a month ago.
Mario
Pre recorded.
Matt Jones
I mean, obviously. But what does that mean?
Mario
I think they made it just in case, you know, maybe a social media strategy. You know, you'll make this video just in case you decide to come back.
Matt Jones
Like the video was like, I have to be here, blah, blah, blah. And he did it a month and a half ago. And maybe, you know, I think all.
Drew
Parties had a pretty good idea he'd be back. And they're saying, let's go and record one of these to have it in the chamber that way. Because he's probably not coming straight back to Lexington from Brooklyn. I don't know what he's got going on, but there's nothing to do here. They probably said, let us have this on file. He might. Heck, he might even recorded another version too, just as they did.
Matt Jones
He also did. Yeah. Shannon, do you think he also did the goodbye video at the same time?
Shannon
No, I think he did just this video knowing that he was going to come back. But he was smart telling everybody that he's all in on the NBA draft process and then he knew he was going to come back and he had that video ready to go.
Matt Jones
Well, he's going to be. He's going to be the fan favorite next year. I mean, we started to see at the end of the year the away, away, away chance. We're doing it next year whether you all like it or not. If I have to be the only one yelling it, I'll be on the court and they'll tell me to shut up. It's good. This is what, this is what we want. We want some guys to come back. It's also an example of what NIL has done to college basketball in a positive way. I'm gonna make a case a little bit later that I think it has been immensely positive for college basketball. I think yesterday was the perfect example of why. But great news for Kentucky and exciting for the fans. When I was in McCree county yesterday, I said it and everybody gave a big ovation because they were excited about it. It's ask anything Thursday, 859-280-2287. You can ask anything you want. We got a crew here that Ryan won't get under the table. So we'll answer I'm not saying we'll answer anything, but you could ask anything and we will take a break and be right back. It's Kentucky Sports Radio.
Ferris State University Representative
While others are sitting in lecture halls, you're already building your future at Ferris State University. Hands on training starts from day one. With real world skills that lead straight to careers in construction, engineering, automotive tech and more. You're not just learning, you're earning, building a life you can be proud of and with in state tuition for out of state students. Success is within reach. Ferris State University Unleash your potential. Register now at ferris.edu that's ferris edu.
T-Mobile Representative
T mobile's stats are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now, keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off at the $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualified unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Required card is no cash access and expires in six months.
Ryan Seacrest
Did you know that parents rank financial literacy as the number one most difficult life skill to teach? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app for families. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores, automate allowances and keep an eye on what your kids are spending. With real time notifications, kids learn to earn, save and spend wisely and parents can rest easy knowing their kids are learning about money. With guardrails in place, Try Greenlight Risk free today@greenlight.com iheart hey, it's Ryan Seacrest.
Albertsons/Safeway Representative
For Albertsons and Safeway now through June 24th. Score hot summer savings and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags on items like General Mills cereal, Chobani Greek yogurt, Pillsbury Crescent rolls, cinnamon rolls and biscuits, Haagen Dazs ice cream, Lindor chocolate truffles, Tillamook ice cream and Cove probiotic sodas. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery subject to availability restrictions apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.
Matt Jones
Saying this at the they sang this at the graduation.
Shannon
Oh man, how depressing.
Matt Jones
It can happen on a Sunday drive. That's how they I've always thought he sounds like he he's like got his nose pinched. Shannon, don't you think?
Shannon
Yeah, a little bit. I mean, there weren't any other songs better than this one. For your.
Matt Jones
No, we voted. Would you like to know. Would you like to know what the two finalists were?
Drew
Yes. Yeah, of course.
Matt Jones
I'm not. See this. This is all you need to know about Middlesborough High School. The two finalists, which all the class had to vote on was this or astro creep 3000 that. Rob zombies. And we voted for this. I'd like to have seen Astro Creep 3000, however played at graduation. That would have been interesting. I just sat there with the guitar and he sang this. And it was really kind of depressing, I'm not gonna lie to you.
Drew
What about vitamin C graduation? The verb freshman. You know, there's some that are more themed towards graduation. You all.
Matt Jones
This is what we pick.
Drew
Okay.
Matt Jones
On the text machine, one person writes, matt, David Ball looks a lot like Shannon.
Shannon
Oh, yeah, I look like everybody.
Mario
I'm gonna look him up.
