2026-03-05- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) — Hour 2

Date: March 5, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Shannon, Shane Simpson, Mario
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

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Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio dives into a lively mix of Kentucky news, pop culture, sports, and campus controversy. The first half is peppered with fun banter about TV and reality shows, while the second half focuses intently on the retirement contract controversy surrounding UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. The episode then rounds out with calls from listeners on topics from potholes to celebrity lookalikes and Kentucky basketball.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Middlesboro Pride and Local Media (03:14–05:08)

• Matt Jones shows off a Middlesboro High School hoodie, banters about its history, and reminisces about the opening of the big tunnel in town.
• Local TV News Shakeup: Discussion about WLEX buying WTVQ, the consolidation of Lexington TV stations, and Matt’s history with Scripps, "the one that fired me."

Notable Quote

“They were the ones that got rid of me because of the thing, so now they'll have another station.” — Matt Jones (05:00)

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2. Reality TV with a Kentucky Twist (05:09–12:29)

a. Born to Bowl (HBO)

• New HBO show following five professional bowlers, including Kyle Troop from Mount Washington, Kentucky – described as “the Bob Ross of bowling.”
• Matt and Shane discuss Troop’s Kentucky roots and wild afro.

“In the opening scene, he’s wearing a Kentucky T-shirt. He is a Kentucky fan that lives in Kentucky. And he is apparently the centerpiece of Born to Bowl…” — Matt Jones (06:14)

b. Age of Attraction

• New reality dating show with contestants aged 22–65 on an island; premise is you don’t know your matches’ ages.
• Features a Northern Kentucky contestant.

c. Love is Blind Villain

• They joke about a universally disliked contestant named Chris, whom people say resembles show panelist Billy.

d. Guy Fieri Food Fight (ESPNU)

• Guy Fieri launches the "World Food Fighting League" on ESPNU; confusion ensues over whether it’s actual food fights or cooking contests.

“When I saw it, I just thought if there was ever a professional sport that Ryan could go pro.” — Matt Jones (10:10)

Panel Poll:

• Food Fighting: Mario’s pick
• Bowling: Shannon’s pick (but only because of the Kentucky connection)
• Age of Attraction: Mario
• Matt’s order: Bowling > Age of Attraction > Food Fight

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3. Explosive UK Athletics Contract Controversy (12:10–21:10, 25:12–27:35)

a. The Mitch Barnhart Retirement Package

• Original contract: $800k/year for 3 years as ambassador if Barnhart stayed past Jan 1.
• Sudden change: UK extended the deal to 4 years, increased pay to $950k/year, plus a $650k bonus — totaling $2 million extra beyond the original contract.
• No explanation given, announced by email, no press conference.
• Confusion about funding: Initially stated to come from the University’s general fund amidst budget cuts, then changed to “Athletics” after public/media outcry.

Notable Quote

“They gave him $2 million that they were not contractually obligated to give. No one has explained that $2 million. We keep hearing there’s a budget crisis with athletics.” — Matt Jones (14:40)

b. Smell Test and University Transparency

• Matt and panel highlight the poor optics: simultaneously sending a budget cuts warning to staff/professors and giving away millions to an outgoing AD.
• Matt’s opinion: The unusual bonus suggests Barnhart was possibly pushed out:

  “You don’t give a man 2 million extra dollars unless you’re just pushing him out the door…” (17:24)

• The story is broken and followed up by Linda Blackford of the Herald-Leader; UK’s changing statements cited as evidence of mishandling.

c. Accountability and Need for Answers

• The consensus is that this reflects either mismanagement or attempted obfuscation.
• Mario: "That’s an expensive job. We’re going to get some awesome stuff out of this." (19:21)
• Panel stresses that neither Barnhart nor PR spokesman Jay Blanton should be blamed, but rather the university leadership.

d. Listener and Panel Reaction

• Listeners and panel alike find the decision and communication disrespectful and misaligned with standard practices.

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4. Potpourri: Call-ins, Local Gripe, and Banter (28:02–36:15)

a. Pothole Problems in Lexington

• Caller “Jack” laments massive potholes on Newtown Pike, sharing anecdotes of multiple cars (and a tow truck!) popping tires in the same location.
• Panel commiserates and jokes about “children living in it.”

b. Mr. Pib Zero Delivery in Middlesboro

• Matt receives a gift of eight 12-packs of Mr. Pib Zero, a rare commodity in Lexington — playful tally and gratitude to the local bottling company.

c. Hotel Room Woes

• Mario recounts a comical, sleepless night sharing a room with Ryan, who snores and talks in his sleep:

  “It was nonstop snoring. I threw my pillow at him. He stopped for like 10 minutes.” — Mario (32:31)

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5. Listener Calls and Lighthearted Moments

a. Celebrity Doppelgangers and Brad Pitt Comparison (34:25–35:04)

• Caller claims Ryan looks like Brad Pitt; the panel howls, Shannon sarcastically agrees.

b. Remembering Lou Holtz (35:04–37:53)

• The real Lou Holtz’s passing prompts memories of his impact and a viral magic trick video.
• Fake Lou Holtz (longtime KSR caller) gets a tribute.

c. Kentucky Basketball Fan Confidence (38:08–40:57)

• Caller voices confidence in Coach Mark Pope and the basketball program’s future, even if next year mirrors this one.
• Matt and Mario note every fan has a breaking point if results don’t improve.

d. SEC Tournament Seeding Scenarios

• Kentucky’s precarious position: Thursday ticket holders may not have seats if the Wildcats must play Wednesday due to late-season losses.

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6. Final Thoughts and Show Closing (44:16–52:36)

a. More on Mitch Barnhart Paper Trail (47:47–49:03)

• Caller “Richard” asks about contract transparency — summary: less clear now that UK Athletics is funneled through an LLC, but pressure is mounting.
• Caller also discusses basketball foul trouble and substitution patterns late in the season.

b. PR Mess Confirmation (50:43–52:14)

• Oscar Combs’s tweet is cited, adding credibility to the disarray at UK Athletics.
• Mario and Matt close by expressing thanks to Matt’s parents for their hospitality in Middlesboro.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Mitch Barnhart’s Bonus and Secrecy:

  • “No one has explained that $2 million. We keep hearing there's a budget crisis with athletics.” — Matt Jones (14:42)
  • “You do not announce the end of a 24 year AD tenure that has been by all accounts good by email, do you?” — Matt Jones (21:09)

• On the Bowling Show:

  • “He is a Kentucky fan that lives in Kentucky. And he is apparently the centerpiece of Born to Bowl…” — Matt Jones (06:14)

• On the Food Fight Show:

  • “If there was ever a professional sport that Ryan could go pro…” — Matt Jones (10:10)

• On the Snoring Hotel Roommate:

  • “It was nonstop snoring… I had to hit him with a pillow.” — Mario (32:22)

• On Kentucky Basketball's Outlook:

  • “Gotta have that a little bit. I will say, at some point, for all fans, we all have a line of… what’s not good enough.” — Mario (39:49)

