2025-10-23- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) — Hour 1

Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Matt Jones, with Shannon and Drew
Theme: UK Sports Updates, Stoops’ Future, Program Changes, and Fan Experiences

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Episode Overview

This episode of KSR dives deep into the upcoming UK basketball exhibition against the number-one-ranked Purdue, reflecting on the significance of such high-profile preseason matchups. The crew discusses the state of the football program, the future of head coach Mark Stoops, changes brewing in UK athletics administration, and the broader impacts of NIL and fan engagement programs. Notable rumors from Cats Illustrated are analyzed alongside banter about memorable sports moments, administrative shake-ups, and some light-hearted reflections on fan involvement initiatives.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. UK Basketball Exhibition vs. Purdue

• Historic Context:
  • Matt Jones notes this is "probably the second best team Kentucky has ever played in an exhibition," comparing it to the 1980s games against the Soviet national team ([01:11]–[02:50]).
  • Drew reminisces about past matchups with foreign teams like Czechoslovakia and China as true tests for Kentucky in the preseason.
• Fan Excitement:
  • Tickets are exceptionally expensive, with some listings "as high as $2,000" ([19:24]).
• Expectations for the Game:
  • They agree the game may not be fully competitive as coaches may rotate players and experiment with lineups, especially given current injuries ([22:10]–[24:32]).
  • The hosts debate if fans will overreact to the result and how Mark Pope’s approach differs from John Calipari’s:
    “With Mark Pope, unlike Cal, he knows the fans and their opinion matters.” — Matt Jones ([24:32])
  • "If we win, we're citing it as on the resume. If we lose, it didn’t count." — Drew ([25:05])

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2. Football Program: Rumors, Staff Dynamics, and Stoops’ Future

• Scoop from Justin Roland (Cats Illustrated):
  • Matt summarizes Roland’s report on turmoil and fatigue inside the football program, fueling speculation about Stoops’ post-season intentions ([05:10]–[10:15]).
  • Key Takeaways from the Scoop:
    • Stoops has been “worn out about all of this for quite some time.”
      “That’s 100% true. Would you agree?” — Matt Jones ([06:24])
    • Decline attributed to “hires of convenience” and possible staff division between Youngstown connections and others ([06:41]–[08:01]).
    • Vince Marrow’s role was pivotal for fundraising and recruiting; his reduced presence has increased Stoops’ workload ([08:10]–[09:09]).
    • Named a player with “$750,000 salary but who hasn’t played a snap,” highlighting perceived issues in NIL allocations ([10:01]).
    • Suggestion: If Stoops stays, a staff overhaul would be required, but there’s doubt he’d be willing ([10:15]–[10:49]).
• Possible Stoops Successor Candidates (From Justin Roland):
  • Will Stein (with strong Kentucky connections: “Dad played here”; “from Louisville” — [12:10]–[12:50])
  • Possibilities: PJ Fleck, Bob Chesney (James Madison), Brian Hartline ([11:14]–[12:01])

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3. UK Athletics Administration: Impending Change

• Turnover Expected:
  • Report and general agreement that in the near future, President Eli Capilouto, AD Mitch Barnhart, and the head football coach could all be replaced ([13:06]–[16:19]).
  • Drew: “I wondered even when Mitch was hiring Pope if there was other influence, like if he’s considering who he’s handing it off.” ([16:12])
• Role of Eric Monday:
  • Multiple listeners and sources predict Eric Monday will become UK’s next president ([19:44]–[21:20]).
  • His influence could shape the football search and the direction of the department.
  • “The next football coach will be what Eric Monday wants it to be.” ([20:17] – text machine contribution)
  • Personal tidbit: “Eric Monday’s son named Jack Monday is on the football team right now.” ([26:11])

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4. NIL, Fund Allocation, and Fan Discontent

• Concerns expressed about boosters’ funds being directed to non-contributing players ([09:47]–[10:15]).
• Matt’s take: Even wealthy fans like to be coddled by staffers like Vince Marrow ([09:09]–[09:31]).
• NIL mishandling and internal staff divisions seen as contributing to current malaise.

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5. Fan Engagement Initiatives: "Blue and White Memories"

• UK announces new purchasable fan experiences — team walk-ins, message on the scoreboard, delivering the game ball, high fiving the starting lineup, paid public proposals, on-court postgame free throws, and sitting in on the postgame radio show ([38:52]–[44:12])
  • Mixed reactions:
    • Some feel these are gimmicks for the rich, risking the “commodification of everything it means to be a UK fan” ([44:33]).
    • Drew: “If you’re going to let two rich people send their kids [to the walkout], then take two kids from a random drawing of poor kids.” ([45:39])
    • Matt: “That would make me feel better.” ([45:46])
    • Shannon: "I do like the idea they're trying to do something for the fans." ([44:30])

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6. National Sports News: NBA Gambling Scandal

• Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups arrested by the FBI for gambling-related offenses — Rozier for betting on basketball, Billups for involvement in mafia-backed poker ([26:44]–[29:12])
  • Drew: “If you’re betting on basketball and you play basketball, very bad. … That’s the kind of thing, because you have the ability to influence.” ([27:34])
  • Matt notes widespread illegal poker games and suggests the FBI involvement implies mafia activity.

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7. Listener Call-ins & Community Banter

• “Corn Dog Travis” rings in to encourage fans not to give up on football, citing Stoops’ loyalty and fight ([31:23]–[32:30]).
  • Matt strikes a realistic note: “45% of all marriages in America end up in divorce.” ([32:19])
• Discussion on Stoops’ ability to bounce back against Tennessee and the grind of SEC competition ([32:33]–[34:33]).

