2026-03-25- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR)

Hour 2 – March 25, 2026 | iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790

Host: Matt Jones
Co-hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon, Jason, Kyle Tucker
Primary Theme: The state of Kentucky basketball, recent media criticism, fan expectations, and player/family frustrations

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Overview

Hour 2 of KSR dives into the ongoing debates and emotions swirling around University of Kentucky (UK) basketball: the fallout from recent administrative and coaching moves, perceived media hostility, the passionate (sometimes toxic) fan culture, and the human toll on athletes and their families. The crew also addresses national pundit criticism, local radio dynamics, and UK’s future as a blue blood program. Listener calls further flavor the show, notably from visually impaired fans and those with connections to UK athletes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reactions to the Athletic’s JMI Article & UK Healthcare Analogy

Timestamps: 03:05–06:32

• Matt Jones fields fan questions about his take on the recent Athletic article covering the JMI/UK partnership.

  • He emphasizes wanting results, stating, "The proof is in the pudding, right?...does Kentucky win?" (03:21)
  • Skepticism about Kentucky being first to use an LLC structure but acknowledges business-focused approaches are the reality.

• Quote:

  “Does it provide the resources and the decision making process that leads to wins?...We’ll have to see.” — Matt Jones (04:30)

• Matt critiques UK/JMI's communication and PR missteps, noting recent improvement in self-awareness.

  • “They’ve done a horrible job of PR. ...But I am optimistic that I’ve heard in the last 24-48 hours, that there’s some realization that, yeah, we didn’t do all that correctly.” — Matt Jones (06:14)

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2. Media Perceptions: Michael Wilbon’s Criticism of Kentucky Fans

Timestamps: 08:30–16:51

• The panel riffs on Michael Wilbon's (PTI) longstanding criticism of UK, quoting his recent claim:

  • “How greedy is Kentucky? They’re the greediest.” — Michael Wilbon (10:27)
  • Wilbon sees UK's fan base as entitled, “the worst” among blue bloods in expectations.

• KSR hosts counter the narrative:

  • Assert Kentucky’s “greed” is a hallmark of blue blood tradition and success.
  • Clarify that legendary coaches left on their own (Pitino, Calipari, Tubby Smith); only Billy Gillispie was fired.
  • Emphasize that passionate, demanding fans make UK unique and desirable as a program.

• Quotes:

  • “We are greedy. And in this context, greed is good. ...That’s how you’re a blue blood.” — Matt Jones (12:09)
  • “Part of being at Kentucky is when you win, we will treat you as a king...$10 million. But when you lose...you’re gonna hear it.” — Ryan Lemond (13:46)

• The panel highlights that all large fanbases have “nut jobs,” and social media amplifies extremes.

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3. UK Fan Experience: Criticism, Loyalty & Double Standards in the Media

Timestamps: 16:51–22:12

• KSR pushes back at national media painting Kentucky fans as uniquely toxic, noting:

  • “We have crazies, but we have the best fan base in the country and also probably care for its players and coaches more than any as well.” — Matt Jones (21:53)

• Discussion of how legendary coaches are welcomed back (Pitino, Calipari, Tubby Smith), regardless of past rivalries or controversies.

• Call-in segment includes a blind fan, Cecil, raising concerns about radio color commentary over-talking during plays, which impairs their experience.

  • Matt and the crew sympathize and promise to help communicate this to broadcasters.

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4. Internal Criticism, Player/Family Frustration: The Jasper Johnson Situation

Timestamps: 25:38–41:39

• Derek Johnson’s Facebook post (Jasper Johnson’s uncle/former UK football player) critiqued both the fanbase and media for negativity towards players, specifically Jasper.

  • “Too many people speaking on the game have no real understanding of it...I’m disgusted and appalled by the way some of our fans talk about these kids.”

• KSR’s Response:

  • Drew Franklin empathizes, understanding both the family’s perspective and the need for honest analysis.
  • Matt Jones grapples with balancing criticism and compassion:

    "Kids don't deserve that. Kids deserve no personal criticism...but it's also not realistic in today's social media world." (34:13)

  • KSR clarifies they’ve avoided personal attacks and try to be measured, especially with college athletes.

• Existential Debate:

  • Matt voices weariness about being blamed simultaneously for being too negative and too soft, and about the heavy expectations placed on KSR as a platform.
  • “I don’t know what people want from us...You can’t do this job and not have criticism...but if a random person online says something mean, it’s not Shannon’s fault.” — Matt Jones (40:38)

• The likelihood that Jasper Johnson will transfer is discussed (“betting odds are high he won’t be back”). The hosts wish the best for the Johnson family, recognizing their legacy.

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5. Listener Feedback & The Reality of Sports Media

Timestamps: 44:34–49:07

• Two back-to-back messages: one accuses Matt of turning on Stoops too soon; the next says he stayed with Stoops too long.
• Matt reflects on the “no-win” nature of opinion-based media, his desire for honesty, and the burden of being seen as responsible for UK athletics’ fate.
  • “The wind blows hardest at the top of the flagpole. You’re at the top of the flagpole.” — Drew Franklin (39:04)

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6. Basketball Roster/Coaching Reflections

Timestamps: 46:34–48:24

• Caller Jared questions Mark Pope’s usage of Jasper Johnson and overall point guard strategy.
• KSR hosts discuss confusion over rotational plans and recruitment at the point guard position.
  • “If Aberdeen wasn’t supposed to be the point guard and Jasper wasn’t and Chandler wasn’t, who was?” — Ryan Lemond (47:52)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Greed is not bad. Kentucky fans are the kindest, best people. Do we have nut jobs? Yes, but so does every fan base.” — Matt Jones (12:09)
• “We are greedy. ...That’s how you’re a blue blood.” — Matt Jones (12:09)
• “It’s amazing how...people think I’m Oz. Like, everything that happens, I’m magically like, words. ...We are not near [that powerful].” — Matt Jones (06:51)
• “All the good things about Kentucky—when you care that much and you have that much passion...that’s what makes Kentucky fans so good and the best.” — Jason (13:04)

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Memorable Lighter Moments

• Discussion about the “correct” way to say “biscuits and gravy” (28:22–29:10)
• Ribeye steaks for baseball games and grilling with Noche Linda Farms (19:04–20:34)
• Announcements of live broadcasts from Red’s opening day (22:47–23:46)

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Segment Timestamps

• [03:05] Reaction to JMI/UK news and administrative transparency
• [08:30] Michael Wilbon’s anti-Kentucky narrative; KSR response
• [13:04] Kentucky fanbase passion (and ‘nut jobs’)
• [16:51] Callers discuss fan experience, radio broadcast feedback
• [25:38] Derek Johnson family Facebook post & KSR’s self-reflection
• [41:06] The human side: legacy families, the realities for athletes
• [44:34] Matt’s musings: can’t please everyone, the paradoxes of local sports talk
• [46:34] Coaching decisions: Pope’s PG rotations and recruiting
• [48:24] Cornbread Hemp ad, closing reflections

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Overall Tone

The episode is frank, defensive, and deeply reflective, balancing humor with sincere wrestling over public perception, fan engagement, athlete protection, and the evolving role of local media. The hosts remain supportive of players and emphasize their pride in UK’s program and fans—while conceding that success, scrutiny, and criticism are inseparable in big-time college sports.

