KSR – Hour 2 (August 18, 2025) Summary
Main Theme / Purpose
This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR), hosted by Matt Jones with regulars Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin, and Shannon Dawson, delivers the latest in University of Kentucky (UK) sports—basketball and football news, lively banter, and local color. This hour is characterized by personal anecdotes, UK basketball roster updates, a memorable story about being banned from the Little League World Series, and reflections on Ryan Lemon's birthday and his new status as an empty nester.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Cincinnati Reds' Stressful Weekend
- Matt Jones recounts stressful Reds games over the weekend, sharing frustrations over blown leads, poor defense, and general bad luck.
- “Friday night reds go up 8 to 1… by the end into the third inning, it’s 8 to 8. They end up losing 10 to 8... I didn’t enjoy it and it made me mad.” (01:30)
- Ryan Lemon & Drew Franklin poke fun at Matt’s fandom and his right to complain despite only being a “fan since 2018.”
- Shannon Dawson: “Season tickets automatic gets you the opportunity to bicker as much as you want.” (04:47)
UK Basketball: The Arrival of Jelovčić (The Croatian Sensation)
- Matt Jones: Celebrates the arrival of Croatian recruit Jelovčić, discussing his move-in and attendance at a tennis match with Coach Pope.
- Shannon Dawson: Highlights the wide range of possibilities for Jelovčić’s role on the team.
- “He’s easily the biggest mystery on the team… he played about 30 minutes for a pro team in Serbia averaging near a double double.” (06:39)
- Matt Jones: Believes Pope will let him play on the perimeter, considers Jelovčić a “bonus” piece more than a primary contributor.
- “I’m considering him a bonus. Whatever happens with him is awesome, but I’m not considering him someone we rely on.” (07:18)
- Drew Franklin and crew speculate on his minutes, concluding that expectations should be measured given team depth and his inexperience with college basketball.
Little League World Series Ban Story
- Ryan Lemon shares a legendary story about being banned from the Little League World Series after running the bases uninvited.
- Matt Jones: Narrates how Homeland Security contacted him (not Ryan) about the incident, lampooning the seriousness and absurdity of it all.
- “Ryan Lemon jumped the fence and ran the bases at the Little League World Series… and the next day, I… Department of Homeland Security called me.” (12:00)
- “They wanted us to go to the police station. Dude, it was serious… like I was your lawyer asking if you would turn yourself in for arrest.” (13:33)
- The whole panel has fun with the story and Ryan’s daring (and slightly oblivious) approach.
UK Football Roster and News
- Caller “Gork” tries to quiz Matt on UK’s starting offensive line but is gently rebuffed: “You could have looked all this up, man. Like, there’s an Internet.” (14:33)
- Matt Jones notes Luke Fortner (ex-UK lineman) being traded from Jacksonville to the Saints, joining fellow UK alum Landon Young.
- “Luke Fortner was traded last night from Jacksonville to New Orleans… he will be on the offensive line with Landon Young.” (15:37)
- Anecdote about the UK O-line’s love of wine—dubbed the “winemen”—draws laughter and gentle ribbing.
Celebrating Ryan Lemon’s Birthday and Memories
- Matt and crew poke fun at Ryan turning 59, recapping events from 1966 (the year he was born): the debut of “Star Trek,” the Miranda rights, the Sound of Music winning Best Picture, and Texas Western defeating UK for the basketball title.
- “You are the same age, Ryan Lemon, as The Sound of Music.” (20:19)
- Ryan playfully lists other celebrities born in 1966: “All beautiful people were born in 1966.” (20:30)
Empty Nest Reflections – Ryan Lemon’s Son Goes to College
- Emotional segment as Ryan discusses his youngest son leaving for UK, officially making him an empty nester.
- “This one hits me, man. This one really shook me… it’s just been me and him for the last almost four years now. Sudden he’s going to leave…” (30:24)
- Matt Jones: “Are you sad about it?” Ryan: “I am 100% sad. If I keep talking about I’m going to cry.” (30:41)
- Crew gives advice for filling his time and gently jokes about his tendency to hover.