Matt Jones
I mean, to be honest with you, I can kind of see it if you look like David Ball, he's an older version of Shannon. But can you. Do you know what he looks like?
Drew
I'll have to look it up. So I don't have a fresh.
Matt Jones
What do you think, Mario? Can you see it, David?
Mario
I see the older version. I definitely.
Matt Jones
Shannon with the cowboy hat.
Drew
Not that I'm gonna defend Shannon on this one.
Shannon
I mean, I don't look like every white guy.
Matt Jones
You look like every skinny white guy.
Drew
We have a Shannon look alike in the bowling league.
Matt Jones
Do you?
Drew
I almost talked to him.
Shannon
Let me guess.
Matt Jones
Skinny white guy. You look a little bit like Walton Goggins. There's a lot of people that's a good looking guy.
Shannon
So I think that's a compliment.
Drew
Speaking of our bowling league, Mario, you're 102 average. I played last night. You're kind of, kind of bringing us down a little bit. Sorry, we gotta work on that 102 average.
Mario
I don't bowl often, man.
Drew
We noticed.
Matt Jones
Yeah, that could make sense. One person writes, matt, there's going to be a lot of dudes that don't get on the floor next year. Who's going to be the person that's expecting the most playing time that will end up getting less than they expected? Well, that's a great question, but I, you know, Pope plays a lot of guys. I mean, you have to think Potter and Moreno and Haythorn have come here not thinking they're going to play a lot next year. Would you agree with that 100%.
Drew
I think Moreno, compared to what he thought when he committed to what's now in front of him is probably a lot different. But he seems, he seems okay with it. I think he'll be a longer term project.
Matt Jones
I feel like all these dudes are going to play. The one that I think has to really work to find his role is Noah because it's not obvious to me where he, where he slots in. But I think until Quaintance plays, he's going to play. So then when Quaint comes back, which I think is going to be in January, then he'll have to make sure he still had. But I think he's going to have a chance to find his role because I think he's going to play in November and December quite a bit.
Mario
100. I think from the guard perspective, it's going to be a challenge. Like it's going to be a lot. These guys gonna have to compete for.
Matt Jones
That, for the guard, those guard practices. Just imagine you're going low in Aberdeen versus, you know, Chandler and Jasper Johnson every day. Like that's going to be. That's going to be a, a battle every single day in practice, right?
Drew
Yeah. And I worry about forward Noah. Even if he makes a big jump, it's just so crowded with talented guys. I mean, maybe he steals some of their minutes, but I wonder how much of a. Just as far as playing time goes, how much of a leap he'll get because they're so crowded.
Matt Jones
Ask anything Thursday. Who's up first? Shannon.
Shannon
Max.
Matt Jones
Max. Go ahead, Max. Who's your favorite player who came in this offseason? Who came in? Yeah. Well, I assume you mean via transfer. I. I don't. I mean, I don't know their personalities, but I have to. I think the player that was most important is it. Well, I think Jalen Lowe is the key to the team, so I'm going to say Jalen Lowe's the key. I think they'll get. Mohammed Diabate is going to be a huge thing that we just didn't give enough credit to in the moment because I think he's going to be the kind of guy, Drew, that can make your team take it to another level.
Drew
Appreciate the call.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew
When the question came up there, I was leaning him or if, if Quaintance hits his full potential, he can be special. I was watching his highlight reel on Twitter last night from Arizona State and he was just going coast to coast and dunking on people's heads. I mean, if he gets to that form or even better, coming off that injury, I think we're really looking at a top 10 pick.
Mario
Drew. Speaking of acquaintance, I seen this on social media. I don't know if it's true, but quaintance. They said that quaintness. His hands were bigger than Shaq's. I don't know if it's true. I don't know if you guys seen that.
Matt Jones
Do you just believe whatever you see on social?
Drew
No.
Mario
I mean, I seen it, and then.
Matt Jones
The pictures see something that said he was 8ft tall. No, no, no.
Mario
His hands, he was holding. And I was like, maybe he does have bigger hands than Sha.
Matt Jones
Have you ever been. Have you ever been next to Shaq?
Mario
I've never been to Shaq.
Matt Jones
Like, I want you to think about the largest specimen you can think of, because the thing about Shaq is he's tall, but I've been around tall people, but he is just so massive. I mean, he's just. Everything about him is just massive. If he has bigger hands than Shaq, then let's just go ahead and make him the top three pick in the draft because Shaq is the. The largest human being I've ever been around in my life.
