It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety
Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think when we are getting
off our show, idiot. The kids are crying or turnl off, crying.
Their countries are screwing it up. Gold Play inter Murals, Brother,
Goldplay inter 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. In my ten plus years doing sports talk
radio here in the Kentucky and a market, I've never once claimed to be
the brightest. In fact, some of it's just you know, self deprecation,
but also at times I make it quite clear that you know, I'm
not the brightest guy around. And I really feel like a dumb ass right
now as we get the show started on a Wednesday, because it just hit
me, like maybe ninety seconds ago, that Derby is not I thought Derby
was still like three weeks away. Derby's not this Saturday, but next right,
yes, I mean yeah, two years from me under. I guess
that explains why here I am feeling like, man, I'm kind of getting
the Derby vibes earlier than usual, maybe because it's Derby one fifty and it's
going to be special. Well, no, it's because it's actually going to
be here really soon, which you know has me excited. And I do
want to talk about this coming up here before too long. I mean,
it's not going to lead the show. It's not going to be, you
know, a huge part of the show. But it seems, for the
first time, at least that I can remember, there's more noise out there
from locals about how expensive it is to go to Derby and how expensive it
is to even go to Oaks, and you know, I just I have
some thoughts on that. But as someone who fortunately and I mean very fortunately,
I've been able to attend many Kentucky Derby's because of my job technically also,
you know, I work. I mean a lot of you probably wouldn't
call it, you know, work, but it's hard work for me because
I'm not good at it. And that's just doing the random roaming interviews with
people. It's just not my you know, which I know some are thinking,
well, you do the vibe check stuff. Totally different game, totally
different game. So anyways, I've been fortunate to go without having to pay,
and I've never gone. I mean, if I could not get in
with the credential, I wouldn't go. Because I could. I mean,
I could probably swing it financially, but it would be, you know,
more money than I usually spend on like anything. And I can enjoy the
Derby without being there because of everything that comes with it. I mean,
I have like four different derby parties. We try to you know, hit
every now, you know, throughout the day, just because you know you'll
be free us derby parties. Yeah, exactly. So anyways, let's let's
get the party started, shall we welcome in a Wednesday edition Coffee and Company
Feel by Thornton's Nick Coffee. That's me the company Man, John Allen alongside
today taking you up until six o'clock. Don't forget you can take us with
you wherever you go. Listen live on the Aheart Radio WEP listen live at
seven ninety Louisville dot com and you guys can be a part of the show
today. We don't we don't have any guest schedules. So five O two
five nine hundred is the number if you want to give us a call.
We will open up the phone lines before too long. Uh. And text
line been a good text lin this week. Let's keep that going. It's
the l n N Federal Credit Union text line five O two sixty five to
three zero seven ninety so a lot to get to today. We may have
a uh, you know, a piece of news dropped throughout the show today.
And I'm not saying that as if I've heard anything specific, but I
think just with a couple of players, I think Louisville, Louisville, you
know, could be on alert, meaning like in any moment. Well,
actually, I'm curious how the process works, because I do believe there's got
to be some some strategic uh you know, planning here from I don't know.
I assume Pat Kelsey, I don't know, But the way these commitments
have kind of staggered, I suppose it could be simply these guys just coming
to those decisions at different times. But it seems like really all of the
commitments have been able to, you know, get a few days of really
being sort of in the limelight with Louisville fans because you know, it's it's
a new piece, and so far, I think every player that they've added.
You know, it's not that fans are claiming this is going to be
a team full of you know, all Americans, but you know, good
pieces, no doubt. And you know, I think Wesley Yates, the
transfer from Washington, you know, he was here yesterday. I don't know
if he's going to visit other schools, but it sounds like his visit went
really really well. And then on you know, Tray or the big Man,
hybrid big man. He's not you know huge, he's about six seven,
but he plays like he's about six to eleven. He's the transfer from
Long Beach State. He visited over the weekend. And you know what has
kind of helped me at least get a get a feel for when a commitment
could happen is if you see other visits that are that are lined up.
And I don't believe Trey or has any other visits that he is planning to
take. I mean, if he does, it's not out there. And
you know that's what's happened. I think with each of these commitments, in
fact, uh the other you know, one of the one of another example
that you know made me kind of just you know, think that that could
be a way to get a feel for when these things are gonna pop.
Was whenever the young man Nick Boyd from fau who visited and then within you
know, quickly after his visit, you know, there was other another visit
scheduled that was not scheduled when he visited Louisville, which told me, you
know, maybe he was going to go to any direction, and he did.