Lighter Calls and Advice
- Callers provide restaurant recommendations for Boston (seafood!), and wish Ryan happy birthday.
- Fun debate around body image and media criticism after wrestler Triple H is body-shamed for vacation pictures.
Media News: Rich Eisen and MSNBC
- Drew Franklin & Matt Jones reminisce about classic ESPN SportsCenter anchors.
- “I, I, you know, those were the good days… when you had, if you go through the list… all those guys were great.” (26:12)
- Matt outlines MSNBC’s rebrand to “MS Now” (News, Opinion, World), mocking the odd choice and suggesting “Let’s Get It” as a better name.
- “Your three news stations are Fox News, CNN, and… Let’s Get It.” (28:20)
Tracking Technology for Kids (and Seniors!)
- The panel discusses Skechers offering kids’ shoes with AirTags to track location, weighing pros (peace of mind) with cons (privacy concerns).
- Matt Jones: “You are essentially giving your child’s location to a private company that could be hacked. So stuff like that worries me.” (38:02)
- Ryan jokes about wanting one for himself: “I would wear Skechers with air tag… I get lost.” (40:10)
UK Football vs. Toledo, and Season Outlook
- Caller “Jerry” expresses concern about UK’s first football game with so many new starters, noting Toledo's experience and motivation.
- Matt is confident: “Toledo looks at this and says if we beat Kentucky, we got a shot to make the playoff… But Drew, they’re not going to beat us.” (42:13)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Jake Fraley and the team have creative differences. Like he’s working on a movie.” – Matt Jones, joking about a Reds player leaving the team (03:48)
- “He’s easily the biggest mystery on the team… if he shows up and takes somebody’s spot and he’s playing 25 minutes a game at the four, that won’t surprise me either.” – Shannon Dawson on Jelovčić (06:39)
- “Ryan Lemon jumped the fence and ran the bases at the Little League World Series… and then the next day, I… the Department of Homeland Security called me.” – Matt Jones (12:00)
- “He and I went through a lot… He kind of helped me through a lot of stuff, you know?” – Ryan Lemon on his son leaving home (34:55)
- “I would 100% be serious about it. Like the city council person to start with, you know, when I retire.” – Ryan Lemon on running for office (29:19)
- “I don’t know why I had to throw in what he looked like.” – Matt Jones after empathizing with the Homeland Security agent about Ryan’s ban (13:20)
- “Angles are key… you gotta make sure you get the right angle.” – Matt Jones on tricky vacation photos and body-shaming (23:51)
- “As long as you’ll keep me around, I’m gonna ride your coattails as far as I can.” – Ryan Lemon, joking about his radio career security (36:48)
- “I just reached 59 years old… First of all, you could do it. You could just turn on your location on your phone and share it with me.” – Matt to Ryan about using AirTags for seniors (40:16)
Key Timestamps
- 01:30 – Reds Recap: Matt shares stressful weekend as a new Reds fan
- 05:56 – UK Basketball: Discussion on Jelovčić’s arrival and impact
- 09:42 – Little League World Series: Pitching controversy and Ryan Lemon’s ban story
- 12:00 – Homeland Security calls Matt about Ryan’s antics at the World Series
- 15:37 – Luke Fortner UK Football news
- 18:15 – Ryan’s birthday: 1966 trivia and memories
- 30:24 – Ryan discusses his empty nest and feelings about his son leaving
- 38:02 – Tech debate: Should parents use AirTags and tracking tech on kids?
- 42:13 – UK football opener vs. Toledo – confidence and concern
Flow and Value
The episode pivots smoothly from UK sports analysis to personal reflections and classic radio banter. The hosts’ chemistry carries the show, especially when reminiscing or delivering inside jokes—like Ryan’s infamous Little League ban or his struggles with impending empty nest status. The addition of sports media news and the discussion about tracking technology broadens the appeal beyond hardcore UK fans, serving up both laughs and practical conversation. For listeners, even without hearing the episode, this summary provides a vivid map of the discussions, captures the show’s friendly tone, and highlights both community moments and sports insights.