Drew
Yeah, I was trying to look at any. Anything that suggests Mario's right in it, but, you know, if Mario believes it, I'll believe it.
Matt Jones
Shannon, what do you think about the guy from Kentucky, the whole crypto kidnapping thing? Have you been following that in New York?
Shannon
Crypto kidnapping?
Matt Jones
So three guys apparently kidnapped. Was it someone they knew?
Drew
I assume so. There's someone with a lot of bitcoin?
Matt Jones
Yeah, there was someone they knew, and they basically Kit. Allegedly kidnapped him and tortured him to try to get him. Get him to give them their bitcoin password. Because, you know, again, this is my whole thing about bitcoin. It just encourages, like, deviant behavior because, you know, all you need is the password, and you just take all their stuff, and there's nothing they can do. So they kidnapped him. But here's the crazy part. One of the guys is from Kentucky, and I'm told, again, this is. Allegedly has a house, like, in Livingston. So, like, Livingston. What's the. What counties Livingston in? Just. It's on the interstate there, right? It's in what. It's in Livingston County. That would make some sense.
Drew
Well, in Kentucky, we always do it.
Matt Jones
Backwards, but, like, so those of you listening in Livingston, there was just a dude that lived in your town, crypto.
Mario
King or something like Kentucky.
Matt Jones
Kentucky. Who went to New York and was, like, torturing and if you look at him, he just looks like a normal guy. So he could have been at the Livingston pick Pack, Right. One day, and then he's crypto torturing people the next day.
Drew
And they were doing awful stuff to the guy they'd kidnap trying to get it out of him. I saw a news story that said they believe he was a UK graduate, too.
Matt Jones
Oh, really?
Drew
Because the company he used to work for said, this is not the guy we knew when he worked.
Matt Jones
So this is just a UK graduate who lives in Livingston, goes to the pit pack and is torturing people.
Drew
I guess maybe a little more to it, but that's a good way to summarize.
Ryan Seacrest
TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj. He'll make him pay.
Shannon
Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio, presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.
Matt Jones
Welcome back here, Kentucky Sports Bar & Grill, KS Bar, 859-280-2287. Come see us for lunch. We'd love to say hi. If you haven't heard, by now, Cornbread hempson fused seltzers are flying off the shelves. And for good reason. Whether you're out on the lake kicking back at a cookout or just widened down winding down, they give Kentucky's best fun hands down. No boozer hangover. You got those, Walter? Watermelon limeade peach iced tea. Go to Cornbread Hemp dot com. It's Cornbread Hemp. This is the good life. And remember, there'll be cornbread cornbread hemp seltzers out here in the parking lot for Railbird this weekend. So come on out and join us even if you don't park here. And we still, we haven't sold out for Saturday. We may have a couple for Sunday, but we, we haven't sold out for Saturday. You can get parking tickets. Not part like we're not gonna give you a ticket. You can get, you can park here, but even if you don't park here, you can walk in here and get the, the seltzer and all the rest. 859-280-2287. You just showed me a picture of Jaden Quayton's hands. Those are pretty big. I'm not gonna lie. I don't know if they're bigger than Shaqs, but that's a big hand.
Mario
Look at it. Basketball looks like a volleyball. Look at that.
Matt Jones
I mean, basketball, volleyball. All right. And you said there's an article that says his hands are big.
Drew
This is a year old. It's about his commitment to Arizona State. But it is SI.com sports you know.
Matt Jones
They used to say that Rondo's hands were too big to shoot free throws that, like, it screwed up his free throws. Do you remember that?
Drew
That he does have gigantic hands.
Mario
I've heard he had really big.
Matt Jones
But.
Drew
But I'm gonna start believing acquaintances are bigger than Shaqs. Now. I've got mario and si.com sir.
Matt Jones
Livingston Shannon is in Rock Castle county continuing the trend of Kentuck and cities that are not the same. So there's a Livingston county and a city of Livingston, but the city of Livingston. Shannon is not in Livingston County.
Shannon
I mean, why wouldn't you just move that over to the county?
Matt Jones
I think it'd be hard to move it, but yes. I thought it was on I75. On my way home. There's an exit for Livingston.
Shannon
It's changed the name of the place.
Matt Jones
To what, like, whatever county.
