Episode 43 - Myron Medcalf

Summary

Podcast Summary: Interrupted by Matt Jones

Episode 43 – Myron Medcalf (July 30, 2026)
Host: Matt Jones (Kentucky Sports Radio)
Guest: Myron Medcalf (ESPN Radio, longtime co-host and sports journalist)

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Episode Overview

In this milestone episode, Matt Jones celebrates the upcoming launch of a daily national ESPN Radio show with his longtime weekend co-host, Myron Medcalf. The conversation covers their professional journey, partnership dynamics, industry changes, advice for aspiring broadcasters, perspectives on the evolving college sports landscape—especially Kentucky basketball—and colorful anecdotes from their years covering college towns.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National ESPN Radio Show Kickoff

• Announcement: Matt and Myron will be hosting a new daily ESPN Radio show—transitioning from weekends to weekdays after eight years together (00:31).
• Journey: Both reflect on the lengthy, uncertain process leading to this opportunity, emphasizing perseverance and the unpredictability of media careers (03:22).
• Quote – Myron (02:27):
  “Man, it’s surreal. A little bit to me… I’m proud of us, you know, like, we—no one just handed it to us.”
• Matt on Expectations (03:22):
  “You and I both probably thought, well, this isn’t going to happen after a while… And then when you get the call…”

2. Chemistry & On-Air Dynamic

• Roles & Comfort: Myron discusses being content as a “number two” and why that mindset contributes to longevity in media (04:42).
  • Notable Quote – Myron (07:57):
    “I’m better bouncing off and playing off somebody than I am leading the dance. And I knew that about myself early on…”
  • Praise for Matt (08:52):
    “You are the best leader I think we have in radio… anyone who’s done a show with you knows, like, Matt’s going to be Matt’s master host.”
• Egos in Media: Both recount ego issues among media personalities and why their rapport stands out (11:01).
• Diverse Audience: They joke about their unique following—country white and Black listeners, “moms and business people and random Canadians” (11:43).

3. Candidness, Virality, and Modern Media

• Unfiltered Approach: Matt and Myron pride themselves on authenticity, free-flowing discussions, and not manufacturing “hot takes” for attention (13:50).
  • Quote – Myron:
    “If we say something that goes viral, it’s not going to be this, like, thing where we feel the pressure to go viral…”

4. Evolution of Sports Radio at ESPN

• Three-Phase Shift: Matt outlines ESPN Radio’s evolution:
  1. News and information focus
  2. Debate-driven (influenced by Stephen A. Smith)
  3. Personality- and entertainment-driven (current era, typified by Pat McAfee, Kornheiser & Wilbon, and themselves) (14:33).
• Myron’s View (16:15):
  • Early days were “48 news stories” per show.
  • Now, it’s about “inviting people to the table” for authentic, engaging conversation.

5. Advice for Aspiring Broadcasters

• Two Success Models:
  • Myron: Likability, reliability, versatility, and being authentic (19:02).
    • “The best ability is likability… If people like working with you, that’s a good spot.”
  • Matt: Uniqueness, adaptability, and doing what others can’t replace (21:00).
    • “Make it to where they can’t replace you because nobody else can do what you do.”
• Changing Landscape: Both agree that paths to success have changed; being early to emerging platforms (Twitter, podcasts, YouTube) was key in Matt’s career (20:58).
  • Notable Quote – Matt:
    “Now it’s probably too hard to start a podcast… but there’ll be something else in a couple years that no one’s doing, and you’ve got to… be the best at that.”

6. Kentucky Basketball & College Sports

• State of UK Basketball: Discussion about Mark Pope's future as Kentucky coach and the heightened importance of the next season (24:27, 25:13).
  • Myron (25:49):
    “It feels like one of the most important years I’ve covered for Kentucky basketball.”
• Era of Change: NIL, transfer portal, and the risks traditional powerhouses face in losing relevance (26:05).
• Possible Coaching Carousel: Speculation on blue-blood programs (Kansas, Duke, Kentucky) potentially all being open in the near future (28:24).
• Program Management: Myron criticizes Kentucky’s lack of a GM, calling it “arrogant”—“If everybody else is doing it… why aren’t you doing it?” (29:46).
• NIL Spending: Examines program approaches to NIL, including Penn State’s announcement they’ll cap spending and the trend toward massive budgets nation-wide—even among mid-majors (31:32).

7. NCAA Tournament Expansion & Its Consequences

• More Power Conference Teams: Both agree the expanded field is for power schools, making Cinderella stories even rarer (33:04).
  • Myron:
    “I’ll say this: We’ll never see a George Mason again. We’ll never see a St. Peter’s again.” (34:28)
• Debate: Matt argues that upsets can still happen, albeit less often, and may be even more special when they do (35:15).

8. Travel Anecdotes & College Towns

• Most Underrated College Town:
  Myron: Provo, Utah (37:35)
  • “Fans are intense… it’s a really strong, connected fan base.”
  • Both share humorous observations about BYU’s campus culture, Provo’s hospitality, and the experience as an outsider (38:39).
    • “Let me tell you something. I was Obama up there… This woman made me a batch of cookies.” (39:13)
• Least Favorite College Town:
  Myron: College Station, Texas (40:03)
  • “I didn’t realize that College Station was, like, in the middle of nowhere… you drive down there and you’re like, this is different.”
  • Matt comments on the peculiarity of a huge university with little urban infrastructure.

