It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine
day, Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think when we
are get off our show, idiot, the kids are playing or trail off.
The countries are screwing it up. Gold Play Inner Murals, Brother,
gold Play Inner Murals. They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really
not. Who's the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you kidding
me? Now? Here's nick coffee. I know it'll never be a national
holiday, but it should be a local holiday. The Monday after Derby weekend.
We should we should not have to do anything other than just relax,
refresh, recover. And yes, you know Derby Day is Saturday, so
we did have yesterday. But man, Derby week is such a it's such
a party for a lot of folks in a lot of different ways. And
you know, I did k do a whole lot of partying of the last
week or so, but just and I had look, I had days off,
but I spent those days at the track and it was a lot of
fun. But yeah, it's it's always sad when it's over, right,
because again, as somebody who's never claimed to be this big horse racing fan.
My love is for what comes with Derby week in this and really not
just Derby week, Derby season. And now it's over and it's kind of
sad, but I'm not really sure it could have gone any better, you
know. And I say that as somebody who didn't make a single bet.
Actually I made one bet on the Derby, ended up picking Sierra Leone just
because you know, I felt like, let's pick that one, and it
was involved right down the stretch. But it was mystic Dan that that got
to victory and what a finish it was. So we'll talk a little bit
about that today. I mean, I don't want to completely ignore the race
because it was a phenomenal finish. I'm not sure we'll ever see one quite
like that again, because I'm not sure we've ever seen anything like that.
I think it was nineteen forty seven was the last time there was a three
way finish that was that close? Yeah. According to the pr folks over
at Churchill Downs, it was the closest three way finished since nineteen forty seven,
when Jet Pilot won by ahead and finished a length ahead of Faultness and
the other horse was felanx so an epic finish, no doubt. And look,
every city has an event, not every city, but every big city.
And we're not a huge city, but I feel like there are many
cities that have, you know, an event, right, Like it's people
when people think of your city that aren't from there, they think of an
event that's nationally known or maybe globally known that takes place in said city.
Obviously, ours is the Kentucky Tucky in Kentucky Derby, And I feel like
every year we execute meaning you know, I mean, we have really nothing
to do with it, right, you know, we're just spectators, fans,
locals, but you know, the event itself is phenomenal, and now
we got to wait a whole year before it's all happened again. Oh bit
everybody. Coffee and Company that is us. Happy Monday. Hopefully you enjoyed
your Derby weekend. We are a field by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven
ninety. My name is Nick Coffee, the company man mister John all On
alongside today as we take you up until six o'clock, three hours with you
and certainly a lot to get into. John, did you enjoy your Derby
weekend. I did, and I know I said this last week, but
like the Derby hype never really hits me until we get to the actual Derby,
and I'm talking about the actual race. Yeah, And even though I
don't really go to Derby parties anymore or even go to the track for that
matter, there is something about watching the actual Derby race that, even if
I don't truly understand how special is, it just feels different. And I'm
not trying for no I know exactly what you mean, but that's exactly how
I felt on Saturday, as someone who for years now I've become content with
just knowing that, like, I'm never gonna be horse racing guy, but
it is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and it takes place
right here in our city and it's just two minutes. But man, it's
electrifying, and I think you can you can, Like I watched honestly just
hoping that one of the three horses that my three year old son picked would
come in first, second, or third so he could say he had some
kind of a winner. Like that was really and honestly I wasn't really that.
I mean, his mom told me which ones to bet. I popped
open the app bet him, but like I didn't. I was just enjoying
the race and in that two minute time span, sometimes it feels like an
hour. Sometimes it feels like ten seconds. That's what she said. But
you know, it's it's electrifying. It's it's just it's an experience. And
I don't really think you can say it without it sounding probably corny to some
people, but it's it's a special event, and you know, just I
think for me, you feel as if there are there's a collectiveness across I
don't know, I don't want to say the world, but it kind of
feels like that at times, Like you know, and I know this is
not true, but it feels as if every single person on planet Earth is
tuning in to watch this and it's taking place. You know, heck,
maybe you're there, maybe you're at Churchill Downs, or maybe you're somebody that's
at a derby party here in Louisville and you know, hey, just a
couple of miles away, that's where this is taking place, and all eyeballs
are are on this event in our city and it's just kind of cool.
So yeah, I was I mean, I don't I don't think you could
have had a better finish. I mean, obviously there's clearly you know,
those who probably were really close to having a big winner, and you know
they they didn't. You know, they lost just by hair right, we
saw the photo finish. But you know, if you take away the and
this is what really you know, makes it fun for a lot of people.
But you know, if you take out wagers and you just were looking
at the event itself and the race itself, I'm not sure it could have
it could have been any better. I mean, mystic Dan getting it done.
Obviously, it was a heck of a weekend for both Kenny McPeak and
Brian Hernandez Junior as they pulled off the you know, I mean they won
both the Oaks and the Derby. I mean, how special is that?