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Segment Timestamps

• Local pride & media deals: 03:14–05:08
• Reality TV shows new and old: 05:09–12:29
• UK Athletics contract controversy: 12:10–21:10, 25:12–27:35
• Listeners sound off (potholes, hotels, doppelgangers): 28:02–36:15, 34:25–36:16
• Lou Holtz tributes and magic trick: 35:04–37:53
• Basketball coaching confidence, SEC tournament: 38:08–41:10
• More contract/PR mess fallout: 44:16–52:36

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Conclusion

This episode showcases KSR’s signature blend of sports, Kentucky culture, and savvy university commentary. The panel’s genuine skepticism over the Barnhart payout and the university’s PR blunders dominate the middle segment, with humor and heart sprinkled throughout thanks to reality TV tangents, fan calls, and camaraderie. The controversy surrounding Barnhart’s contract is positioned as a must-follow issue, with the hosts vowing to keep pressing for answers. In between, listeners get a strong sense of the show’s community — from local snack deliveries to candid tales from the road.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

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[Shane Simpson]

welcome to hour two of Kentucky Sports radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. Our number two Kee Sports Radio 859-28022. Just look at this.

[Shannon]

Look at that.

[Matt Jones]

Got it. Now a Middlesboro High School alumni hoodie that I can wear. How about that? I established in 1889 after the crater. Well, the crater was a long time ago. It's you. I think he keeps acting like the crater happened like 1870. This was, you know, this, this is the town, Ryan, where Daniel Boone, like the whole westward expansion came right through here.

[Shannon]

Right through there. They had the oldest golf course in the state, don't they?

[Matt Jones]

Oldest gol in the country.

[Shannon]

In the country. My mistake.

[Mario]

75.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, exactly. Daniel Boone. This used to be a honky tonk town back in the day.

[Shannon]

I remember I told you when you guys opened up that tunnel, that was big news. That was huge news. And they opened the tunnel.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. You came down here, right.

[Shannon]

Well, Channel 18 did. I just started there. It was a debut of our sat truck. Channel 18 set truck first. Everything it ever did was the opening.

[Matt Jones]

The very first thing the sat truck ever did was the Middlesboro.

[Shannon]

It sure was. Yep.

[Matt Jones]

Well, you know they're in the news. They bought yesterday. WLEX bought WTV Q yes scripts. There are only three. Well, four stations in Lexington. And now the Fox and the CBS station were already paired. And now the ABC and the CBS station are paired.

[Mario]

It's like the media battle. We have like factions now they're teaming up and a little NWO versus back here.

[Matt Jones]

Does that mean like Jeff Pocoro now will be hand to hand. He used to hand to hand fight Keith Farmer. Now they'll be friends back to back.

[Shannon]

Same Owners. It's going to be kind of weird how they handle all that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that's scripts, right?

[Shannon]

Yeah, yeah.

[Matt Jones]

They were the one that fired me, so that's good.

[Shannon]

Oh, we don't like them then.

[Matt Jones]

They were the one. They were the ones that got rid of me because of the thing, so. So now they'll have another station.

[Mario]

Rip. Hey, Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. Couple things. And I want to talk about Mitch. But there. There's a new reality show that involves Kentucky. Are you ready?

[Shannon]

Ready.

[Matt Jones]

It is going to be on hbo. It starts the Sunday of the brackets.

[Shannon]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

And it's supposed to be. You know how they have that F1 series that shows you behind F1 and golf and all that? They're doing it for bowling. Okay. And there is a guy on the show from Kentucky. They're following five professional bowlers.

[Mario]

The first second of the trailer is his Kentucky T shirt.

[Matt Jones]

He's wearing. He's wearing a Kentucky T shirt at the beginning of the trailer. The show is called Born to Bowl.

[Shannon]

Born to Bowl.

[Matt Jones]

And one of the guys lives in Kentucky.

[Shannon]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

His name is Kyle Troop.

[Shannon]

Kyle Troop.

[Matt Jones]

And they call him the Bob Ross of bowling. Now, Shannon, I don't know what that means. The Bob Ross of bowling. Does he just have Bob Ross hair?

[Mario]

Oh, you got to see his hair. He has an afro.

[Shane Simpson]

I gotta see what that means.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, wow.

[Mario]

That is the Bob Ross familiar with Kyle Troop.

[Shane Simpson]

Happy little stretch.

[Mario]

The Bob. Bob Ross right away.

[Matt Jones]

And so he. In the opening scene, he's wearing a Kentucky T shirt. He is a Kentucky fan that lives in Kentucky. And he is apparently the centerpiece of Born to Bowl on. On Netflix.

[Shannon]

So he's a.

[Matt Jones]

Excuse me. Hbo. I think it's on hbo.

[Shannon]

He's a professional bowler.

[Matt Jones]

He's a professional bowler from Kentucky. Now, I didn't know we had one of the best professional bowlers in Kentucky. Did you know that?

[Mario]

Well, I was going to add his bio. Yeah, his bio, I'm confirming it lists him as from Mount Washington.

[Matt Jones]

Also, he's Bullock. He's a bullet.

[Shane Simpson]

Mount Washington.

[Shannon]

Wow.

[Shane Simpson]

Never even heard of this guy.

[Matt Jones]

So this Bob Ross bowler is from your town, Shane, according to his bowling profile.

[Shane Simpson]

Never heard of the guy.

[Matt Jones]

So he. I don't know.

[Shane Simpson]

He doesn't look like Bob Ross to me.

[Matt Jones]

What does he look like to you?

[Shane Simpson]

Just a normal dude. Unless I'm looking at the wrong guy.

[Matt Jones]

Well, do you're looking at the wrong guy? You're not good. A white guy with an afro like that does not look like a. Like it's Not a normal look. You must be looking at a Bob Kyle Troop. T R O U P. Okay.

[Mario]

And they're following these guys. Guess they make no money unless they win. So you're just watching them slum it in hotel rooms.

[Shane Simpson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Jones]

That's a different guy.

[Shane Simpson]

Yeah, it's a different guy. I could see the Bob Ross comparison.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, now another show that's coming on, I have three shows that are coming on, is called Age of Attraction and they have people age 22 to 65, men and women. And they're on an island. Everything's always on an island.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Why they always put everybody on an island.

[Mario]

Cheap set.

[Matt Jones]

They just go, everybody's, they're on an island and they pair them up. But then they don't tell you how old the people you are with. And then you have to decide if you fall in love and then you'll say, so apparently the. There's a 27 year old guy who falls in love with like a 58 year old woman. And, and all of that. And it's 40 people. And there's someone from Kentucky in that too. Of course there is, there's a, there's a woman from northern Kentucky that's in it. But of course they don't tell you what their age is because you don't know. The premise of the show is they're all people who aren't the age they looked.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So like the guy we saw last night, he could be on it.

[Shannon]

Easily be on it. Mr. Ferguson.

[Matt Jones]

Mr. Ferguson certainly could be on it because no one would think he's 65.

