KSR Podcast Episode Summary
Episode: August 5, 2025 - KSR - Hour 1
Released: August 5, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones and the KSR Crew
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Duration: 51:44 Minutes

Introduction and On-Air Challenges

Matt Jones opens the episode by discussing the challenges the team faced getting the show live from the Louisville studio.

"It was very difficult. He just got headset with two earpieces because for a while he only had one earpiece because the Louisville equipment didn't really work very well." [02:00]

Despite technical hurdles, the team celebrates being able to broadcast locally, highlighting a special recognition during iHeartRadio's annual Local Radio Week.

Blisters in Baseball Pitching

A significant portion of the discussion centers around an incident involving pitcher Nick Lodolo and a blister that affected his performance during a game against the Cubs.

Matt Jones expresses frustration over the inability to prevent blisters despite advancements in sports medicine.

"How do we not have a cure or a prevention for blisters? People have quadruple open bypass surgery, right? They are taking people's brains and putting them in other people. I don't know if that's true, but they're doing amazingly crazy things in medicine." [14:02]

Shannon provides insights into the causes of blisters, attributing them to how pitchers grip and handle the seams of baseballs.

"A lot of it is how they put their fingers on the seam... sometimes the seams are a little bigger than the seams of the baseball and the game ball." [12:42]

A listener, Sean, calls in to confirm that the blister on Lodolo was real and did not impair his movement significantly.

"He did have a boot on. And he was moving around fine... the guy was walking fine." [25:42]

Kentucky's Football Schedule and Recruitment

The team delves into the challenges facing Kentucky's football team, particularly their tough schedule that includes multiple top-ranked opponents.

Matt Jones highlights the difficulty of playing six teams within the top 18 in the preseason rankings.

"I think we have the third toughest schedule in the country." [23:20]

Drew discusses the impact of this challenging schedule on the team's potential performance, stressing the importance of winning against highly ranked teams.

"Even though this football team may be better than last year, the schedule is so hard the record may not reflect." [10:04]

The conversation shifts to recruitment strategies, comparing the football team's approach to basketball's successful strategy under Mark Pope.

"Mark Stoops has brought together a lot of journeyman football players that have done a lot of experience in college football." [36:10]

Matt Jones emphasizes the significance of recruiting experienced players through the transfer portal to build a competitive team.

"We've taken a completely different tact in the transfer portal. We're putting together a team that's greater than the sum of its parts." [37:02]

Listener Interactions and Calls

Several listeners call in to share their thoughts and experiences:

• Ozone discusses the Dirt Bowl basketball tournament in Lexington, highlighting its long-standing history and current playoff excitement.

  "We've been running it for almost 50 years... tonight, we play, then a day off, and our final four is Thursday evening." [47:24]

• Jamie shares her plans to attend the Dirt Bowl and the enjoyment of live music and food at the event.

  "The food is spectacular... live music in the front of the park." [48:37]

• Sean provides first-hand information about Lodolo's blister, confirming it was genuine and detailing his limited participation in the game.

  "He pitched... one pitch of the second inning." [34:08]

• Caller asks about top players from the recruiting class, prompting a discussion on potential standout athletes for the football team.

  "I think Tyron Stokes since he's the number one player in the country and Louisville wants him." [45:03]

Upcoming Sports Events

Matt Jones promotes upcoming local sports events:

• Dirt Bowl Basketball Tournament:

  "It's a basketball tournament with all age groups playing. They have live music and food vendors." [41:07]

• Lexington Sporting Club vs. Phoenix Rising FC:

  "Lexington Sporting Club will face Phoenix Rising FC on August 9th at 6 PM. Bring the kids to the end-of-summer bash supported by Chick-fil-A." [38:16]

Media and Entertainment Discussions

The hosts touch upon new media releases affecting the sports community:

Matt Jones mentions the release of Hard Knocks on Netflix, anticipating its portrayal of their team may not be favorable.

"Sec Hard Knocks starts tonight on Netflix. It’s not going to be pretty for us." [42:13]

Drew expresses skepticism about the show's accuracy, especially concerning the team's performance during recorded games.

"I know the games that they went to weren't good, so I don't know how they can paint it too good of a light." [42:54]

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Matt Jones reiterates key topics discussed and teases upcoming segments, while listeners share their plans to attend local sports events and engage with the team.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Jones on recruitment strategy:

  "We've taken a completely different tact in the transfer portal. We're putting together a team that's greater than the sum of its parts." [37:02]

• Shannon on causing blisters:

  "A lot of it is how they put their fingers on the seam... sometimes the seams are a little bigger than the seams of the baseball and the game ball." [12:42]

• Drew on schedule difficulty:

  "I think we have the third toughest schedule in the country." [23:20]

• Ozone on the Dirt Bowl:

  "We've been running it for almost 50 years... tonight, we play, then a day off, and our final four is Thursday evening." [47:24]

This episode of KSR provides an engaging mix of local sports analysis, listener interaction, and insights into the challenges faced by Kentucky's sports teams. From discussing individual athlete issues like blisters in pitching to broader topics like recruitment strategies and tough schedules, Matt Jones and the KSR crew deliver comprehensive coverage for sports enthusiasts in the UK community.