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8. Odds & Ends:

• Humor & Local Color:
  • Rooftop judo and mysterious rooftop yard art discussed, providing local flavor ([37:00]–[38:38]).
• Music and Pop Culture:
  • Favorite Jimmy Buffett songs debated, with “Come Monday” getting love ([25:26]–[25:51]).
• Shoutouts:
  • ServePro sponsorship and local hero Sarah McGill (female national firefighting record holder) highlighted ([35:12]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Stoops’ Fatigue:

  "He’s been worn out about all of this for quite some time. That’s 100% true. Would you agree?"
  — Matt Jones ([06:24])

• On Fan Overreaction to the Exhibition:

  “If we win, we’re citing it as on the resume. If we lose, it didn’t count.”
  — Drew ([25:05])

• On Commodification of UK Fandom:

  “If everything that means to be a UK fan now costs money, that becomes very frustrating to me… the idea that everything you would want to do, you now have to be rich to do—that frustrates me.”
  — Matt Jones ([44:33])

• On Administrative Change:

  “There’s an honest belief that the UK athletics department overall will look very different in a relatively short period of time.”
  — Matt Jones ([13:06]) “The next football coach will be what Eric Monday wants it to be.”
  — Listener text machine ([20:17])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:11]–[04:44]: UK Basketball exhibition preview, Soviet Union game memories
• [05:10]–[10:15]: Justin Roland’s football program scoop
• [10:15]–[12:11]: Stoops staff, potential successors named
• [13:06]–[16:12]: Impending administrative changes
• [19:18]–[21:03]: Ticket prices, Eric Monday’s prominence
• [22:10]–[25:18]: Purdue exhibition game dynamics and fan expectations
• [26:44]–[29:12]: NBA gambling scandal
• [31:23]–[34:33]: Listener Corn Dog Travis calls in, Stoops vs. Tennessee
• [38:52]–[46:12]: Blue and White Memories fan engagement program evaluated

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode blends serious program analysis with the show's hallmark wry, local humor. Matt and crew balance their critiques of UK athletics with playful banter and genuine affection for the community and its traditions. There’s an undercurrent of concern about commercialization and change, but also hope and anticipation for the future—both in basketball and in the ongoing football season.

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For Listeners Who Missed It…

• Major exhibition basketball game coming up with Purdue, huge ticket interest.
• Rumors of significant turnover in football staff and athletics administration, with candid, insider discussion.
• New fan engagement experiences announced, with a mixed reaction on how much they commercialize UK fandom.
• National headlines as an NBA gambling scandal unfolds.
• As always, community voices (like Corn Dog Travis) and local spirit shine through the sports talk.

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For more news, analysis, and community banter, listen to Kentucky Sports Radio weekdays 10 to noon.

Transcript

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[Comedy of Broadway Announcer]

Comedy on Broadway in Lexington welcomes rising comedy star and Kentucky native Katherine Blandford. October 23rd through the 25th. Then, direct from New York, catch the hilarious comedy of Jeffrey Asmus. October 31st and November 1st and November 7th and 8th. It's comedy legend and the always hilarious Carlos Mancia. For tickets to all comedy off Broadway shows, call 859-271-joke or [e-mail] Comedy Off.

[Shannon]

Broadway.

[Matt Jones]

This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

Welcome everybody. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday, October 23rd. I'm Matt Jones here at the KS Bar and Grill where you can come see us and say hello. We got folks here from Oldham County, Louisville. Where are you from? Lexington. And we are here for the day. We'll open 11, but you can come watch before Clark's Pumping shop phone lines 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254 in this dish is sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. If you call TJ he'll make them pay. Beautiful day and one day before basketball. Tomorrow, the UK basketball season opens with an exhibition against the number one team in the country. I was, I was looking kind of through history. Probably you could argue the second best team Kentucky will ever play has ever played in the exhibitions. I would say when we played the Soviet national team is probably the last time we played a team better than this one. That was like an 88 or something, right?

[Shannon]

Yeah. No disrespect to Transylvania, Kentucky, Wesley and Georgetown. But.

[Matt Jones]

But are you disrespecting the Soviet national team?

[Shannon]

No. That was a big deal. That was a huge PR thing for, you know, that's when we're still fighting with the Soviet Union about things and we were fighting. Yeah.

[Drew]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Were you?

[Shannon]

I personally wasn't fighting them.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you did. You didn't have anything against.

[Shannon]

I had nothing against them. Another me.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they came here and played. I think it was 88. Was 88 or 84. One of those two times it was earlier.

[Shannon]

Early.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

Joe B.

[Drew]

Hall was the coach.

[Shannon]

Yeah. So.

[Matt Jones]

But 84. Maybe 84. But they came and played here. But this is probably the second best. And I'm getting excited.

[Drew]

Me too. I mean, I miss the old days when Czechoslovakia would come to town. I think we beat China a couple years in the 80s. But now the number one team. Preseason number one. You get a real test of what your team looks like, even though it doesn't matter.

[Matt Jones]

A lot of countries we played Japan. We played. Yeah, I feel like we had that one. But we played Czechoslovakia when Czechoslovakia was good.

[Drew]

We lost the Czechoslovakia.

[Matt Jones]

Well, but I mean think about all the countries that now themselves have great basketball teams that at one time were all together in Czechoslovakia. Have you thought about that?

[Shannon]

Haven't thought about that.

[Matt Jones]

You should have.

[Shannon]

But the basketball exhibition is. Back then they seemed. They would play a foreign country and then they'd play Marathon Oil.

[Matt Jones]

Marathon Oil would be good. Guys that worked at Marathon Oil. It was like people who like they went and got pros to play you. It wasn't just like employees.

[Drew]

My first UK basketball game, they beat athletes in action. And I don't even know what that was. I think they just pulled people out of the ymca. But I still another one.

[Matt Jones]

They would have professional players that would come play athletes in action. I think also beat us one year when. When we were here. Am I right?

[Shannon]

Well, I think that was that the year that Keith Bogan had a second shot to beat him.

[Matt Jones]

You're exactly. Good memory. So these are all exhibition games the past. I think this Purdue one will be big. I want to talk about that game some, but I want to start. Ryan, you know Mr. Scoop over here, breaking Scoop from years ago. I'm going to read you. You know Justin. Justin Rowland is. He does. He works for Cats Illustrated, which is now part of on three. So there was a time it was. Well, for most of my career doing ksr, there was always used to be Cats Paws. Then it was Cats Illustrated. There was tension between Cats Illustrated and ksr. Well now we're. We're on the same team. So I feel like when you're on the same team, there's no you. That's all gone. Right, Drew?

[Drew]

I mean we use the same break room fridge. I mean he could eat my spaghetti at any.

[Matt Jones]

He's always eating your spaghetti. Okay. So he did a post last night on Cats Illustrated and I would say to you, if you subscribe to KSR plus now you get Cats Illustrated for free. And there's a lot of Scoopy talk. Now, you have to, when you, when you, when you're, when you're in coaching season, you have to be careful how you navigate the scoop, right? There's, there's some people I listen to. There are some people I don't. There's some people I half listen to. You kind of have to do that, right?

[Drew]

Gotta run it through a filter.

