Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1

Date: September 30, 2025
Location: KS Bar & Grill, Lexington, KY
Host: Drew Franklin (filling in for Matt Jones), Ryan Lemon, Shannon the Dude
Special Guests: Richie Farmer (UK basketball legend), Buck Stivers (Richie's lifelong friend)

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Hour 1 of KSR dives into a lively mix of Kentucky sports nostalgia, playful crew banter, and timely current events focusing on UK basketball, Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, and UK football frustrations. The hour's highlight is an in-depth and emotional story from Richie Farmer about almost quitting the UK basketball team and his encounter with Coach Rick Pitino. Humor, local color, and stories from guests Richie and Buck provide an engaging listen for Kentucky sports fans.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Opening Banter & Tech Mishaps (02:11–04:13)

• The crew jokes about Ryan repeatedly forgetting the Avision Glass text machine/iPhone, leading to threats of "punishment" if it keeps happening.
• Sponsors are acknowledged in signature, tongue-in-cheek KSR fashion.
• Richie Farmer and Buck Stivers, today's guests, arrive at the bar in memorable style.

Notable Quote:
"I think he's on probation, Shannon."
— Drew Franklin (03:50)

2. Basketball "Rosters by Initials" Game & Ryan’s Oversight (04:13–06:01)

• Throwback to Friday’s on-air game: build a UK basketball roster using only players whose first name starts with your own initial.
  • Ryan admits he forgot both Richie Farmer (present guest!) and Rex Chapman for “R” names.
• Good-natured ribbing about being left off the list.

Notable Quote:
"We can't even make the squad. I mean, we weren't even on the bench."
— Richie Farmer (05:11)

Timestamp: [05:11]

3. Richie & Buck’s Childhood Memories (06:02–09:07)

• Buck describes growing up with Richie: "I was always a little older... That’s how he perfected his shooting, I used to smack that stuff in the neighborhood." (06:59)
• Barn basketball: playing on a hoop tied with seagrass string required bank shots at odd angles, teaching Richie creativity and adaptability.
• Buck recalls realizing Richie was special even in elementary school, calling out the moment he became a "throw it to him and he's gonna shoot it" player.

Notable Quotes:

• "You had to shoot between the strings, and you had to put plenty of arch on it."
  — Richie Farmer (09:02)

• "It was pretty obvious...throw it to him and he's going to shoot it.”
  — Buck Stivers (09:16)

4. Cincinnati Reds Return to the Playoffs (10:24–12:59)

• Excitement for Reds’ unexpected playoff run—first real playoff series since 1995.
• Discussion of matchups, pitching strategy (Hunter Greene, Lodolo), and underdog status against the Dodgers.
• Bar specials at KS Bar in support of the Reds.

Notable Quote:
"But I picked the Reds tonight. I think it's going to be an upset."
— Richie Farmer (11:33)

5. Cincinnati Bengals' Struggles & Chad Johnson's Reaction (12:59–14:08)

• Crew laments the Bengals’ disappointing season without Joe Burrow.
• Chad Johnson’s “full-on ugly cry” after a loss is recounted, contrasting Cincinnati’s baseball and football fortunes.

6. Richie's Support for Homegrown Kentucky Players (14:45–15:43)

• Richie reached out personally to Dane Key (UK football player) during a tough time:
  "I'd like to tell him about, you know, being a local kid, a Kentucky kid playing for UK." (15:15)

7. More Clay County Stories & Childhood Reds Fandom (16:27–18:51)

• Buck dons a childhood Reds batting helmet from the 1970s, prompting stories about trips to Riverfront Stadium and family squabbles.
• Local appreciation for Marty Brennaman broadcasts and Cincinnati ties.

8. Caller Segment: UK Football Frustrations & SEC Rivalries (18:51–22:58)

• Pat from Charleston calls to vent about UK's struggles vs. South Carolina:
  "They act like they're LSU, Alabama and Georgia. They think they’re the best." (19:30)
• The crew commiserates about Williams-Brice Stadium’s loudness and the general malaise around UK football.
• Richie notes patience with young QB Cutter Boley, drawing basketball parallels about slow starts and growth.