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Useful For:

• Understanding the complex emotions around UK basketball’s recent struggles
• Insight into how media and fans interact—constructively and destructively—with athletes and each other
• Hearing direct fan and former player perspectives on what it’s like to live in the “bubble” of Kentucky sports

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Note: All quotes transcribed with original language and intent from episode participants. Timestamps are in MM:SS format based on the provided transcript.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Shannon]

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

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back Tucky Sports Radio, 859-280-2287 this segment sponsored by Court Physical Therapy. If you need physical therapy, how about court kort.com 70 locations around the the state, there's one near you and no reason to be in pain. If you've been working out for the new year, et cetera, that tweak is bothering you. Go to Court Physical Therapy, feel better, help with your back, your legs, your arms, whatever. Court.com that's k o r t.com all right, so some questions coming in here. One person writes, Matt Feels on the Athletic article about jmi. I feel like for the last few weeks you haven't really been giving your opinion on this. Now that you've read it, where do you actually stand on it? I now feel like I understand a little more, at least about their mindset. I honestly don't know because I don't, I don't. The proof is in the pudding, right? So that's why I want to know about UK healthcare. I mean, I know UK healthcare has expanded a lot. I know it's got a lot more real estate, I know it's got a lot more hospitals. I think the analogy from healthcare and sports though is you would say, okay, are patients outcomes better? And I don't know the answer to that question. So if they are, then that may be very successful at sports. The question will be does whatever structure they use, does Kentucky win?

[Ryan Lemond]

Right?

[Matt Jones]

I mean that's going to be, that's going to be ultimately the bottom line. Does it provide the resources and the decision making process that leads to wins? And I think we'll have to see. You know, I think there's some, I like the focus, this idea that we've got to look at it from a business perspective. I Think that's reality. I'm skeptical about the LLC and us being the first school to do it, but some people are bigger risk takers than I am. Right. So, you know, we'll see. I want it to work. We need it to work. I think UK and JMI should have done this conversation a year ago and should have, like, let people know better. But we are where we are now, and we'll have to see. I think there's some quotes in there, though, that Shannon, they better work or they'll stick with them.

[Shannon]

That's right. I'm going to remember that it's Scrooge McDuck.

[Ryan Lemond]

Even though UK didn't say Scrooge McDuck,

[Matt Jones]

I will remember Scrooge McDuck.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Because the next time UK or JMI

[Matt Jones]

says, hey, we need money, I'm going to think of Scrooge McDuck. It's gonna be hard to ask for

[Ryan Lemond]

money when you're Scrooge McDuck.

[Shannon]

That's right. Yeah. Cause all the greed that you're gonna

[Ryan Lemond]

think, but at the same time, like, if we're getting players left and right

[Matt Jones]

and we're winning and they're Scrooge McDuck, then it's a win, win for everybody, Right?

[Drew Franklin]

Yep. That's all that matters.

[Matt Jones]

Most people, that's all that will matter. So I guess it's kind of like a.

[Ryan Lemond]

We'll wait and see.

[Matt Jones]

I hope more universities announced they're doing this, though, Drew, because I kind of get nervous if we're out on a limb by ourself and I'm.

[Jason]

You know, this is. This is a good spin on it. If only Mitch Barnhart had said something along these lines instead of yelling enough when people asked us in September, maybe we could have avoided a. Well, they've done a long, however many months of worrying.

[Matt Jones]

They've done a horrible job of pr. The knucklehead comment. There's just been a huge amount of mistakes. But I am optimistic that I've heard in the last 24 hours, 48 hours, that.

[Ryan Lemond]

That there's some realization that, yeah, we

[Matt Jones]

didn't do all that correctly. And so hopefully that ends up being the case.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, did it take that Brett Setzer letter to kind of somebody, you know, a power player?

[Matt Jones]

I think it took a critical mass of. Let's see, how do I put this? I gotta be careful, you know, Shannon, everything I say now,

[Shannon]

it's recorded. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

It's amazing how, like, if you go on the Internet, people are. They think I'm Oz. Like, everything that happens. I'm magically like, words. I, you know, give you way more

[Shannon]

power than what you really.

[Matt Jones]

It's unbelievable. Like, I. We are not near.

[Kyle Tucker]

We are.

[Matt Jones]

I think we have some power. We are nearly as powerful as people think. But you combine over the last few days, from the. From demarcus's cousins to. To Marcus's comments to. To, you know, the coaches, to one of the families of player, you know, players, family member. It's like you don't even ultimately, my. My responsibilities to the audience. And so I just have to, like, be responsible the audience. And so to the audience, you know, you sit here and say, well, what do you say? Here's what I think's the problem.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think Mitch and Mark Pope were 100% confident that.

[Matt Jones]

That everything they were doing in basketball was going to work. Mark Pope didn't say we had a Ferrari because he thought this was what was going to happen. And I think for the first time, there's been a realization. You know what? It didn't quite work like we thought. And I'm hoping that leads to a readjustment. I think until probably Ryan, the SEC tournament, I think Mark Pope thought we were going to make a run.

[Drew Franklin]

I believe that.

[Matt Jones]

I really do. I think he did. And then I think maybe there was a realization as we were losing to Florida for the third time that maybe we wouldn't. Which is why he didn't do the tournament. You know what I mean? The tournament selection and all that.

[Ryan Lemond]

But.