9. Fashion for the New Show

• Playful banter on whether Myron will “dress up” for TV segments of their new show (41:24).
  • Myron: “It’d be nice to get a sponsor… but I’m not gonna feel like I gotta wear what you do on television.”
  • Matt jokes Myron will bring out stylish outfits for ESPN2 (42:03).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Partnership
  “I can let you or anyone be number one, if that’s what you want to call it, because I’m very comfortable in that supportive role.”
  – Myron Metcalf (07:57)
• On Longevity in Media
  “You’re unique in kind of how you take over a show… Matt’s master host.”
  – Myron (08:52)
• On College Towns
  “Let me tell you something. I was Obama up there… This woman made me a batch of cookies.”
  – Myron (39:02)
• On Opinion Diversity
  “Our audience… most of our audience are either country white people or Black people, which is kind of weird, like, don’t you think?”
  – Matt (11:24)
• On Viral Moments
  “If we say something that goes viral, it’s not going to be this, like, thing where we feel the pressure to go viral.”
  – Myron (13:50)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:31 – Introduction, upcoming ESPN show
• 02:27 – Myron reflects on journey to national show
• 04:42 – Discussion of host/co-host dynamics and career longevity
• 11:43 – Audience diversity and relatability
• 14:33 – ESPN radio’s evolution across three eras
• 19:02 – Media career advice for young people
• 24:27 – Will Mark Pope survive next season at Kentucky?
• 29:41 – The importance (and arrogance) of not having a GM in modern college basketball
• 33:04 – NCAA Tournament expansion
• 37:35 – Best underrated college town: Provo, Utah
• 40:03 – Least favorite college town: College Station, Texas
• 41:24 – On-air fashion plans

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Tone & Final Thoughts

The tone of this episode is candid, jocular, and insightful—a blend of deep-dive industry talk and friendly banter, marked by genuine mutual respect. Matt and Myron’s chemistry, built over eight years together, shines as they tackle serious topics with self-deprecating humor and honesty. They offer valuable media and life wisdom, balanced by light-hearted travel stories and playful ribbing.

End of Summary.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

Optimal fibers in the house Y' all know the number 877-393-4448 Optimum Fibers so fast, so fine Got another provider leaving behind Come on, Everybody, let's get online 30amonth Gonna blow your mind 5 oh years don't hesitate Lock it in now

[Myron Metcalf]

before it's too late 877-393-44-5448 apply. See optimum.com for details.

[Matt Jones]

This is Interrupted by Matt Jones on News Radio 840 WHAS now, here's Matt Jones. Welcome to Interrupted by Matt Jones, episode one of them, which we're very excited about. And it is the week before something that's a big deal in my life, which is the debut of my daily national ESPN show with my co host, Myron Metcalf. We've been doing a weekend show for eight years and starting Monday nationally on ESPN Radio from three to five every, every Monday through Friday, Myron and I will be on. And what better way to celebrate it than bringing the man himself? MYRON Metcalf, on Great lighting there in that room. I hope it looks better when the actual TV starts because you can barely see you with all that glare.

[Myron Metcalf]

Here's the problem. Your text message said something else about how we were doing. You said like a Comrex. So I was all in my radio setup, and then like three minutes ago, I get a link to some, I don't know what this, what is this?

[Matt Jones]

This looks like you're, you're in a condo somewhere in, just at home in Boca Raton. Is that where you are?

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm just, no, I'm just, I'm just home. But I had no idea that it was like the whole set. I don't know if you, it was visual okay.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it's not visually. Well. Our car, our main studio is down. Your studio is down. I'm hoping our technology improves for espn, but we will see. If not, it will be par for the course. Myron, you and I have worked together for eight years and you have done radio. I've done radio for 17 years. You've done it on and off for, for a long, a long time as well. How excited are you for next week?

[Myron Metcalf]

Man, it's surreal. Still. A little bit to me, I think. You know, so I'm, I'm, I'm very excited. I think I'm also just like, I'm proud of us, you know, like, we, we, no one just like, handed it to us.

[Matt Jones]

That's true.

[Myron Metcalf]

So it's like a different thing. Yeah. So, so we, we were a group of people with Dan Orlowski that they just literally threw into a studio the first week of the 2018, I think, NFL season. And we're like, let's see if it works, you know, so it wasn't like we were working together before then. And then we just stayed consistent. Like, Sunday morning changed a bunch. People were on, people are off. But we were the main, the consistent pieces of it and kind of waiting our turn. So, so that's my feeling, too, is I feel like we put in the work to put ourselves in this position. And you. It doesn't feel like a new show. You and I both feels like the same show.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. You and I both probably thought, well, this isn't going to happen after a while. I mean, I, I, we had been kind of passed over a number of times, and I just sort of thought I kind of had said in my mind, well, if it doesn't happen the next year, then I'll probably just stop. And, and then when you get the call. And then for people who don't know, we, we kind of heard it could happen, like, back last year around Thanksgiving, but we didn't officially find it out until, like, June, so it just kind of didn't know if it ever would occur.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know if people have any idea, like, how long the process was to Monday. I mean, like, how many phone calls did you get and I get and how many back and forth of like, oh, it's going to happen, it's not going to happen. And there were certain stress where I was like, I don't know. I don't know. Like, I can't plan for it. I felt like, because nothing felt solid and, and just the waiting game, I think, was pretty interesting. But now there's more satis. Satisfying, I think, just to get to this point and to do a show that we've been doing a long time, that we have an audience that has really embraced us and supported us, and we couldn't have done without them, like, that Sunday, no matter what we do, the people who listen on Sunday helped.