John? I believe I heard somebody say it hadn't happened since two thousand and
nine, so that's pretty rare. If you would have told me that that
had never happened before, I would have believed you me, just because I
feel like that is insane. Yes, So congratulations to those guys, and
I'm sure this is rather common, but everything i'd heard from McPeek following both
the Oaks and the Derby. I mean, he was just gassing up as
jockey, and I just felt, you know, I felt like, I
felt like a level of camaraderie right, like they're you know, they're both
crediting each other and collectively enjoying the win. It's not you know, some
trainer acting as if he's the one who you know, is responsible for all
the success. It was. It was cool to see and I'm a sucker
for this. It's one of the you know, pure things in sports that
you know, I still can be you know, romantic about, and that
is people who achieve the ultimate goal, which if you're in horse racing,
I would say winning the Kentucky Derby is a pretty damn big deal. But
to see them truly be not overwhelmed necessarily, but like, you know,
to have that payoff right, to have that moment where you know, you
you could do this for a long time, be very successful, be a
part of many derby's, but never have that happen. And they had it,
They had that moment and it was it was really really cool to see.
So yeah, mystic Dan getting the the narrow wind in the one hundred
and fiftieth run for the Roses Sierra Leone Forever Young. I mean, I
think there's certain angles and if you go back and watch it the finish that
is, and you slow it down a little bit, like you could probably
convince yourself in certain moments that each of those horses, each of those horses
actually won the race. I mean, that's how that's how close it was.
So yeah, another another great Kentucky Derby and again now we got to
wait for another year. All right, So again just like we we you
know, we always do. We're not gonna act as if we're you know,
that invested in the actual sport itself. But you know, good Derby
overall. But I want to talk about some other stuff today, and I
think Louisville fans are starting to get a little bit I don't want to say
impatient, because you know, I don't think people are of the opinion that
their basketball coaches decided to just, you know, stop trying to get players
and you know, and just assume that this eight man roster that he has
is all he's gonna need. But you went through a few weeks where it
felt as if there was you know, really non stop momentum, right,
whether it be guys that are scheduling visits, coming on the visits and then
you wait a few days later and they commit, and that's that's kind of
slowed down. But it's because you know, things have slowed down in the
portal. It's now closed. There's still a lot of players available, but
you got to wonder, you know, is there a name Louisville has not
been publicly linked to that we're going to find out about, because I wouldn't
be shocked if there's not, just because again, a lot of the dust
is settled, right, there's not a I mean, there's still plenty of
players available, but most of the big names have already been have already decided
what they're going to do. So I guess now we just kind of see
how do they finish? Right, How how does this roster you know,
come together in these next few weeks, Because I would I would imagine by
I don't know, late May, we're going to know what this roster looks
like, not only for Louisville but for Kentucky as well. So great Osibor
had his visit and really quiet, I've not heard anything good I've not heard
anything bad, meaning I haven't heard anything at all. But that's been the
case for all of his visits. Right, he visited Kentucky, and I
wasn't, you know, as plugged in for his trip to Lexington as I
was at least attempting to be for his trip to Louisville. But there was
really no confirmation, like if he was even there. We thought he was,
but there wasn't pictures, There wasn't like a you know, a bunch
of social media stuff that showed him out to dinner, and if there was,
I must have just missed it. But this guy, according to Tilly
Donovan, is as close lipped as anybody that has gone through this process of
entering the portal, scheduling visits, taking visits, and then you know,
coming down to a decision. He's at Texas Tech right now. He'll then
visit Washington. We know Kentucky's not going to be in the mix, so
now we wait to see is it going to be Washington, Texas Tech,
or Louisville. Some people think it's either going to be Washington or Louisville.