[Matt Jones]

You do have to run it through a filter. And then some people get too excited, some people don't. When it comes to football, generally speaking, if Justin says something, I generally think if he's not 100% right, he's in the ballpark. Okay? So I, I, I, I listen now. He had a lot to say. And Ryan, I want your take, okay. On some of this. I want. And we will give ours as well. Now, this is, I'm going to, I'm going to summarize. He had a lot of things on there. But let's start with this. The talk after the Texas game that it was somehow signaled from someone that Stoops would be willing to talk about what's next after the season that had not been signaled before. Agree or disagree?

[Shannon]

The way he handled the post game press conference leads me to believe that maybe there's little truth to that. And sometimes when I read something like that, like, there's got to be a little truth in there somewhere.

[Matt Jones]

I would agree, Drew, except I would say this was signaled before the Texas game. I think this was something that's been signaled really since the bi week. But what do you think?

[Drew]

I would agree with it. Without even hearing any rumors, talking to anyone, that press conference, two minutes into it, my brain went, this feels like a goodbye.

[Shannon]

It did.

[Drew]

This feels like he's accepted that it's over in this moment.

[Matt Jones]

He then said, sources say Stoops has been worn out about all of this for quite some time. That's 100% true. Would you agree?

[Shannon]

I agree. He's, he's one of those guys that, well, we know from past conversations, he listens, he feels that he understands where the heat's coming from.

[Matt Jones]

Next one. People around the program have said that a lot of things have made UK go downhill, one of which is they went from a rock star staff to, quote, hires of convenience. Agree or disagree?

[Shannon]

I agree with not all hires. But yes, there are some, as we like to call them, their Jeff Ruby hires. And I think there's been a couple.

[Matt Jones]

Who calls them that.

[Shannon]

Well, just maybe me and my boys.

[Matt Jones]

You and your boys?

[Shannon]

Yeah, me and my boys.

[Matt Jones]

You and Gavin.

[Shannon]

I'll include him, even though he has no idea who the head football coach is. Mark Stewart could walk in here right now and my son would not know who he was.

[Matt Jones]

He calls them hires of convenience. Hires of.

[Shannon]

No, Jeff Ruby hires.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, Jeff Ruby, hire. Sorry, Drew.

[Drew]

Yeah, I could believe that. I mean, people have been here a long time. I mean, brother. I'm not calling out anyone individually, but you could see the case that he's hires his crew.

[Matt Jones]

There is a divide on the staff between the Youngstown crew and the non Youngstown crew. The non Youngstown crew. Believing that Stoops is close. Youngstown guys make the decisions.

[Shannon]

I have no opinion on that, but like I said, no opinion.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Shannon]

But a lot of times I hear something like that. I feel like there's always just a little truth in when guys like Justin Roland, reporter. There's got to be a little truth to it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I can't speak on this, but it would not shock me at all. I mean, you would have to think he probably listens to his brother and his childhood friends over people he doesn't know as well. So I don't think that would be strange.

[Drew]

Not at all. And there's. I've heard of little. Just assistant coach bickering over the years that that can happen and probably has been bowling over when they can't win, he wrote.

[Matt Jones]

People criticize Vince Merrill a lot for putting his name out there, but Vince being on the staff allowed Stoops more freedom to do things he didn't usually have to do, including raising money and recruiting. Now Stoops is having to do parts of the job that Vince used to take care of. Agree with that or disagree?

[Shannon]

I'm gonna agree with that. Yeah. I think Vince did a lot of that work.

[Matt Jones]

I think. I mean, Vince's job was recruiting, so that's not surprising. I think he did fundraising too. And I. I think that was. You know, there were a lot of guys in Lexington who loved being around Vince and who, like, you know, they wanted to give a half million dollars, so they go sit with Vince. Liked being out with them and doing the thing, and now that's had to fall to some other people. When you sort of don't have your. Your social. You know, the social chair, that one.

[Drew]

I mean, we joke a little bit about seeing Vince out, but when I would see Vince out, he would be at a table with some important people.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly.

[Drew]

And I can only imagine that he's there to entertain them and try to get them to give to the program.

[Matt Jones]

That's an underrated part of Vince's appeal was the. He just. He could make you feel everyone. He could make you feel like you were the most important person on the world, hit you on the back and go, hey, I want to be this guy when I grow up. That's why he said, I'm telling you, like, that works. Even rich people like to be coddled. They probably like to be coddled even more than everyone else.

[Drew]

I've watched him personally offer a rich kid son that's in high school, but it's more of like. Even the kid knows. It's more of like, I'm meeting. No, but like the kids like a D3. But it's more of just like giving them the attention and talking to him.

[Matt Jones]

College, I want you to come in.

[Drew]

And then the dad sitting there just eating it up.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Boosters are not thrilled. I've heard from a number of people that they feel like they gave money to guys who aren't even playing or who were overpaid.

[Shannon]

100% agree on that. We've got a couple guys that have not paid one snap that are getting a lot of money this year.

[Matt Jones]

There's one guy on the team who's not. Who's not played one snap who's making $750,000.

[Drew]

And that was a problem last year before.

[Shannon]

Yeah. We've had.

[Drew]

Managing the funds is a big issue of who, where, who needs to get it.

[Matt Jones]

Multiple people have voiced the belief that if Stoops were to return for whatever reason, he would probably have to get rid of most of the staff and, quote, I just don't think he'd be up for that. That's. That. Remember, that was. That's how Tubby ended up believing basically is he wouldn't. He wouldn't switch his staff. Yeah.

[Shannon]

Some coach like that guy Morris was, went to bat for his staff and went left for Baylor. I mean, there are coaches that believe in. He's shown his loyalty to a lot of these guys on the staff already. So I think that's partly true what you're saying right there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew]

But for a PR move, the fan base, if they were to stay, I think he would have to do it. He'd have to.

[Matt Jones]

Now, remember we did our 1, 2, 3 list.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Of who the coaches would be. I assume this is Justin Roland's list. He lists them as Will Stein would be one. He says some raw would be interested, but thinks he'll be at Auburn. That's exactly what I said as well. And then he also added the name PJ Fleck. That's that guy who, what did he do? Rose the boat.

[Drew]

He also last week said when he goes home, he just watches coaches press conferences before he goes to bed. Like that's. He doesn't watch TV shows. He just watches other coaches press conferences.

[Matt Jones]

You like that, Shannon? A guy who watches press conferences.

I mean, seems like he's into what he's doing. He rose the boat watching Little House on the Prairie.

And then he has his, the third one, Bob Chesney. I don't know who that is. Is that Kenny's brother?

[Drew]

I don't know. Bob Chestney.

[Matt Jones]

Who's Bob Chesney?

[Shannon]

I, I, I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe we look up, Shannon, look up.

