Kentucky Sports Radio - Episode Summary (August 12, 2025)

Hosted by Matt Jones, Shannon "The Dude" The Dude, Drew Franklin, and TJ Smith from iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM). This detailed summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from Hour 2 of the KSR podcast.

1. Major Media Rights Extension Between UK and JMI

Overview: The episode kicks off with a significant announcement regarding the University of Kentucky's (UK) ongoing partnership with JMI Sports. The hosts delve deep into the implications of the newly signed six-year extension to their media rights deal, which now totals 15 years and an estimated $465 million.

Key Points:

• Revenue Allocation: Under the new agreement, UK will receive 80% of all revenue from inventory and advertising opportunities. [03:00]

• Shift in NIL Negotiations: A pivotal change is that JMI will assume responsibility for negotiating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals for UK athletes, a role previously managed by Club Blue. [03:30]

• Introduction of BBN United: JMI is set to launch a new subscription service named BBN United, adding another layer to their partnership with UK. [04:00]

Notable Quote: Shannon "The Dude" The Dude expresses his concerns:
"But Club Blue played a key role. I would argue it's the difference. It was like in pro sports, what a GM and a coach does..." [04:22]

2. Concerns Over JMI's Expanded Role and Its Impact

Discussion: The hosts express apprehensions about JMI's expanded role, particularly regarding their ability to manage NIL deals effectively and without monopolizing opportunities for UK athletes.

Key Points:

• Monopolization Risks: There's a fear that JMI might limit players to only engage with JMI-approved advertisers, potentially restricting athletes from pursuing external endorsements.
  Shannon remarks:
  "I worry that they're going to try to keep everything in house. If you're not a JMI advertiser, then players can't do advertising for you." [09:30]

• Impact on Recruitment: Concerns are raised about how this deal might affect recruiting, especially if JMI represents multiple schools, leading to potential conflicts of interest.
  Caller Josh questions:
  "So is JMI, if they're going to handle the collective, you know, and a player wants to go to Kentucky or they also represent UCLA, like how is that going to work out?" [37:13]

Notable Quotes:

• Shannon:
  "They are now gonna own the players' rights. I worry... if you make it such that these players can't cut a deal with another partner, will that hurt us?" [10:25]

• TJ Smith:
  "The rival schools aren't getting rid of their outside collectives... we need outside options to have more deals they can sign." [12:13]

3. Listener Engagement and Impactful Calls

Overview: Listeners contribute to the conversation through calls, sharing personal stories and opinions related to the media rights deal and other sports topics.

Key Points:

• Support for Coaching Staff: A listener shares a positive experience with Mark Stoops, highlighting the football staff's dedication to special needs children.
  Caller shares:
  "Mark Stoops took time with these kids... I couldn't ask for a better person." [23:46]

• Community Support: Another listener discusses the creation of a cancer support shirt, blending personal struggles with sports team loyalty.
  Caller remarks:
  "The shirt says, 'Cancer sucks and so do the Cardinals.' It makes me cry. Wear it to my cancer stuff..." [24:25]

Notable Quote: Shannon acknowledges the importance of community involvement:
"I think people who take the time to work in prisons... is the heart of religion. Never giving up on people." [49:35]

4. Tyrese Maxey's Can Opener Incident

Discussion: The hosts analyze the viral moment when NBA star Tyrese Maxey struggled with using a manual can opener during a live Instagram session, sparking widespread reactions.

Key Points:

• Public Perception: The incident led to mixed reactions, with some finding it humorous and others empathetic towards Maxey's genuine struggle.
  Shannon reflects:
  "It's kind of humbling. It's like I don't know everything, you know?" [27:56]

• Technical Analysis: Drew Franklin breaks down Maxey's mistake, explaining the incorrect orientation used while operating the can opener.
  Drew explains:
  "He was turning it vertically... he was turning the can upside down." [27:55]

Notable Quote: TJ Smith emphasizes vulnerability:
"More people need to admit they don't know things." [28:14]

5. UK Volleyball Funding and National Ranking

Overview: The podcast shifts focus to UK’s volleyball program, discussing its financial investment and competitive standing nationally.

Key Points:

• Spending and Performance: TJ Smith posits that UK likely ranks in the top 10 for volleyball spending, attributing their success to strategic recruiting from volleyball hotspots.
  TJ asserts:
  "Top 10." [43:54]

• Recruitment Strategy: The team's ability to attract talent from regions like Texas and Kansas contributes to their strong performance and national championship aspirations.
  Shannon notes:
  "They get a lot of players from all over that are really talented." [44:55]

Notable Quote: Shannon praises the coaching staff:
"Skinner's got it running on all cylinders over there." [45:29]

6. Upcoming Events and Community Initiatives

Overview: The hosts discuss upcoming events related to UK sports and community engagement efforts, including the launch of the KS Bar dinner and employment opportunities.

Key Points:

• KS Bar Dinner: The event has sold out and is set to include various community activities and opportunities for hiring new staff.
  Shannon mentions:
  "KS Bar dinner sold out... We still have some spots for hiring." [45:41]

• Employment Opportunities: Emphasis on hiring servers and cooks, alongside training based on successful restaurant models.
  Drew suggests:
  "Have the server... tell a quick story about the restaurant." [46:31]

Notable Quote: Shannon shares the importance of storytelling in customer service:
"If it's their first time, you explain everything... like the Randall Cobb salad." [47:48]

7. Miscellaneous Discussions and Closing Remarks

Overview: Towards the end of the episode, the hosts engage in lighter conversations, including feedback on mentorship, personal anecdotes, and brief promotional segments.

Key Points:

• Podcasting Trends: Speculation on Taylor Swift appearing on Travis Kelsey's podcast potentially making it the most listened-to podcast of all time.
  Shannon muses:
  "It's probably true. It's going to shatter that." [31:29]

• Sports Highlights: Brief recap of a recent baseball game, expressing disappointment over game management and its impact on team performance.
  Shannon shares:
  "He gets a little flare hit. Then the ninth hitter is up... it's tough." [35:12]

Notable Quote: Shannon emphasizes resilience:
"You don't know everything... Just say it." [29:13]

8. Advertisements and Promotions Skipped

As per instructions, all advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented during the podcast.

Conclusion: This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio provided an in-depth analysis of the pivotal media rights extension between UK and JMI Sports, raising critical questions about the future of NIL negotiations and athlete endorsements. The hosts balanced their discourse with community engagement, listener interactions, and timely sports commentary, offering listeners a comprehensive look into the evolving landscape of UK athletics and its broader implications.