Shannon
What county is it in? Rock Castle. Change the Rock Castle.
Drew
I grew up like, double version of this. Madisonville is not in Madison County. And it's Hopkins county, which doesn't have Hopkinsville. We have several examples.
Matt Jones
There's a ton of those around the state. I drove through there past Rock Castle County High School yesterday, which has that big rocket out front down to McCreery County. I'll give McCree county some credit. They got nice facilities down there. New turf field on their football field. They got tennis courts that were a lot nicer than the ones I played at at 30th street for the Middlesborough High School tennis team. So big shout out to McCreary County. They had fettuccine Alfredo last night.
Drew
Oh, the. The local pasta.
Matt Jones
Yes.
Shannon
Ryan would love that.
Matt Jones
It was very. Was very good.
Drew
I diet meal right there.
Shannon
That's right. He made that the other night.
Matt Jones
Yeah. Ryan said that he's on a diet and he's eating fettuccine Alfredo, which is like literally the worst thing. The worst thing that you could eat. The Thunder make it to the NBA finals last night. Shea gonna have a chance to go for a title. Casen Wallace as well. Series ended up kind of stinking. The Timberwolves laid an egg last night. Are you excited to watch OKC in the finals?
Drew
I am. I wanted some closer games in the series, even though I was for the Thunder. Just for entertainment last night when they. When Minnesota had nine points in the first quarter, I didn't even bother watching the rest of the games. Like, if you're going to score nine points in an elimination game, I'm not.
Matt Jones
Going to waste my time watching My canes played well. That was a good game last night. We lost this series by sticking up game one and two, but. So the season's over. Finally broke the streak of never winning a game in the conference finals. But bright future for my canes. Did you watch any of it? It was exciting. It was. It was a very exciting game.
Drew
I catch the. Just the. The online clips. I know it's a big deal to not get swept, so at least.
Matt Jones
I mean, like, oh, it's a big deal. You made it.
Drew
You made it to the conference finals.
Matt Jones
You know, a lot of. Like, a lot of you. You people that don't even care. You people are fans of the other teams, like the Predators. You're like, matt, you lost four win. Well, you're not even there. Right? Like. Like, we at least made it. You know what I mean?
Mario
It's a good point.
Matt Jones
That is a good point. Thank you very much. And then the Reds lost to Kansas City. Listen to this stat. What are you laughing at?
Drew
The Summer Valley, it's just a roller coaster. It's like the Tesla stock. It's just up and down our own.
Matt Jones
22 this year when trailing going into the seventh inning. We have not come back once all year.
Shannon
Shannon, why even waste time playing the eighth and ninth?
Matt Jones
Well, no, no, going into the seventh. If we're losing after the sixth, go home.
Shannon
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Like, so. Last night we were losing after six. Turned it off. Well, see, that's good.
Shannon
It's good for you. Who likes to beat traffic? You know, the outcome of the game by the sixth inning. You can just.
Matt Jones
We haven't come back in one game this year. Not one. That's actually kind of pathetic.
Drew
It also seems like every time you're about to get above.500, it's like, nope, we gotta stay just added or beneath it, because I think last night would have put you.
Matt Jones
I don't know. I. Far be it from me to challenge the legend of Terry Francona, but we're just. We're. We seem to call up a new dude that's five, eight every week. Like, we got some guy named Connor. Joe, which sounds like a name they make up for you in MLB 2026. Creative Player. They had it. They just signed a dude who got cut by the Rockies. The Rockies are like the worst team in the history of baseball. And then we went and signed one of the guys and immediately started them like, what is a bad.
Drew
Look, I don't need to know anything about him. If the Rockies didn't want him, here's.
Matt Jones
A shot he's 1 for 19 since we called him up and you all.
Drew
Thought, yeah, okay, we'll give him an opportunity here.
Matt Jones
So that part's frustrating. Ask anything Thursday. Who's up first?
Shannon
Andy.
Matt Jones
Or again, second? Whatever. Andy. Go ahead, Andy. Hey, what's up, guys? Hey. Last year was. Last year was late May Jackson, Robinson decision this year. Oh, wait. I think next year, Colin Chandler is going to be that guy. You think of somebody else. You know, I think the decision we'll have to see next year is this Connor Chandler. I don't know that he'll be ready for the league. I think the question will be, like, does he want to go be the best player on another team or come back? But I'm, I'm. I'm big on Colin Chandler. I, he. Last year when he got to the point that he had to start playing, that made I. I believe in it.