He went to San Diego State. So we'll see. On the Kentucky
side, no clue about any commitments, but they didn't hire a really good
assistant coach, a recruiter. For those who who you know, haven't heard
the news. Alvin Brooks the third leaving Baylor to come and coach under Mark
Pope. That's a good get because he has done things that Mark Pope and
the rest of his staff if not done. That's not an insult, that's
just the truth. He has gone into living rooms and been the lead recruiter
for some of the best players in America, let's say America, the best
players in America that have then gone to play for Baylor. So we'll get
into all that and a lot more. But where I want to start is
Reggie Bush getting his Heisman trophy reinstated. So it was I think this morning
ESPN, I believe had the exclusive here Pete Damil that he's going to be
getting back the two thousand and five Heisman Trophy and it will be a formal
reinstatement of the trophy, and it's going to happen today if it hasn't already
happened yet, and says the decision here comes amid what the Heisman Trust calls
quote enormous changes in the college football landscape, which is absolutely true, absolutely
true. So you know, I think it's good that Reggie Bush got his
Heisman Trophy back, but you know, I don't I would. I don't
really mean, it's not something I've given much thought about, Like it's not
keeping me up at night. So this led to a lot of Louisville fans
saying, well, hey, this is another sign that Louisville getting their twenty
thirteen National championship banner backup in the Youm Center could be happening. I don't
know, maybe sooner rather than later. And I've always kind of felt a
little bit, you know, on the outside with the majority of Louisville fans
when it comes to the banner. And what I mean by that is like,
I'm not bothered that the twenty thirteen National Championship banner is not hanging up
in the YOUM Center, doesn't. I mean, I think it's a stupid
punishment to, you know, insist that something didn't happen when we all know
that it did and we all really enjoyed it. So I just it's never
and I know that it happened, right, It's not as if it's been
wiped from my brain like they did with that you know, that silver stick
and men in Black, Like I know that it happened. I still have
great I don't even think about that when I think about the twenty thirteen team.
Rarely do I ever think about it at all, and I think more
often. I'm sure a lot of louisvill fans are kind of the same way.
Now. The one thing that really does make me, you know,
like if I do start to feel really bothered, and that's actually a stretch
because I don't even think at any point I've ever felt like really bothered.
Again, I'm not happy that it happened, but it's just a stupid punishment
that makes no sense. Now, if you're somebody that hates the fact that
it's not in the UMP Center. The record books don't show it. You
know, everybody has, I guess their own preferences. I mean, that
just doesn't bother me. But when I hear about you know what it's potentially
done to the legacy of guys who played on those teams, I mean,
I don't think of them in any way differently than I did in twenty thirteen
when they won the championship, and I know that they had no competitive advantage.
They did not win the National Championship because of what happened in Minority Hall.
In fact, that hurt them. They did not get any player because
of that. They actually lost a few players because of what was going on.
So I just I've never felt like I could match the level of angst
and you know, disappointment, anger, whatever you want to call it,
towards the NC Double. Again, they're stupid. It's a dumb punishment.
But as far as like me as a fan, I really don't it doesn't
bother me. I feel better for those guys because again, you know,
let's say I don't know, let's say you're Stephen Van Trees or I'm trying
to think of other because you know the other key players, I mean,
I don't you know. Let's just he's Rus Smith for example. Like Russ
Smith's is a businessman. You know, he's got his own bourbon and he's
still playing professionally overseas and he's a very successful professional in a variety of ways.
Let's just say Russ is, you know, chopping it up an initial
business you know, lunch or something with somebody, and you know they're not
as familiar with him as a basketball player. They're more familiar with him as
a businessman. And you know he's telling them about his career and that he
won a national championship. He would be shocked if you know, the person
across from him at this table either says or thinks, oh yeah, that's
the one that doesn't count because there were strippers involved. Like that, People
who aren't as locked into it as we are, they that's what they think
of. Like they think that Louisville, I guess, you know, was
able to have some crazy advantage due to parties that happened over like a four
year period or something in the student dorm. And that's ridiculous to even think
about. But people don't even think past what they see in a headline,
and that's what sticks with them because they're not invested. They don't care.
It's like that that bothers me. But you know, those guys seem to
be you know, they know, they know they won the championship, right,
they know that they are national champions. So I don't know if this
will lead to Louisville being able to have a better case against the NCUABLEA that
look, things have changed and you know, obviously a postseason ban or vacation
of wins I think is now kind of going to be off the table for
the NCUBA moving forward, which would make it to where you could then go
back and say, you know, we cooperated, so why would we not
you know, be able to put up our banner you know, years later
may happen. Hope it does. Wouldn't shock me at all, but I
still worry a little bit because again, we know it's nonsense that anybody would
claim that their title was one due to any of that stuff. But also,
you know, there was some awful things going on. You know,
I always say this, and I've said it for years, there's probably an
ounce of truth to what Katina pal said, but that alone is despicable given
what was going on. You know, a few individuals, as Rick Patino
always would say, you know they you know, they were involved in that,
and that's awful. I mean, that sucks. So I wouldn't be
shocked if, like, there are some that, you know, whoever's in
charge, right, whoever's in charge of the NCAA, that could potentially review
this and say, Okay, we're gonna we're gonna let them put the banner
back up. I gotta know who it is. But whoever that person is,
maybe it's multiple people. It wouldn't shock me if they just still know
the nature of what that scandal was and say, yeah, right, you
prostitutes in the dorm rooms, which you know that's technically I guess what was
alleged in Louisville. You know, cooperated and clearly found that some of the
things that she was saying was true. But the one thing that nobody it's
not comfortable to talk about because again it's just gross and awful. But you
know, one of the things that I know, and I have no problem
saying, like, there's like those guys who were there, whether it be
players or recruits, they just thought they were at a party, like they
didn't have a clue that anybody was paid to be there, which I think
makes them like innocent victims, to be honest with you, like if they're
let's say they hooked up with one of Katina's girls, you know, like
I feel like it's a violet, you know. It's just it's it's crazy
to have that happen and not know that like it was arranged via payment.