[Matt Jones]

Of course. We're not gonna fail, though. You always act like you're like a doomsdayer. Like, you're all, you're, you're always like, well, even if nothing works, like, you act like we're gonna get fired on Friday. Like, like, you, you. Why you need to have confidence. You're, you're, you're good at this. And we have a good, like, team mentality. And I've said about you because I've had to do all these interviews about Meyer Metcalf. I have said about you, you are something that's very rare in media, which is you're okay being like the best number two guy. You're okay letting me yap, and then you come in and fill in the gaps. And like, that's your. You've done a great job with that. And is that ever hard? Do you ever want to be, like, I'm. I can be Justin Timberlake, I can sing. Like you ever wanted to do.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, I don't know if I'd be an NSync. I'd probably be in Boys to Men. Maybe that's. I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Which one would you. Which one would you be? You'd be Wanye.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, Wan Ye is the lead. But before you said, I have complete confidence in the show, in us. It's not like that. I just, I. I feel like we've already achieved something to get to this point.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. And. And I'm confident moving forward. I'll tell you what happened with me when I got to ESPN Radio. There's this thing where everyone says you have to know how to lead a show, right? So, like, there's this, there's this big push when you at the ESPN Radio where, you know, if you're there for a while, people say, hey, we're gonna let you lead a show because that versatility matters.

[Matt Jones]

And they think. And usually they put athletes in the complimentary role. So people like me and you who didn't play, they always say, you need to lead because it's going to be athletes sitting with you.

[Myron Metcalf]

And it, it makes sense. Like, I understand why you want someone to be versatile so that you can throw them on a show as a host, as a co host. And I, I could lead a show, you know, if I have to.

[Matt Jones]

Well, you change your voice when you lead.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't. I don't change my voice.

[Matt Jones]

Like, when you lead, you go, hello, everybody. This is my remote of ESPN Radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know what it was I used to watch, like, when I, My aunt used to babysit me. And I used to watch all those 90s game shows. Yes, 80s game shows.

[Matt Jones]

You get that little microphone. It's a little. It's a little. It's time to press your luck, Family Feud.

[Myron Metcalf]

So I do, I do have a little bit of that. So I could do it. I'm fine with it. But I always knew my strength was going to be if they put me with someone who was a really good Leader of a show, which you are. And I could bounce off of them. And I had to push back a lot on, like, this idea of you come in and you gotta be a number one. And I could teach a class on longevity. I mean, I've been at ESPN 15 years. There aren't many people my age who can say they've been at ESPN for 15 years. But I'm here because.

[Matt Jones]

Well, what would you say is. What would you say is the way you have longevity? Cause you have, like, people. I mean, you gotta just read the news. People get fired every day, but Myron survives. What do you think is the reason?

[Myron Metcalf]

You gonna hate the word? But likability. Likability matters.

[Matt Jones]

Okay? You're very likable.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like, it just. When I say that, I mean, here's what I've learned. If people, when they have a chance to work with you, when your name comes up in the future and they're like, hey, that was. That was a good working experience, or I had a good experience with that person. I like working with them. If that becomes the theme, you put yourself in a good spot. But I think also, you know, I can. I can let you or anyone be number one, if that's what you want to call it, because I'm very comfortable in that supportive role, if you will. I'm better bouncing off and playing off somebody than I am leading the dance. And I knew that about myself early on. That's why I always push back on this idea of lead a show for what? And I think you're the best leader of any show we have. So I think when they paired us

[Matt Jones]

together, it was the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Like, normally you just See, like, normally you're.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I always say we having a

[Matt Jones]

moment here, like, that's.

[Myron Metcalf]

I always say this. I always say these things to you. You. You are the best leader I think we have in. In radio. And I knew, okay, I'm gonna let this dude be himself because, you know, you're unique and kind of how you take over a show. And anyone who's done a show with you knows, like, Matt's gonna be Matt's master host. He's the producer. The sound.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, no, no, come on. I'm not the sound man. Billy, my producer here on ksr, sitting next to me, just shaking his head. He's like, yep, that's it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, that's Matt.

[Matt Jones]

Matt.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, Matt is all up in the video, you know, leading everything. You kind of just got to be able to know you Got to be able.

[Matt Jones]

Do not compare me to. All right.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, no, no. I'm not saying. I'm just saying you have to know how to work with people. I think my strength has been learning how to compliment number one host and being able to bounce off, being able to support the show. And I don't have any ego about it. I think that's probably a big part of longevity.

[Matt Jones]

It's true.

