Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1

September 11, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Crew: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude

Episode Overview

In this powerful and emotionally-charged episode, Matt Jones and the KSR team address the tragic public shooting of political advocate Charlie Kirk in Utah, sharing their reactions and calling for a return to empathy and human decency. The episode then shifts to Kentucky sports topics, including the upcoming UK football game against Eastern Michigan and fan excitement around quarterback Cutter Bowley. The show also answers listener calls about UK basketball, football history, and even some lighthearted banter about hot yoga and Blind Melon.

Main Theme:

Tragedy in Utah and Its Ramifications

From the outset, the hosts focus on the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk during a public speaking event at a Utah college campus, reflecting on the human and societal implications and the disturbing tendency of social media to exploit such tragedies for political gain.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflecting on the Tragic Shooting of Charlie Kirk

[01:05–15:10]

• Matt Jones opens with a somber and direct address:

  • “It is awful to see any human being killed for basically speaking their beliefs… It's the exact opposite of what America stands for.” (Matt Jones, [03:04])
  • Matt and Drew recount learning of the incident while recording, expressing sadness and the inhumanity of murder tied to political activism.

• Condemning the Dehumanizing Effect of Polarization:

  • “We are so quick ... to label people in groups ... and what happens ... is you end up dehumanizing the people on the other side.” (Matt Jones, [04:45])
  • They emphasize that, regardless of political beliefs, the murder is simply “wrong. Full stop. That's it. That's the end of the conversation.” (Matt Jones, [10:56])

• Social Media and Distorted Responses:

  • The hosts are disturbed by ghoulish responses on social media – both celebrations and apocalyptic rhetoric – but urge listeners to remember this is not representative of America:
    • “Social media sometimes takes the worst of humanity and throws it out there and makes people think it's the norm. I don't think it's the norm.” (Matt Jones, [06:57])

• Core Message About Humanity:

  • “At its core, when we get to the Pearly Gates, they're not going to ask what political party you were in; they're going to ask how you treat your fellow human being.” (Matt Jones, [08:01])

• Panelist reflections:

  • Ryan Lemond: “That was a husband and a daddy that didn't get to go home to his wife and kids last night. It's awful. It's disgusting.” ([09:14])
  • Drew Franklin: “People just need to get over that there are other opinions out there. You don't get to take someone's life because what they're saying isn't exactly in line with what you believe.” ([10:08])
  • Shannon the Dude: “It's a cowardly act to shoot somebody because you don't agree with their opinion.” ([11:55])

• Debate and Empathy:

  • Matt salutes Kirk’s willingness to debate opposing viewpoints, reminding listeners that “at the end of the day he would go home and two children would run up to him.” ([12:18])

2. Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

[15:19–18:29]

• Frustration with Law Enforcement Progress:

  • The shooter, at broadcast time, is still at large, prompting surprise and concern:
    • “I'm really surprised... Aren't you that something that, like high profile, that the person would have been able to get away and that we don't have a name or even a picture?” (Matt Jones, [15:23])

• Media Rumors and the Spread of Misinformation:

  • “When you try to look for real information on the Internet... there's just so much stuff that's inaccurate.” (Drew Franklin, [16:12])

• Ominous Parallels to Recent Violence:

  • The discussion recalls the recent Trump assassination attempt, raising anxiety about public safety for political figures:
    • “If I was a political person... I don't know if I would do it right now.” (Matt Jones, [17:13])

3. Transition to UK Football

[19:04–23:34]

• Fan Excitement Around QB Cutter Bowley:

  • Cutter Bowley expected to start for Kentucky in a favorable matchup.
  • “I really feel like we're seeing the beginning of the Cutter Bowley era. It starts, I think, Saturday.” (Ryan Lemond, [19:57])
  • The crew discusses whether the fan base will turn out for the game due to Bowley’s debut and debates what would constitute “success” for the young quarterback.

