Kentucky Sports Radio — Hour 2

Episode Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Co-hosts: Ryan Lemond, Shannon the Dude, Lee K. Howard, Mario Maitland
Podcast: KSR (iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790 WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

The second hour of KSR centers around Kentucky sports news, with a spirited discussion among the hosts about UK’s greatest athletes, standout moments from the university’s track and field program, and updates on Kentucky basketball and football. The hour also delivers the usual blend of offbeat humor, listener calls, and inside stories that are a KSR trademark.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Studio Technical Hijinks & On-Air Banter

[01:03 – 03:15]

• The show opens with confusion about broadcast timing and commercials bleeding in, leading to on-air jokes about sabotage and the Bobby Perry Band (now Commonwealth Band).
• Casual ribbing: Mario Maitland is teased as a "young guy" for not knowing UK alumnus Bobby Perry.
• Inside jokes about “yoga girls” and Shannon opting to stay at a hotel.

"Somebody — Tom Jurich — must have snuck into the iHeart building and tried to sabotage our show this morning."
— Matt Jones [01:49]

2. Correcting the Mark Pope Surgery Story

[03:37 – 04:30]

• Matt addresses a previous caller’s claim: Head coach Mark Pope did not talk a doctor through surgery on his daughter Avery in El Salvador.
• Clarifies Pope only spoke to the doctor to feel confident, not to guide the surgery.

"Totally false. The article says Pope talked to the doctor, but didn’t talk him through the surgery."
— Matt Jones [03:49]

3. Netflix’s “Unknown Number” & Catfishing Stories

[04:30 – 05:53]

• Matt raves about the new Netflix documentary “Unknown Number,” centered on a disturbing catfishing case involving Michigan high schoolers.
• Comparison to the Manti Te’o story is made, highlighting the ongoing relevance and dangers of catfishing.

"It’s freaky. I mean, it’s definitely worth it … I wish we could talk about it with somebody because it’s freaky."
— Matt Jones [04:55]

4. UK Track & Field’s Legendary Status & Sydney McLaughlin

[06:11 – 10:10]

• The crew sings the praises of Sydney McLaughlin, calling her arguably the greatest athlete in UK history after her latest American record in the 400 meters:
  – She’s broken records in both the 400 hurdles and 400 meters
  – Multiple Olympic gold medals
• Discussion spotlights other UK track and field Olympians and the growing prestige—and underappreciation—of UK’s track program.

"Legend. Sydney McLaughlin is going to end up being the best athlete ever to wear the blue and white. She now is the fastest woman in the world in two of the hardest events ever."
— Matt Jones [06:15]

"She’s at a different level. She’s definitely on a different level … I went to school with Sydney McLaughlin. I can say that."
— Ryan Lemond [07:07]

"I think back at some of the interviews I’ve done with athletes at UK over the years and she might be at the top of the list."
— Lee K. Howard [07:44]

5. Debate: Best All-Time UK Athletes

[10:40 – 16:30]

• Open call for nominations: Wawa Jones (starred in football, basketball, and baseball), Anthony Davis, Dan Issel, John Wall, Shane Boyd (football/baseball), Rondo (flag football), Tim Couch, and more.
• Fun hypothetical: Could Matt beat Sydney McLaughlin in a 100m or 200m footrace if she ran 400m at the same time?
• Listeners chime in: Jared Lorenzen, Lynn Bowden, Jenny Hansen, Pookie Jones, and others are added to the greatest-athletes debate.

"How do you not mention Jared Lorenzen when talking about all-time UK athletes?"
— Lee K. Howard [16:06]

• Announcement: KSR will do a show from Fort Thomas Highlands High, honoring Jared Lorenzen and spotlighting his son, current football star Tate Lorenzen.
  — [16:30 – 17:08]

6. Listener Calls: Football & Multi-Sport Legends

[18:22 – 22:13]

• Caller “Hunter” predicts UK’s Cutter Boley will amass better stats in 10 games than Texas QB Arch Manning in 12.
• “Bob” remembers Kenny Coons, a Louisville Mail grad and tri-sport all-state star, lamenting modern sports specialization.
• Conversation about Tyron Stokes, top basketball recruit (from Louisville, now at Prolific Prep in California), who’s planning to play football his senior year.

7. Keeneland, Horses, and Kentucky Traditions

[25:54 – 26:43], [38:42 – 39:14]

• Matt admits he’s “not a horse guy”—calls Keeneland (the famed Lexington racetrack) “overrated.”
• Banter about the difficulty and crowds of Keeneland, with Lee warning of potential backlash against that opinion.
• Listener “Seth” shares horses to watch (Tommy Joe, Tap It Legacy) and memories of track star Sonny Collins.