[Myron Metcalf]

I just have never had an ego about who's number one. Two. I'm at espn, man. Yeah, we're about to host a national show at ESPN. If someone had told us that in 2005 or 10 or whatever and said, you're going to have a press release that says Matt and Myron, every day, somebody's going to hit the button and you're going to be live on the airwaves across the country, across the world. Really. Come on, man.

[Matt Jones]

And if that someone had told me that the first time I ever went on ESPN radio, filling in for Marty McGee and Nicole Briscoe wrote who the Hell Is Matt Jones? On the email to start the first show. You don't have to comment. I understand. Like, Myron doesn't like. I like to kind of throw things in. And then Myron's like, hey, man, don't put me in that. But you said you like to work with everybody. I'm the opposite. I don't like to work with anybody except you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, yeah.

[Matt Jones]

No, I mean, I've worked with a lot of people, but it's very, very difficult because of the ego thing. Like, there are people who, like, it's a constant peacocking. I would say of, let me give me my chance, but now we're going to do it. And one of the things I like about you is our discussions. You and I seem to be able to go to places other people can't because of our relationship. Like, our audience. Would you agree? Like, most of our audience are either country white people or black people, which is kind of weird, like, don't you think?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, but we also get, like, you know, moms and business people and random Canadians. So I. I think we're relatable. And I've always thought this about our show. And our biggest connection is when you've covered and been around college sports.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

You've actually been to America. You've been to these little towns, and you stayed at this place where there's three hotels in the area and the little mom and pop shop, and you've been to the big cities. So I think one of the Things with us is someone will call in from the middle of Idaho and either one or both of us could be like, oh, is it near? So I think there's.

[Matt Jones]

But you don't, like, when I make fun of, like, how bad Nebraska is?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I just don't.

[Matt Jones]

Well, but I mean, Nebraska, objectively. So as a state. I mean, there are like three or four states you don't want to visit.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. So, I mean, we've been there.

[Matt Jones]

We can say it because we've been there.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, we want to go into Monday and say all of Nebraska, don't turn on the show and all your affiliates cancel the show. Is that. Because I'm not going to do that. But I do think.

[Matt Jones]

I can't promise I'm not going to do that, but. Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, that we can relate to people, I think, is a big. Is a big part of it. And because of our relationship, you know, you listen to radio and not even radio TV people, I think, in this day and age, little cautious. And I get it. You know, like, you, You. You're kind of afraid of how you come off. You don't want to say the wrong thing. You don't want to. And we don't have that, you know, And I think that helps in terms of how we just.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Do you ever worry, like, I've wondered about, like, you and I get to be under the radar on Sunday mornings, but, you know, there are people who will now, like, search for clips of me and you saying something stupid or of us, you know, like, some point in the next year, one of us is gonna have a clip go viral where people are like, what is this? Do you ever think about that? No.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, because I. I think if that happens, when it happens. Right. It'll be authentic. Like, like, we're not our hot takes, if you will, if that's what you want to call them. Aren't. Like, we're doing a show where we're trying to see who has the biggest. It'll just happen, you know, if we say something that goes viral, it's not going to be this, like, thing where we feel the pressure to go viral. So I. So I don't know, man. I think I listen to our show as a listener. I just think you're listening to two friends talking about sports and. And probably not sports a lot of days. Just all kinds of.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Stuff. Because I think we can kind of go everywhere which people appreciate.

[Matt Jones]

ESPN has changed a lot in the eight years, and I find that people are always really interested in, like, what's it really like. So in my opinion, you tell me if you agree or disagree with this. In the last eight years, since I started, I've seen three phases. Okay. Phase one was when we first started was this idea of you. It was all about the facts and it was all about the info. People used to say, you do sports center on the radio. So it was like, what is the news? Discuss the news. It's a news show. Which. That's when I started. And I, you know this. I hated it. I mean, I hated doing that. I did it because it was espn, but I hated it. Then there became, and I think probably the success of Stephen A. Smith was a big part of this, a period of time where it was everything needs to be a debate, right? So you take an issue. Phase two was like, I'll take one side, Myron, you take the other side. Let's argue, right? And let's really go at each other. And that phase, I think, went for a long time, probably 20, 20, to like 20, 24, 25. And then I think now, and I think Pat McAfee is probably a big reason for this. They've kind of gone back to what they did years ago, which is we're going to make it a personality thing. If your personality is being like Pat and being a former athlete and kind of jock and we're having fun, then that's fine. If your personality is being too old, cantankerous people like Kornheiser and Wilbon, that's fine. If you're kind of goofballs like Matt Myron, that's fine. And I think it's kind of gone to a personality phase. Do you agree with that reading of since we've been doing this? Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I think certainly when we started, the fact that, I mean, I remember those early shows where it was like we'd have 48 news stories, you know, that you had to get to. And then certainly the debate era. I mean, I was in a lot of meetings at espn, whether it was TV or radio of all right, what are the sides we're taking? Because that was the thing who has the strongest take? And now I do think, I think it's personality driven. I think it's also just entertainment like. Like to me, and you always said this with radio early on. Do I think the information is still important? Yes. Less important when, you know, Shams is going to break LeBron to Philly on your phone and 8 million alerts are going to go out and you already have the information. I think people are Tuning in because they're saying, I want to hear what you have to say. Yeah, just in general. Like, I think if you could just invite people to the table, to the room, to the conversation, whatever you want to call it. I think that, to me, is what media is today. Like, can you set the stage for people to feel like, I. I gotta stop what I'm doing? Because I just want to hear how they see all of this? And I think that, to me, is the error for sure.