So you know, now we wait, so again not hearing anything is going
to make people worry, and I get it, but I've not heard anything
that would make you feel as if his visit, you know, didn't go
well, and it's you know, they're just going to move on and pursue
somebody else. I mean, I think they feel good about what they pitched
to him in every aspect. You know what Louisville can provide with the role
playing style, you know everything that comes with Louisville, and of course you
know in IL. I'm pretty sure they knew they were going to have to
make it a pretty attractive financial situation for him through in IL, and I
believe they did that. And now we have to wait and see what he
wants to do and we'll never know. But John, let's just say this
young man, great Osibor, ends up just deciding after visiting Washington to follow
Danny Sprinkle. Once again, my question to you is this, do you
think he ever was going to go to a different school and he just wanted
to take advantage of these trips and build up his brand, and I guess
enter Washington with more value because you know, that would be kind of a
shady move. But then again, like it's something that if I was in
his shoes. I'd probably do too, because this is your chance to make
money, right Like if you think, I think it would depend on how
quickly he committed to Washington after the visit, because if he does it immediately,
that's a little shady. But if he takes his time, then maybe
is you know, really having a hard time deciding which school, then it
may seem like he actually took each visit into consideration. But if it's a
quick you know, in and out for Washington, then that is a little
shit. Like if he commits on the spot, like that's just gonna be
like, that's gonna But it's just so wild how different it is now because
what this young man would have done would essentially be wasting all of these coaching
staff's time, right Kentucky, Louisville and Texas Tech. I mean, they
do pay for your and I'm not saying he's getting paid to visit because I
don't really know if they do or not. I'm not really sure if you're
allowed to. But then again, right now, as it stands, I
feel like people are doing whatever they want and hoping a doesn't find out,
and if they do, they're just gonna threaten to get a lawyer, and
that's just where we are. But when you go on an official visit that
is paid for by the school, they put you up, they fly you
in, So you know, we'll never know, right He could say,
yeah, really came down to a tough decision, but I'm deciding to follow
Danny Sprinkle. But look, maybe Danny Sprinkle told him, I'm gonna need
you to make it quite clear that everybody else wants you and these other schools
are willing to pay for you, because if I don't do that, then
nobody's gonna pay the nil. So I don't know, but he'd be a
huge, a huge asset, no doubt. And again I'd say, right
now, we're all just guessing as far as which way he's leaning. But
again, Trulli Donovan, I think it was yesterday, maybe maybe might have
been earlier today had sat on his discord that you know, he believes that
this guy's as quiet, been as quiet as anybody when it comes to just
this whole process. So real quick on the portal, there are it looks
like twenty two players less in the top one hundred rankings from ESPN, So
twenty two of the top one hundred are still available. Some of these are
names we're familiar with, right, like DJ Wagner's on there, obviously,
Great Osabor is on there. And then there's some guys like Coleman Hawkins of
Illinois, who I think just put his name in the portal almost as just
a you know, kind of a cya cover your ass, if you know
what I'm saying, right, Like, something bad happens to where he get
you know, he finds out that the NBA hates him, and he's realizes
I got to go back to school because I'm not going to get drafted,
you know, that kind of a situation. So, you know, I'm
you know, I got asked that a couple of times on Friday and Saturday,
like what are you hearing about it? And I'm like, I'm not
hearing anything. And then people's reaction, Oh that I guess that means we're
not getting him, And I'm like, well, I didn't say that.
I just I mean, first of all, I wouldn't be the one that
would know. And I just think because of this rare, probably never gonna
happen again situation where you're building a team from scratch with nothing but players that
are in the transfer portal. It's don't mean, it's just it's it's unusual,
right, you have eight guys now at all those guys all kind of
if you think about it, it all happened pretty quickly. Terrence Edwards Junior
was pretty early in the process, and then after that, a couple of
weeks go by and they just started coming in every every other day, it
seemed. And then again now things have gotten a little bit quiet, but
they are still recruiting players. You know, for example, because this is
essentially free agency season. I can't remember the young man's name who ended up
going to Alabama. That was the big man from Ruggers, right, Cliff
Tough last name, yeah, Cliff, Yeah, something like that. You
said it best. So he decided to go to Alabama, and apparently there
was a lot of money involved in him making that decision. And that's led
to people thinking that, Okay, well, I guess now, Ugo on
Yensu the transfer for Kentucky. Everybody thought he'd be at Alabama. Now he's
not because they've added this guy from Rutgers. So now he's he's maybe back
on the board for Louisville to get involved with so I still think they're gonna
end up adding at least two more bigs. I don't know. If it's
going to be oor Man, that would be great, but I think they'll
add two bigs and then I think maybe the rest of the roster after that,
because that would give you ten players. Let's say they add two guys.
Let's you know, wishful thinking fingers crossed. One of them is oh
Sabor, let's say, you know, the other is is Landon Hatton.
Who's that? That's the guy from Bellerman last week? Isn't he going?
I think he's going to Indiana. That may be one that I missed.
I mean, I could be totally wrong, but I did. I thought
was that to day it sounds as if he is. He is what do
they call it? Uh, it's trending towards Indiana. Crystal ball? Yeah,
I mean how about this? How about inside the Hall they had they
had a post up earlier this morning, the you know they they that,
Yeah, it says here that crystal Ball prediction has been logged for Bellerman transfer
langdon Hatten to go to Indiana. So I guess it hasn't happened yet,
But that's what a lot of people seem to think it's going to happen.