Mario
He had showed a lot of glitches.
Matt Jones
He really did. He was scared. He was so scared at the beginning of the year. But then as it went on, I thought he didn't back away. And he can play defense.
Mario
Athletic, can play defense. Confident like you. We saw what he did in March Madness logo threes. Like, he's. He got it. He's got star quality.
Matt Jones
I do think he can do it. I really do.
Drew
It got tiring hearing about how he was on his mission. We're like, okay, we know, but if you really think. Think about that to take two years off and go to El Salvador. Of course it's going to take you a little while to get going. I don't care who you are. And then by February, March, he looked like a completely different player. So if he just continues that climb, I'm expecting a big sophomore year. When the caller asked who we're most excited about, if we hadn't limited just to the transfers, my answer would have been Colin Chandler. I think he's gonna have a big year.
Matt Jones
You know, you and I appreciate the call. Andy. Good to hear from you. You and I both have seen the.
Drew
Book of Mormon twice.
Matt Jones
You know, I always think about that moment for. For Mormons. Shannon, do you know what they. When they're 18, they get, like, go in a room and they tell them where they're going to spend the next two years of their life.
Shannon
Yeah. Yeah. Could you imagine?
Matt Jones
Can you imagine what that's like? You walk into a room, they go, okay, one of you. Somebody next to you is gonna. You're gonna live with for two straight years, and we could send you anywhere in the world. Here we go. And like, you could. I mean, that's got to be crazy. You could literally go from anywhere from New York City to, you know, Senegal, and you, you have no, no idea where you're gonna go.
Shannon
I'd just be in that room going, please don't say Kansas. Please don't say Kansas.
Drew
What about Orlando.
Matt Jones
In that show? Orlando is his dream. That would be. I would much prefer to go to the other place. But what that's got to be. I've talked about before. The. I don't know that there would have been anything I can conceive of that would have made me more nervous than the Vietnam War draft we talked about on this before. And if you look it up, you can watch this. Mario, you may not even know this.
Mario
They would just. The draft, they would just pull anybody. Is that right?
Matt Jones
Yeah. But they did it on national tv and they did it by birthday. So they put all 365 birthdays into a thing. And their order was if you were, let's say, 18 to 23 or whatever the age was, they were like, start with number one. And we are ordering the birthdays. And it was live on tv. And the first number drawn out, you were number one. And you knew you were going to war. You knew. And basically we're going to go through the draft, through these birthdays. And so you had to sit there and your birthday could come up so wild. I mean, can you think about. Imagine watching that on.
Drew
I would have watched it. I would have just. Just send me a letter, let me know. I couldn't sit there and watch them draw balls like the NBA.
Matt Jones
Like, you're sitting there watching the lottery. And, you know, if you come anywhere from like one to a hundred, chances are you're going to Vietnam. And if you're 365, you're probably fine.
Shannon
I think I would watch it, but, I mean, that would be. They talk about stressful, and then if.
Matt Jones
You come up and you're number six, you just have to look at everybody.
Drew
And be like, oh, yeah, hope to see you again.
Shannon
I'd rather see it there, though, than get a letter, you know?
Drew
Did it have a host?
Shannon
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Matt Jones
I think it was Steve Harvey. I'm just kidding. No, but that video is on YouTube.
Shannon
Oh, it's crazy.
Matt Jones
Turn it on sometime. It's. It's absolutely crazy. Who's next?
Shannon
Derek.
Matt Jones
Derek. Go ahead, ask anything. Thursday.
I
Hey, guys, what's up?
Matt Jones
What's going on?
I
I've got a. I've got a question and a show recommendation.
Matt Jones
Okay.
I
My question, my question is, is there any chance that there's going to be a second season for Wrestlers too? And then my, oh, recommendation is Blackbird on Apple tv.
Matt Jones
Y' all gotta see it.