[Matt Jones]

So I think maybe there's a realization now that they got to do something a little bit different. So we'll see. That's. That's where my view is. Now. Let's talk about Michael Wilbach. I love pti, Ryan. Like your. I haven't watched PTI much in recent years, but I love. I mean, Tony Kornheiser is one of my three, like, heroes in entertainment. Love Tony Cornheiser. I've always. Shannon tolerated Wilbourne. Yeah, okay.

[Shannon]

Could. I had to.

[Ryan Lemond]

They're a package. Love Kornheiser. Tolerate Wilbond.

[Matt Jones]

But Wilbourne hates Kentucky.

[Nate]

Ryan.

[Matt Jones]

He's always hated Kentucky.

[Drew Franklin]

Always been a little anti UK for whatever reason. I don't know why.

[Ryan Lemond]

He blasted us when Tubby Smith left. He blasted us for getting rid of Billy Gillespie. He blasted us for not appreciating California.

[Matt Jones]

And now he's blasting us for not appreciating Pope.

[Ryan Lemond]

On the same show where he acknowledges that Hubert Davis maybe should go, he

[Matt Jones]

blasts us for having any conversations about Pope.

[Ryan Lemond]

And by the way, has anyone Pope's not going anywhere, right?

[Shannon]

No, no, no, no.

[Ryan Lemond]

Unless you're on Facebook, he's not going anywhere. But Will Bond.

[Matt Jones]

And he does this about every two or three years, decides to rant about Kentucky fans, and here's what he says.

[Kyle Tucker]

I think it's hard for Kentucky to fire Mark Pope. He's a grad.

[Mike]

Is it hard for Kentucky to fire anybody?

[Kyle Tucker]

Well, he goes one better than Hubert Davis. He was the captain on a national championship team under Rick Pitino. He made the Sweet 16 last year. He's 46 and 26 in two years.

[Mike]

If either is fired, there will be a line outside the door to hire either or both.

[Kyle Tucker]

Is two years enough for Pope? I don't know.

[Jason]

I don't know.

[Mike]

See, I don't look at it in that context. I look at it as. How greedy is Kentucky? They're the greediest. If you line up all the blue bloods and say, who's the greediest on the. On the totem pole when it comes to college basketball, defense, college basketball, the answer is Kentucky.

[Kyle Tucker]

Here's a get out question. Do you think it helps Mark Pope that Rick Pitino and John Calipari are in the sweet 16?

[Mike]

What do you think they're thinking in Lexington?

[Kyle Tucker]

But I will say this. They got beat by a two seed. Iowa State's a two seed.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so couple things. Always annoys me when people who don't watch college basketball. Drew, Decide they're the experts of college basketball. And that happens in March every year. Right.

[Jason]

Wilbon probably wasn't watching a lot of.

[Matt Jones]

I bet he hadn't watched the Kentucky game all season.

[Ryan Lemond]

Second, he says he acts like we

[Matt Jones]

fired Patino and Caliperi. Did we fire either of those coaches?

[Drew Franklin]

He did not. They both left on their own.

[Ryan Lemond]

Did we fire Tubby Smith?

[Drew Franklin]

Did not. He left on his own.

[Ryan Lemond]

The only person we fired was Billy Gillespie.

[Matt Jones]

And I'll defend that one in court.

[David]

All right.

[Ryan Lemond]

We didn't fire any of these people. So this idea that we just fire people. Rick Patino left on his own.

[David]

Rick.

[Ryan Lemond]

Kentucky fans didn't want Rick Patino to go, did they?

[Matt Jones]

No. Heck, no.

[Ryan Lemond]

Cal left on his own.

[Matt Jones]

Now, a lot of Kentucky fans did want him to go. Maybe the majority. Probably the majority.

[Ryan Lemond]

But he still left on his own. Had he. Had he wanted to Drew, he'd have been back, right? They already did the video.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Jason]

I mean, he was coming back.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you know what? We are greedy.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's why we're Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

We are greedy.

[Ryan Lemond]

And in this context, greed is good. That's how you're a blue blood. You want to be successful in sports, you got to win all the time. Kentucky wants to win all the time. Are our expectations unreasonable? Maybe sometimes. But the moment we're not, you know what we become?

[Matt Jones]

Indiana.

[Ryan Lemond]

You want us to become Indiana? Is Indiana a desirable job? So Kentucky fans are greedy, but greed is not bad. Kentucky fans are the kindest, best people. Do we have nut jobs?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, but so does every fan base. Every fan base has nut jobs.

[Ryan Lemond]

Louisville. I like to make fun of Louisville, but generally speaking, I think their fans are good.

[Matt Jones]

Right?

[Ryan Lemond]

Generally speaking, I think Louisville's fans are good. They had nut jobs. They got people saying crazy stuff. Everybody does. Drew, to act like we're the only people with nut jobs is insane.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Jason]

We live in a world where nut jobs, with social media, I mean, they get a bigger platform than it used to. Just be them yelling at the water cooler, at the office. So it makes it look worse. But on the greedy thing, I get so annoyed when people talk about Kentucky can be the worst. They're allowed to have unreasonable expectations when they do things like have 20,000 people at a press conference for the coach in April or fill entire arenas on the road. I mean, all. All the good things about Kentucky. When you care that much and you have that much passion, when you have a 14 loss season, you're probably going to be a little down because you're so invested in it emotionally, financially, everything. You make it your life. And that's what makes Kentucky fans so good and the best. But then people spin that to make it like we sound like we're just crazy people.

[Ryan Lemond]

Whenever we're disappointed, it comes with it. Like, it comes with it. Part of being at Kentucky is when you win, we will treat you as a king. You will become the most popular and richest person in the state. John Caliperi and Rick Patino were legends here. They were beloved like no one has been beloved. But the counter to that is you're gonna get paid $10 million. Well, then when things don't go well and you lose to Oakland, St. Peter's you're gonna hear it. That's just how it is. That's life. You know what's a good job, Shannon? In some ways?

[Shannon]

What's up?

[Matt Jones]

The president, United States.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know what's a bad job in some ways? The president of the United States. You know why? You could end up on your coins.

[Matt Jones]

You could put yourself on them, Shannon.

[Shannon]

That's true. You could do that.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you're also going to get criticized every Single day. That's just how that job is.

[Shannon]

And half of America is going to hate you, but the other is going to love you.

[Ryan Lemond]

But here, if you win, we'll all love you.

[Shannon]

Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

No one's going to be. And people still love Mark Pope. No one wants. Everyone loves him. We all want him to work. So I just wil bond. And these people who like Drew says they focus only on the difficult part of this. What about what this state does for its coaches and how much this matters to people? Yes. There's going to be negativity on the other side. That's how it goes. Now, David is going to articulate this better than me.