So look, if they add those, if they add two guys whoever,
you know, I assume there's gonna be front court players. And then I
think the rest of those spots, because again, you get thirteen scholarships right
now, ten would be used. If that, if that plays out,
where they get two bigs in the next couple of weeks, I mean,
I don't I wouldn't even really know where to start as far as guessing who
those last three spots would go to. I mean, obviously you want to
get the best players possible, but when you've already got ten, all newcomers
that are, you know, probably looking to compete right away, I just
think it could be a tough sell for Kelsey and his staff to go get
a guy to you know. I mean, I guess you could sell them,
hey, you can come in and maybe be a starter, right,
I mean, everybody's gonna have to earn playing time and all that kind of
stuff. But I just I think for both Louisville and Kentucky, because of
their situation where they're building a team from scratch with a new coach and using
nothing but the portal. For the most part, I think the last few
additions will probably end up being you know, guys that their numbers don't really
wow you, but they're there just to give you some some depth or something,
right, I mean, we'll see. Also, I do want to
talk some football today, because you know, we still have a long way
to go before college football gets here. However, we do have some early
spreads from the folks over at DraftKings, including an early line in the annual
Governor's Cup Game, but some other games for Louisville as well that already have
some spreads out there, so we can certainly get into that. I'm about
halfway through the Tom Brady roast on Netflix and I'll probably wait until I finish
it to talk about it on the show. And I'm not going to,
you know, spend an hour on it, but it was all anybody was
talking about last night as it was live on Netflix. Netflix has done,
I guess, a handful of live events. This was one of their you
know, had to be one of the most watched live events, you know,
in the brief existence of them doing live live streaming shows. But it
was a three hour roast of Tom Brady hosted by Kevin Hart, and it
became one of those things. And I know you've seen this before, John,
something just takes over every platform on social media. It seems as if
it's all anybody is talking about, mostly national, right, because you know
it's Tom Brady, and you know it was. I mean, the amount
of stars that were there that were a part of it, that that you
know, participated in roasting Tom Brady was insane. But I felt like,
Okay, well now I'm gonna have to watch this because I feel like I'm
clearly missing out because everybody's talking about how great it is. And I watched
about half of it earlier today. It's unbelievable, and I got I'm not
sure if I've ever watched a roast before, Like I know what a roast
is, I don't. I know they haven't happened as much in recent years
because you know, we've become very politically correct and that kind of a thing.
You know, nowaday and this day and age, it would be.
And trust me, there's already been many things said last night that have become
national stories to some extent because people are offended by what was said in the
jokes. But that's just that's not a surprise. I mean, we know,
we know what world we're in now in twenty twenty four. But either
way, like it's hilarious, but it times like it's uncomfortable, Like that's
just my personality, Like that's my nature. Like I'm looking over because it's
not just Tom Brady getting made fun of and getting roasted by you know,
his former teammates or you know comedians who can be absolute savages because that's what
they do for a living, make jokes and make fun of people. Like
it's crazy, but you know, I get that. Not I want to
say cringe, but like there's this level of like, oh man, like
I hope, I hope he's not just smiling because he wants to cry inside.
That was really mean. Like insulting people is I'm not good at it,
right, like you know, and nobody should do that. So I'm
not saying that I'm I'm bad at it and everybody else is good at it,
but like it's uncomfortable to me just my personality and to hear somebody for
you know, I didn't finish it, but it's it's three hours and it's
just nothing but just savage insults to Tom Brady and they're all really really funny,
but there's just a part of me every every so often when I when
I was watching, I'm thinking, damn, that would have that would have
made me cry. Don't They usually compliment them after they get done, Like
that's all it is. It's all a backhanded compliment then to any any compliment
would then be turned into like something else, some joke. Yeah, like
you know, and I didn't. I'd be honest with you. I didn't
really know a whole lot about like Tom Brady's personal life. Like obviously I
know he got divorced and Giselle Bunchin's at her name. I believe that she
left him, And I don't know if they're just making jokes, making stuff
up, but like some things that were said about her cheating on him with
like a karate instructor, like damn, Like those are the ones that it
looked as if there was some real pain, you know, you know his
face whenever he would do that like smile, So I don't cry. Look,
it was really really funny, like you know, I haven't even finished
it just yet, but it got me thinking, like whatever happened, you
know, whatever happened to roasts these guys, like if we had Kevin Hart
and Bert Kreischner or and I mean I can't think of the young woman's name
who was I think one of the second or third to participate in it.
I mean, she was hilarious and I'm like, man, we should do
this more often. But then I'm like, actually, I know why we
don't because everybody would get canceled. That's just that's what it would turned into.
But Drew Bledsoe if the quarterback, of course, fill out of you
know, younger folks may not know this, I'm sure a lot of people
do, but Drew Bledsoe was the quarterback. He was the franchise guy for
the Patriots until you know, Tom Brady came along and completely you know,
ended his you know, didn't end his career, but you know, he
became the guy off the bench briefly there in New England before he ended up
going elsewhere and trying to resurrect his career. But then Tom Brady turned into
being the best quarterback of all time. But the self deprecating set, if
you want to call it that from Drew Bloodsoe was really well done. I
think I think the bar was low because I didn't expect him to be funny,
but he was hilarious. So if you haven't watched it, and you
you know, you're comfortable, and you know you like stand up comedy kind
of stuff, if you're somebody who thinks roasts can be really funny, this
this, I mean, this was a me Even Kim Kardashian was kind of
funny, which was kind of wild that she got booed. So again,
I'm not going to turn the whole show into it, but I bet there'll
be a lot of people listening now that will end up watching it over the
next couple of days, and at some point I do want to kind of
once I finished it, talk a little more about it, because I mean,
I don't know how many all time greats or at least guys consider to
be legends in their sport, like Tom Brady. I'm not sure how many
of them would do that because it was brutal. Like I think it's just
human nature for people to hear somebody getting joked on and kind of like deep
down thing like damn, that was kind of mean. Like hope, like
I hope, I hope he can take a joke, because man, that
would be that would be really hard to take. And I don't give it.