[Drew]

Is that the James Madison guy?

[Matt Jones]

Bob Chesney?

Yeah. It feels like you're trying to say Kenny Chesney, but you accidentally mess it up. You go, oh, Bob Chesney. All right, you look him up and tell me who he is. He also says Brian Hartline is another. So those are the names.

He's the head football coach at James Madison.

James Madison. He's the guy that replaced Signetti at James.

[Shannon]

Matt, you know, a lot of people, they ask, you always say that Willstein has connections to Kentucky. Little can you go over those. I think people don't know what his connections are with Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

Who?

[Shannon]

Will Stein.

[Matt Jones]

Will style. Well, he's from Lexington, grew up a Kentucky fan. Dad played here. So even though he was quarterback at Louisville, remember he got taken out of the game to put Lamar. He was the quarterback at Louisville and got replaced for, for. Was it Lamar or Teddy?

[Shannon]

One of the two.

[Matt Jones]

So many backups, but one, Justin Burke.

[Shannon]

Was one of them. Got taken out.

[Drew]

Right.

[Shannon]

Stein was the other one, but he.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe it was Teddy, but, but he was, he was quarterback a little, but he grew up a Kentucky fan and his dad played at Kentucky. He went to what, Catholic.

[Drew]

He's a Trinity kid, I think.

[Shannon]

Yeah. I don't think he's grew up in Lexington.

[Matt Jones]

Grew up in Louisville.

Grew up in Louisville.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

But I'm right about his dad playing.

[Shannon]

Dad definitely played here.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Shannon]

He's got family that still live here in Lexington.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so that's where I get the.

[Drew]

And he and Rich Brooks just seem to be boys. I mentioned this yesterday, but there's several pictures of them because, you know, Rich is big at Oregon. He's going to games and he's got his arm around Will Stein. That's a conversation I would assume they've, they've had a couple times.

[Matt Jones]

This is, I think, an important one. And this is Kind of the. This is the new one. There's an honest belief that the UK athletics department overall administration will look very different in a relatively short period of time. President, ad, football coach could all turn over in a short period of time. I can't speak on the president, although you would just think by age. Eli Capilouto is not going to do this forever. I would be surprised if Mitch Barnhart is the AD after next year. Like, just like I think he would do this year. And I, if I were guessing, but that's not like anybody pushing him out. I just think he's done it for so long and I think in his mind he wants to transition us into this new era. So I think that's true. But it also might play an effect on what you do. Right. Do you want to. Do you think Mitch wants to hire the coach to leave to his new guy? Do you want to let the new guy leave? He says that he. Justin seems to think that the new AD would be Eric Monday.

[Shannon]

Don't know that name.

[Matt Jones]

Wasn't he here?

[Shannon]

I don't know that name.

[Matt Jones]

Who do you don't know who? No. Wasn't he. Who's, who's Eric Monday?

[Drew]

I think he works in uk. Like.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, now. Yeah.

[Drew]

Let me, let me get a position.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I don't know Eric Monday, he may be as good as Eric Tuesday, but I just, I, I think you've.

[Drew]

When you get vice president for finance and administrative. Executive vice president for health affairs.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so that would maybe be the new president at them. That wouldn't be the new. The new.

[Drew]

Yeah. He's not athletic.

[Shannon]

I know that.

[Matt Jones]

All right. But I do think you need. When you get a new ad. I feel the same way I do about a coach. You need to go get a person who understands this new modern landscape, who's a business oriented person. I think the days of getting like a former athlete or whatever, like those days are all over. You got to go get a business person. I mean now run an athletics department. You're running a almost a billion dollar corporation now. Right. Like you need a business person. The sports part is almost secondary. And then, you know, get somebody on your assistant who understands coaches. But like it's a business now.

[Shannon]

You know, Barnhart's the longest tenured AD in the Southeastern Conference. Mark Stoops is the longest tenured coach in the Southeastern Conference.

[Matt Jones]

So let's to the end of next year. Is Mitch Barnhart the ad?

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

You think he goes more than a year and a half.

[Shannon]

And here's what I think that, I don't think Mitch is the type of guy that would hire a coach and then step out. I think he would, I think he let the new guy.

[Matt Jones]

Well then that would mean he might leave now.

[Shannon]

Maybe. I, I would lean quicker sooner than later. I don't, I don't.

[Matt Jones]

So you think he might leave like this year?

[Shannon]

I was surprised. I'm surprised he's still here actually.

[Matt Jones]

Sounds like a yes, Shannon, to me. I, I, I don't know.

What about like what scoop or what. He's just that scooper.

[Shannon]

No, I just felt like a couple years ago he was kind of done. But then he, like you said, he wanted to usher in this new era with the nil world and he's at this entertainment district.

[Matt Jones]

If he's going to leave in a year, then you could make an argument he should let the new guy pick the ad. There is an argument about that. If you had to replace a coach.

[Drew]

Yeah. And I wondered even when Mitch was hiring Pope, I've always thought Mitch has a foot out the door just simply because he's been here when he get here like 2000.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Like 1950.

[Drew]

Yeah. I mean he's not going to do it forever. So I've just always thought Mitch is close. And I wondered when he hired Pope if there was other influence, like if he's considering who he's handing it off.

[Shannon]

Let's talk about Mitch Bart. The man has not aged a day since he was hired in early 2000. He still looks like super young. What's he drinking? Some kind of fountain of youth mojo drink he's got.

[Drew]

Oh, he's drinking milk.

[Matt Jones]

Is that what you want to make? You want to talk more about his appearance?

[Shannon]

The guy is not aged. Must be that Annabelle doll working with him or something. I don't know what's going on there.

[Matt Jones]

What does that even mean? See this let him go too long. Things just, he runs out of things to say and so he just puts other stuff.

[Drew]

I'd say the last couple of years have probably put a on him.

[Matt Jones]

8592802287 so that, that's what Roland said yesterday. I think all of those are for the most part correct points and worth worth considering as we talk about what's going to happen over these next few weeks. We're going to talk a little Kentucky Purdue, little Kentucky Texas and some stories from yesterday. We'll be right back.

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[Drew]

Lenovo.

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[Matt Jones]

11-24-1987 we beat USSR 75 72. You know how much tickets were for that game in 1987? Tickets for UK versus USSR what was it? $6 $6. Wow. That was a big deal. $6 you that's pretty good.

[Shannon]

It is really good. Our tickets for tomorrow night Laurine is like $700.

[Matt Jones]

Same thing. $6 $700. Yeah. Tickets online. These tickets for tomorrow are some of the highest I've seen for for a game in a long time.