[Matt Jones]

David, what do you have to say to Wilbot?

[David]

Well, first of all, I hate. I hate that group being lectured by a Cubs fan that went after Bartman, even even though he would do it, what any other fan would do. But he was one of the. He was one of the main people that praised Cubs man for harassing Bartman.

[Matt Jones]

He did. A lot of people forget that.

[Ryan Lemond]

A lot of the reason Bartman had to leave Chicago was the stuff Wilbond said.

[David]

Exactly. So who lectures us? He hated us. I remember in 2009, before Bill Gillespie was fired, he said he hoped Kentucky never wins another game. He's supposed to be a journalist. He's supposed to be unbiased. He's supposed. He thinks. He. He worship bailiffs, in my opinion.

[Matt Jones]

Tell him, David.

[Drew Franklin]

Well done, David.

[David]

Where'd they get those clothes? At the toilet store.

[Matt Jones]

That's right, David.

[David]

Exactly.

[Drew Franklin]

You go, David.

[Matt Jones]

David, do me.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay. Go ahead.

[David]

Hold on. I dare you to be on Matt's show. If you are listening to this, I dare you to be on Matt show and defend yourself.

[Matt Jones]

Look at David.

[Drew Franklin]

David's cooking today.

[Matt Jones]

David's cooking. Let me ask you a question, David.

[Ryan Lemond]

Where do you think Wilbog got those opinions?

[David]

The toilet store.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. Thank you, David.

[Drew Franklin]

Well done.

[Matt Jones]

859-280-2287. That dude will always cheer me up. We'll take a break. I'll be right back. It's ksr.

[Nate]

Hey, everybody, it's Nate. All right, two truths and a lie. Here we go. I wear size 13 shoes. I can ride a unicycle, and I have been a Verizon customer for 27 years.

[Drew Franklin]

Anybody?

[Nate]

Anybody?

[Matt Jones]

All three are true.

[Nate]

I know riding unicycle is not hard, but you know, Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your ATT or T mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. Take that AT and T or T Mobile Bill to your local Verizon store today. Get your better deal and start saving for real. Based on root metrics Best Overall Mobile Network Performance US Second Half 2025 all rights reserved. Must provide recent Consumer Mobile Bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Matt Jones]

I like. I like Angry David. It's good stuff.

[Drew Franklin]

Really good stuff.

[Matt Jones]

Got a little doofenshmirtz in him too.

[Shannon]

He does.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe. That's where I got it. All right, so Noche Linda farts. It's grilling season. You can stock up with Noche Linda Farms Beef. The beef we use at KS Bar. You guys, you got a new delivery coming, right?

[Drew Franklin]

We already got it. They brought it in this week and soon we got back from St. Louis, the bags were ready for us and I opened up mine. It was like massive ribeyes. I mean massive.

[Jason]

I can't wait to get to the grilling right now. Picked up the package yesterday and it's ready to be cooked. Probably tomorrow.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I have my package.

[Jay USO]

I don't know how I'm going to

[Matt Jones]

cook it, Shannon, but I'm. But I think I'm going to take it with me tomorrow for the baseball game.

[Jason]

You take a ribeye to the baseball game?

[Shannon]

Just hang out with it. You and your rib.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm taking it to my buddy's house and we're going to. Oh, I wasn't going to just take

[Matt Jones]

a raw package of Noche Linda beef into the game.

[Shannon]

I know you have two seats. I thought maybe that's the other seat. The ribeye was getting it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Thank you. Anyway, Noche Linda Farms beef. I'm looking forward to it. These guys grill with it all summer. Go to noche Lindafarms.com or call 859-707-7004 Noche Linda Farms if you. If you have questions, want to schedule a farm visit, get delivery. Noche Linda Farms Is Kentucky proud? One person writes, Matt Wil Bond has always hated us, but maybe we are a little greedy. We should just accept it. Yes, we are. But that's good in this context. We treat our.

[Drew Franklin]

Every school in the country wishes they had a greedy fan base like Kentucky. Every coach wishes they had a greedy fan base like Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

And in the end, we're still there for all these guys.

[Ryan Lemond]

Rick Patino left us, went to our rival, coached our rival for a decade, took them to a title gotten scandals,

[Matt Jones]

flipped us off and has, guess what, been welcomed back.

[Ryan Lemond]

Because as fans, we want to love these people. The same thing will happen to John

[Matt Jones]

Cal Peri one day. The same thing will happen here. One day he'll get brought back.

[Ryan Lemond]

And let me give you a little secret. When John Cal Perry's career is over, what's he going to remember most fondly? Arkansas or Kentucky?

[Drew Franklin]

Probably his years at Kentucky.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's going to be his years at Kentucky. All these guys Patino's coached everywhere. He says Kentucky's the best. He'll say it at St. John's Drew.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, he does probably say it.

[Ryan Lemond]

This weekend he'll make the national championship and say, I wish it was at Kentucky.

[Drew Franklin]

He calls it Camelot for a reason.

[Ryan Lemond]

Like that's what will happen. We brought Tubby back.

[Matt Jones]

I just. I just don't. I. I'll take arrows from the fan base to me sometimes. But I'm not letting the national media crush our fan base. They don't deserve it. Yes, we have crazies, but we have the best fan base in the country

[Ryan Lemond]

and also probably cares for its players

[Matt Jones]

and coaches more than any as well.

[Drew Franklin]

What's that? You said, as you said it several times about when Seth Greenberg would say something. You know, don't tell us. Try to have a fan.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, don't tell. I mean, and Michael Wilbourne's not even a fan. At least Seth Greenberg's in the sport. Wilbond doesn't even know. I mean, he doesn't even know what he's talking about.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan, go ahead. Ryan.

[Caller]

Hello?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, hello.

[David]

Good morning, guys.

[Caller]

Sometimes listeners. Second time caller.

[Matt Jones]

All right, what's up? I just want to know if you

[Caller]

guys were going to be doing a show at Comic Con this weekend. It starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday.

[Matt Jones]

We are not, but I hope you enjoy it. I didn't realize that was this weekend. I hope it's fun.

[Caller]

It should be.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, good. We'll enjoy Comic Con. I appreciate the call. We will, however, tomorrow, and these guys are just learning this. Shannon. We will be doing the show tomorrow from Red's opening day.

[Shannon]

You guys have fun.