Damn about Tom Brady. He's doing just fine. I don't feel sorry
for him. But just even knowing that and hearing some of the things that
were said, I'm just like, man, that was me. All right,
quick break, we'll come back on the other side. Keep this thing
rolling along in his coffee and company we are feel about Thornton's right here on
Sports Talk seven ninety. That's the right coffee and company rolling along here on
a Monday. It feels good to be back. I have now been on
the air since Wednesday. Had a nice long Derby weekend. Hopefully you guys
enjoyed Derby as well. Weather was weather was cooperative, wasn't it. I
Mean, we got some rain during Oaks Friday, but it didn't it didn't
seem to last very long. And in fact, I feel like the majority
of the day, like when I was there, it looked like, you
know, it clearly had been raining early in the day, but I feel
like it kind of cleared up when it needed to. But Saturday, man,
when I got there, I don't know if it's because of the walk
and I didn't have to walk any further than anybody else. I mean I
parked at the shuttle spot and where everybody are, and that was super smooth.
I mean the idea of going to park at the Exposition Center and waiting
in a line to get on a bus to get over to Churchill Downs just
sounds like the worst. But man, it was perfect. I mean they
had an unbelievable amount of busses. They were all super nice too. We're
talking like, I mean, I've never know this probably will surprise them.
You have never been a professional athlete, but I imagine like whenever you land
on the plane and you get on a big bus to go to the arena
as like an NBA player, an NFL player, you know what I'm talking
about, John, Those kind of buses like that's what That's what we were
on. Nice air conditioning. I mean even they had the little things you
could charge your phone with and the lines went super super quick. So just
when I heard that's what everybody was going to be doing, I just expected
it to be a nightmare. And I'm not. I'm not real patient with
that kind of stuff. I'm not sure many people are. But I would
have avoided doing that, you know, I would have. I would have
I would have parked a mile further than that and walked, just because the
thought of you know, waiting in line, and I mean I'm clustrophobic anyway,
so like I just thought of being crammed on a bus like gives me
anxiety. But it could not have been more smooth. So shout out to
Churchill Downs for once again, you know, putting on an insanely monstrous event
and by all accounts, man, they crushed it. And they had twenty
point one million people w watching it, which was the most watched Kentucky Derby
since nineteen eighty nine. I mean, that's that's a lot. That has
nothing to do with you know, the people of the track, because you
know they were there watching in person, but still to see that many people
tune in. I mean, I am thirty five years old, so that's
this the eighty nine. I was here in nineteen eighty nine. That would
have been my second Derby. I don't remember it obviously, I was,
you know, almost two years old. But to know that that Derby that
we just had a few days ago had you know, it's the most watched
derby in my lifetime outside of the one in nineteen eighty nine. I mean,
it's kind of crazy because I'm sure it's just those that want to push
you know, the you know, the narrative that horse racing is dangerous and
we shouldn't do it. I mean, there was a few years there was
a lot of noise about that, right because there were some unexplainable things happening
with horses get getting hurt. I mean, it was a very real issue.
But they had a phenomenal week at Churchill, not just Derby the race,
but everything from I mean, I don't think there was any issue in
regards to horses being hurt or anything like that. And you know there's there's
some books that people are putting out. I mean no reason I know this
is because I'm on this list that I guess goes out to you know,
a bunch of people that have radio shows, and it's a PR company that
is trying to get you to bring on the author of different books to promote
their book. And that's just not what we do here. That wouldn't be
I think a good a good you know, the executive producer, mister John
All the company man, would agree like that, wouldn't That's not what we
do, right, you have somebody come on and I mean, if it's
like an interesting book, maybe, but nonetheless, what I'm getting at is
like there had been more noise than ever in the last few years, that
like, this sport eventually is just going to not be a thing anymore because
people are going to realize how danger it is. Is y're dangerous it is.
And again not to say that there still can't be some issues that could
happen, but a great week overall when it comes to that, which I
don't think there were any issues, and what I can't figure out, and
this is probably there's no way to say this without it sounding like, you
know, I'm thinking, like damn, why would that many people watch the
Derby? Like I get it. We just explained how there's something electrifying about
watching those two minutes that it is. It clearly isn't just us, right,
there's twenty point one million people that watched it. I always assume like
it's always us that Again, I've said this many times the Derby has Being
able to go to the Derby and help with the coverage for has has helped
me realize that the majority of the people that are there are not from here.
But when I see twenty point one million people watching, that's another thing.