[Matt Jones]

And, you know, one of the things I get asked all the time by younger people who want to get in, whether it's in sports or in anything. Well, what's your advice? And I actually think you and I represent two completely different ways to do something, but that. Both of which can work, and I mean that. So, like, you, I think, are extremely likable. I give you a hard time because you always say the best ability is likability. And you're like. I'm like, come on, man. Where'd you learn that? But to some extent, it's true. And I would give you another ability, which is reliability. If Myron says he's going to. Myron writes the NCAA tournament preview for espn, and the day the bracket comes out, he has written a preview of all 68, and now it will be 76 teams. And it's there, and it's up immediately. And, like, you answered the bell, and so you're easy to get along with. And so people are like, that's a dude we want to have around. The other side is. For me, it's all about be entertaining and make it to where they can't replace you because nobody else can do what you do. So it's two different ways to do it, but both can succeed. And I think that's kind of why we. We gel well together. But if somebody were to come up to Myron Metcalf, you would say, what in terms of, I want to be a sports reporter, I want to be a news reporter. I want to be a whatever. Which. What would your advice be?

[Myron Metcalf]

I would say be authentic. You know, more than anything, I. I don't know that you can recreate our past entirely just because the world has changed.

[Matt Jones]

It has changed a lot.

[Myron Metcalf]

So much. When I talk to young people, it's just different. But I think being knowledgeable, authentic. And I always told, like, young sports writers this. Like, young sports writers or sports analysts will always say, hey, how do I get to espn? You know, I love espn. I read everything about, you know, sports, and I always tell them the same thing is that you. You should be reading about something that has nothing to do with sports. Because if you look at the greatest sports writers of all time, your. Your dick shafts, your Shirley Poviches, those guys were like war correspondents.

[Matt Jones]

Is that a Shirley? Is that Maury's dad?

[Myron Metcalf]

That is Maury's dad, who was an incredible.

[Matt Jones]

But I mean, like, he wrote. He wrote, like, the 60s, right?

[Myron Metcalf]

For.

[Matt Jones]

We might need to modernize your references.

[Myron Metcalf]

Just. Maybe. But those were the old. But here's why I referenced those guys.

[Matt Jones]

I'm kidding. Charlotte Kovich is a legend. But I just think that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, yeah, they could cover anything, though. Yeah. I came up with the idea of. I actually don't need to know that much more about sports. That's in my blood. I need to know about other stuff. But I think we. You can do both, which I think is our strength. That, to me, is what I would tell people today. I don't know that they could be you, though. Like, I think your path is unique. Like, I don't know that the organic thing that you did, starting ksr, building it up to what it became. I. I mean, with the fan base and a community that, you know, people have, whatever views and opinions and what they think Kentucky is, to put that on the map and to turn it into what you've made it into. And then to get to espn. I don't know that you could tell someone to be Matt Jones 2.0 in this era.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you couldn't do what I did now. It would be too hard. But you could do. But. But just because, you know, everything's about timing. But you could do a version of it, just in a different way. Like I always say to people, you gotta think about what the next thing is and put yourself in a position to be the best at that. So, like, I did a blog when blogs were not really a big thing yet. And then when they became a thing, there I was. I was like the first Kentucky sports writer on Twitter. And then all of a sudden, everybody came to Twitter, and there I was. We were like, one of the first podcasts. And then all of a sudden, people started listening to podcasts, and there we were. So, like, now it's probably too hard to start a podcast. I mean, you can do it, but it's hard to find an audience, right? Yeah, but there'll be something else in a couple years that no one's doing, and you've got to make it to where you're ready for that. Like, Pat McAfee was like, doing YouTube shows. And then all of a sudden, the idea of a YouTube show hits and there he is. Right. Like, that's, I think, kind of what you almost have to do now.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, yeah, getting. Yeah, I think sort of getting it. Getting ahead of the pack. I think also what you represent. I do think this is more what we're seeing in media is, you know, I don't. The traditional paths can still be successful, but I do think there is sort of this craving for the outside voice, someone who actually didn't follow that path. And I think McAfee is an example of that, and just showed up and said, I'm gonna do this. Maybe not in a way that it has been done traditionally, but I'm going to do it my way. And you've done that. And I think that, to me is also, if I were a young person, I'd be thinking of like, okay, don't be everybody else.

[Matt Jones]

Be yourself.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can you be something else? You know, And I think that to me is yes.

[Matt Jones]

And make yourself a lot of success, like, and this is true in any industry. Make yourself versatile. Make yourself to where, you know, I'm sitting here next to my producer, Billy, and I used to say to him, you do the things that nobody else can do. So, like, he didn't love it at first, but the UK basketball and football games can't be broadcast unless he's here. Literally nobody else knows how to do, you know what? So, like, if you're listening on this, on whs, if Billy goes get sick, it'll be tough, but that's something that makes you to where you're extremely, extremely valuable. If you run a business, then you know what it takes to keep your company moving forward. Managing teams, planning ahead, cutting costs, but never corners. That's why LG&E and KU offer energy efficiency programs designed to make savings simple. With a whole suite of programs that help streamline your company's energy use, you'll be able to start saving energy and money in no time, no matter the size of your business. It's just one way LG&E and Ku help you save more. Find out how you can start [e-mail] business. So let's switch gears for a second. You're a college basketball guy at heart. When we do our show on May 1st of next year, will Mark Pope be the coach at Kentucky?