[Shannon]

Look, 35. Yeah, easy.

[Matt Jones]

So are you gonna watch that one?

[Mario]

Yeah. I watched Love is Blind last night. I'm kind of dipping my toe into these terrible reality dating shows and this one just looks like the next.

[Matt Jones]

I heard on Love is Blind there's like the worst guy ever. He tells the woman he's bad.

[Mario]

There's a couple of them.

[Matt Jones]

There's a woman and she's like a doctor and really impressive. And then he tells her she, he kind of like her because she doesn't go to Pilates.

[Mario]

Yeah, I mean, this woman, he is bad.

[Matt Jones]

The whole country seems to hate that guy.

[Mario]

He has like terrible credit card debt that he's never gonna get out of. And then he has this doctor that loves him and she's good looking and he just treats her like crap.

[Matt Jones]

And he's like, you don't find my wife needs to go to Pilates.

[Mario]

And he's like, I can take you to the four Season.

[Matt Jones]

And he's also like five four, right? Yeah, yeah. The world hates him.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

His name's Chris. If you. He's from Cincinnati. Everybody on that show's from. From Cincinnati. People hating.

[Mario]

Yeah, he's. He's. I don't mean to connect him to Billy, but he's also in the lookalike game. A lot of people have said he looks like Billy. It's all. It's on that bridge. I'm not making it up.

[Matt Jones]

You think he looks like Billy?

[Mario]

When I heard someone say it, I thought, no. And then when I saw, I got. I was like, okay. I could see how you could.

[Matt Jones]

So Chris. Chris, it looks like. Well, Billy has that kind of confidence. Billy is the kind of person who would look at someone and say that,

[Mario]

yeah, someone did a side by side on Bond that bridge. I'll pull it up. But that guy definitely should not have gone on the show. He became a villain.

[Matt Jones]

Became a villain quick. And then finally, Shannon Guy Fieri.

[Shannon]

Oh, he does look like Billy.

[Matt Jones]

Does he look like Billy? Oh, he does look like Billy.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Mario]

Sorry. Billy clip.

[Matt Jones]

I saw. He didn't look, but he does look like right there. Wow.

[Caller]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe Billy will get mistaken for him when we go somewhere. And then. All right, finally, Guy Fieri. Shannon.

[Shane Simpson]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Is starting on espnu, the World Food Fighting League.

[Shane Simpson]

What, this. This is a real thing?

[Matt Jones]

I. I think so. I mean, they had a segment on Sports center, so unless it was like a fake, I think it's part of their whole ESPN Ocho thing.

[Shane Simpson]

How do you decide who wins a food fight

[Mario]

Knockout.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Shane Simpson]

Count to three.

[Matt Jones]

I would think, though, if you're a restaurant owner, like, if you're a chef, is that what you want your food used for is fighting?

[Shannon]

See, my brain immediately went to that wrestler last night. They had to show the pizza dough at somebody's face, and the guy fell down because he threw pizza dough at him.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

Is that what the food fights all about?

[Mario]

Called the Flavortown food fight.

[Matt Jones]

The Flavortown food fight. They're gonna throw food at each other and their teams. I. When I saw it, I just thought if there was ever a professional sport, that Ryan could go pro.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Shane Simpson]

How do you know you're good at that? Throw a turkey leg at somebody. Thanksgiving.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. So I don't know any of the details. I just saw the announcement that the Flavortown Food Fighting League. So these are three shows that are all coming on in the next two weeks.

[Mario]

This is a good way to fight world hunger. Just have a show where we Throw food at each other.

[Matt Jones]

That is a very decadent thing to do. Hey, the world is starving. We throw our food at each other.

[Mario]

Oh, God.

[Matt Jones]

All right, which of those three? The bowling show, the Age of Attraction or the food Fighting? Are you most likely to watch Food Fighting?

[Mario]

Close for me the moment the bowling. Bowling came out.

[Matt Jones]

What about you?

[Shannon]

I would not watch bowling until you said the dudes from Kentucky. I would watch it just for him. I think so.

[Matt Jones]

Bowling.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Mario. Age of Attraction. See, we split all of them. I think I would go. I think I'll go bowling because the guy. Yeah, but I think food fighting is the least interesting. I would do Age of Attraction next. Food fight. I don't. I don't. I don't think I need to see people. Food fight.

[Mario]

I'm really interested in seeing how these bowlers live with no money and just travel together and hope they get a check at the end of it.

[Matt Jones]

Well, Kyle Troop from Mount Washington will be a star. All right, let's talk for a second about the news that came out yesterday. So let me. Let's go through the timeline. It gets announced via email that Mitch Barnhart is going. So his original contract said if he stayed through January 1, he would get $800,000 a year for three years to be an ambassador for UK Athletics. He stayed through January 1. Now he's leaving June 30, and he had to give six months notice, which tells me he gave his notice on January 1st, because six months from that is June 30th. So that's a reasonable. Isn't that a reasonable guess? He gave it on January 1st for reasons that are not clear, because they announced this via email and did not do a press conference. They raised his 800,000 to $950,000, which over the course, they added a year. So it was supposed to be three years. They added year, it's four. So just in the added $150,000 years, they added $600,000 of salary that they were not contractually obliged to do. Okay. Then they threw in a $650,000 bonus. So I just want people to understand we were not contractually obligated. They added a year, so that's $950,000. They added 150,000 a year for the first three years. That's 450. So I had 950, 450. That's 14. $1,400,000 they added, and then they gave him a $650,000 bonus. So for reasons that are unclear to me, they added $2 million in money to Mitch Barnhart when he is retiring. Okay. They added $2 million that they were not contractually obligated to give. No one has explained that $2 million. We keep hearing there's a budget crisis with athletics. $2 million. So then I called the university on, or texted the university on Tuesday night. I was like, by the way, is he gonna be overseen in athletics? And the spokesman, Jay Blanton, who's a great guy who I've talked to many times, he. I believe him when he says it. So this is part of what I'm saying. I like Jay Blanton so much. I do not believe Jay Blanton would lie to me at all. I think he's a great person. Jay Blanton writes and says this has nothing to do with athletics and says the money will come from the general fund. Well, that made people a little upset at UK because the same day they announced this, they sent an email to the entire university saying, budget cuts are coming. Now, I want you to think, if you're a professor or even just like in the service staff at uk, you get an email that says, budget cuts are coming. Be ready. From Eli Capilouto. And the same day they announce that they're paying this guy a million dollars a year to quit and to lead an initiative that is not even on their website, that they are creating out of thin air. Linda Blackford of the Hair Leader writes an article where she goes, what is going on at uk? And she points out other times that they've given people like a million dollars to go away, some guy in health care, all this stuff. And she says on the same day that they do this, they're going to announce they're giving away a this money, a million dollars a year, to Mitch Barnhart. Six hours later, UK calls her and says, no, no, it's not from the general fund, it's from UK Athletics, which, by the way, is the opposite of what they had said to both me and to her. Now, either Jay Blanton UK was mistaken, which I guess is possible, or they