[Drew]

I don't know if somebody would pay for them but I saw some for.

[Matt Jones]

2000 like for a non like cow returns.

[Drew]

Yeah there were some for 2000.

[Matt Jones]

I bet they'll go down.

[Drew]

Yeah that just the fact that it.

[Shannon]

Was listed for them.

[Matt Jones]

People really want to go. One person writes this is somebody that this isn't text machine. This is friend of the of the program. Okay Writes and says Matt get to know the name Eric Monday. That will be the next president of UK sooner rather than later. So there you go. You may have heard that name either first in what Justin wrote or here. If you've never heard the name come Monday it'll be all right. Shannon come Monday he'll be holding UK tight. I love it.

I don't even know who this guy is, but he's got a great name for us to play off. Puns.

Yeah, that's right. We can. We can do that.

[Shannon]

I just hope fake Eli Caploto comes back.

[Matt Jones]

On Twitter, one person writes, matt, here's what Eric Monday, how important he is. The next football coach will be what Eric Monday wants it to be. Who is this person?

[Drew]

He runs the world Monday.

[Matt Jones]

Who knew?

[Shannon]

Wow.

[Drew]

Monday, I could see the new president wanting their own ad.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, like I could see a trickle effect. Well, they're not going to hire a football coach without the president clearing it. So if they know he's going to be the president, I could see it. I mean, that's not a crazy idea.

[Drew]

So when we're wondering how long Mitch is stay Eli, if Eli goes first, you know, the new president might want his own guy, which, I mean, it's.

[Matt Jones]

The fake Eli Capilouto, which hasn't existed in a long time. But maybe we can have a fake Eric Monday.

Can we say that you're staying until Monday?

[Shannon]

Fakey like Capiluto would always tweet in all caps too.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to say the scuttlebuddy is Eric Monday, president of uk. Okay, well if you're Eric Monday, you're like, man, I was having a normal Thursday and then they put this out here and now everyone knows who I'm like. I'd like to see the Google searches for Eric Monday today.

[Drew]

Probably people running to radio over there.

[Matt Jones]

There's somebody in his office.

[Shannon]

Eric, you might want to turn on KSR right now.

[Matt Jones]

Eric, I need you to know things have changed a little bit for our day today. Right. It's just a rolling. Not me. 859-280-22887 Text machine. 772-774-5254 let's talk UK Purdue. Are we going to win, Drew?

[Drew]

Absolutely. I think the. The crowd. I mean you don't just come in here and beat Kentucky in Rupp Arena. Does that ever happen? I can't remember a time that's happened.

[Matt Jones]

I would have lost in Rupp arena before.

[Drew]

Yeah, that was the old coach. Times have changed.

[Matt Jones]

I would lost last year.

[Drew]

That was last year to the old coach. Still, my point remains. We have not lost this year. I would prefer Low to be healthy. I'd really feel good. But I'm believing in the Cats early. Purdue's got a lot of new players too.

[Shannon]

That's the thing. If Low was healthy because Purdue's best players are point guard. That Smith guy, he's a, you know, he's an all first team. He's going to be super.

[Matt Jones]

He's probably national player of the year favorite.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Drew]

And there was a time Purdue thought we were going to steal him in the off season. So there's a little bit of bad blood there.

[Matt Jones]

If he wins national player of the Year, who would have ever thought Purdue would have three of the last four national players a year? Let's go even further. If he wins national player of the year, there'll be more national players of the year from Purdue than Kentucky in history.

[Drew]

And name your favorite Purdue NCAA tournament memory.

[Shannon]

Them losing in the first round.

[Matt Jones]

They made the championship.

[Drew]

They did a couple years ago.

[Shannon]

It's a fluke. Total fluke.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think. I don't know whether or not we're gonna win because I don't know how we're playing the game. Like, are we playing it seriously or not? I mean, you see these scores coming from exhibition games all around the country. Teams are playing them weird. I mean, Houston lost Ole Miss, but then they didn't play like their top three guys. They just did other stuff. So the thing is, you don't really know. I don't know how us or them, I don't know how we're going to handle it. So I hope Pope plays it as a real game. But my guess is he's also going to want to play everybody and see. So I actually think. I don't want to say it doesn't matter because then it does matter to see how do we look against them. But I actually don't know if the final result matters.

[Drew]

You know, with Low being out, he'll shuffle a lot more people at point guard just to see who's capable for the season because this is a new predicament he didn't expect to be in.

[Shannon]

They'll play to win, but you're right, he'll play a lot of different combinations. Give. You know, Aberdeen may start at point guard, but he'll let Colin Chandler run the point for quite a bit. Just trying to. Jasper will probably run the point for a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

Purdue may do the same thing. Yeah, we're assuming Purdue is going to play. I mean, Purdue may be doing the same thing of playing guys. I don't know. Now the difference is this game is on the SEC network regular, right?

[Shannon]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

So a lot. Most exhibition games aren't even televised. This game is going to be available. So I do wonder to what extent Drew the coaches play into that. Knowing the national, the country of basketball Fans is watching this game. It's not true of these other games.

[Drew]

And even though you know the win or loss won't matter, some opinions will be formed by the fans one way or another looks and that will matter. And with five minutes left in the game, they're going to try to win. I just think the first 35 minutes, probably shuffling new rotations, lineups just to see what they have.

[Matt Jones]

Here's what I know about Mark Pope. Unlike Cal, he knows the fans and there he thinks their opinion matters. And we've talked about all the time, most important, two days at work. Your first day and your last day. This is your first day with this team. Right. It's going to matter to people how they look. And I think Mark knows that. So he's going to want it to look good.

[Shannon]

Right? And our fan base, we win the game, we're going to be hang the.

[Matt Jones]

Banner the next day the game. I'm talking trash all season.

[Shannon]

Amen.

[Matt Jones]

And if we lose the game, then it didn't matter.

[Drew]

If we win, we're citing it as on the resume. If we lose, it didn't count.

[Matt Jones]

It didn't matter. No, because we would have won because of something else.

[Drew]

But if they win, it should play into seating.

[Matt Jones]

But if we, if we won, we're the ones. Yes, I agree.

[Drew]

T.J. smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. he'll make him pay.

[Matt Jones]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage.

Here's Matt Jo is my favorite Jimmy Buffett song. Shannon.

Probably mine too.