[Matt Jones]

We will be at Holy Grail tomorrow, Ryan.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Doing the show. You won't be able to hear it, but we will be there for the atmosphere tomorrow for opening day. And as a surprise, Ryan, if you

[Ryan Lemond]

would like to go, I will take

[Matt Jones]

you to opening day.

[Drew Franklin]

Really?

[Matt Jones]

Would you like to go?

[Drew Franklin]

I would love to go, actually.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so now you're going to opening day. Nice.

[Drew Franklin]

Very nice. Well, thanks, Dad. I appreciate that.

[Matt Jones]

So there you go.

[Shannon]

He's not calling dad.

[Matt Jones]

Just weird. It is weird because he's a lot older.

[Shannon]

Call him Daddy.

[Matt Jones]

Come on, dude.

[Jason]

Don't forget your ribeye, Ryan.

[Drew Franklin]

I'll take us both a ribeye. We'll grill them on the seats out there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. They play the Red Sox tomorrow and opening day.

[Ryan Lemond]

So we will be. If you're at the opening day tomorrow,

[Matt Jones]

from 10 to 12, we'll be sitting outside on the patio at Holy Grail.

[Drew Franklin]

It's like a holiday in Cincinnati. Opening day. It's just a day long celebration.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And hopefully we'll get service. I'll let. I'll let Ryan worry about that, Drew.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, thanks.

[Jason]

Oh, he's got it.

[Matt Jones]

No problem. Cecil. Go ahead, Cecil.

[VGW Group Announcer]

Hey, good morning, fellows. I'm going to shift gears here. I got. I'm totally blind and I got a friend, a lot of friends, that's blind and in the visually impaired world. And our only way to listen to ball games is on the radio.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[VGW Group Announcer]

And Givens is knowledgeable, very knowledgeable, but he interrupts Tom all the time. When the Ball's in play. And that is just totally obnoxious. How can we communicate this to him or his bosses? Because all the time he goes, the ball is long, long, long, short, short, short. And sometimes he sounds like a Batman episode.

[Matt Jones]

But he does get excited. I kind of like when he gets excited. But are you saying. Because I just want to make sure I understand what you're saying. You're saying you're. Since you're visually impaired, like, when he does it, it's hard for you to follow what's happening during the game.

[David]

Yes.

[VGW Group Announcer]

Let Tom call the ball while the ball is in play. When the ball's not in play, you provide the color.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[VGW Group Announcer]

Okay, that makes sense.

[Matt Jones]

I know.

[Ryan Lemond]

I understand what you're saying.

[Matt Jones]

I had never really thought of it like that. I'm sure I can tell you, knowing Jack, I'm sure he doesn't do that on purpose. No, no, no, no.

[VGW Group Announcer]

I didn't say that. But I'm just saying, putting the balls in play. Let Tom do his job.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[VGW Group Announcer]

Tom did a game with a guy named Jordan Cornett this weekend, and it was a breath of fresh air to hear a color commentator, not interrupt him every single time.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[VGW Group Announcer]

And I love. I love Gibbons.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I appreciate.

[VGW Group Announcer]

Communicate that.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I'm sure he will. My guess is. And I appreciate the call that. That it'll get communicated, you know, through this show, that somebody will have heard it. Steve. Go ahead, Steve.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Got a couple comments and then get your all's opinions. You know, we've been hearing for two years about how smart Hope is, but is he basketball savvy smart? He may be book smart, but I don't think as far as the basketball savvy, maybe he's not quite there yet.

[Matt Jones]

So you're saying you think like. So you're saying he's book smart, but not Bass?

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, you don't feel like he's a. I mean, I do feel like

[Matt Jones]

he understands X and O's concept. You don't. You don't feel that's the case?

[Caller]

I don't think so, because it didn't transpire this year on the court. And I guess the other thing. Who do we got on the staff that can mentor point guards?

[Matt Jones]

And I don't know. Drew, do you know who works, like, with individual positions or on the staff? I don't.

[Jason]

I mean, Jason Hart was probably a big one.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that's true. He probably was playing the NBA.

[Caller]

There's one guy. There's one guy out there, and if we've got These supposedly unlimited funds. There's a guy in Arkansas. We need to go make him say no, and that's Tyler Eulis.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I appreciate the call. I mean, I think.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think that would be tough because

[Matt Jones]

of his relationship with Cal. You know, all these guys, there's a personal part of this. They have their university and their. I mean, we saw that with. With a bunch of players in the last week or two, but, you know, I do think that I can see. I think it would be nice to have one of those kind of guys. But Mark is also a former player, too, so you do have that. But, yeah. Tyler Ulis, I think he'll be a good point guard, coach and mentor now. And at some point, obviously working with Darius Acuff. Now, that's going pretty good. We'll take a break.

[Drew Franklin]

Very.

[Matt Jones]

Backs, ksr. TJ Smith, personal injury attorney.

[Verizon Announcer]

Call tj.

[Ryan Seacrest]

He'll make him pay.

[Shannon]

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

[Matt Jones]

Summer Valley. Shannon. Yeah.

[Shannon]

I don't think you're gonna have a spring of Ellie.

[Matt Jones]

My, my, my excitement about the Reds a little muted because Hunter Green and Nick lodolo are starting the season on the disabled list.

[Drew Franklin]

More blisters. They have more problems.

[Matt Jones]

What is with these, These blisters? Ladolo and his blisters. I don't get it.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't either.

[Matt Jones]

We talked about that.

[Mike]

Why.

[Matt Jones]

Why they get so many blisters?

[Ryan Lemond]

I remember.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't remember pictures back in my day getting blisters.

[Matt Jones]

Tell them about it, old man.

[Jay USO]

You try.

[Shannon]

They were tougher back then, weren't they, Ryan?

[Matt Jones]

That's right.

[Drew Franklin]

Use pickle juice.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, so I'm a little. But I do think our lineup will be better. Matt McClain's had a good summer, but I'm excited. I'll be in it until at least May.

[Shannon]

Yeah, that's about right.

[Matt Jones]

Give them 30 days or next week.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

If they lose to the Red Sox and three straight, one person writes, matt, does it bother anyone but me that Ryan says in his ad, gravy and biscuits and not biscuits and gravy?

[Shannon]

Never even noticed it.

[Drew Franklin]

I haven't noticed it either.

[Shannon]

You didn't notice it.

[Ryan Lemond]

You said it.

[Jay USO]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Is that how you normally say it?