[Shannon]

switched it, which is the more likely

[Matt Jones]

they got the outrage.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And then the money went back into athletics. Here's my point. Whichever one it is is a disaster. If it's from the general fund and we are paying, over the course of four years, four and a half million dollars to a person to run a career center while telling everyone else at the university there's going to be budget cuts, that's crazy. But maybe equally as crazy would be having someone in an academics position for the university and paying for it via athletics. If he's not going to have anything to do with athletics, why in the world are you paying for it through athletics? It does not pass the Matt Jones smell test at all. Just doesn't. And I. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have Mitch in some role. I don't even care that he's doing this. Whatever. And it has nothing to do with how he's performed as an ad. But from a smell test perspective, if you're going to pay a man four and a half million dollars, paying two million that you didn't even owe him, just seemingly as like a parting gift.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

You know what it says to me? This is just my opinion. I have no fact. This is Matt's opinion. I have no basis for it. I think you don't give a man 2 million extra dollars unless you're put. Just pushing him out the door. I don't. Why are you giving him $2 million? You don't owe him that.

[Shannon]

It's not on the contract.

[Matt Jones]

That's not in the contract. Why.

[Mario]

And then.

[Matt Jones]

Why would you do that?

[Mario]

And then turn around and ask people in Middlesboro for 50 bucks? Because you're. You need money to spend.

[Matt Jones]

Why would you do that? I. Something isn't right about it. There's something going on. There's no way Jay Blanton, who I've for 20 years interacted with and he's never one time told me something that didn't end up being the case.

[Shannon]

He's very well respected, Val.

[Matt Jones]

Very well respected.

[Shannon]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

You cannot tell me that he just got wrong the source of the fund.

[Shannon]

I don't think he did.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think he did. I think the information flipped it.

[Shannon]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

They had to have.

[Shannon]

What.

[Matt Jones]

Because he didn't just give it to me, he gave it to the Herald Leader too. And then when Linda Blackford writes this article and shout out to Linda Blackford, and this is why the Herald Leader and those entities still matter. Somebody's got to write stuff like that.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

She writes it and then six hours later it's coming from athletics. And athletics is paying for something that's not even in athletics. Why is UK athletics paying for an academic thing? Because it was never. It was supposed to come from academics. And that's. That's my take. And either way, why did they give Mitch Barnhart $2 million that they weren't obligated to do?

[Shannon]

Just like bonus money.

[Matt Jones]

Bonus money. They. The only way they could have done that is if they wanted him to go. In my opinion, unless somebody has another explanation and I'm willing to hear. Does not pass the smell test for me, does it, you all.

[Mario]

Oh, not at all. I think it's been crazy since the beginning. I just tell you, the next four years, I might even be on the beat of this initiative because I want to find out if we're getting our 950 worth a year. I want to. I can't wait to see the results. That's an expensive job. We're going to get some awesome stuff out of this.

[Matt Jones]

And the thing is, UK Mitch is doing a press conference tomorrow and he'll be asked about this, but the person that needs to answer this is actually not him. He didn't give it to himself. Who gave it to him? Yeah, we don't even know.

[Shannon]

He's not going to turn it down.

[Matt Jones]

The Blackford says in her article it could be Eli Capaluto, it could be Eric Monday. Most people don't even know who Eric Monday is. I. It does not pass the smell test. And I hope Linda Blackford and those folks keep asking. I'm going to keep asking. I don't get it. You cannot at the same time tell the university they're in a budget crisis, the athletics department says we don't have enough money, and then all of a sudden just give $2 million? You're not even contractually obligated to give.

[Mario]

What gets me. I mean, this is stupid. What gets me. I'm fan first and I already know they're gonna go ask everybody for money and we're have to come up with 950,000 before we can even get to paying athletes. I mean, that's gonna be in the budget. And they're gonna tell fans, we need you to rally around Big Blue. We need the money. And all of us are gonna be like, why are we paying him? Go get us a shooting guard with that money.

[Matt Jones]

So I'm not gm, I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I am saying, though, it does not pass the smell test and it, at the very least, UK owes people an explanation. You do not announce the end of a 24 year AD tenure that has been by all accounts good by email, do you?

[Shannon]

No. He deserves more respect than that.

[Mario]

An initiative that has no mention anywhere on the Internet until yesterday.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, when you're. When you. When people leave, I heart, they at least get cake.

[Shannon]

Well, like you said, it's an important position. This initiative is very important.

[Mario]

Can't wait to see all the.

[Matt Jones]

I'm interested in in in What? That answer is. 859-280-2287. We'll take a break. Very backs kids.

[Shannon]

If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I'm Clayton ECKERD and in 2022, I

[Matt Jones]

was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Danielle Robay]

Unfortunately, unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. He became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

[Matt Jones]

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

[Danielle Robay]

But what happened to Clayton? After the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one night stand and ended in a courtroom with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

[Matt Jones]

The media is here. This case has gone viral. The Dating Contract Agree to date me,

[Emily Simpson]

but I'm also suing you.

[Mario]

Please.

[Caller]

Search warrant.

[Clayton Eckerd]

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

[Danielle Robay]

I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of he said, she said and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

[Emily Simpson]

I have done nothing except get pregnant by the Bachelor.

[Danielle Robay]

Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. I'm joined by Luke Combs, award winning country music artist and one of the most authentic voices in music today. Luke opens up about success, self doubt, mental health and what it really takes to stay true to who you are when your life changes overnight.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I hate fame. I hate the word celebrity. I hate those words. They make me uncomfortable. But I think when you get to a certain point point the fame or the success or the influence, it just accentuates and exacerbates the inherent person that you are. The guy that says he's always going to be there and that will do anything to be there is the only guy that's not there. I'm in Australia when Bo is born. My whole identity is that no matter what, I'm going to prioritize my wife and my children over my job. I dread the conversation with My son,

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

what do you think you'd say listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts Ready for a

[Emily Simpson]

different take on Formula one? Look no further than no Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current grid.

[Matt Jones]

Lewis Hamilton, Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon. Wouldn't you know it? Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun,

[Emily Simpson]

Cancer Moon, the story of the sport's most consequential driver. Strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom. And was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both? He started getting all this attention and he maybe started to think, I'm bigger than this, I'm better. And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Shannon]

Welcome back.

[Matt Jones]

It is Kentucky Sports Radio, 859-280-2287. Text Machine 772-774-5254. One person writes. Matt, I agree with you, it smells very bad. But this is what happens in corporate America. This isn't corporate America. It's a public university. That's different. I mean, I don't like when it happens in corporate America. They give people CEOs, like, millions of dollars to go away and whatever. And look, he's owed by the original contract, like two and a half million dollars. Now, you could argue that's a bad contract. I may do that, but unfortunately, we did it for stoops. We did it for cow, whatever. But what I'm talking about is they gave him $2 million they didn't have to give him. That wasn't in the contract. That's what smells to me. It's not the original amount of money that was in his original deal, but it was that they just gave him two extra million dollars and then didn't seem to know where the money was coming from, you know, and announced it via an email

[Shannon]

to me. That's, that's disrespectful to the. Give the man his flowers. Have a chance to, you know, to. He's done green, done great things here, but I Guess they couldn't give him a house in the Bahamas. So the man just gonna give him cash.