Oh yeah, like this is our event, but man, everybody across
the world watches. But I didn't feel like, I mean, I really
did not feel like there was any any real big storyline leading up to this
race. And again, I probably wouldn't know it because I'm not somebody that
pays this close attention to that as others. But I'm just surprised it ended
up having that many people watching without you know, I just didn't feel like
there was a whole lot of buzz about the field itself. I mean,
I don't know, maybe you disagree, John, It's a good thing that
there were that many people that tuned in, But I mean, maybe one
thing is the fact that as each year passes, there's more states that legalize
gambling, and maybe when people are ambling online they have they're more inclined to
watch it from their house. That's a good point. That's a good point,
because yeah, I mean, let's be real, there are people who
in the last you know, I mean obviously here we we've not even had
it legal for an entire year in the state of Kentucky. But over the
years really the last five years or so, think about all the different states
that have that now have online sports wagering. Well, now you know these
sports books like DraftKings, I mean, they have their own app that is
horse racing. Not you know, it's it's tied to your DraftKings account,
but it's DK horse It's it's its own app. So yeah, I mean
that that is one of the things that initially when there was pushback from the
horse racing folks in this state as far as them not wanting there to be
sports gambling allowed. Like sports betting, right, you could bet on horses,
you can do the historical slot machine, but you know, they didn't
want you to be able to bet on a college football game. They fought
They fought it for a while because I felt like they you know, I
guess in their mind they would they probably thought people wouldn't bet on horse racing
as much, they'd only bet on other stuff. Well, what they came
to realize, and it's happening, is that the more people are betting on
all kinds of stuff, the more exposure it's going to bring to what you
can offer, which is the ability for them to bet on a horse race.
So yeah, the Uh then, I mean again, I would I
just would not. I would never have guessed that that we would have a
derby that ended up getting viewed by twenty point one million people, and again
the most since nineteen eighty nine. And obviously the finish was legendary. But
like, you don't know that going in, right, We don't mean it's
not something you expect, right, Like, it's not like you know,
it's not like we all tuned in because we knew it was Game seven of
the NBA Finals and it's bird magic or something like that. And maybe you
had a lot of people who are like, well, it's one fifty I
was just gonna watch It's the one hundred and fiftieth Kentucky Derby. Yeah,
uh, there was. There was a whole lot of you know, it
makes total sense. I mean that one hundred and fifty years is a long
time of doing anything. But how about how about Martha Stewart? What do
you think about that doing the riders up? Did you hear about her?
Goof no, are you serious? I saw her do the writers up?
But if she said anything wrong, I didn't catch it. Oh she said
Connecticut instead of Kentucky. Well, she kind of did you didn't hear about
this? No crazy fans from your round the norvel, the city of Louisville,
and the common meals of Hucky. I'm gonna say, Connecticut, I'm
welcome. Used at one hundred and fifty and anniversary race. I'm sorry that
sounded so bad. I am looking at the actual Louisville, which I didn't
even know this was a thing. There's an actual Louisville Twitter account, like
at Louisville huh. I don't know if it's part of like the Tourism Commission
or whatever. But they posted the video, so that just assumed it would
be like, you know, decent quality, but looks like it's just something
somebody videoed on their phone. Here we go. This this should this should
sound better. It still sounds bad. Sounds like microphone feed or something.
Still sounds bad. But either way, she's in What they I didn't understand
is what I mean. She's clearly a very famous person, but like,
I just don't know what would have what would have led to them thinking,
yeah, let's bring her in to do writers up. Like if I was
thinking the same thing to her, It's just like, yeah, it's so
it's random, right, Yeah. For for for a derby like this being
the one hundred and fiftieth, you would have thought you would have had more
of a local flavor to it. Yeah, And and because I mean,
I'm sure it was something that became maybe not a maybe not a national thing.
I mean, it's one of those things that this day and age,
like a lot of things, just ends up being shared one hundreds of thousands
of times on social media. But you know, I don't think it became
a national story where everybody was talking about her goof there where she initially said
Connecticut and then corrected herself to say Kentucky. But like when you have that
position at the derby and like, you know, the Derby's are event here
in Louisville, that's what we do, right, and then you can't even
get what state you're in, Like it'd be even crazier she didn't correct herself.
Yeah, I mean, actually would have been better. Actually, I
think I would have noticed it had that. Yeah. So anyway, shout
out to everybody that Churchill down's who. I mean, obviously they're opening a
lot more than just derby derby season, but man, this is their big
event. This is what. This is their time to shine and it just
I feel like it could not have been better in all in all aspects.
And a big shout out to the phenomenal photographer here in Louisville that has been
taking amazing photography in the sports world for for a long time. I don't
want to, you know, I don't want to make it. I don't
want to make him sound like he's an old guy, because you know,
I think he's he's I don't know, I don't know how old he is,
but he's been doing it in a long time. And his name is
Michael Clevenger, and I think that's his name. Let me make sure I
get it right, because I need to get his name right. He took
the photo that has gone viral because it is just an It is one of
the best photos you'll see when it comes to not only horse racing, but
I think just live sports photography, which again horse racing is a little different
than you know, taking pictures at a football game or a basketball game.
But he's the director of photography at the Courier Journal, and it is Michael
Clevenger, and I mean his picture, I mean, just absolutely amazing.