[Drew Franklin]

I think I say biscuits and gravy.

[Matt Jones]

They say in your Wild Eggs ad, you say gravy and biscuits.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, maybe that's how they wanted it written that day.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. But it is biscuits and gravy. Right.

[Drew Franklin]

That's how I've always said it. Biscuits and Gravy.

[Ryan Lemond]

I don't think I've ever heard.

[Matt Jones]

If you said gravy and biscuits, that's psychopathic behavior. Because I don't think anyone says that.

[Drew Franklin]

Maybe we're starting a new trend. Maybe it'll catch on.

[Shannon]

Can you say like, carrots and peas or do you have to say peas and carrots?

[Matt Jones]

Can you say jelly and peanut butter?

[Jason]

That all sounds weird.

[Drew Franklin]

Little awkward.

[Matt Jones]

It sounds awkward.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I don't think you can say gravy and biscuits. I think it's biscuits and gravy. Peas and carrots, peanut butter, jelly ham. You can say eggs and ham. I love green. I love ham and green eggs.

[Shannon]

Does it work the same with the rhyme, though.

[Matt Jones]

But it doesn't. Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, so it is wildcat eggs. Wild Eggs Wednesday.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Wild Eggs Wednesday. Do you have a word?

[Drew Franklin]

We do. And Mario is ready to post it on the KSR Twitter account.

[Matt Jones]

So it's on the ksr, the show Twitter account. If you answer it in the first 10 minutes, Mario will make will give somebody randomly $50 from Wildix.

[Shannon]

Did he do spell check?

[Matt Jones]

Did you spell this word correctly?

[Drew Franklin]

I did. I sent it correctly to him.

[Shannon]

You sure? Okay.

[Matt Jones]

All right, we'll see. Ghost. It's going up on KSR tour. You got 10 minutes to answer it there in the. In the comments. All right, so we need to talk about Drew. Derek Johnson.

[Ryan Lemond]

So Derek is Jasper's uncle. Is that right, Ryan?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Dennis and Derek are brothers.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. Derek. Derek played it at uk and Derek is Jasper's uncle. And he posted this on Facebook. Was this Facebook last night? Is that right? Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

I believe so.

[Ryan Lemond]

As a former Kentucky football player at UK, someone who turned down every Power

[Matt Jones]

5 school in the country, just like my brother, to help build this university, I'm disgusted and appalled by the way some of our fans talk about these kids. Whether it's fake media sites or official ones, it doesn't matter. Cowardly behavior is still part of the fan base. I'm glad Big Cuz said what he said because too many people speaking on the game have no real understanding of it. They pick and choose who to target and create narratives depending on who they want to scapegoat. I get it. It drives clicks. But it should never come at the expense of kids. Let me be clear. It's not everyone. I'm grateful for those who truly support. But I used to wonder why older people in my community didn't rock with uk. Now I understand why. And honestly, it's why no kid in their right mind would enjoy Being here if they don't fit in. I'm thankful for those who support my family. But these last four months, what I thought would be an exciting time, watching my nephew chase his dreams have turned into one of the most disappointing experiences I've ever seen. I've never witnessed people be so nasty. Whether it's on real sites or in comments or not, there are real people making behind those comments. He Play. Playing in 30 second intervals and never really given a chance.

[Ryan Lemond]

Not my decision, but hopefully you'll get your wish.

[Matt Jones]

And then he has a skull and crossbones at the end of it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Ryan, you, you.

[Matt Jones]

You are close with the family or friends with the family. What are, what are your thoughts?

[Drew Franklin]

It's. It's tough for me because like you're right. I've known these guys for 30 years and I've known Jasper since he was a little guy and I want him to succeed. But I think they would all admit the season didn't go the way they thought it would on the court, off the court, Jasper would probably admit that himself. But if, if they're saying that about my kid, I'm. I'm upset too. I mean, I can see where he's coming from because you.

[Matt Jones]

Different parts of it. There's the part aimed at fans and then I would assume Ryan, the big cuz thing, I mean, Cousins was talking about me. I mean, is that how you read it?

[Drew Franklin]

I didn't think about that, but that may be why he was implying.

[Matt Jones]

I think that's probably. I think that part. I think part of it's clearly about fans in general. There's also a shot at Mark Pope at the end saying he only gets to play in 30 second intervals. Drew, what do you think?

[Jason]

I'm not going to hide from being critical of Jasper Johnson. I don't think any of us on this show have been nasty whatsoever. We all know him personally and really like him. Heck, he was just on the show at Paul Miller and I thought that three weeks ago.

[Matt Jones]

I thought he was great. Yeah, great.

[Jason]

And you know, I would probably even side with the Johnson's on how Jasper was used early on and not being a fit, not being a good year. So it's any part that he thinks we're at fault, I won't run from it. I've been critical. But also, I mean, he hasn't played well this year. I don't know what you want me to say. I wanted him to play better. If I could write the script of this season, Jasper would have had 15 points per game. But then at the end, it threw me off. It seemed as. And he's. It wasn't his first Facebook post this year, by the way. It seems he's upset with Pope too. And that would be if I were an issue, is my bigger issue would be that, you know, he said 30 seconds a game. I would be more upset with how Jasper was recruited than not used. But, you know, it is what I mean, we can pull up his stats. I'm not, not trying to be nasty whatsoever, but I think it's completely fair when he had the couple minutes he did at Iowa State to say, you know, that didn't help the game there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So this, I mean, this is hard. Like, I don't know. I don't know Derek, but I like him a lot. I'm sure he's a great guy. Like, I don't know him. You know, there are three parts of this part about the fans. He's right that there are fans that overreact. Again, I'll say what I said about Wilbond, there's going to be fan. Find me a fan base in the country that doesn't have mean people in the fan base. Like, and I hate that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Kids don't deserve that. Kids deserve no personal criticism,

[Matt Jones]

but it's also not realistic in today's social media world.

[Ryan Lemond]

And they're also being paid now.

[Matt Jones]

And that changes things, the narrative.

[Ryan Lemond]

It just does. And if Jasper hits his dreams and goes to the NBA, he's going to get. Does he not think he's going to get criticized there, Shannon? He is, you know, now at the same time, if it's my nephew, I'm going to be upset too. And I think Derek has a right to say all of that if he wants. I. I don't know that it's helpful when people do that, but he can do it, man. If it was my nephew, I'd probably do the same thing. He's also criticizing Pope for playing. Maybe Jasper should have played more earlier in the year, but I mean, guys, should he have played more late in the year? Do you believe that?

