Podcast Summary: KSR - Hour 2 (June 16, 2025)

Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Shannon "The Dude"
Presented by: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Duration: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

1. Opening Remarks and Kentucky Reds Update

The episode kicks off with host Drew Franklin diving into the recent performance of the Kentucky Reds. Highlighting their resurgence, Drew emphasizes the team's climb to second place in the league since May 1st. Shannon joins the conversation, noting the Reds' first-place standing in their division but also mentions their record being just two games over .500.

• Drew Franklin [01:41]: "Ellie, I think since May 1st is like second in the league and on base plus slugging. He's hitting, he's running, he's fielding."

Matt Jones adds excitement about the team’s recent successes, particularly their victory over the Tigers, who are described as the best team in baseball.

• Matt Jones [02:12]: "Tigers best team in baseball."

Drew further elaborates on the Reds breaking two significant losing streaks, including their 39-game series loss streak and their inability to win a game after trailing in the seventh inning.

• Drew Franklin [02:13]: "They had lost 39 straight series...they just won a series against the best record in baseball."

2. Innovations in Sports Broadcasting: The Roku Channel

Transitioning to broadcasting, Drew introduces a segment about the Roku Channel's new initiative to stream baseball games every Sunday at noon. He praises the channel for its unique approach, which pairs announcers from opposing teams to provide balanced commentary.

• Drew Franklin [03:30]: "Every Sunday at noon, they have a game free that anyone can watch on the Roku Channel."

Shannon shares her realization of the Roku Channel’s offering after spotting a Reds advertisement in Times Square, which piqued her interest.

• Shannon The Dude [03:47]: "I learned of it 2 days ago because we were in Times Square and on the biggest screen in Times Square, they had a Reds logo."

Drew commends the Roku Channel for using knowledgeable announcers from both teams, enhancing the viewing experience by providing informed and unbiased commentary.

• Drew Franklin [04:10]: "They actually knew these teams. Is that not a good idea?"

Matt expresses enthusiasm about potentially tuning into Roku’s games to experience the dual-announcer setup.

• Matt Jones [05:56]: "I just thought it was a good idea. I may end up watching these Roku games to hear the two announcers from different teams."

3. Addressing Criminal Justice Scams

A significant portion of the discussion shifts to alarming reports about scams targeting individuals with fake sheriff's deputies posing as law enforcement to coerce payments for non-existent warrants, particularly related to jury duty.

Matt shares his personal encounter with such a scam, detailing how callers impersonated sheriff's deputies, creating an elaborate ruse to demand immediate payments to avoid arrest.

• Matt Jones [07:00]: "In a tragedy, someone killed a legislator in Minnesota...they wore a mask that completely changed his identity."

Drew and Ryan express disbelief over the sophistication of these scams, questioning how perpetrators manage to deceive individuals despite advanced surveillance and communication technologies.

• Ryan Lemon [09:18]: "Usually what is it like if you don't catch a criminal in the first 48 hours, your chances of catching that criminal go drastically down."

The hosts collectively emphasize the importance of public awareness and skepticism towards unsolicited calls demanding urgent payments, advising listeners to verify such claims directly with official departments.

• Drew Franklin [32:05]: "If a sheriff's deputy shows up and they need you a legal signature, I can see."

Shannon underscores the necessity of educating family members, especially young ones, about the signs of such scams to prevent accidental compliance.

• Shannon The Dude [42:19]: "Don't let your guard down. Don't start giving in now. There's going to be more scams coming."

4. Baseball Transfer Portal Rankings

Drew provides an update on Kentucky's baseball transfer portal, proudly announcing that their class is ranked number two in the country. The discussion touches on the impact of player transfers and the strategic recruitment efforts by Kentucky's coach Benjiyon, which have bolstered their roster strength.

• Drew Franklin [16:33]: "Our portal stuff is pretty, pretty amazing on a lot of sports."

Shannon and Matt concur, highlighting the early success and potential for maintaining their ranking despite the ongoing transfer activities.

• Shannon The Dude [17:10]: "They're fifth right now and say, like, was it eight additions second now."

Matt points out that some players have chosen to return, further strengthening the team's prospects for the upcoming season.

• Matt Jones [17:56]: "They do have several guys that have decided to come back. That kind of helps them and you get this good transfer portal class."

5. Listener Interaction and Contests

The show incorporates interactive segments where listeners call in with questions and participate in contests. One notable segment involves selecting finalists based on listeners' choices, with the group ultimately deciding to visit Eric's house in Independence, Kentucky, known for its extensive arcade pinball machine collection.

• Billy Rutledge [18:26]: "Our first option is Eric. He has a house in Independence, Kentucky... he has a full blown arcade, 18 pinball machines."

After deliberation, the hosts agree to meet Eric, anticipating an engaging experience surrounded by his unique collection.

• Drew Franklin [21:30]: "I'm picking Independence. Are we going with Independence?"

The segment adds a lighthearted and community-focused element to the show, fostering listener engagement and participation.

6. Stephen A. Smith's Solitaire Incident

A caller brings up the incident where sports commentator Stephen A. Smith was seen playing solitaire during an NBA Finals game, prompting a discussion on professionalism and attentiveness in live sports broadcasting.

• Caller [26:27]: "Has anyone else been bothered by the Murray game last Saturday? One of the announcers kept calling it Mari instead of Murray."

Shannon criticizes the act, highlighting that playing a mindless game like solitaire demonstrates a lack of engagement and respect for the sport being broadcasted.

• Shannon The Dude [26:55]: "Solitaire is like the most mindless of activities... it makes it look so much worse than it is being on his phone."

The hosts agree that such behavior is unprofessional and detracts from the quality of sports analysis expected from commentators.

• Matt Jones [28:35]: "You can get paid for playing solitaire now. Maybe he's trying to get paid."

7. Audience Calls and Community Stories

Throughout the episode, listeners share their personal experiences with scams and sports-related anecdotes. Matt recounts his near encounter with a jury duty scam, providing a cautionary tale to the audience.

• Matt Jones [29:03]: "I almost got arrested for not showing up for jury duty. They were so convincing."

Shannon and Ryan offer additional insights and support, reinforcing the collective awareness and resilience of the community against such fraudulent activities.

8. Closing Remarks and Promotions

As the episode winds down, the hosts briefly acknowledge promotional segments from sponsors like Estate Renovations, maintaining the show's informative and community-oriented tone.

• Matt Jones [34:46]: "Estate Renovations...mention KSR and get half off your design agreement. EstateRenos.com."

Drew Franklin closes the show with light-hearted banter and acknowledgments of the day's discussions, signaling the end of Hour 2.

• Drew Franklin [44:40]: "But he does live in Independence, Kentucky? Yeah, if you got us set up right."

Notable Quotes:

• Drew Franklin [21:30]: "I'm picking Independence. Are we going with Independence?"

• Shannon The Dude [26:55]: "Solitaire is like the most mindless of activities... it makes it look so much worse than it is being on his phone."

• Matt Jones [29:03]: "I almost got arrested for not showing up for jury duty. They were so convincing."

This episode of KSR provides a comprehensive overview of current sports standings, innovative broadcasting methods, critical discussions on public safety against scams, and vibrant community interactions. The hosts effectively blend sports analysis with listener engagement, offering valuable insights and fostering a sense of community among their audience.