KSR - Hour 2 Summary (July 31, 2025)

Hosted by Matt Jones and the KSR crew from iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM), this episode delves deep into the latest in UK sports news, player recognitions, listener interactions, and engaging discussions on basketball Hall of Fame criteria.

1. UK Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Announcement and Initial Reactions

At the outset, Matt Jones introduces the newly announced UK Hall of Fame class for 2025, highlighting Josh Allen as the headliner. The crew engages in a spirited debate about Allen's ranking among the best defensive players in UK football history.

• Matt Jones [03:24]: "Welcome back. Hour number two, Kentucky Sports Radio, 859-280-2287 text machine 772-774-5254. Let's get going here with some new stuff. First of all, the UK Hall of Fame announced its class of 2025."

Debating the Top Defensive Players

The conversation centers around whether Josh Allen deserves the top spot over veterans like Art Still and Dennis Johnson.

• Guest [03:56]: "I think your top three are Art Still, Dennis Johnson and Josh Allen and what order you put them in."

• Matt Jones [04:04]: "Yeah. Art Stills that, those are a good three. I think I, I think I'd go maybe Art Still. Josh Allen did his job."

Inclusion of Current Players

A heartfelt story about Josh Allen’s son overcoming cancer is shared, adding an emotional layer to the sports discussion.

• Matt Jones [04:27]: "By the way, great story this week about Josh Allen's son."

• Guest [04:39]: "Now it's last night. He's cancer free."

Evaluating Other Candidates

The crew evaluates other Hall of Fame candidates like Abby Cheek Ramsey, Sonia Hahn, Doug Flynn, Michaela Epps, and Carl Towns.

• Matt Jones [05:05]: "I did not know who Sonia Hahn, the tennis player is. Did you?"

• Guest [05:13]: "But congratulations to her. Doug Flynn. We all know the baseball player and longtime Red and then Lexington native."

2. Hall of Fame Criteria: College vs. Professional Achievements

Debating Carl Towns' Inclusion

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Carl Towns' eligibility and whether his professional success should influence his placement in the UK Hall of Fame.

• Matt Jones [06:09]: "I'm kind of wondering if what's going to end up happening is they're going to skip over the Brandon Knights of the world, which I think is a shame, because objectively, Brandon Knight was a better player than Carl Anthony Towns at Kentucky."

Balancing College Performance with NBA Success

The debate intensifies as Matt questions the criteria—whether the Hall of Fame should honor players based solely on their college performance or include their professional achievements.

• Matt Jones [07:04]: "But what are you going to do? Because you have this group of guys who were great here, Brandon Knight, Willie Cauley, etc. And then you have this other group of guys who were good here, but their real impact came after."

Listener's Perspective on Criteria

A listener weighs in, advocating for prioritizing college achievements over professional success.

• Listener [09:33]: "I love Carl. I have several names I would put ahead of him, including Euless, Willie, Oscar, Brandon, people you've named."

Call for Transparency and Better Honoring of Achievements

The crew expresses frustration over the lack of a dedicated Hall of Fame platform and calls for better recognition of inductees.

• Matt Jones [10:46]: "They need to fix that. You got to do a better whole thing. You got to do a better website than that."

3. Listener Interaction: Neighborhood Yard Maintenance

Case Study: Trimming Neighbor’s Sidewalk

A listener seeks advice on whether it’s rude to mow and trim a neighbor’s yard that lacks proper sidewalk maintenance.

• Listener [13:05]: "Is it rude of me for the next time I mow and trim to just kind of keep on doing it..."

• Matt Jones [13:26]: "No, you mean is it rude of you? I think he was doing that. Is it rude to mow other people's yards or help?"

Advice Offered

The hosts suggest approaching the neighbor respectfully and offering assistance rather than taking unilateral action.

• Matt Jones [14:06]: "I would check with them."

• Host [14:37]: "You could have that. If you wanna..."

Encouraging Direct Communication

Emphasis is placed on fostering good neighborly relations through open dialogue.

• Listener [27:45]: "We try to, you know, know our neighbors is offer to help."

4. Celebrity News and Pop Culture

Gilbert Arenas' Legal Troubles

The hosts discuss recent legal issues surrounding NBA star Gilbert Arenas, including his arrest for illegal poker games.

• Matt Jones [31:49]: "Gilbert Arenas gets arrested for, it seems like having illegal poker games with Israeli mafia people."

• Guest [31:50]: "Doing enough illegal here."

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson's Relationship

A lighter segment covers the unexpected relationship between actor Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, sparking debates among the hosts.

• Matt Jones [34:18]: "He's dating Pamela Anderson... If you didn't know their backgrounds, you can see them together."

• Guest [35:11]: "I'm rooting for both of them."

Reflections on Changing Celebrity Dynamics

The conversation touches on how celebrity relationships evolve and the public's perception of them.

• Matt Jones [37:05]: "When you say Shannon, those were, like, the names at the top of the list. You would have said Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson."

5. Sports Betting and Predictions

DraftKings Betting Picks

Matt Jones introduces a segment on sports betting, encouraging listeners to participate through DraftKings.

• Matt Jones [42:13]: "DraftKings you can go to DraftBet 5 with $150 in bonus bets."

• Host and Callers [42:30]: Discussing bets on teams like the Braves and Reds, highlighting matchups and predictions.

Final Four and Tournament Insights

The crew analyzes upcoming matchups in the Final Four, providing insights and personal picks.

• Matt Jones [43:04]: "Final Four. Final Four. Let's start with the West."

• Listener [43:35]: "I'll go best Virginia because I think they're hosting."

6. NBA Rules and College Eligibility

Early NBA Declaration and College Return

A listener inquires about the possibility of NBA players returning to college basketball after declaring early.

• Listener [45:43]: "Is there a rule against people who declare early for the NBA to come back to college?"

• Matt Jones [46:03]: "Under the current NCAA rules, if you have been paid to play basketball outside of the NCAA system, you are not allowed to play college basketball."

Historical Context and Exceptions

The hosts provide context on past instances and exceptions, referencing the Ennis Cantor rule.

• Matt Jones [46:37]: "It's basically, I would say it's the Ennis Cantor rule. I think they changed it after Ennis Cantor."

7. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Hall of Fame Inductee Mentions

The discussion circles back to recognizing additional players deserving of Hall of Fame consideration, such as Terrence Jones and Derek Anderson.

• Matt Jones [38:35]: "Terrence Jones had a better college career than Carl Towns?"

• Listener [49:00]: "He had a great run, you know, the 96, 97 year."

Upcoming Shows and Media Highlights

Matt wraps up the episode by mentioning upcoming events and recent media appearances, including interactions with personalities like Jimmy Fallon and Triple H.

• Matt Jones [43:57]: "One big piece of news I know everybody's waiting for. Gilded Age got renewed for season four."

• Guest [44:16]: "We started this whole thing on Netflix."

Notable Quotes

• Matt Jones [07:04]: "But what are you going to do? Because you have this group of guys who were great here... And then you have this other group of guys who were good here, but their real impact came after."

• Listener [09:33]: "I love Carl. I have several names I would put ahead of him, including Euless, Willie, Oscar, Brandon, people you've named."

• Matt Jones [10:46]: "They need to fix that. You got to do a better whole thing. You got to do a better website than that."

Conclusion

This episode of KSR - Hour 2 offers a comprehensive look into the ongoing discussions surrounding UK sports achievements, the criteria for Hall of Fame inductions, and engaging interactions with listeners. Matt Jones and the crew provide insightful debates, heartfelt stories, and relatable advice, making it a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts and regular followers of UK sports.