[Matt Jones]

I can't. But if I'd been on the air when they give Steve Newton a house

[Mario]

in the Bahamas, I think that's better than this. He's at least out of the way, not in the room telling people what to do when they take over his job.

[Shannon]

It's true.

[Mario]

Well, I'm gonna tell y'. All, I am launching the UK Sports and Workforce Initiative initiative where every month I will ask UK what Mitch Barnhart did and we will make sure nice

[Matt Jones]

the initiative above ksr.

[Mario]

Each month we'll have the initiative initiative where we track Mitch Barnhart's contributions and if it adds up, we're getting a good value on that 950k.

[Matt Jones]

You know, I the this. Like I said, I'm more frustrated with the university than Mitch on this. I mean if you're Mitch Barnard and somebody gives you $2 million, you're probably not going to say no.

[Mario]

No.

[Matt Jones]

But I do want to know why that happened. And I will say to you, someone needs to explain to me why they gave it to him that doesn't involve them getting something back. Which would have to be him leaving. People don't just universities in a financial crisis don't just give a two million dollar thank you. least they shouldn't.

[Shannon]

Which kind of what this looks like.

[Matt Jones]

Right?

[Mario]

But those 10 lower level basketball tickets ain't exactly cheap either.

[Matt Jones]

Why are we paying for his country club membership? I'm serious. Why are we paying for his country club membership?

[Mario]

I mean he probably made close to 30 million over his career.

[Matt Jones]

I. I think you get his own does smell and I'm not. You know, I don't. I don't think I'm wrong about that. Who's next?

[Shane Simpson]

Jack.

[Matt Jones]

Jack. Go ahead. Jack.

[Caller]

Hey, I just wanted to call. I have a bone to pick with the city of Lexington. Potholes. Oh my gosh. I. I'm so sick of them. I got a call last night from my friend. He hit his third pothole because he commutes and popped his third tire on his way to Lexington. I went to go help him take it off while we were at the gas station. Another guy pulled in, popped his tire on the same one. Then another guy pulled in, popped both his front and back tire on the same pothole.

[Mario]

I know him.

[Caller]

He called a tow truck on the way here. The tow truck popped his tire on that same pothole.

[Mario]

There's a couple.

[Caller]

It was nuts. It was nuts. Like I couldn't Just so people know where it is.

[Matt Jones]

Where is it?

[Caller]

Oh, okay. Newtown Pike, Right between the exits of east and West. Oh, gosh.

[Matt Jones]

It's a horrible one. It's. They're.

[Mario]

They're.

[Matt Jones]

They're.

[Caller]

It's like, right.

[Matt Jones]

There's children living in it. I know it. I appreciate the call.

[Mario]

There was one on Harrisburg. It's a little far from me, but it has a big reputation. And then there's one. Carls will just disappear in front of you into the ground and never come out again.

[Matt Jones]

We'll do anything on this show. We'll do basketball and potholes. We'll be right back. T.J. smith, personal injury attorney.

[Shannon]

Call T.J. he'll make him pay.

[Shane Simpson]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio, presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back, techie Sports Radio. So, I mean, you know, this is an awesome. Look at these. They keep coming.

[Shannon]

They're bringing more. Oh, my goodness.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon. They. The local coke bottling company here in Middlesborough.

[Shane Simpson]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Has brought me 812 packs of Mr. Pib Zero.

[Shane Simpson]

You should be stocked up for the rest of the year.

[Matt Jones]

I don't.

[Mario]

I'm not.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you very much.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

I.

[Shane Simpson]

You drink that much? I mean, how much do you drink in a week?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, I don't drink that in a week, but, like, this will say, you know, they don't have it in Lexington.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So this is the only time I can get it. So now I can take this eight 12 packs of Mr. Pib Zero. Thank you very much. How about that?

[Mario]

Made three different.

[Matt Jones]

Like, this is better than anything you could get me because I can't get this.

[Shannon]

Yes. This is the one thing that you actually get excited about. And they bring you Mr. Pib Zero. They brought in three cases. That's very nice. They brought in three more. Oh, that's something. They just brought in three more.

[Matt Jones]

And then they've got water, Cumberland Gap water, and Fresca for mom and Larry.

[Shannon]

Cherry Diet Coke. I'm gonna steal one of those.

[Matt Jones]

Well, how about.

[Shannon]

That's awesome. Welcome back to Middlesboro.

[Matt Jones]

How many is that? So there are. Wait, hang on, hang on. There's eight 12 packs of Mr. Pib Zero. How many Mr. Pib Zeros do I have?

[Shannon]

96.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, 16K1. Yeah, that's right.

[Shane Simpson]

Well, you've been working on your eights.

[Matt Jones]

You've been working on your eight. Well, exactly right.

[Shannon]

Where did we stay last night?

[Mario]

He's gonna.

[Matt Jones]

We actually did stay in the holiday.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

Thank you.

[Shannon]

Thank you.

[Matt Jones]

I did that on purpose so that he could we did stay in a Holiday Inn Express.

[Shannon]

We did.

[Mario]

I heard Mario really enjoyed it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Mario, real quick jump on the thing here. I want Mario.

[Shannon]

Take these.

[Matt Jones]

I want Mario to. There you go. Talk about real quick before we go to the phones, what it's like to spend a night in a room with Ryan living.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

Well, it starts off, you know, me and Ryan, we have our conversations and then Ryan gets a phone call from his lady and then they talk to about an hour. And you know, their conversations are very. What word should I put? Very flirty.

[Matt Jones]

Like give us an example of something

[Mario (guest or caller)]

they talk about, like their dates, what they have coming up. Like he has a big date on Saturday.

[Matt Jones]

And where's he going on Saturday?

[Mario (guest or caller)]

He's going to Somerset.

[Mario]

He's going to.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

For what is it the Ed Go. Edgar Allen Poe concert concert?

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Poe is kind of dead.

[Mario]

Yeah, it's an acoustic set.

[Matt Jones]

Edgar. He's going to the Edgar Allan Poe concert.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

In Somerset.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

In Somerset. It's at the Virginia where we had the show in the summer.

[Matt Jones]

So. Okay. And so then you said. So. So you said they were very lovey dovey, made you uncomfortable.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

Very uncomfortable. I was very uncomfortable. He's very flirty. You know the. His. What are the cameos that you make? It's very similar to that.

[Matt Jones]

Like it's very. It's very flirty. And then what happens when he goes to sleep?

[Mario (guest or caller)]

That's the worst part.

[Matt Jones]

When he goes to sleep.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

It's the worst part. Like I got probably one hour of sleep last night and it was just non stop snoring. Like I threw my pillow at him.