[Myron Metcalf]

That's a good.

[Matt Jones]

We know.

[Myron Metcalf]

I saw Mark at Peach Jam, and I saw him last year. Peach Jam, different, different vibe. A little bit

[Matt Jones]

Jam,

[Myron Metcalf]

you know, so the first peace jam I saw him at was the going into his first season.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

And you know, he couldn't walk through the halls without people, like, shaking his hand, wanting to take pictures. And. And last year there was a lot of that, too.

[Matt Jones]

This year was just.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's just a little more low key. I mean, it's hard to be low key when you're almost 73 tall. But to me, it just seems like a guy who knows how important this year is. And I mean, to his credit, I don't know publicly that Mark Pope seems rattled ever.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I don't know about that. I mean, I think last year he did sometimes. I mean, remember he. He had some wild statements last year. I mean, at one point he said, like, it made me want to kill myself after that one game. And then after, remember the Champions Classic, what he was like in that post game interview.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Last year we saw some of that. I mean, in the setting that I'm describing with the PJ and with other coaches, like, he sees mostly low key. But I, I mean, this doesn't even, to me feel like an important year for Mark Pope. It feels like one of the most important years I've covered for Kentucky basketball.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, how do you make the distinction of that? Because Mark Story did a story yesterday where he said, unless the next three years drastically change, this will be the worst decade in Kentucky basketball history. And the numbers support that statement.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, we're watching in the nil era, the legends fall behind, the powerhouses fall behind. I mean, look at, I think Alabama football. I think I just read for the first time, and I don't know how many years, like the top 15 in state kids are not Alabama commits. So. So the competition is never, I believe most. I believe the top 15 kids in football.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I did see, to give you an example, that Kentucky's recruiting ranking for next season is higher than Alabama's, which. Did you ever think there would be a world where that was true?

[Myron Metcalf]

It's. I mean, it's incredible. And I always say this, you're talking to. With whatever Mark Pope does this year, you're talking to the transfer portal guys. You're talking to the high school juniors and seniors. You're also Talking to the 11 and 12 year olds who are four or five years away from making the decision and are really going to determine the next chapter. Because, you know, you look at a UCLA and some of these other programs that had these stretches where they fell off for a long time. Their biggest hurdle was their success was so long ago. That, like the generation of basketball players didn't know anything about it. Yeah. Like, it was. It was like you're an encyclopedia. I think that's the danger that Kentucky is facing. Not that Kentucky is in the same boat as ucla.

[Matt Jones]

All right. But you did. But you still didn't really answer the question, which is, will he be there in on May 1st? So, you know, it's such.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's. It's such a hot. It's such a hard. It's such a hard question. But if you're saying I have to

[Matt Jones]

pick, you have to pick,

[Myron Metcalf]

I will say yes.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

And here's why. There's going to be a big domino effect, I would imagine, next year, and a lot of things could happen. I mean, there's. There's a world where the three biggest jobs in college basketball are open. Bill Self, the retirement rumors, that was. Been happening for a while, and at the end of the year, it sounded like he was going to retire. Comes back Duke and John Shire. If John Shire doesn't make a run, or even if he does, if he wants to coach the NBA, he'll be able to go do that, and he'll

[Matt Jones]

be able to, right?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. So at some point, you got to just go do it. And then what happens with Mark Pope? So there's a world where you have Kansas, Kentucky and Duke all open.

[Matt Jones]

That's crazy.

[Myron Metcalf]

Next year.

[Matt Jones]

But you're right about that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, you talk about changing the whole sport. That would.

[Matt Jones]

And maybe Florida, too. You know, I mean, Todd golden could end up in the NBA too. And even though that's not Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, it's still a really good job. I mean, you and Dusty May just left. So I mean, you could have a situation where, like, all these coaches. I mean, Michigan State is. I was not going to do it forever. There's going to be jobs open. There's new AD at Kentucky, though, started today. How do you think that plays in?

[Myron Metcalf]

I think that's big. I mean, this is a. This is an audition for Mark, but he has to win big. I think also the injury bug was an issue, but there was enough depth where you still thought they'd be better. And he's got to build the chemistry. Like, to me, chemistry is always coaching. Like, I never believe it's the players. Like, your job in the Portal era is you're a GM and you're assembling all these people together. You got to make sure it works. And we could all see that it didn't always work.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky doesn't have a gm, do you think that's a mistake?

[Myron Metcalf]

I think it's more than a mistake. I think it's arrogant. I mean, I don't know how else to see it, because if you're telling me everybody else is doing it and everyone has realized there's value in it, why aren't you doing it? And I also think it's one of those deals where, like, recruits.

[Matt Jones]

That's just.