[Drew Franklin]

No Aberdeen playing so well.

[Mike]

No.

[Jason]

I mean, we all wanted Aberdeen to play till his legs fell off. I mean, that's nothing against Jasper.

[Ryan Lemond]

Nothing against him. But, like, it is what it is. Now, the part about, you know, assuming

[Matt Jones]

he's referencing me because of the cousins line, you know, I'm a little bit at a loss right now in the last 48 hours because I feel like some of this is. I'm really at a loss as to what People want, like, for me, I don't, I don't really know how to do this job if, like, if nothing works that people say.

[Ryan Lemond]

I have never been personally critical to any player. I don't think since I've done this, I think I've probably been more pro player than almost anyone because I always

[Matt Jones]

see them as like college kids. I like Jasper.

[Ryan Lemond]

I've never, I have not said one bad thing about Jasper's part. I've said he has not played well. But what are you supposed to say? I mean, if he comes in and he. And he's minus nine in two minutes, what are you supposed to do? Just ignore it? Like, what are you supposed to do? I don't know. I don't really know what people want. Like, the cousins thing really, like, it probably shouldn't have, but it's because it

[Matt Jones]

was him and because I like him,

[Ryan Lemond]

it really like bothered me. And I talked to one of his

[Matt Jones]

friends last night and we talked about it and hopefully that'll. That'll get better.

[Ryan Lemond]

But I, you know, this show. I don't think people understand what sports radio is. I think one of the cool things

[Matt Jones]

about KSR is because it has become

[Ryan Lemond]

so universal, it is listened to so

[Matt Jones]

much more than other sports shows. We get held to a standard that

[Ryan Lemond]

like, I don't think anybody else gets held to. Does anyone, Shannon, turn on the other sports shows in this town?

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, they're not listening. But if you did listen, they're all more negative than we are.

[Jason]

I was driving yesterday with Abby. We were going to lunch. We listen to show and they were, they were going off pretty good on Kentucky basketball and I was like, I haven't said anything half this.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, I like Alan Cutler, but he's more negative than me.

[Shannon]

Yeah, he's getting no filter.

[Ryan Lemond]

The guys in the Louisville market that do Kentucky are much more negative than me. They mock me for not being negative enough. I'm not even the most negative person on this show. I love him. But Ryan has been in football and Drew was in basketball this year.

[Jason]

Yesterday people were mad at me because Frank didn't make an appearance. It's like, I'm not just going to start yelling at the wall when I'm not mad.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm really at a loss for what? Some portions.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, we still have a loyal.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, like, most of you all

[Matt Jones]

have been wonderful even in the comment, but in like comments.

[Ryan Lemond]

But I don't know what exactly people want us to do, you know, Matt,

[Matt Jones]

you ran off Cal.

[Ryan Lemond]

Matt, you didn't run off Stoops fast enough. Matt loved Mitch.

[Matt Jones]

Matt hated Mitch.

[Ryan Lemond]

Matt is running Pope off. Matt should call for Pope's job. Shannon, I'm not Oz.

[Shannon]

Yeah, we don't get to make those calls.

[Ryan Lemond]

I can only give my opinion. And you know what I agree with?

[Matt Jones]

I agree with DeMarcus and I agree with Derek. Like, I don't.

[Ryan Lemond]

I don't know any more than anybody else.

[Matt Jones]

I'm just part of a show that

[Ryan Lemond]

hopefully is entertaining, but I am at

[Matt Jones]

a loss when it comes to this is now a former UK football player. And then with DeMarcus. Like, I don't know what people want. Those people.

[Ryan Lemond]

I know what the fans want, but I don't really know.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan, you've done this longer than I have.

[Ryan Lemond]

And then there's the part of it that, like. And I love you all, but, like,

[Matt Jones]

Ryan can say something, and then it's me that gets yelled at.

[Shannon]

You're guilty by association. You know that.

[Drew Franklin]

A wise old philosopher said, the wind blows hardest at the top of the flagpole. You're at the top of the flagpole.

[Matt Jones]

I get it.

[Ryan Lemond]

But unlike these other people, I can't control the games.

[Jason]

If we didn't exist, Kentucky still would have lost 14 games, but I think

[Matt Jones]

people would still have this, the case.

[Jason]

That's crazy.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is crazy, but, like, Matt's fault or KSR's fault. And I know, and to some extent,

[Matt Jones]

I guess it sounds like I'm, like,

[Ryan Lemond]

you know, whining, and maybe I am because of this.

[Matt Jones]

These last few days have bummed me out. Like, I. I really enjoy interacting with fans, but I'm just gonna have to stop outside of the text machine because I.

[Ryan Lemond]

The amount of people. I had a teacher of mine from school who I saw say something about Matt Jones. I wrote them, and they were like, oh, I didn't know that was you.

[Drew Franklin]

Matt Jones is really an uncommon name.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, I went by Matthew when I was in school, so.

[Ryan Lemond]

But I'm just saying, like, you know,

[Matt Jones]

so listen to Derek. You know, I certainly don't think anyone on this show has been at all personal to Jasper. I think Jasper's. I wish him nothing but success. At the same time, though, when he's playing, you can't do this job and not have criticism. And if a random person on the Internet says something mean to a player, that's awful. But it's not Shannon's fault.

[Shannon]

You blame me if you want, though. I don't care.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, it's hard to ignore it when it's your family or somebody you're close to, you know.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you went through it with Dane.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, right.

[Drew Franklin]

And I just started just ignoring and blocking people. It's tough.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you also didn't blame Alan Cutler for it.

[Drew Franklin]

I blame Cutler for everything.

[Matt Jones]

No, I don't.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm just kidding.

[Matt Jones]

So anyway, you know, it is. It is what it is. When I saw that, I was like that stinks.

[Drew Franklin]

It does. It's tough. Like I said, it's kind of tough to talk about.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I don't know. But you know, for the Johnson family, there's been very few people that are more legendary athletic families in Kentucky than that one. Yep. And you know, I'll leave us aside.

[Jason]

I just hate that the Johnsons of all people have had a negative experience. Not even fan, just Jasper not having the year he wanted. If any family deserved to have another can have a good run.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with you. They. They were the one.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

So wish you could have a redo you that.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's probably the best way to say it.

[Matt Jones]

It probably would be better if everybody could have a redo. It doesn't look like though after those comments that he will be back. Was that fair to say?