I don't know if you've seen it or not, John, but I'm looking
at it. I mean, it isn't that just I mean, that is
unbelievable. Is and you can feel while looking at the picture. Again,
you guys can't see it obviously, this is radio but I just retweeted if
you haven't seen it yet, But like just looking at you know, these
three horses here, you know, coming right down to the to the mean
to the wire, and you can just see the crowd in the background,
the media people there, you know, on the dirt essentially. I mean
that's like you can feel the you know, the adrenaline involved in this moment
and it's just you know, I know it sounds super corny, but it's
but it's cool. I mean, what a photo it looks like this.
I don't want this to sound like I'm discounting it because it's a compliment,
but it looks like it could be a movie post. Oh absolutely yeah,
I mean it's it. In fact, it does. That's exactly what it
looks like. If you just told me that this was an AI created picture
that they just wanted to get the perfect finish to a race where you know,
clearly everybody in the stands is watching to see that it looks as if
they both finished, all three of them finished at the exact same time.
Like I would totally believe it that it's that it's AI created because what a
what a shot. So again, this you can't see it. This is
radio, like I said, but if you're on Twitter, I just retweeted
it and you can find Michael on Twitter at m clevinger underscore c J.
All Right, Uh, real quick, something I wanted to uh to mention
on the on the portal side. How about Rick Patino. I mean,
I've always said, like I have no real emotional attachment to Patino at Saint
John's. I'm not going to root for Saint John's. I'm not going to
tune in to watch him, but I'm not going to root against him.
And I do feel like instincts would kick in and I would find myself like
if he's in the Big Eiast tournament, in a close game and it has
nothing to do with Louisville, I would probably find myself pulling for Patino because
you know, for what fifteen sixteen years however long, it was like that's
the guy I rooted for at all times because you know he was Louisll's coach,
but he did, he did get a get a big time transfer over
both Louisville and Kentucky. And I did not hear that. I mean,
I was not aware that Nord Chadowmere was like seriously considering Louisville, and I'm
not really sure if he was. But you know, Jeff Goodman is as
connected as anybody in college basketball. And also I know Jeff Goodman is very
very close with Pat Kelsey and his staff. So for Goodman to announce or
I guess, you know, to to I don't know if he I don't
know if he broke the news. But when sharing to his audience of college
basketball fans that Nord Chattomere had picked, I'm sorry, not mean We'll get
to Nord Chattomere just a second. But the young man who who Patino got
that Louisville was in on and so was Kentucky is Daveyon Smith, who who
again started his crew in Mississippi State, went to Georgia Tech, then went
to Utah, had a breakout year, and apparently Louisville was in on him
and recruiting him, but he ended up deciding to go play for Patino at
Saint John's, so it was Nord Chattle. It was Baylor who actually got
Nordchatdomere, which I'm not sure you know. Again, Louisville also was believed
to be in the mix there, but I didn't. You know, Sometimes
with these transfers, man, I don't. I mean, I think it's
almost impossible to truly know what level of interest there is on either side.
Right, Like you see initially the list of twenty schools, thirty schools,
Maybe that these these that these guys hear from, and then you hear of
visits being scheduled and then visits getting canceled, and it's probably because you know,
academically they can't go to that school or whatever it may be. But
that is one thing as as a fan, that is as you know,
I'm probably not as crazy about this as some others, but I'm locked in.
Man, I'm I'm as excited as as can be when it comes to
tracking transfers, figuring out who's going to be on this debut roster for Pat
Kelse. But what you know frustrates me and not really sure they're sure.
I'm not sure who there is to blame for it, but like not having
any transparency. It's not like I'm owde information, but like there's certain guys
where I'm like, yeah, I'm really hoping that they get this guy,
but like should I even be thinking about that? Like are they even really
in on him? Like you just never know. So Anyways, Patino ended
up getting davey On Smith, and I'd say Saint John's probably going to be
a preseason top twenty team next year. All right, quick break, We'll
come back on the other side. Wrap up at three o'clock hour. Keep
this thing rolling along. If you guys want to join as you can,
you can give us a call five OX two five to seven one seventy nine
hundred. And if you want a text in, it's the ln N Federal
Credit Union text line five O two sixty five three zero seven ninety again keep
it locked right here. On Sports Talk seven ninety I used to consider myself
to be, you know, relatively speaking, and a uh, someone who
was more interested in the NBA than the average uh, you know, a
louivillion uh. You know, the NBA doesn't really get much attention all during
their entirely too long regular season where they play eighty two games, and when
college basketball is going on, it seems like nobody's paying a lot of attention
to the NBA around here. But in the playoffs. I used to really
get into the playoffs. In last couple of years, I don't know what
it is. I think the playing game that they do is stupid. I
think seven game series for all of these rounds is stupid. But either way,
you know, I still love basketball. So it just becomes like something
this time of year. I'll just turn it on when I'm in home,
and it's kind of like background noise when I'm doing stuff. Because I used
to be a big NBA guy and now I've never felt less like informed on
the league. But I'll bring all that up to say I'm now more invested
and interested because of Donovan Mitchell and what he's been able to do. I
mean, he has been phenomenal. Fifty points on Friday Night, I believe
it was, and then another monster performance that helped the Cavs clinch that series.