[Myron Metcalf]

If that's the norm and you don't have it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Doesn't make a lot of sense. So I. I think Mark Pope has to win big. I think this team will be good. Milan, I'm chillage is going to be the real deal. I mean, they're. Gonna. They're gonna let him be Steph Curry and just get whatever shot he wants.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

But if it. If it flops, I. I certainly think there's no guarantee. And there are going to be potentially some really, really good coaches available next year. And I wonder if that's the scenario. Like, is the scenario not just Mark Pope. Does he stare? Does he go, but is there a candidate somewhere out there that the new ad says, that's the dude?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And it's maybe more about that than whatever Mark Pope does.

[Matt Jones]

So the. The Penn State ad made some noise a couple days ago when he was talking about his basketball program, and they asked him about Nil, and he was basically like, yeah, we're probably never going to spend more than $10 million on basketball in IL. It just is what it is, and it's not a good investment. Do you think what. What amount of program? I mean, I kind of thought. Well, at least he's honest about it. What amount of programs in the major do you think are going to take that route? Like, in the sec, it feels like everyone's trying to win, except maybe Mississippi State, but pretty much everyone else is trying to win. Do you think there are going to be a lot of other teams that take the Penn State and go,

[Myron Metcalf]

no.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

No. I mean, it was weird to me that you even say that, though, publicly, too.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know that it helps anybody to say that you got to spend 20 million, but do you think there

[Matt Jones]

are people who just don't think, look like we're never gonna be good at basketball. Why are we trying?

[Myron Metcalf]

I think the vast majority of the schools are trying to get there.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

And I'll tell you what it's not. And we talk about the power four and the power five with the Big East. I mean, there are a bunch of schools in the Atlantic 10 that are spending millions.

[Matt Jones]

Like who?

[Myron Metcalf]

So I. Oh, the Atlantic 10. It's, it's all seven figure nil budgets now. Okay, so, so you, you have to spin because you're not going to get a player that can help you get to the tournament and win unless you're spending millions. So I don't know how you can spend 10 million. That's barely two really good players at this point. So it doesn't make a lot of sense to me what Penn State is doing. Maybe there are a handful of schools like that, but it's not the norm because you can still make money in basketball. You know, it is still a sport that is a lucrative sport for most institutions that do it at a high level. But I think everyone's going to try to spend as much as they can.

[Matt Jones]

Nobody wanted to see the NCAA tournament expand to 76, but it did. So what's that going to be like? I mean not just the games, but like who's getting in? Is it just going to be even worse, major conference teams or do you think we will see some mid majors get in?

[Myron Metcalf]

It'll be more power. I mean they're not expanding to invite mid major teams. They're expanded to invite more power conference teams. It's not a big, like to me through a couple more games in Wichita, Kansas is not the end of the world. My fear is I never believed in when they say this is it. Yeah, because you know, you know, 96 was out there. And for anybody who says 96 is crazy, I'd like to invite you to the college football conversation about a 2014 playoff. Do you remember, Matt, when the idea of four teams was controversial?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like, do you remember the idea of four teams battling for the college football national championship was this bizarre idea where people around the country were losing it over that. We're talking about possibly 24 teams. So I just don't believe the folks in charge when they say this is it. I don't think they can get enough. Yeah, they'll keep building and building.

[Matt Jones]

It'll be interesting because the, we always talk about the four days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday of the tournament. It's now going to be Tuesday, Wednesday. Cause there's going to be games going all day on Tuesday and Wednesday as well. I mean you're going to have, you're going to have what, six games each day, I guess to get there. So it is going to be different. I mean it's going to. I think people will, I actually think people will like it, but it's Going to be different.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, yeah. You definitely want to stay out of the that bubble territory and end up playing those early games like you know, you don't want to be the team struggling that falls into a Tuesday Wednesday game in the new format. But I also think people are gonna, it's the controversy. People assume what happened is not real. Nobody made a big fuss about 76 more basketball. People will take it. But I do think the Cinderella, it's not over. But I think if you think there's a George Mason, I'll say this, we'll never see a George Mason again. I'll say this, we'll never see a St. Peter. We'll never see a St. Peter again. You know, I don't know if I

[Matt Jones]

agree with that or not. You may be right. But I also think, well, we'll see. I mean we have, I think we have two years of modern nil, like data, right? We have two years. And in those two years, if those two years become the norm, then you're correct. Right? Because that's what these two years have been. But I'm not ready to say that yet because there have been two year samples throughout history where you wouldn't have upsets. Right. I mean it wasn't, that was only like 10 years ago when all four number one seeds made the final four. Right. So like, you know, but we'll see. I mean I think it's going to be harder but I think when it happens, like when your St. Peter's happens, I do wonder if Myron, if it's even going to be more special now. Like it's going to be like, you know, I mean how many teams like St. Peter's have ever made the Elite Eight? George Mason and Saint Peters, I mean it doesn't happen very much but I think like you know, Santa Clara could have beaten Kentucky last year. I think you're going to have those moments.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well now we find out that Santa Clar team all said an NBA, you know, level. So I think, you know, but I, I, I just, I think the, the Saint Peters of the world, those teams that can reach this point is because they had a bunch of guys who played together for three or four years. They had singers, the seniors and mid majors are gone now. No, that's all playing up. So I think that to me is what's different also.