[Mario]

I did.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

He stopped for 15 minutes and then he started back up again and he was talking in his sleep this time.

[Matt Jones]

What did he say in his sleep?

[Shannon]

Gibberish.

[Matt Jones]

It was like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

That was when I lost it.

[Matt Jones]

I was just like now. You said you yelled at it. I did.

[Mario]

I was upset.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

I'm trying to get sleep and I'm just hearing him talk in gibberish.

[Mario]

I've worked with Ryan many times. The talking of the sleep is new to me. The snoring of that. Of course.

[Matt Jones]

So. So if you were to. To put on a scale of like 1 to 100, how difficult is it to sleep in a room with Ryan?

[Mario (guest or caller)]

I would probably say 90. I probably say 90.

[Matt Jones]

90.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

Yeah, it was. It was bad. It was non stop. Like he just kept snoring and you

[Matt Jones]

hit him with a pillow.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

I had to hit him with a pillow. He'd stop for like 10 minutes and then start Back up again. Sometimes I'd like. I'd make a noise just to know that I'm let remind him that I'm here.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Mario (guest or caller)]

And he'd stop for like 10 minutes. So I had different methods.

[Matt Jones]

Back when I used to stay in his room, I would get. I would stand up and get right above his ear and then go and clap. And he would jump. And then I would jump right back in bed and act like it wasn't me.

[Mario]

Did it work?

[Matt Jones]

It worked for 10 minutes and then he'd be right back to it. There you go. But I'd try to sleep in those 10 minutes. All right. Well, Mario, sorry you had to deal with that. It's okay. 2802287. The guy Fieri food fight competition people are telling me is not a fight. It's like they're cooking.

[Mario]

No,

[Matt Jones]

but it's not. When I saw it was on espn, it was called a food fight. I assumed it was a fight.

[Mario]

Yeah, we got plenty of options to watch people cook against each other. That's not nearly as exciting.

[Shannon]

Well, but not Guy Fieri on ESP

[Matt Jones]

now even much less likely to watch it. It now is definitely third. Who's next?

[Shane Simpson]

Kevin.

[Matt Jones]

Kevin. Go ahead, Kevin.

[Caller]

Hi, Matt. First time caller.

[Matt Jones]

Who are. What's up

[Caller]

to Mario's post about the celebrity doppelgangers for you all on Tuesday.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

I'm gonna say something that may that's gonna make everybody feel a little uncomfortable, but I think Ryan resembles Brad Pitt a lot more than anyone would care to admit.

[Shannon]

I get mistaken for that all the time. So you're not far off.

[Matt Jones]

He does not resemble Brad Pitt in any.

[Shane Simpson]

Any world.

[Caller]

There's no ugly him or like Douglas and Randy Quaid. Yeah, a little bit like that. But yeah, it was not a crazy thread.

[Shannon]

I agree. Yeah, you're dead on.

[Matt Jones]

I think it's pretty crazy.

[Shannon]

Call the day. This is our call today. We got right here.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. Lou Holtz died.

[Shannon]

Saw that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. One of the great fake callers to this show of all time. Maybe the best. Fake Lou Holtz.

[Shannon]

Fake Lou Holtz was an awesome caller. Lou Holtz is a football coach who I first realized when he was at Notre Dame and he was a superstar. And then he goes to the TV announcing and just his list made him great.

[Matt Jones]

May were on. They were college football for a long time.

[Shannon]

That's right.

[Matt Jones]

He and Mark May.

[Shannon]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

We watched a video yesterday. I showed it to Ryan and Mario. If you have not seen this video, it's a pretty amazing video. Drew. He Is giving a speech to the South Carolina football team, and he's like, talking about. I don't even know what the point of the speech is. But as he's doing it, Shannon, he has a newspaper, that day's newspaper, and he's ripping it in half. So as he talks, he rips it in half multiple times, and he gets it down into this little ball, and he finalizes his speech by then taking it opening. And it's all together. It's back together after you've watched him rip it in half.

[Shane Simpson]

I didn't know he was a magician.

[Matt Jones]

I'm sure it's a magic trick, and I'm sure there's a way to do it. I looked under it. Everybody was like, ask Grok, how do you do it? And I kind of don't want to know. I just.

[Shannon]

I don't want to know.

[Matt Jones]

I just thought it was kind of amazing. He takes a newspaper and he rips it in half over and over and over, and it ends up all together. Have you seen this?

[Shane Simpson]

I'm looking at it right now.

[Mario]

I've seen that trick a lot. That's. That's. He probably got a magic set the night before and learned it.

[Matt Jones]

So you're saying it's a trick?

[Mario]

Well, obviously, I don't want to downplay your excite. That's pretty common trick. I can't do it.

[Matt Jones]

It's a common trick. I'd say that's one of you early

[Mario]

beginning to magic tricks. Is that news?

[Matt Jones]

So you can't do it with a regular newspaper.

[Mario]

Well, I don't know how they do it. I'm not trying to downplay it, too. I'm just saying I have.

[Matt Jones]

It sounds like you're downplaying it. You're acting like it's not impressive.

[Mario]

Ask me if I've seen it.

[Shannon]

I've seen.

[Mario]

Seen it several times. I don't have the move, but I. I bet he got a magic set the night before, and that was one of the first tricks it taught him.

[Shannon]

I was impressed.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that's way better.

[Shannon]

How do you do that?

[Matt Jones]

Shannon, you're watching it. Isn't that impressive?

[Shane Simpson]

I think it is, yeah. I mean, he's just a head coach and a magician, apparently.

[Matt Jones]

And Freddy does it in front of his whole team.

[Shane Simpson]

Impress them or motivate them or. What was the point?

[Matt Jones]

I think it worked. They're all excited about it because in the speech, he's saying, you know, people will try to, I guess, rip you in half or whatever, and then you come together.

[Mario]

I like the speech, like I said, I've seen it at just little magic shows, but doing it for a team, maybe that.

[Matt Jones]

So RIP Lou Holtz, Notre Dame, South Carolina, and TV announcer. He was in Arkansas. You're right.

[Mario]

What? As soon as I got the news yesterday he died, my brain went to fake Lou Holtz. I was hoping.

[Matt Jones]

I don't. I don't know what's happened with him. I was hoping he might call today. I'd like to hear one more.

[Shannon]

He's not called it forever. Today's the day. Needs to call in.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So if he. If you're out there or tomorrow. Let's go. Just do it. Who's up next? How are you?

[Caller]

Good morning, guys. It's good to talk to you, man. It's been a long time.

[Matt Jones]

Good to talk to you, sir.

[Caller]

Yes, sir. Am I the only person that thinks Shannon sounds like the Voice on screen? The prank caller on screen?

[Matt Jones]

I've never. I've never heard that scream on scream. Scream 7 just came out. Got horrific reviews.

[Caller]

Yeah, he sounds like that guy. But anyway, I just want to say how frustrated I am with the fans and the media because Mark Pope, he's our coach. The players love Mark. Mark Pope, and it's obvious that he can coach. It's just we might not turn around this year. I hope we do, but I guarantee. Well, I'm not guarantee it, but I feel it in my heart that we will win the national championship very soon.

