Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones & Shannon
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and WKRD-AM

Episode Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) with Matt Jones and Shannon takes listeners on a nostalgic stroll through 1996's top box office movies while also diving into the ongoing impact of JMI’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies at UK. Interwoven are candid listener call-ins touching on everything from Army-Navy football, old TV gigs, and the competitive spirit among the KSR crew. The hour combines pop culture throwbacks, insightful sports-business analysis, and on-brand Kentucky banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nostalgia: Top Box Office Movies from 1996 (03:39–12:07)

• Matt reflects on graduating high school thirty years ago, leading into a rundown of 1996’s top 30 movies.
• Matt quizzes Shannon on which of these movies he’s actually seen.
• Notable reactions and playful debates about what films hold up, who starred in each, and why some "duds" beat out modern classics like Toy Story.
• Memorable commentary on actors, sequels, and trivia from Matt’s days at Movie Warehouse.

Notable Quotes:

• "Beavis and Butthead Do America is number 30. Classic. I can’t believe that's been 30 years ago." —Matt (04:45)
• "I worked at Movie Warehouse...I had to tell them where to go..." —Matt (11:44)

2. Big Covers & Music Tangents (03:01–03:39)

• Brief debate on the greatest cover songs of all time.
• Matt’s love for the bluegrass version of "Gin and Juice."
• Mutual agreement that Darius Rucker’s "Wagon Wheel" is a huge cover, even if Matt dislikes it.

3. Listener Calls: Sports, Recruitment & NIL/JMI Discussion

a. NIL/JMI and Its Impact on Recruiting (12:19–15:33, 15:33–16:18, 24:09–26:48, 46:07–49:45)

• Several callers ask for Matt’s perspective on how JMI’s policies affect high school recruiting and the transfer portal.
• Matt explains that restrictive NIL arrangements (e.g., exclusivity with JMI’s sponsors) mostly harm recruitment of top high school athletes, who want autonomy and big endorsement opportunities.
• Transfer portal athletes may feel some effects, but are less impacted compared to elite recruits.
• Ongoing discussion about the uniqueness of NIL deals like Crocs and the limited kids who can attract those.
• Multiple callers ask about the origins and future of JMI involvement, why Calipari left, and whether new athletic leadership could change things.

Notable Quotes:

• "I think it really only applies to a handful of players. But the problem is it’s the players that we want the most." —Matt (25:00)
• "If they win, none of this matters...It's only a deal if they don't win and people go, why aren't we winning?" —Matt (46:35)

b. Army-Navy Game Scheduling (13:59–15:18)

• A caller shares his experience at the Army-Navy game, worried that expanding college football playoffs will intrude on its traditional spotlight.
• Matt supports Army-Navy having its own dedicated slot, maybe not an entire day, but at least exclusive national attention.

Notable Quote:

• "I like that Army-Navy gets its own slot. I don't know if it needs its own day...but it certainly should have its own slot." —Matt (15:10)

c. Personal Questions & Anecdotes (26:48–28:04)

• Mary calls in with a personal question about Matt’s rare alcohol consumption.
• Matt shares candid reflections on family history and his desire for personal control as key reasons.

Notable Quote:

• "My biological father was an alcoholic...I know I was kind of genetically predisposed, so I just didn’t want to go down that path." —Matt (27:20)

4. KSR Crew Banter & Competitions

• Extensive fun hypothesizing about which KSR team members would win a foot race (37:52–46:03).
• Shannon claims he’s the best at pickleball and could defeat Matt at ping pong; Matt stands by his own skills.
• Ongoing inside jokes about Drew’s health and questionable athletic prowess.
• Brainstorming a decathlon of events for the KSR crew (“I’m better at ping pong than all of you, so I would definitely add ping pong.” —Matt, 36:35).

5. Matt’s TV/RADIO Past: “The Freak Show” Story (20:53–23:09)

• Matt shares his random, awkward stint as late-night host on Louisville’s “Freak Show” after the original host was let go.
• Tales of interviewing unusual guests (e.g., Monster Energy Girls, Miss Kentucky), dealing with live callers, and feeling out of place.

Notable Quotes:

• "I'm an attorney at Frost Brown, Todd, and I am the host of the Freak Show." —Matt (22:07)
• "It was awful. It's the worst show that's ever been on television. And every night I would have to do it..." —Matt (22:51)

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• (04:45) Matt: “Beavis and Butthead Do America is number 30. Classic. I can’t believe that's been 30 years ago.”
• (06:44) Matt: “12 Monkeys...that was like Brad Pitt’s follow-up to Seven...”
• (11:22) Matt: “Well, I don't know if anybody else has enjoyed it, Shannon, but you and I are. And I don't care.”
• (13:33) Shannon: “These guys that are the top elite athletes are going to have so many opportunities out there. And if there's Kentucky and JMI that says, well, we're restricting you to only this. Why would you go there?”
• (15:10) Matt: “I like that Army-Navy gets its own slot. I don't know if it needs its own day...but it certainly should have its own slot.”
• (20:53) Matt: “There’s a picture that someone, like a screenshot, and it’s got a phone number on it. And I’ve got, I think a jacket and I’ve got a mop haircut.”
• (25:00) Matt: “I think it really only applies to a handful of players. But the problem is it’s the players that we want the most.”
• (27:20) Matt: “My biological father was an alcoholic...I know I was kind of genetically predisposed, so I just didn’t want to go down that path.”
• (36:35) Matt: “I’m better at ping pong than all of you, so I would definitely add ping pong. I could crush all of you in ping pong.”
• (46:35) Matt: “If they win, none of this matters...It's only a deal if they don't win and people go, why aren't we winning?”

Important Timestamps

• 03:39 – 12:07: 1996 Movie Rewind and Matt’s Movie Warehouse stories.
• 12:19 – 15:33: First caller Q&A on NIL/JMI effects on recruiting.
• 15:33 – 16:18: Justin’s dropped call, banter about call-ins.
• 24:09 – 26:48: Extended discussion: did JMI affect Calipari and UK’s coaching search?
• 37:52 – 46:03: Hypothetical KSR Crew Decathlon, footrace analysis, competitive banter.
• 46:07 – 49:45: Callers ask about Senate Bill 3 and legal context of JMI; Matt promises a deeper dive in the future.

Tone & Language

Matt and Shannon maintain their characteristic easy humor, conversational analysis, and Kentucky-centric references, with a strong sense of camaraderie and willingness to poke fun at themselves and each other. Callers are integrated naturally, conversations are candid and accessible, and the hosts oscillate seamlessly between nostalgia, sports analysis, and self-deprecating jokes.

Summary

This KSR hour fulfills its promise of “news and views” by mixing insightful NIL recruiting discussion (anchored in the hot-button JMI deal) and the ever-present quirks of Kentucky pop culture nostalgia (nostalgic movie lists, “Freak Show” TV tales, and office decathlons). The episode shines when Matt and Shannon toggle between deep sports commentary and pure entertainment—making it both informative and relentlessly fun for Kentucky sports fans and general listeners alike.