I
It's about a truce.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I've seen the first season. I liked it. Is there more than one season? I've seen the first one. No, no, just one season. I thought it was good. You know, it's a death penalty thing and I liked it. I'm right. Isn't that the death penalty show? Yes, yes, I liked it. Yeah. So oddly we. I would think it's unlikely we get a season two of Wrestlers, but it hasn't actually been officially canceled. I was on the Bomani Jones podcast saying like, you know, we didn't get a season two. And then one of the producers was like, well, we haven't not gotten A Season 2. They're like, normally they tell you no, they just haven't told us anything because they're putting up. But I mean, it's been three years. But you do get an official like cancellation and we haven't yet. So I'm not expecting that we'll get another one. I don't. I'm not the majority owner anymore, so I don't know. I'm the minority owner now. So we. Who knows how that would play out, but we don't know.
Drew
Well, now if they're interested, you can. You have the Cash Daniel angle they could play up? Yeah, Cash looks like he's killing it.
Matt Jones
Cash. I appreciate the call. I don't know. I mean, Shannon, you're there. Yeah, Cash is killing it.
Shannon
Isn't he doing great so far? I mean.
Matt Jones
Yeah, yeah, he's doing great. He's doing great. He's traveling. We're gonna have some shows around the state. He's gonna be out there doing his thing.
Drew
I just see what he's posted on social media, but it just looks like he was born for that.
Matt Jones
I mean, this is what he was born. If he, if he works, he's got to work hard. But if he works hard and he focuses, he can make it. Like he's got the look, he's got the ability to talk, he's learning, he can make it if. If he puts in the time.
Drew
Got a built in fan base that most of those guys don't have in that spot.
Matt Jones
Exactly. Right. 859280, 2287. One person writes, Matt, I don't think Shannon looks like David Ball, but I do think he looks like the Mr. Rogers guy. But I also think that's mean. So tell Shannon I'm sorry, even though I had to say it.
Shannon
Okay. Yeah. I don't accept your apology. You still said it. You're still. You still know what you're doing.
Matt Jones
Yeah, that was me. We'll take a break. Be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.
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Matt Jones
This is the graduation song. Congrats to Josiah Lemon, who's graduating as we speak. And congrats to all the people graduating at Rupp arena today. All the high schools in Lexington will be there, so everybody be safe. Trying to get around, but congrats to, to all of them. The Lex, the crypto. Livingston Crypto. It's Livingston county, not Livingston City. As Richie Farmer reminds me. Livingston city is exit 49, where they have a very famous gas station, the 49er. Okay, I'm gonna say, if you're going south on 75, stop at the 49er. Sometimes it's like you're going back in time a little bit. Like you don't see a lot of those kind of gas stations anymore. Just trust, trust me. Just sometime I, I don't stop a lot because I usually go on to London or Corbin sometime. Mario, I'm gonna take you to the 49er.
Mario
I'm looking forward to it.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I don't think you are. Now, Livingston county, the crypto guy, he lived in a six bedroom, ten bathroom house. Why would you need ten bathrooms?
Drew
I don't even like cleaning the two that I have.
Matt Jones
No, I mean, if you only have six bedrooms, is there like a, is there a number one and a number two bathroom for everyone? Like 10? I normally there's more bathroom bedrooms than bathrooms in a house, right, Shannon?
Shannon
I would think so, yeah.
Matt Jones
Six bedroom, ten bathroom. It's in Smithland, Kentucky. 10,600 square feet. Look at this picture. This house is in like, look at that.
Mario
Oh, wow.
Matt Jones
Now, now here's what's crazy. You buy this house in Lexington in Chevy Chase. It's like a three bedroom. This is a mansion. And it's $1.5 million, like, which is a ton of money. But this house in Lexington, four, five million dollars, probably.
Drew
Yeah. Maybe even more, depending where it is.
Matt Jones
Look at that house.
Mario
That's incredible.
Matt Jones
I mean, he's got stained glass like folks go to Zillow. I mean, look, there's nothing wrong with saying a Zillow address, is there?
Shannon
No, it's public it's public.
Matt Jones
101 Court Street, Smithland, Kentucky.
Drew
Course, he lives on Court Street.
Matt Jones
101. Well, he's gonna be in court a lot. 101 Court Street, Smithlin, Kentucky. And look at this house. Can you believe this house is in Livingston County, Kentucky? And I mean, look at that staircase.
Drew
Yeah, it's got two sides. I wouldn't even know which side to go up.
Matt Jones
Oh, wow, look at that.
Mario
He's living.
Matt Jones
He's not living. He's in prison right now. I don't think he's living.
Shannon
A big adjustment.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Albertsons/Safeway Representative
Only one.
Shannon
Not even one bathroom.