[Matt Jones]

So let me ask you a question. If next year. Let's say if next year we have a year very similar to this year, would that make you question it at all?

[Caller]

Matt, we got to get some recruits in here, and we got to use the transfer portal, and I think he just needs to get a gm, and this is all new to him, but of course, I mean, he's got it. We got to do better next year. But I feel it, man. I'm telling you, we're gonna do better next year, that we're gonna win it all in the next two or three years. And I want to say, go, Big Blue, and thank you all so much.

[Matt Jones]

Go, Big Blue. I appreciate it. I like the confidence there.

[Mario]

Gotta have that a little bit. I will say, at some point, for all fans, we all have a line of, you know, what's not good enough? If this continues, we're having Wednesday conversations and losing games we shouldn't. I feel like all fans would get an agreement at some point. Yeah, two years is early.

[Matt Jones]

So, by the way, if Kentucky plays on Wednesday, you know, that game if it's seven o', clock, you think fans would would make the trip down there so early?

[Shannon]

I talked to a guy yesterday, he goes, man, I bought my tickets. Didn't even buy Wednesday tickets. I bought Thursday Friday tickets. I don't have a hotel room till Thursday night. I think a lot of fans have already made their plans set. It does not include Wednesday.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it should. It better because if we don't win now with all of that said, if we were to beat Florida and a couple things were to go the other way, Vandy were to beat Tennessee, I think it's Vandy beats Tennessee and Missouri loses to whoever they play. If we beat Florida, we could end up with a double buy.

[Shannon]

That's insane.

[Mario]

Crazy how just the last weekend could change from a 4 seed and a 10 seed. Different narratives around the completely different based on Saturday's outcomes.

[Shannon]

And we play at 4 o'. Clock. Are the other games night games? Maybe like we it's all day.

[Matt Jones]

All day. Could be any.

[Shannon]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

859-280-2287 we will take a break and come back. Final segment here in Middlesbrough. KSR.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I'm Clayton Eckerd and in 2022 I

[Matt Jones]

was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Danielle Robay]

Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. He became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

[Matt Jones]

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

[Danielle Robay]

But what happened to Clayton? After the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one night stand and ended in a courtroom with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

[Matt Jones]

The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract.

[Emily Simpson]

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you.

[Mario]

Please.

[Caller]

Search warrant.

[Clayton Eckerd]

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

[Danielle Robay]

I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of he said, she said and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

[Emily Simpson]

I have done nothing except get pregnant

[Matt Jones]

by the

[Danielle Robay]

Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Emily Simpson]

Ready for a different take on Formula one. Look no further than no Grip. A new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the underexplored pockets of F1, including the astrology of the current Lewis Hamilton.

[Matt Jones]

Capricorn Sun Cancer Moon. Wouldn't you know it? Michael Schumacher is also a Capricorn Sun Cancer moon.

[Emily Simpson]

The story of the sport's most consequential driver strike. We have one man who, upon hearing that he was going to be fired, freaked out and apparently climbed out the window of the bathroom. And was Daniel Ricardo's illustrious F1 career a success story, a cautionary tale, or some combination of both? He started getting all this attention, attention. And he maybe started to think, I'm bigger than this, I'm better. And plenty of other mishaps, scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to no Grip on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. I'm joined by Luke Combs, award winning country music artist and one of the most authentic voices in music today. Luke opens up about success, self doubt, mental health, and what it really takes to stay true to who you are when your life changes overnight.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I hate fame. I hate the word celebrity. I hate those words. They make me uncomfortable. But I think when you get to a certain point, the fame or the success or the influence, it just accentuates and exacerbates the inherent person that you are. The guy that says he's always going to be there and that will do anything to be there is the only guy that's not there. I'm in Australia when Beau is born. My whole identity is that no matter what, I'm going to prioritize my wife and my children over my job. I dread the conversation with my son.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

What do you think you'd say listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

This is Ryder Strong with a podcast

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

called the red weather.

[Matt Jones]

In 1995, my neighbor and a trainer

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

disappeared from a commune. It was nature and trees and praying and drugs.

[Caller]

So no, I am not your guru.

[Matt Jones]

And back then I lied to everybody. They have had this case for 30 years. I'm going back to my hometown to uncover the truth. You can now binge all episodes of the Red weather on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back, Techie Sports Radio, 859-280-2287. Missouri plays Arkansas. So they could lose.

[Shannon]

They could definitely lose.

[Matt Jones]

So if you were to beat Florida and then Missouri loses to Arkansas and Vandy beats Tennessee or excuse me, Tennessee beats Vandy because we, we have the tiebreaker on Tennessee, we would have a chance. It just embarrassing.

[Shannon]

We're sitting here talking about the fact Trying not to play on Wednesday in the SEC tournament.

[Matt Jones]

One person writes, matt, I think it's so sweet that your mom cooked you and your friends food. Tell her I think that's so nice for a mother to do. Isn't that nice?

[Shannon]

Very sweet. And I'm going to tear into it again for lunch.

[Matt Jones]

Tear into it.

[Shannon]

Yes, I am.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, you could just say you're going to eat it.

[Shannon]

I'm going to tear it up, have seconds, thirds.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, I mean, she will like that. She wants you. She gets a mat. Like, if you don't eat enough, she'll. She'll be like, what's wrong with you? I'll go. You know, maybe I just trying to not gain 10 pounds on this trip. But. But for mom. You need you. We need to. What are you. What are you looking at?

[Caller]

Mom?

[Matt Jones]

What is that? I don't want to say. All right, eight by nine. Two, eight. Oh, my mom's being very emotional this morning, which is. Which is very nice. Oh, that's her drink. Okay. Well, the listeners don't know who that is, but. 772-77-45254. Tomorrow we are at Paul Miller Ford.

[Shannon]

Yes. Yeah. Eastern Circle East.

[Matt Jones]

New Circle Road. Yes. So what's the address? It is right there at the corner

[Shannon]

of Winchester Road in New Circle.

[Matt Jones]

181 Beasley Street. And they don't have parking there. They have it right across the street. And they'll shuttle you over cross New Circle. We're going to have sissy cakes there.

[Shannon]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

And then Malachi Moreno and Jasper Johnson. So the key is just. Just pull your kids out of school then.

[Shannon]

Why not?

[Matt Jones]

There's no reason for them to go to school tomorrow.

[Shannon]

It's March Madness.

[Matt Jones]

It's March Madness and getting ready for the Florida game. How are we feeling? Any chance to feel like we could pull off the upset Saturday?

[Mario]

I will say there's a chance because you played them well. I mean, we don't do moral victories, but you were at least competitive. You know, you can hang with them. And then rubbery. And on a Saturday, sometimes things just happen. I mean, the Tennessee denim game a little while ago, Florida last year when it was like 11am I think they can win it. I'm unlikely to bet that or predict it, but I'm not completely ruling it out.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think it's crazy that they could win. I mean, I think they can.