"Keeneland’s one of the most overrated things in America."
— Matt Jones [26:05]

8. UK Basketball Recruiting & Practice Insights

[27:15 – 33:59]

• Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey’s recruiting success is discussed—both regarded as potentially Final Four coaches.
• Recap of the “Field of 68” and “Sources Say” practice videos:
  • Jaden Quaintance is “huge”—reportedly put on 40 pounds of muscle.
  • Jasper Johnson now up to 190 pounds.
  • Diabate and Ilija Milijaevic offer contrasting styles at the 4—physicality vs. shooting.
• High praise for both Kentucky and Louisville basketball: "Final Four or bust" attitudes.

"Jaden Quaintance, they said, has gotten that much bigger … Goodman and Doster don’t doubt it at all."
— Matt Jones [28:18]

"Last year’s Kentucky team really missed that dog, that guy who got in there. They needed toughness."
— Lee K. Howard [32:23]

9. Big Games: Rivalries and Road Trips

[29:57 – 31:13]

• Most-anticipated UK basketball games this season:
  • Louisville rivalry (though earlier than usual—Matt isn’t a fan)
  • Indiana matchup at Rupp Arena
  • CBS Sports Classic vs. St. John’s in Atlanta (planned KSR road trip, hopefully veering “through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Austin, Texas”—jokingly)

"The younger generation doesn’t understand what that [UK-Indiana] rivalry means."
— Matt Jones [30:13]

10. More Listener Engagement & UK Trivia

[37:08–41:15]

• Some humorous/irreverent listener calls: birthday wishes, questions about local commercials, predictions about Indiana football.
• Additional mentions of all-time UK greats—e.g., Willie Cauley-Stein’s high school football prowess.

11. UK News, Life Updates & Community Events

[41:15–42:55]

• KSR plugs upcoming remote broadcasts:
  • Mount Vernon’s Community Trust Bank for Christian Appalachian Project’s Hunger Walk (with ticket giveaways).
  • Wild Eggs in Tate’s Creek, Lexington (more giveaways).
• Congratulations to Lee K. Howard for promotion to WKYT sports director.
• Lighthearted discussion of Lee teaching journalism at UK—"It’s going to be really hard to fail this class if you just show up."

— Lee K. Howard [42:36]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Sydney McLaughlin’s Dominance:
  "She will be remembered as the greatest athlete in the history of the University of Kentucky."
  — Matt Jones [06:47]

• On Athlete Versatility:
  "Wawa Jones … played football, basketball, and baseball, and I believe played professional football and professional basketball."
  — Matt Jones [10:41]

• On UK’s Track and Field Ascendance:
  "It has developed into one of the best programs on campus that we don’t talk about."
  — Matt Jones [09:54]

• On the Louisville Rivalry Date Change:
  "I hate that it’s early in November … before the football game, for crying out loud. I don’t like it at all."
  — Matt Jones [29:38]

• Listener Humor:
  "Remember he got thrown into the mud puddle? That’s why he hates Derby."
  — Shannon the Dude, on Matt’s aversion to the Kentucky Derby [39:03]

• Life at UK:
  "I told the students the first day of school … it’s going to be really hard to fail this class if you just show up."
  — Lee K. Howard [42:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Studio Chaos & Bobby Perry Band Banter: [01:03–03:15]
• Mark Pope Surgery Rumor Clarification: [03:37–04:30]
• Netflix “Unknown Number” / Catfishing: [04:30–05:53]
• Sydney McLaughlin & UK Track Greats: [06:11–10:10]
• Best UK Athletes Debate: [10:40–16:30]
• Show Announcement: Live at Highlands HS: [16:30–17:08]
• Listener Calls: Football & Multi-Sport Stars: [18:22–22:13]
• Horse Racing & Keeneland Banter: [25:54–26:43], [38:42–39:14]
• Basketball Recruiting & Practice Review: [27:15–33:59]
• Upcoming Basketball Matchups: [29:57–31:13]
• Listener Engagement & UK Trivia: [37:08–41:15]
• Show Plugs & Lee K. Howard Promotion: [41:15–42:55]

Structure & Style

• The conversation is energetic, local, and playful, with authentic fan excitement and inside jokes.
• Multiple topics and tangents, with sports fandom and Kentucky’s sports culture at the center.
• Listener calls add real-time humor and local flavor.

Summary Takeaways

• Sydney McLaughlin has etched herself as the greatest UK athlete, and the track program at UK is flourishing but still underappreciated.
• The “greatest athlete” discussion remains open, with input on multi-sport legends and new UK stars like Jaden Quaintance and Diabate stepping up.
• Matt Jones’ infamous takes on Keeneland add comic spice to the usual sports talk.
• KSR keeps it community-focused, plugging live events and listener engagement throughout the episode.
• The team teases big basketball expectations—UK and Louisville could genuinely be Final Four contenders.
• Lighthearted classroom banter and show-planning keep the mood upbeat and inclusive.