I, I, I really like, I'm not a huge Jimmy Buffett guy. I know Drew over here is, but, but, but Come Monday is my favorite Jimmy Buff. I actually think it's kind of beautiful, honestly. There's a video I have saved on Tik Tok of, of Jimmy Buffett singing it on David Letterman. Just like acoustic and it's absolutely gorgeous.

[Drew]

It's, it's in my top three. It's a great song.

[Matt Jones]

What's your, what are your top three?

[Drew]

A pirate looks at 40 is number one by far. And having just turned 40, I played a little bit more than I usually do. I hate saying Cheeseburger in Paradise, but it gets the party going. Yeah, yeah, he went to Paris.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I gave some more information. You know his Eric Monday son named Jack Monday is on the football team right now. So if he wants inside information about what's going on, presumably he knows I.

[Shannon]

Jack Monday was a great player at Laxton Catholic. I didn't realize that was Eric Monday's son.

[Matt Jones]

One person Writes on the text machine. Matt, you've gotten wrong information. Next president of UK will be Bob Tuesday. I don't know. I think that's a good job.

[Shannon]

I giggled that way.

[Matt Jones]

We don't do the text of the day, but that would be my text of the day.

[Drew]

Make it the text of the day.

[Matt Jones]

All right. That's gonna be my, my text. Today we have. There's some news. I won't say it's breaking news because it came out a couple hours ago, but Terry Rozier has been arrested by the FBI for illegal gambling related to basketball. And then Chauncey Billups, the coast coach of the Portland Trails Blazers, arrested by the FBI for gambling related to illegal poker games. So apparently poker games that are backed by the mafia in, in New York. So for me, those are two different things. I think the, the Terry Rozier, if you're betting on basketball and you play basketball very bad. Drew, that's the kind of thing. Because you have the ability to influence that and that's very bad.

[Drew]

Yes. They got Cavs coach Damon Jones too, on the. More of the sports gambling end.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, so. So those guys are in trouble.

[Drew]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, they're in trouble now. I don't know the details. So there may be more details. I'm not as outraged by the poker. I mean, I was saying to Ryan earlier, I mean, I'm not gonna call anybody out, but if illegal poker games are. Are gonna get the FBI after you, I know some folks in Lexington that need to be calling their lawyers because there are some. There are some high profile poker games that happen here in this city. Now I don't know if they're backed by the mafia. Probably not, but I, but, but that one surprises me a little bit because there's illegal poker games in New York everywhere.

[Drew]

There's underground poker in every town.

[Matt Jones]

In every town.

[Drew]

I used to go to a guy's garage in Madisonville. Now, it wasn't a lot of money, but you can find a game of poker in any town, anywhere.

[Matt Jones]

Does it really bother me? Does it bother you?

[Drew]

I think when the this and the FBI is involved, it's probably more of a mafia laundering money kind of thing or actually running a business.

[Matt Jones]

Even rich people with them going after the Mafia, like.

[Drew]

But it's people laundering money.

[Matt Jones]

Let's just say Chauncey's just playing.

[Drew]

I don't think that's a big deal. And that probably. That's why I think this is probably a bigger opera. Like if some rich guys. Somebody goes and loses a hundred grand, somebody's basic.

[Matt Jones]

They don't care Chauncey's in the Mafia. Is that what you're saying?

[Drew]

I mean, if he's part of this, I don't know if he's in it, but once the Mafia gets a grip on you, you ain't. They're not letting.

[Matt Jones]

That's true. I mean, now that's. That's a worry, which is you lose money and then the Mafia says, okay, you need to throw this game. So, like that. That. That could be a big word.

[Drew]

I'm just saying that the difference in a bunch of rich dudes in a country club basement, and this is probably the scheme is actually doing something bigger than just playing poker.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I have to see the indictment, but that would be. But if I used to go to.

[Drew]

Guy'S house named Blaze, it's a good time. Just completely threw him under the bus.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

Wow.

[Drew]

I lost all the $10 there.

[Matt Jones]

Mario had a face like, I hope Blaze doesn't. We had.

[Drew]

You should have seen the $10 chips we were stacking up.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So we'll have to. We'll have to wait and see. I will say this. I'm sure Adam Silver took a big gulp of when it came out. It was the. Because if it was a coach and it was throwing games, well, they could control a huge thing for the league. Yeah. Because they could control who comes in and out of the games. Like, they could really. They could really have an impact even more than a player.

[Drew]

Oh, you've got the under on LeBron. Well, I'm going to sit him the second half and just not play him. That's easy.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it's.

[Shannon]

But Rosier is allegedly tied to point shaving, right?

[Matt Jones]

Yes. And you said, like, they've been.

[Drew]

There's some clips.

[Matt Jones]

There's been some clips over the years of Rozier where he just takes a shot and he goes into the sixth.

[Drew]

Row and then he, like, very dramatically, it's like, oh. And throws his hands in the air and stomps back like he's so mad.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't mean to do that.

[Drew]

Throws in the crowd.

[Shannon]

Obviously making all these announcements today. The FBI have obviously made a big, concerted effort to maybe crack down on sports gambling in the NBA.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they need to. I mean, like, that. That is an issue. One person writes, Matt, the tickets for the UK Purdue game are expensive because of inflation. Thank Joe Biden. Yeah, it's definitely his fault. Definitely his fault that these tickets for this exhibition game are very expensive. Might as well just put. We just blame him for everything. For the next decade, I was gonna.

[Shannon]

Blame Saul Smith for the high ticket prices.

[Matt Jones]

If I. If I got Saul Smith to come on the show, would you be nice to him?

[Shannon]

I would be a professional.

[Matt Jones]

So you would. Shannon, he would just duck everything he said all through these years?

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon]

On the show, I'd be professional.

[Matt Jones]

You talk about him when he left?

[Shannon]

Yeah, why not?

[Matt Jones]

He'd be passive aggressive.

Oh, you think he would? I think he. I don't think he would say a word. He would be a complete whip. Who's next?

Let's go to Corn Dog Travis.

Corn Dog Travis. How are you? I like how I said that like that was a normal name. Go ahead. Good morning.

[Corn Dog Travis]

Good morning, fellers. All right, boys, football season ain't over. I just want to encourage everybody. I think that we're going to do something against Tennessee.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. What makes you think so? Why do you think we're going to beat Tennessee or at least do something?

[Corn Dog Travis]

Well, I believe that Stoops is a fighter and he's a loyal man, and he's going to do what he can for Kentucky. He always has and he always will.

[Matt Jones]

I believe that, too. I'm just not sure if he could do anything that makes us competitive with Tennessee.