Yeah, eighty nine points total in Game six in Game seven, it's
the second most in NBA history, behind only Alan ivers And who scored ninety
points in two thousand and one. So a heck of a finish for Donovan,
and you know he's he's he's the best Louisville basketball player ever in the
NBA outside of West Unseld And you know Wes Unseld that was a long time
ago when he played. Doesn't mean it, what doesn't count, doesn't mean
you know, I'm saying the hell with it, But you know that was
I mean, that's something that not only myself, but a lot of people
that are a lot older than me, they never witnessed the h you know,
the career of Wes Unseld in the NBA. You know, he was
drafted in nineteen sixty eight and played until nineteen eighty one. So you know,
it's not again not discrediting it, but of all the other players that
have gone on to have really good careers in the NBA from Louisville, right,
I mean, Daryl Griffith was a phenomenal player in the NBA. Not
like a legend, but a guy who had a hell of a career.
And he's not the old one. There's others, but I mean Donovan Mitchell,
I know he's not you know, won a national he's not won a
title yet in the NBA. But he's been a multi time All Star,
All Star. He is a star within the league, and he finds himself
putting up some of his best performances when it matters most. He did it
in Utah for a while and now in Cleveland. I mean, that's been
a good trade for Cleveland and he's been the face of that franchise. And
it seems like even in the two years that he's been there, every now
and then before the trade deadline ends, you hear of his name mentioned as
somebody that they may be willing to part with. And I'm not sure if
that's legit or not, because clearly he's still there, but he's he's great,
and you know, he's one of those guys that his presence within the
NBA right now. I don't know how much it helps Louisville, but it
certainly helps him to an extent, right because when he has eighty nine points
in back to back games in the NBA Playoffs, and that's getting a lot
of attention, people are gonna know he played a Louisville. Now, will
it lead to like a commitment from a certain player, I don't know,
But Kentucky having as much presence in the NBA that they have, Like,
let's be real, that is that is why Cal could have years where he
lose to Saint Peter's and lose to you know, Oakland and Kansas State in
the second round with Bruce Weber. But he's still going to get just about
any high school player he wants because he puts him in the NBA and that's
what kids want. And I know Pat Kelsey didn't coach Donovan Mitchell, but
still his I mean, having a guy that is one of the stars of
that league is something that even programs that are currently more successful than Louisville can
say, right like, you know, so really happy for Donovan. He's
one of the rare guys that actually got to know a little bit when he
was here. And you know, I can say he's a great guy and
not know him personally, not as if you know, we're gonna hang out
and get dinner when the season ends. But you know, there's enough people
rather it be people around Louisville, people in Utah when he was there,
people in the NBA. Like he is well respected within his profession at at
you know, at every level. So I'm gonna I can't wait to see
you know, if the if the Cavs can keep this thing rolling along,
and right now there are there's like this online debate. It started. It
started, I believe at ESPN Cleveland because they're now claiming that Donovan Mitchell is
the second best player in Cleveland Cavalier history, behind obviously Lebron James. But
there are still some Cavs fans that argue that it would be Kyrie and not
Donovant, which you know, I don't, I don't. I mean,
I have my own thoughts of Kyrie, and I'm not even sure if I
can be objective because I think Kyrie is a sensational player, talented guy.
I don't think he's a winner. I don't think he's ever won without a
star helping him. And he's doing that now in Dallas with Luca. Did
it with Lebron, and it worked when he was with Lebron, But clearly
he was his team's stunk when he was the man he was. He goes
to Boston, had a good culture there and he was he was a turret,
and they moved on from him, you know, he left. I
don't know. I don't know how it ended up playing out, But still
like I'm totally I couldn't give you an honest answer because I would not be
fair because I don't like Kyrie at all, and I'm a big fan of
I mean, I'm a big fan of Donovan Mitchell. So at least I'm
telling you I would be you know, it would be hard for me to
be objective there because I think Donovan's a better player, better locker room guy.
But you know, again, I'm probably you know I'm biased. Yeah,
eighty nine points in two games. Unbelievable. All right, We've got
one hour in the books. We've got two more to go and a lot
more to get into, including some football talk. That's right. We've got
a couple of point spreads for Louisville football next year, including the Governor's Cup
game against Kentucky. A trend continues when it comes to who's favored in that
game in the offseason. We'll discuss it and also talk some more basketball stuff,
because obviously I'd be a liar if I tease this if I've got some
big update when it comes to the portal. But of the names that are
available that we know, Louisville has had some level of interest in. I
mean, if they can get a couple of those guys. I mean,
I think you'd have to look back at what Pat Kelsey's done and say this
could be acentially be a tournament team. All right, one more hour,
actually two hours left him. I'm getting ahead of myself here