KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) Podcast Summary

Episode: January 30, 2026 – Hour 2
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Grigsby
Theme: Latest UK (University of Kentucky) sports news, legislative debates, pop culture, and fan interactions.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into:

• The state of UK basketball and upcoming Arkansas matchup
• Tennis reminiscence from the hosts’ brief journalist careers
• A discussion and mock vote on a real Kentucky legislative bill regarding probation for nonviolent offenders who are parents
• Quirky news (Mountain Dew consumption, a senator's dog), and listener calls
• Honest, humorous, and occasionally heated exchanges among the crew

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. UK Basketball & The Arkansas Game

• Fan Expectations:

  • UK is set to play Arkansas, now coached by former UK head coach John Calipari. Arkansas is a 7.5-point favorite.
  • There’s a strong sense of anxiety and low confidence among the fans and hosts.
  • Matt Jones: “No one's expecting us to win. Arkansas I think is a seven and a half point favorite right now.” (23:31)
  • Ryan Lemond: “Maybe a no lose win. If you play well, you play like you did against Vanderbilt, I’m not going to be happy. I expect them to lose.” (23:33)

• Calipari's Tactics:

  • Noted for unpredictably clunky performances in high-pressure games.
  • Calipari sent Kenny Payne to take his place in a press conference, widely seen as trolling Kentucky.

• Predictions:

  • All hosts predict Arkansas wins, with varying margins.
    • Shannon: "Arkansas wins and covers. I'll say 85, 76 Arkansas." (49:22)
    • Drew: "I say they barely cover the spread that's out now." (50:18)
    • Ryan: "Rule of 71. Cats score 72 points... 85, 72 Arkansas." (50:31)
    • Matt: "One of those two things is going to happen: it's going to come down to a minute to go and either team can win or we're going to lose by 30." (51:01)

2. Tennis Nostalgia

• Matt and Drew reminisce about being tennis journalists:
  • Recall luxurious travel—staying in the Waldorf and Plaza hotels in New York (05:07), interviewing Federer, Serena, and Venus Williams.
  • Drew Franklin: "Tennis people have the easiest job in the world because the matches are so long. So you just sit there, enjoy. There's not a lot to say, and then you write your recap." (04:46)
  • Notably disliked former American player Jack Sock, considered a "jerk."
    • Matt Jones: "Jack Sock...was the worst. Every time we ran to him...he'd do something else. Jerky." (07:38)
    • Drew: “He was the top drink American. So we wanted to like him...” (07:54)

3. Kentucky's Mountain Dew Habits

• KY ranked 4th in total Mountain Dew consumption (not per capita).
  • Ohio is 1st; Mountain Dew is noted as a Midwestern/southern thing.
  • Ryan: "A little shocked. I thought for sure we'd be a runaway number one winner." (10:28)

4. Legislative Game: Probation for Parents Bill

• Bill allows judges to consider parental status when sentencing nonviolent offenders to probation rather than prison.
  • Arguments For: Keeps parents with children, avoids negative outcomes for kids in foster care.
  • Arguments Against: Creates a two-tier system; not fair to childless offenders; could incentivize having kids for the "wrong" reasons.

Mock Vote (11:03–17:27):

• Drew: Votes No. “Whatever you did, it needs to be across the board, the punishment.” (13:07)

• Ryan: Votes Yes. “If mom or dad can stay clean, they absolutely need to be there for their kids.” (13:32)

• Shannon: Votes No. Worries some might exploit the system. “I think... we treat you all the same. No probation.” (14:02)

• Matt Jones: Calls for treating all nonviolent offenders the same, regardless of parental status. (17:03–17:28)

• Real Legislative Result: The actual bill passed committee 6–1, including a reluctant vote by Senator Philip Wheeler, who voiced the “two-tier system” concern.