[Corn Dog Travis]

Now, look, guys, in relationships, like, I see Stoops, this is kind of a marriage. And I see Stoops is, you know, hey, I admit my faults. I've messed up a few times, and I think he's gonna try to do better. And so, you know what forgiveness, so you all know, is the best antidote, any kind of negativity.

[Matt Jones]

True, but 45% of all marriages in America end up in divorce.

[Corn Dog Travis]

That's because they. They kick them to the curb, just like we're trying to do. Boys, I love y'.

[Shannon]

All.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Appreciate the call. Appreciate the call. So do you agree about that? You think we got a shot Saturday against Tennessee?

[Drew]

I'll say they have a shot on the. Stoops is a fighter thing, I agree, but sometimes your fighter, it's late in the fight and he's just been taking body blows and he can't open his left eye. And you got to recognize that it just, you know, might be the end.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I've been reading this book, I just finished it last night called the Fight by Norman Mailer. It was about the George Foreman, Muhammad Ali Rumble in the Jungle fight. Yeah, it's a great book. I mean, Norman Mailer's a little full of himself, but it's a great book. And in it, he talks about how George Foreman style back then was, I'm just going to keep coming at you and just, you know, pummel you. I'm just keep, keep. I'm going to keep coming, and I'm going to keep coming. But then Ali was just better in that fight, and so he kept coming. He kept coming, and in the eighth round, he just got knocked out. I mean, Stoops is a fighter. He might be like George Foreman. Just keep coming and coming. But then the rest of the SEC may just be like. And then you're out. I mean, that could be what, what it is.

[Shannon]

We said, you know, before the Texas game, there's one game every year where Stoops kind of shows that toughness in that fight. Well, that was the game. They had that game. They kind of let that game get away from them. That's what worries me about this Saturday, you know, the letdown after losing that game last weekend.

[Matt Jones]

I think where. I think last Saturday was why I have a lot of respect for Mark Stoops. There was everything that could have been a disaster. You could have gotten blown out. You could have had the team quit. And they came out and played great. Yep. They also lost in the end. Right. It also had. I think that game in some ways was symbolic of the whole thing. We put up a fight, we played well. But in the end, our own mistakes cost ourselves the game, and we ended up frustrated. I mean, I think that's just how it is.

[Drew]

Yeah. It wasn't like the end of last year. We could look down there and see it was over. Team had checked out. They fought hard for Stoops and the fans and everyone for every single snap in that game, it just, they couldn't get that final yard to get them the win.

[Matt Jones]

This show, this segments brought to you by Serve Pro, the number one choice in cleanup and restoration. Whether it's mold, fire, storm or water damage, we got a pro for that. They've helped you.

[Shannon]

Like I said, my basement flood a couple weeks ago, they, they called me. They heard us talk about it on this radio show and called me to make sure everything was okay.

[Matt Jones]

They sponsored the umpire challenge in the ballpark. The ESPN Radio College Football Tour. There's a golf tournament. There's more. It's all at Serve Pro. Check out Serve Pro. And they also, by the way, the 22. Here's a new fact. The 2024 U.S. national Firefighting Challenge. Did you know the champion and female record holder is Sarah McGill from the Lexington Fire Department?

[Shannon]

Didn't know that.

[Matt Jones]

Now you do. Celebrate thanks to Serve Serve pro. Congrats to Sarah McGill. Sarah McGill second biggest shout out next to Eric Monday on this show, we'll take a break and be right back.

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[Drew]

Kill me.

[Matt Jones]

Glad Carry blood.

[Drew]

No we can't read on my.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio 859-280-2287. I did want to ask you a question, Ryan. You, you and Shannon were talking about outside the I Heart Building there are people that do kung fu.

[Shannon]

If you're on our I Heart Building, which is on the seventh floor of the city Center. City center. If you're looking like over Main street across the street like a week ago. Well, a month ago they, they spelled out all yarn with like towels. It said all yarn.

[Matt Jones]

Who?

[Shannon]

They're like two, two people. Just so they took down the all yarn and then they put up a inflatable pool and these, these two people are like, they're out there doing like.

[Matt Jones]

Judo or kung fu and wrestling holes.

[Shannon]

Wrestling holes.

[Matt Jones]

At one point they were massaging each other. One was laying down.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So they do judo.

[Shannon]

Yes. And it's you Know it's a little chilly, but that they're in the. Then the pool. They got this inflatable pool.

[Matt Jones]

Why are you watching them? You can't stop. Well, I mean, you could.

[Shannon]

I'm stopped.

[Matt Jones]

Rooftop judo.

Yeah. Drew found a way to.

[Drew]

They are. It's probably a two or three story building and they're surrounded by taller buildings. So, I mean, if you look out the window and look down, you're seeing.

[Matt Jones]

Them doing judo and then spelling things with tab.

[Shannon]

Yeah, that started it, but now they got this pool out.

[Matt Jones]

So you saw it too?

[Shannon]

I got some photos. There you go.

[Matt Jones]

I've seen the video. I didn't see it live, but I've seen videos that.

Who's taking videos? Oh, they are doing judo.

[Shannon]

People in our I Heart building, they're doing. Fascinated by.

[Matt Jones]

They're doing judo on the roof.

[Shannon]

Yeah. And then like they give massages and.

[Drew]

I don't know what that is, but we'll skip that.

[Matt Jones]

Rooftop society.

Well, that's interesting. Well, good for them.

[Shannon]

It's definitely become a big attraction downtown.

[Drew]

I think we should send Ryan and Mario to go participate.

[Matt Jones]

I'm fine with it. All right, so UK has just announced. We have some breaking news.

Okay.

They've announced a new program called Blue and White Memories. All right. This is for football, basketball, and men's basketball. Blue and White Memories. You will now be able to purchase. Prices are not listed, so but you could guess, probably. I'm going to read you some of the things available to purchase. You all give me a yes or no whether you would want to purchase these. First, be a part of the pregame catwalk for basketball. That's like, I guess backstage you could. If you. Now, you may not know this, but for like rich donors, they walk by people in a glass. You may have seen that like with the Cowboys or something. They do that now with Kentucky basketball. You could be part of the intros and see the. The team as they walk into the arena. Yes or no? No. Drew.

[Drew]

I mean, if I had a little kid, but no, not me.

[Matt Jones]

Let me get this right. I get to see the team walk into the arena that I'm about to see when I'm in the arena.

Exactly. Through a piece through glass. No. All right. That's a no for shit. A video board message. You can put your message in a spotlight. Celebrate a birthday, anniversary or graduation with a custom message limited to 50 characters that they will show on the screen during the game.