[Drew Franklin]

I'd say the. The betting odds are high that he won't be back. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Clark's Puppet Shop. If you would like to get gas, Clark's reward apps, food, coffee, whatever. Clark's pumping Shop. They got snacks, they got drinks, they got ice, they got cold weather essentials. It's Clark's pump and Shop.

[Ryan Lemond]

Bluegrass Clark's pump and Shop.

[Matt Jones]

Return, refresh, refuel. Locally driven gives back to UK athletics. Go to Clark's puppet Shop. We'll take a break. Be right back. Ksr.

[Nate]

Hey everybody, it's Nate. All right, two truths and a lie. Here we go. I wear size 13 shoes, I can ride a unicycle and I have been a Verizon customer for 27 years. Anybody?

[Ryan Lemond]

Anybody?

[Matt Jones]

All three are true.

[Nate]

I know riding unicycle is not hard, but you know, Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your ATT or T mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right. A better deal. On the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. Take that AT and T or T mobile bill to your local Verizon store today. Get your better deal and start saving for real. Based on root metrics Best overall Mobile Network Performance US Second Half 2025 all rights reserved must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person and redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

[David]

What's up fools?

[Jay USO]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Matt Jones]

Welcome back Tech Sports Radio 859-280-2287 back to back Tweet Back to back message on the text machine Shannon this is a true story. Yeah one you are. I love you but you are too negative. You turned your back on Stoops way too soon. Next one I don't think you're too negative. All you stayed with Stoops way too long. There you go.

[Shannon]

Damn if you do, damned if you,

[Matt Jones]

damned if you do, damned if you don't. Yeah, one person says Matt, you should just say what you think and then the reaction is what it is and tell everybody to deal with it. Yeah, that's easy for people to say, but like Unfortunately, I'm not like that. Like, again, I don't think a lot of people listen to a lot of sports talk radio, Shannon, to hear what other people are like. A lot of sports talk radio is like, this is my opinion. Middle fingers up to everybody that disagrees. Like, I just can't do that.

[Shannon]

Well, listening to Mike Francesa was the most I've listened to any other sports talk show.

[Matt Jones]

I just can't do that. Like, I'll admit, like, I'm probably much more vulnerable than a lot of people in these, in these jobs. Like, I don't want. I don't want to fight with people. I really don't, especially with UK people, because, like, I want them to win. But on the same time, when you see Mitch Barnhart get $2 million with no explanation, you have a choice. Do you say something about it and then maybe it gets corrected, or do

[Ryan Lemond]

you say nothing and then people go,

[Matt Jones]

you're just a mouthpiece for the university.

[Ryan Lemond]

Either way, you become the boogeyman.

[Matt Jones]

And, you know, I'll admit, Ryan, it sucks. And the good thing for people is we'll do the show tomorrow and then I'm gone for six days and no one will have to hear my opinion for a little bit. So that'll be good.

[Drew Franklin]

Things are so much better when you just win, you know, when you're rolling, you know, people overlook a lot of things, but when things are going bad and you lose.

[Matt Jones]

Friday's post game show was fun. The. No, I mean, when we were in St. Louis at that bar after Otago Fun.

[Drew Franklin]

It was awesome.

[Matt Jones]

That was a lot of fun. Yeah, that was a lot of fun. Let's go to Jared. Go ahead, Jared.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. So I was listening to, you know, Pope's call in show again last night, and something that stood out to me regarding Jasper Johnson is Pope was talking about how guys had to play out of position a lot. And he said that he used Jasper as his example and he said, you know, Jasper was having to run point a lot. He's not really a point guard and he couldn't play off ball and cut and slash and shoot. But I don't understand why he couldn't. Like, we never saw him play with Aberdeen. Why did he always have to back up Aberdeen as a point guard? Why couldn't he have played alongside Aberdeen?

[Ryan Lemond]

Maybe I heard Pope say that too. I guess what I don't understand is in Pope's mind, who was the backup point guard? Because he said over and over, Aberdeen

[Matt Jones]

wasn't supposed to be the point guard. And Neither was Jasper.

[Ryan Lemond]

So he couldn't have thought Jalen Lowe

[Matt Jones]

was going to play 40 minutes a game.

[Drew Franklin]

They tried earlier that Colin Chandler was supposed to be the backup point guard and that that didn't work. They found out pretty quickly.

[Jason]

So when he says we learned that in November.

[Ryan Lemond]

So when he says people had to play out of position, I guess part of my question is, well, what was

[Matt Jones]

the mindset of what it was going to be?

[Ryan Lemond]

Because I don't know if Aberdeen wasn't

[Matt Jones]

supposed to be the point guard and Jasper wasn't and Chandler wasn't, who was?

[Ryan Lemond]

And he can't just say Travis Perry and a Kaden Lewis because they left in like May. You had a whole summer to get somebody. You went and got yellow bitch.

[Matt Jones]

Right?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I remember we had this conversation like in October, November. And I think the plan was after low it was going to be by committee with Chandler, Aberdeen, Jasper and away. They thought just by committee they could get one of those guys to just fill in a couple minutes if needed.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, it's fair.

[Matt Jones]

But then it can't be the case. I appreciate the call that no one was out. Everyone was out of position. Someone had to be there. Did I do Cornbread Hemp, Shannon?

[Shannon]

Nope.

[Matt Jones]

Cornbread Hemp.com if you want to be able to rest, relax, get sleep. Cornbread Hemp had a stressful day. Cornbread Hemp full spectrum flour only, hemp CBD gummies, topical oils. It's all there@cornbread hemp.com go through March. Grab them. They're in your stores, but order them online. Use my code KSR. It's cornbread hemp dot com. I didn't mean for like the last 30 minutes to be that, but I do hope with Derek and all those guys, like we do the best we can and all I can do is ultimately give my opinion and the way people react to it is kind of is what it is. We will be at Red's opening day tomorrow, assuming we can get connected. We'll see you later. This has been Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Games With Names. I want to take a second to talk about something that's personal to me. I've had the privilege of working closely with Robert Kraft for a long time, and one thing I've always respected is how seriously he takes up standing up to hate. As a Jewish athlete, my identity is something I am proud of, but I also know what it feels like to be singled out for it. That's why this new commercial for the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate that aired during the big game really hit home. It's about showing up for someone when they're targeted, even if you don't have the perfect words. And sometimes standing next to someone is enough and you can show support by sharing the blue square.