Drew
Greed is the obvious answer. But how do you have that house and doing. Well, according to reports, and you feel like you need to hold a guy with his chainsaw for two weeks.
Matt Jones
See, I'm like that. I told you, like, you're good. You've made it just a conversation. There's an amount of money where like just stop.
Drew
You know, there's plenty. You have two staircases in the same spot.
Matt Jones
Man, I want to say that to Elon Musk all the time. Dude, just chill, right? Like, just like, don't you want to have fun? Like, why are you. Don't you just want to enjoy your life at some point?
Drew
And some people want to accomplish more. Crypto King Chainsaw the guy. Like that. That was unnecessary. You didn't have to. That was part of the torture. But like, you. You're good. You don't have to risk this. This or do this. Just go back to Smith Smithland and live in your big Court street six car garage.
Matt Jones
Six. 10 bathrooms. I don't understand the 10 bathrooms. I mean, there aren't 10 bathrooms in the White House.
Shannon
We only have one bathroom in this station. Literally one tiny one.
Matt Jones
Literally 10 bathrooms.
Drew
All right, go ahead, Bill.
Matt Jones
Bill. Go ahead, Bill. 859-28-0287.
I
Morning, guys.
Matt Jones
Morning.
I
Yeah. Going to the graduation stories. Drew's story reminded me of my own. I graduated, of course. Had my mother and father, my only living grandparent, my grandmother. You know, back this is the early 80s, they give you that booklet looking thing, you know, Then you have to go to your home room to get the actual diploma back. Back then. So we go through these doors in the wing where my home room was, and I. And. And the guys in the. My homeroom teachers stand there. He's a science geek. I played ball and everything. Everybody else knew me, but he did. Or he knew me from.
Matt Jones
Well, that's probably. If you. If the point is that you got in trouble. It's probably because you were calling the teachers science geeks. You're not really supposed to do that.
I
Yeah, well, no, I didn't get in trouble. I go down there to get my diploma with him and they follow me down there and he. He's like, you can't get out this way. You can't get out this way. I said, well, I'm here for my diploma. He's like, who are you? He said, well, I hadn't seen you since the first two days of school.
Matt Jones
Well, there you go. You're lucky you got it. It sounds like to me.
I
Well, yeah, yeah, I got it. I was like, well, you get to see me my last day here, too. But I also want to say real quick, you know, who's gained the most with this oka deal is a Stoops and Woerd is deflected off what they did with that. That race.
Matt Jones
Well, that's actually probably true. I will say to you about that. I appreciate the call. I got more comment. This the. Again, it's a symbolic thing. It's $100,000. But people, Mario, were mad about it. They are mad that this terrible performance with the offensive line led to a raise. I mean, people are genuinely upset about that.
Mario
That. Yeah, I don't. I hate to see it. You know, it doesn't make sense. You give somebody a raise and they're not producing. You know, usually it's.
Matt Jones
No, they're negative producers.
Mario
Negative producer.
Matt Jones
The quarterback quit. I'm going to continue saying that. The quarterback quit football. He got beat up so bad, and.
Drew
One of his players with a concession stand. It's both.
Matt Jones
I mean, they. Yes. We had a player go get a hot dog in his uniform during the game. He had his pads on, Shannon, and he went and got a hot dog.
Shannon
That's something you wouldn't even see at a high school game.
Matt Jones
No. McCreary county, they would tell you, you can do that stuff at Monticello, but you cannot do that here at McCreery County.
Drew
Yeah, you're right about it. It's a hundred thousand dollars. I mean, that's a lot to all of us. But with the UK's budget, it's probably not that much, but just the optics. Like, who's the PR person over there that says maybe we shouldn't do this right now while everyone is already upset at us and him specifically for having.
Matt Jones
Such a good thing? Again, I like Mark Stoops, but when he said everybody wanted him really, really.
Drew
First one in the building.
Matt Jones
Okay, fine.
Drew
He's punctual.
Matt Jones
Well, There you go. Well, if he's punctual, then you know what? We'll have all of our quarterbacks quit and get knocked out. At least he's here on time. We'll be right back.
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Drew
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KSR Podcast Episode Summary: May 29, 2025 - Hour 1
Hosted by Matt Jones and the KSR Crew
In this engaging episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR), hosts Matt Jones, Shannon, Drew, and Mario dive deep into the latest developments in Kentucky sports, interspersed with personal anecdotes and lively interactions with listeners. The episode, recorded at the KS Bar and Grill, kicks off with camaraderie among the hosts before shifting focus to significant sports news and local stories.