[Shannon]

I mean, it is Walker Horn Senior Day. They don't lose on Walker Horn Senior Day.

[Matt Jones]

You've been waiting to say that. Go ahead and make your joke. You're going to. You do this every year on Senior Day. It's like one of those.

[Shannon]

Well, especially this year since it's Walker Horn Senior Day, there won't be a dry eye in the house.

[Mario]

What about Otega Away?

[Matt Jones]

I mean, that's Otago. That's a nice Senior Day.

[Shannon]

But Walker's a Kentucky kid. It means more with that Kentucky on his chest.

[Mario]

I thought he was from Texas.

[Shannon]

Well, he's originally from. From Kentucky.

[Mario]

Okay.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky women are losing 36, 35 at halftime. So one point game at halftime in the SEC.

[Shannon]

Georgia beat him in there during the regular season. So it's gonna be a battle.

[Matt Jones]

Who's up next, Shannon?

[Shane Simpson]

Richard.

[Matt Jones]

Richard. Go ahead, Richard.

[Caller]

Good morning, Matt. First time, long time, Lexington native, Fort Myers, Florida. Snowbird. Blessings to your father, Larry. It's great news. Thank you. Question is. Yes, question is the smell at the UK office over there, is it public record who signed that updated contract so that the board have to approve it?

[Matt Jones]

It's a great question. So here's the thing. This is complicated. Yes, if it were university money, it's public record and would have to go through the board and et cetera. However, they've now made the athletics into this Champions Blue llc that the university says they will release all the information, but it is not clear legally whether they have to or not. And so far I don't think anyone's challenged it. We'll know in the next year or so. But the short answer to the question is yes, they should, but we'll see if they do and then we'll see honestly if media outlets will will sue to get it. I mean this all could have been handled if they had just had an announcement and told people to answer to these questions.

[Caller]

And just a quick comment on the current team. I was a UK attendee from 74, 78, so I've seen a lot of basketball over my years and it seems like this late in the season we're getting into foul trouble early in the game, which is preventing us from keeping our bigs or the guards out on the floor, which I think is upsetting the apple cart. Do you think we should do anything more to try and stay with five and just sub two occasionally?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean I do, but then the foul things can be an issue. I appreciate the call. I mean, I'll use the example of Aberdeen. He got two fouls early, but then he only had one foul the rest of the game. So especially the guards. I feel like Ryan, if you're a guard, you can play in a way where you will not commit fouls. Now, it's tougher for bigs because guys can sometimes run into them and there's really not a lot they can do. But. But guards especially, I feel like you can say just stop reaching and don't get. And don't barrel to the bat. I mean, we think about one thing that's changed in college basketball is how many fewer charges are called.

[Shannon]

Hardly ever.

[Matt Jones]

Almost never.

[Mario]

Now they don't reward that sliding in like they used.

[Matt Jones]

Thank goodness. That's actually something that's really made the college game better. You rarely, rarely see charges.

[Shannon]

And with the. About the backcourt guards, Aberdeen got two fouls early, took him out. He only got one foul the rest of the game. He knew he knows what he needs. You to stay on the floor.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So I think you. I think you should be able to stay on, especially if you're a guard. Who's next?

[Shane Simpson]

Jake.

[Matt Jones]

Shake. Go ahead, Jake.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, a quick comment for you, then a question, and then I'll just hang up and listen.

[Mario]

So the.

[Caller]

The PR nightmare yesterday, that was the whole Barnhart situation. But I also kind of want to talk about Buzz Baker a little bit. I know I saw a tweet this morning from Oscar Combs saying that. Yeah, yeah, you know, it's just kind of emblematic of. Of that day yesterday. But my question is, you know, with the whole Barnhart, you know, kind of retirement package, is there actual any legal standing for somebody to, like, hire a private investigator or whatnot to actually understand if there's been, like, fraud committed from taxpayers? I mean, what's the actual.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you could. You could. But I don't know that people. I appreciate the call. Really. This is what your state legislature is for, is to find stuff like this out. I mean, that's who ultimately has the oversight over all these entities, the board of trustees and the state legislature. So that's who should.

[Mario]

Should know.

[Matt Jones]

And then I think if you believe what Linda Blackford says, and she says, Eric Monday is a big part of this. He needs to speak. Nobody knows who this person is. Yeah, um, Oscar Combs, by the way, tweeted out to those who have bombarded me with text overnight, yes, you're 100% correct. My buddy Buzz Baker got screwed by JMI. No other way to explain his departure. There's such a mess on UK's campus nowadays, especially in athletics. JMI's name keeps popping up. Not good. Just my opinion. So there you go, Oscar.

[Shannon]

Very well respected from the fan base,

[Mario]

everyone that says it's just us. No, lots of people believe this.

[Matt Jones]

Not a good. Not a good day yesterday in the PR world for the UK folks. Thanks to my parents for hosting. Thank you. Great for Larry to get to see him. We're gonna eat some more food. We'll see you tomorrow at Paul Miller Ford. This has been ksr.

[Emily Simpson]

Hey, everyone. It's Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson from the Legally Brunette podcast.

[Matt Jones]

Each week we're bringing you true crime

[Shane Simpson]

through a legal lens.

[Emily Simpson]

Whether you want all the facts on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie or you still need to wrap your head around the Diddy verdict, we're breaking it all down step by step.

[Shane Simpson]

And we're not just lawyers. We're also husband and wife. It makes for some pretty entertaining episodes.

[Emily Simpson]

Listen to Legally Brunette on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

Talking to your kids about the dangers of vaping can be hard. Getting them to listen to hot gossip is easy. So here's some drama you could share with your kid. Dude, did you hear about Cassie and Jake?

[Caller]

No.

[American Lung Association Ad Speaker]

But did you hear that vaping can cause irreversible lung damage and nicotine affects brain development? Nuh. You don't need to gossip if you want to have an open conversation about vaping. So if you want to get tips on when and how to talk to your kids, visit talkaboutvaping.org, brought to you by the American Lung association and the Ad Council.

[Danielle Robay]

Hi, I'm Danielle Robaix, host of Bookmarked, the podcast by Reese's Book Club. And this week on Bookmarked, we're basically hosting the Ultimate Girls Night. Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Rita Wilson, Angari Rice, and author Laura Dave. These are the women behind season two of the Apple TV series. The last thing he told me. We're talking about turning a book into a hit show and what it really takes to bring a story to life. The most important metric for me is do I want to share this book with somebody? That's what creates community. And that's the main thesis of our book club and why we started. It was just to connect people together. Listen to the bookmarked by Reese's Book Club podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Shane Simpson]

On the Cino show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience, and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trejo. Talk about Addiction transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful competition conversation with the guests like Tiffany Addish, Johnny Knoxville, and more.

[Matt Jones]

I'm an alcoholic and without this trope, I'm gonna die.

[Shane Simpson]

Listen to Sino's show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.