[Drew]

Oh, yeah, I'm all in on that. And also, how closely do they check my message I think they're going to.

[Matt Jones]

Check it pretty close. I don't think you can be too. But you're in.

[Drew]

I would buy a message on the referendum.

[Shannon]

I'm in.

[Matt Jones]

No, I would just send a tweet instead. More people would see it.

That is true. If you said a tweet, more people would see it because you have more followers. Deliver the game ball to the officials before the game. One person will hand the game ball to the officials before the game.

What an honor.

Here you go. Doug Schalls. Are you in or out?

[Drew]

No, I'm out.

[Matt Jones]

That's it. Out.

[Shannon]

I'm out.

[Matt Jones]

Only if it were free.

Only if it were free. I don't think it's. All right. How about this? Starting lineup. High fives. You will stand at the end with the reserves and you will get high fives from the players. Does that mean I'm gonna have to look at regular people? Be part of our lineup thing?

[Drew]

Yes. Oh, they're gonna be chest bumping at the end.

[Matt Jones]

No, I always liked when we did the thing where we like and they do the little stuff at the end. Now we're gonna have just regular people getting their covet on.

Somebody is going to get injured or something from this and this will shut the whole thing down.

Yeah, somebody's gonna get hurt trying to be cool. I'm in, though.

[Drew]

I'm in.

[Matt Jones]

You want to do starting lineup? Why not?

[Drew]

Imagine me and Brandon Garrison just chest bumping each other before the global game.

[Matt Jones]

All right, fair enough. You're in, right?

[Shannon]

See, this is one I think I'm into. I want to be the guy at the end of the line that's got my secret handshakes and my secret chest.

[Matt Jones]

Bumps, and this is going to be painful. I'm for it, Shannon. Not for me, but for the awkwardness that's going to ensue when people try to be part of the team. Like, you know, the team's going to dance and all that. These people are going to want to be part of it, and it's going to be really fun. Just. Just America. Kentuckians, just be warned, if you look stupid, I am tweeting it out and it's going to look funny, but go ahead.

Cool opportunity for the fans. I would have to see the price tag on this. Like, how much is it going to cost to give somebody a high five?

Proposals you can now pay to propose to your significant other at the game. They used to ban this for years. You were not allowed to do it. Now you can do it, but you have to pay. Are you in or out?

[Drew]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Wait a minute.

[Drew]

How they gonna stop me from taking a knee with a ring and rope arena?

[Matt Jones]

Exactly.

Well, no, I mean, they're gonna put it screen, but you're going to have to pay for it.

[Drew]

It'll. It'll get on the main screen anyway. Well, in KSR and TV broadcast. I am not paying a dollar to propose. That's expensive enough as it is.

[Matt Jones]

No, absolutely not.

[Shannon]

I'm not paying for that. Like Drew said, they're going to. They're going to catch you. The. The cameras will catch you anyway if you do it. Even up in the nosebleed.

[Matt Jones]

All right, how about this one? Post game free throws. You and a guest get to come on the floor after the game and shoot free throws.

What if I want to shoot a three, they got to kick me out.

You cannot shoot a 3. No bake sh to shoot free throws.

[Drew]

Can I do my rapid reaction while shooting the free throw? I just want to be on the court again.

[Matt Jones]

That's funny. Were you doing the free throws?

[Drew]

Anything to get me back in the building.

[Matt Jones]

All right. No, Shannon.

No, no, no.

I could see doing this if I was a fan. If it was cheap. My guess is it's not going to be cheap.

But the price.

If it was cheap. And then finally, VIP postgame radio show. You get to sit next to Tom Leech and Mark Pope on the court during the radio show. Also really awkward. I hope you're sitting right in between them. Just Tom Leach, Bart Pope and you right in the middle of it.

[Drew]

I think they should share a mic and you have to hold it in the middle. They just lean into your microphone.

[Matt Jones]

Can you imagine what that'll look like? Here you go. Bob Bonk. Right in the middle of the two of them.

[Shannon]

I would not do it, but I want this one to happen. I want that awkward moment to happen.

[Matt Jones]

You like it?

[Drew]

I mean, you can just sit there anyway, like behind the rope, two feet away as it is now.

[Matt Jones]

No, now you get to be on the court.

[Drew]

That's too close. I don't need to be that close.

[Matt Jones]

I feel like I win this experience every morning at 9 o' clock or 8 o'.

Clock.

[Shannon]

8 o'. Clock.

[Matt Jones]

When I get the produce.

When you get. You get to be on the Tom Leach show. You don't need to pay for this.

Exactly. So no.

[Drew]

All right, I will say this is. But when you said, I'm going to introduce the BBN memories, I pictured like the infomercials where you're buying coins for like 9.99. Your precious BBN memories. So this is at least better than what I thought you were going to say.

[Matt Jones]

A coin with Mark Fox's picture on it. Yeah.

[Shannon]

I do like the idea they're trying to do something for the fans. I think they need to do this.

[Matt Jones]

At Kroger Field for all this in theory. Here's what I don't like and I'm. You're going to hear me say this probably for the next decade. I get it. I'm not trying to like and I'm giving them a break because they did this thing a week and a half ago. But the commodification of everything it means to be a UK fan annoys me. If everything that means to be a UK fan now costs money, that becomes very frustrating to me. I get it. I understand why they're doing it. I'm not saying it's not cool for those people, but the idea that everything you would want to do, you now have to be rich to do that frustrates me. Now, I give them credit because they did something last week that kind of offset that. Hopefully that will continue. But I don't want it to be like, hey, we'll let you. Like, Like, I kind of am annoyed about the intros. Like, I don't really know that we need fans out there doing the high five line. And I certainly don't know if we need rich fans out there doing the high five kids. But, like, if you're gonna let two rich people send their kids, then let's take two kids from a random drawing of poor kids just to make it like that would make me feel better.

[Drew]

What if it's not kids? What if it's like blue glasses guy out there that sits behind Darrell Isaac Dapping.

[Matt Jones]

And I love people that go to this school, but I don't want to just only see the kids from the Lexington school out there. You know, give me some kids from other schools too, and I'm okay.

[Drew]

I have a question.

[Matt Jones]

I like the kids from the Lexington school, but I'm just saying it doesn't need to be. All right, I'm done.

[Shannon]

Good little rant.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I just know how much, like, a kid from Bell county or Hopkins county would love to be there, and I don't want to see it be the same kids.

[Shannon]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

So that's all I'll say. We'll take a break. Be right back. This is KS.

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