[Matt Jones]

You know, Miami of Ohio had that

[Myron Metcalf]

big but full of guys who all stayed together but they wanted, because you don't you.

[Matt Jones]

They won one game.

[Myron Metcalf]

But, but like the, but the guys, the guys Intentionally stayed together.

[Matt Jones]

They did.

[Myron Metcalf]

When a bunch of them could have made more money elsewhere. So that's rare.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, it is. Okay, so a couple of quick questions before I get you out. Are you looking for a way to save your business money? Well, LG&E and KU can help their energy efficiency programs help business owners save energy and money, no matter the size of your business. You can find out how you can start [e-mail] business in your travels. Give me the best college town that people don't realize is a cool college town. So you can't say, like, Ann Arbor, like, the best college town that you're like, this is underrated.

[Myron Metcalf]

Provo, Utah.

[Matt Jones]

Provo, Utah.

[Myron Metcalf]

I've been to Provo three times in the last year, I think, you know, and fans are intense. It's just a. It's a. It's a really strong, connected fan base. But I didn't know what to think when I went up to Provo.

[Matt Jones]

But can I tell you a story about Pro. Can I tell you a story about Provo? So we went to Provo. We had. It was me, Ryan, Drew, Shannon, and Mario. And we're walking around and, you know, it's like, they know that you're not part of the group.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes, they do.

[Matt Jones]

You know, it's like they know, like, all right. But they're also really friendly. Yeah, but it was funny because they were, like, 10 times as friendly to Mario, but, like, in a way that they wanted it to be like, we want you to see us reaching out. So strangers were coming up to Mario and asking if he wanted to come to, like, the school dance.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. You know, they were treating it like Mario. And for people who don't know, Mario's my head of social media, he's a black. And they were just like, it's so good to have you on campus. It's wonderful to be here.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let me tell you. Let me tell you something. I was Obama up there. Like, they.

[Matt Jones]

This, this. This.

[Myron Metcalf]

No lie. This woman made me a batch of cookies. Like, presented me with, like, a whole. A whole batch of cookies.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And then this is two story. I saw another brother. I don't know, he bought a hundred yards away. And I'm just walking on one side. He's, like, down. And all of a sudden, he's coming closer and closer. Don't know this individual. He makes a beeline towards me. And I haven't hugged somebody like that. And I don't know, because it wasn't just a, hey, what's up, man. Good to see you. He held it like he held you. Yeah, he held, like, an extra. Like, I let go, and he held on for another four seconds or so. Like. Like, it was intense.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

But he. I have never seen someone happier than he was to see me, man.

[Matt Jones]

They're very friendly.

[Myron Metcalf]

It was. It was okay.

[Matt Jones]

Now, I mean, like, I won't tell everybody, but your least favorite college town,

[Myron Metcalf]

at least is. It's not. I don't think least.

[Matt Jones]

You go ahead. It's.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know if I. I didn't realize that college station was, like, in the middle of nowhere. Like, you know what I mean?

[Matt Jones]

Like, it is in the middle of nowhere. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Texas people. Texas people will tell you everything is within two hours of Dallas.

[Matt Jones]

Like, that's.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's Houston.

[Matt Jones]

It's right down the road from Houston.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, everybody says down the road, and then you drive down there and you're like, this is. This is different, you know, so it wasn't. It wasn't. That was a bad experience. It was just way more out there than I. Than I had ever.

[Matt Jones]

And they have, like, a hundred thousand students, but, like, one restaurant and one hotel. Like, they, like, there's. It's the weirdest place because there's a lot of people there, because there's a lot of people at Texas A and M, but, you know, they have, like. Everybody's like, well, you got to go to the Mexican place. And when they can say the Mexican place.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes, yes. Well, they sent me to karaoke night. Like, they were like, you got to go to karaoke. So I went to this karaoke night, and it was the mo. It was the most wild. It was like people playing pool, you know, people in cowboy hats singing. Somebody had a pit bull for some reason. It was just like. It was like people from all over the place were gathered at this little spot. So.

[Matt Jones]

So do you. Are you gonna, like, wear good outfits on. On the show, or are you, like. Like, for me, I'm gonna dress the way I always do, but, like, I. I kind of feel like you are gonna try to look good. You don't think. You don't think so?

[Myron Metcalf]

No. I mean, it'd be nice to get a sponsor. If people send us stuff out, I'll wear. But I'm not gonna feel like I

[Matt Jones]

gotta wear, like, what you do on television. You wear, like, a purple jacket and stuff. You're not gonna do that.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's not comfortable. But I'll. I'll wear. I mean, you do have to be more conscious of that on camera, which is interesting. So that'll be unique. But no, I'll wear whatever.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Well, I. I don't believe you. I think you're gonna try to look. You're gonna come in some days, be like, I'm gonna look stylish today. Like, they're gonna go, this week, we're on ESPN2, and all of a sudden, you're gonna be wearing much more fashionable clothes. That week, we're. It's 3 to 5 Eastern on ESPN radio nationally. It starts Monday, August 3rd. Myron, looking forward to it. Love you. Thank you for taking the time here uninterrupted.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, man. Thanks for having me. Can't wait, man.

[Matt Jones]

All right, that's been interrupted with Matt Jones by Matt Jones. We will see you soon.