  • Senator Wheeler Quote: (15:05) “Let’s just say hypothetically, I’m a drug addict. You’re a drug addict, but you have two kids and I don’t. You’re going to be eligible for a program... While myself... I got to go to jail. But you don’t.”

5. Listener Calls & Fan Voices

• Mark in Arkansas (22:48–24:32): Celebrates current coach Mark Pope, jokes he’d “cut my hand off” before going back to Calipari.
• Other Mark (26:06–28:55): Questions current UK players’ motivation. Matt vehemently argues that money/NIL isn’t why effort lags:
  • Matt: “Every goal, though, man. But what then? How do you explain the guys at Purdue...that are not going to play in the NBA and they’re playing their tail off?” (28:55)

6. UK Roster & Injuries

• Realism about injured/recovering players:
  • Ryan on Jaden Quaintance: "The more this drags out, the more highly unlikely we’re ever going to see him again." (29:54)
• Players most likely to return next season, in most hosts’ view: Moreno, Cam Williams, Colin Chandler.
• Matt: “Those first three are the only three I feel confident in...After that, who knows?” (32:30)

7. Offbeat: The Tale of “Baby Dog”

• West Virginia Senator Jim Justice brings "Baby Dog" everywhere—including pressers and as his Outback Steakhouse office.
  • Matt: “He sits on one side [of the booth] and the dog sits on the other drinking Foster's beer. And it's just the two of them.” (35:03)
  • Drew: “As a former server...I got Justice and that damn dog again...That poor server is losing a table for their whole day...” (35:29)
  • Ryan: “He’s so full of crap. He’s not working, he’s watching ball games, drinking beer.” (35:55)

8. Pop Culture & Other Questions

• Royal Rumble happening at an odd time due to location in Saudi Arabia (45:19).
  • General sense: Fun to watch, but the time zone is weird; the hosts sometimes tune in for nostalgia.
• Series of offbeat trivia/questions:
  • History of flooding Kentucky towns for dams/lakes projects (39:08).
  • Cornbread Hemp promo code (39:35).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On UK fandom pain:
  • “It's not even that it’s Cal...my house is on fire and I gotta worry about me right now.” – Drew (24:07)
• On legislative fairness:
  • “I don't like things in law that enshrine that we treat people differently based on characteristics. Especially in the criminal justice system.” – Matt (17:28)
• On tennis journalism perks:
  • “We stayed in, like, the Plaza in New York...the Waldorf for like two straight weeks.” – Matt (05:07)
• On Baby Dog:
  • “Would you name like...can you name a dog Baby Dog? Why wouldn’t you just name it...” – Matt (33:57)
  • “As a former server...that poor server is losing a table for their whole day because Jim can’t take his dog to an office like a normal person.” – Drew (35:29)
• On UK basketball predictions:
  • “One of those two things is going to happen: it's going to come down to a minute to go and either team can win or we're going to lose by 30. To me, there’s no middle ground.” – Matt (51:01)

Important Timestamps

• Welcome & Australian Open Tennis Recap: 03:39–08:04
• Mountain Dew Rankings: 09:36–10:48
• Kentucky Legislature Probation Bill Debate: 11:03–17:28
• Legislative Real Result (incl. Wheeler quote): 14:36–16:14
• Fan Calls on Arkansas Game & Calipari: 22:48–24:32, 26:06–28:55
• Roster Outlook, Injuries & Returnees: 29:53–33:06
• Jim Justice & Baby Dog at Outback Steakhouse: 33:06–36:42
• Hot Springs, AR & Town Flooding Anecdotes: 36:54–39:37
• Game Predictions and Close: 48:51–51:53

Episode Tone & Style

• The hosts use a conversational, sometimes sardonic and highly Kentucky-centric style.
• Lively banter, pointed arguments on sports and policy, and plenty of local color.
• Frequent listener call-ins keep the episode grounded in real-world fan perspectives.
• Memorable for its blend of UK fandom, social commentary, and wry humor.

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