Timestamp: 08:13 - 16:50
The highlight of the episode centers around the much-anticipated return of Othega to the University of Kentucky (UK) basketball team. Matt Jones opens the discussion, expressing excitement over Othega's decision to stay with the team rather than entering the NBA draft.
Drew emphasizes the depth Othega brings to the roster, highlighting the comprehensive 14-man team built by Coach Mark Pope. He praises the balance of returning players and new talent, stating, "Mark Pope built and I love you got a little bit of everything. You especially upgraded the defense."
Mario shares his enthusiasm for Jasper Johnson, citing his potential to transform the team's dynamics and his NBA prospects.
The hosts collectively agree that Othega's return fortifies UK’s chances in the upcoming season, with Drew confidently predicting a Final Four appearance.
Timestamp: 10:18 - 16:50
The conversation shifts to a detailed analysis of key players:
Jalen Lowe: Viewed as the cornerstone of the team, with expectations of significant contributions.
Mohammed Diabate: Recognized for his defensive prowess and ability to elevate the team's performance.
Jaden Quatance: Despite a recent injury, his potential remains high, with hopes for a strong comeback.
Colin Chandler and Noah: Discussed in terms of their roles and the competition for playing time, with an emphasis on the depth of the roster.
The hosts also touch upon the strategic mix of returning veterans and fresh talent, essential for maintaining the team's competitiveness in a tough SEC environment.
Timestamp: 19:53 - 30:00
Matt shares a humorous yet relatable story about witnessing graduates smoking in his driveway on their way to the ceremony.
The conversation evolves into a nostalgic exchange about personal graduation experiences, including the memorable (and not so memorable) graduation songs chosen by their classes.
The hosts reflect on the emotional and sometimes unpredictable nature of graduation day, adding a personal touch to the episode.
Timestamp: 25:20 - 48:08
A serious segment covers a disturbing local crime involving a crypto-related kidnapping in Livingston County, Kentucky. Three individuals allegedly kidnapped and tortured a UK graduate to extract his Bitcoin password, highlighting the dark side of cryptocurrency obsession.
The hosts discuss the implications of such crimes, the notoriety of the individuals involved, and the impact on the local community.
The segment underscores the dangers associated with digital currencies and the lengths to which some individuals will go to accumulate wealth.
Timestamp: 30:02 - 37:00
The crew transitions to broader sports updates, including:
Minnesota Thunder and Canes: Analyzing recent performances, with Matt expressing disappointment over the Thunder's lackluster showing in the finals.
University of Kentucky's Achievements: Celebrating breaking the streak of not winning a game in the conference finals.
Drew comments on the unpredictability of the season and the potential for turnaround in future games.
Timestamp: 23:29 - 48:08
In the interactive "Ask Anything Thursday" segment, listeners call in with questions ranging from favorite players to show recommendations:
Listener Max: Asks about favorite players, prompting Shannon to highlight Jalen Lowe and Mohammed Diabate as pivotal figures.
Listener Andy: Inquires about future potential players like Connor Chandler, leading to a discussion on player development and team strategies.
Listener Bill: Shares a graduation story, intertwining personal anecdotes with the show's themes.
The segment fosters a sense of community, allowing listeners to engage directly with the hosts and share their own experiences.
Timestamp: 39:07 - 50:36
As the episode draws to a close, Matt wraps up with thanks to graduates at Rupp Arena and a playful nod to the ongoing crypto case.
The hosts bid farewell with light-hearted banter, jokes about the crypto incident, and reminders of upcoming events, ensuring listeners leave with both information and entertainment.
Drew: "With Oway coming back, it just puts the final stamp on what I think will be a Final four contender." [09:45]
Shannon: "Jalen Lowe is the key to the team." [23:32]
Matt Jones: "Crypto encourages, like, deviant behavior because, you know, all you need is the password, and you just take all their stuff..." [25:28]
Shannon: "Jaden Quatance starts." [13:07]
This episode of KSR offers a comprehensive look into Kentucky's sports scene, enriched by personal stories and critical local news. The hosts' dynamic interactions and in-depth analysis provide listeners with valuable insights and entertainment, making it a must-listen for avid sports fans and the local community alike.