• Quarterback Controversy Concerns:

  • “Once you make this decision... you made it.” (Matt Jones, [23:09])
    The hosts agree that UK should stick with Bowley rather than flip-flop between QBs.

4. Listener Calls & Community Pulse

[23:40–34:54]

• On the “Two Sides” Mentality:

  • Matt stresses the majority of Americans are “living their lives…not screaming online”: “When I see these dudes, that's not what they're talking about...So I think that's how most people are.” ([26:15])

• Callers Bring Up UK Basketball & Football History:

  • A caller, Alex, spots Coach Mark Pope on a Paris-Atlanta flight. Panel speculates he was recruiting or on personal travel. ([27:34])
  • Jason asks about the 2019 Eastern Michigan game’s impact on UK football history—Drew details the chain of events leading to the memorable Lynn Bowden season. ([29:59])

• Prayers and Hopes for the Team:

  • Joe offers encouragement for Matt’s trip and hopes for UK’s post-bye-week performance: “This cannot turn into a quarterback controversy.” ([33:01])

5. Lighter Segments

[34:54–42:19]

• Blind Melon Banter:

  • Light-hearted discussion on the band Blind Melon playing Bourbon & Beyond, and whether anyone can emulate their unique sound.
  • Matt and Shannon joke about how sad song lyrics can sound deceptively cheerful.

• NFL and Fan Behavior:

  • Lamar Jackson’s post-game apology to a fan:
    • “I shouldn't have hit you, but, man, chill.” (Paraphrased, Matt Jones, [36:14])
    • Panel debates effectiveness of NFL stadium bans.

• Ole Miss Staff Does Hot Yoga in Lexington:

  • “What are the chances the UK staff would ever do that?” Matt jokes about UK coaches hitting a hot yoga class before a game. ([39:07]) Crew doubts it would ever happen, poking fun at the idea of Mark Stoops or Vince Marrow doing yoga poses.

• Call from Jerry:

  • On the need to work UK’s passing game against Eastern Michigan: “I hope they really take this chance to work on their passing game.” (Jerry, [41:17])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Jones [03:04]: “It is awful to see any human being killed for basically speaking their beliefs… It’s the exact opposite of what America stands for.”
• Matt Jones [06:57]: “Social media sometimes takes the worst of humanity and throws it out there and makes people think it’s the norm. I don’t think it’s the norm.”
• Ryan Lemond [09:14]: “That was a husband and a daddy that didn’t get to go home to his wife and kids last night. It’s awful. It’s disgusting.”
• Drew Franklin [10:08]: “You don’t get to take someone’s life because what they're saying isn’t exactly in line with what you believe.”
• Matt Jones [10:56]: “It’s wrong. Full stop. That’s it.”
• Shannon the Dude [11:55]: “It’s a cowardly act to shoot somebody because you don't agree with their opinion.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:05–15:10] – KSR crew addresses Charlie Kirk’s murder and its social implications.
• [15:19–18:29] – Updates on the shooter, law enforcement, and public safety questions.
• [19:04–23:34] – UK football: Excitement and questions around Cutter Bowley’s debut.
• [23:40–34:54] – Callers discuss politics, UK athletics history, and Coach Pope’s Paris trip.
• [34:54–36:14] – Blind Melon music and light banter.
• [36:14–39:13] – NFL fan incidents, stadium bans, and Lamar Jackson’s apology.
• [39:13–41:17] – Ole Miss staff’s hot yoga; more sports and community discussion.

Takeaways

• Empathy Over Division: The episode is a call for unity and basic human decency above politics, using the tragedy in Utah as a rallying point for reflection.
• Kentucky Sports Hopefulness: Shift in sports discussion shows the crew’s resilience and the community’s continued excitement for UK athletics, even amidst national tragedy.
• Humor Amidst Hardship: KSR blends serious commentary with levity, offering listeners emotional relief and a sense of normalcy through familiar sports talk and friendly banter.

[Ads, intros, and outros have been skipped in this summary.]