Notable Quote:
"It's hard to find a lot of positive things... South Carolina game just brought a lot of them to the surface, I think."
— Richie Farmer (21:00)

9. The Richie Farmer–Rick Pitino "Breakdown" Story (23:09–31:44)

Prompted by a Call-in Question (23:09–23:50)

• Richie recounts the truth behind rumors that he briefly left the UK program and was lured back by Pitino in a heartfelt conversation.

Richie’s Emotional Narrative: (26:52–31:44)

• Overworked and feeling targeted in practice, Richie snaps during a morning workout with strength coach Rock Oliver, quits mid-session, and returns home to Clay County in tears.
• Family is waiting—Pitino has already called. Arranges for Richie to meet him in his basement.
• In a private, hour-long talk, Pitino delivers a "Jedi mind trick":
  • “Well, I think if you’re going to quit, I think I’ll just quit too.”
  • Richie pleads with him not to, realizing his own desire to stay if he's truly wanted.
  • They hug, cry, and ultimately cement Richie’s legacy at UK.
• Buck’s perspective: describes the visible change in Richie’s physical condition post-Pitino’s boot camp, crediting the hard work and discipline.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Coach, all I need to hear is that you want me on this team...I love this place, and I’ll give it everything and have given it everything that I’ve got, but I just need to know that you want me.”
  — Richie Farmer (30:56)

• “If you don’t want to...if you ain’t gonna stick it out, then I think I’ll just quit too.”
  — Rick Pitino (as recalled by Richie, 30:32)

10. Bobby Keith’s Coaching Philosophy & Influence (34:04–35:56)

• Buck and Richie reminisce about legendary Clay County coach Bobby Keith, emphasizing his system-based, role-focused approach—players only practiced from the spots they would actually shoot from in games.
• Discussion on how the basketball “game has changed a lot.”

11. Rock Oliver Fallout & Coach Relationships (36:10–37:15)

• After the blow-up, Richie says there were no lingering hard feelings with strength coach Rock Oliver.
• Pitino took responsibility for not “calling off” Rock sooner.

12. Call-in Q&A with Richie: Son Trey, Clay County, and the Sweet 16 (39:03–41:10)

• Caller asks about having Coach Keith coach Richie’s son, Trey.
• Richie: Trey was talented, could’ve gone far with Keith’s mentorship, but his college career didn’t pan out.
• Richie: “Much harder sitting in the stands as a dad than it is to be out there.” (40:21)

13. Upcoming Shows & KSR Crew Dynamics (41:20–43:33)

• Next episode to be hosted from Shannon the Dude’s man cave in Mount Washington.
• Behind-the-scenes banter about show planning, fridge access, and the casual, off-the-cuff nature of the KSR format.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS & QUOTES

• Good-Natured Grievance:
  “We weren't even on the bench.”
  — Richie Farmer, on being left off Ryan’s “R” roster (05:11)

• Emotional Climax:
  “All I need to hear is that you want me on this team...I need to know that you want me.”
  — Richie Farmer, discussing his turning point with Coach Pitino (30:56)

• Pitino’s Jedi Mind Trick:
  “I think I’ll just quit too. We’ll have a press conference.”
  — Rick Pitino (as retold by Richie, 30:38)

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• [05:11] – Richie reacting to being left off Ryan’s “R” roster
• [09:16] – Buck recognizes Richie’s unique talent early on
• [11:33] – Richie picks Reds for the playoff upset
• [14:45] – Richie’s outreach to Dane Key
• [19:30] – Call-in venting about UK’s South Carolina football woes
• [21:00] – Richie on patience with UK’s young QB
• [26:52–31:44] – The full Richie Farmer/Rick Pitino “I quit” story
• [30:56] – Richie’s emotional confession of needing to be wanted
• [34:04] – Coaching philosophy of Bobby Keith
• [40:21] – Richie on the difficulty of being a sports parent
• [41:20] – Preview of next KSR episode from Shannon’s man cave

CONCLUSION

Hour 1 of the September 30, 2025, KSR episode is packed with both heartfelt and hilarious moments. Richie Farmer’s raw, vulnerable account of his near-departure from UK basketball offers an exclusive look behind the curtain of Kentucky sports lore. Lighter fare—including reminiscences about growing up in Clay County, home-cooked garage basketball, and hometown sports support—rounds out a show that’s as much about community as competition. The episode perfectly blends nostalgia, inside stories, and live local color, all in KSR’s distinctively irreverent, warm-hearted style.