So anyways, I'm hopeful, just like everybody else, that the banner gets
put back up. But my thoughts as a fan, my feelings, my
memories, nothing has ever changed since that happened, and I think everybody's kind
of on the same page. But you know, it's it's ammunition used against
us from the rival and from a lot of other people, and that sucks.
But I just I don't I don't get caught up in that as much.
So I still think one day they'll be able to do it. But
as far as when, I'm not sure. Now Rick Patino a few months
ago, maybe a couple months, I'm not sure when it was he was
on part of My take the most popular podcast in the sports category. I
do believe big cat pft. Those guys do a great job, and Rick
was shining. I mean, just the fact that Rick was on that podcast
with those two guys like that, just you'd have told me that five six
years ago. I said, there's not there's no way like that. There's
not a chance in hell that what ever happen. But you know he's changed,
No, he tweets all the time now, you know he's he's become,
you know, a little more relatable than I would have ever expected.
He'll still say things that like, you know, you sit back and say
only Rick Patino would say that, and people just kind of run with it
because you know it's Patino being Patino. But he predicted whenever this podcast was,
I believe it might have been in January February, that Reggie Bush would
get his heisman back. And he still believes that Louisville will once again be
able to hold up the twenty thirteen banner. So if you never left Kentucky,
you would never go to Louisville, then you would never be the only
coach to get two at different schools. But I know people would be like,
oh, it's vacate, it's vacated. You still have the tattoo.
Yeah, we don't count via the tattoo. You didn't get your tax.
That's the greatest hypocrisy of all time. First of all, what went on
it was, I've said it many many times, was reprehensible behavior by a
few people. So the NCAA came and said it was fifty six hundred dollars
in three years period, for four times a year that they did the wrong
thing. It had nothing to do with steroid use. It had nothing to
do with breaking rules to an advantage on the basketball courte. We earned that
championship. You can't take down a championship. You can't change history, whether
it's a wartime, peace time, you can't change history. We won a
national championship playing a great game against Michigan Peyton sever Russ Smith, Luke can't
Gorky Jang Mantres harrold see Man. They won it. Kevin Ware broke his
leg. They won the championship, fair and square. Nothing else could get
in a way. Literal lady, the NCAA is gonna get smart and do
two things. Put that championship banter back, and the second thing the heisman
people will do. Give give that Heisman trophy back to Reggie Bush. Yeah,
agreed. So in the end, one of those things has already happened
as of today, and I just don't know, like, do you have
to fight the NC double A like if you are, like if you're heard,
do you have to petition every year? Not sure what the process is,
but I just again I kind of have a little bit of fomo if
you're missing out, Like I just I feel like an outsider because I'm just
not as emotionally wrapped up in the banner thing because again, like I know
that it happened, and there's no scenario that anything that went, I mean,
it didn't give you an unfair advantage. If you break rules, you
should still be punished. And where this just got really really tricky, and
it was very rare compared to most NC DOUBLEA cases. In fact, I
don't think there's been anything like it where this was viewed it as as an
impermissible benefit fit a sex sact, right, rather it be a I don't
know, a lap dance or you know, the actual thing whatever that was
viewed as impermissible benefits to get players, which again, like I don't want
to go down that path, but like, just think about like who was
there, and and like, yeah, let's let's bring this person in.
This will really make them think that, this will really make them think that
this is what Louisville has to offer. Like it was just it was you
know, it was stupid. But either way, the NCAA cannot put a
dollar amount on what those sex sacs are worth, right and in my opinion
personally, I've never experienced those acts with any of those women there, but
I'd say it's not worth much at all, just you know, my opinion.
But because they can't do that, right, it's not like, hey,
this this this handler paid six hundred dollars for a flight for this player.
So that's a six hundred dollars thing. You sit one game, one
half or something. That's how the you know, that's how he usually works
when it comes to impermissible benefits. There's no way to put a dollar amount
on a sex sack there. And again, just the name mature of it
is gross. So they just decided, you know, Louisville, Uh,
we're gonna, we're gonna drop the hammer on you. And you know it
sucked. Louisville was punished in a major way, uh recently, but one
of the things that you know, this is and I hate that we're talking
about Louisville basketball. Uh, you know, the history of scandals whenever we've
got some real momentum within the fan base with Jeff bram and by the way,
happy birthday to Jeff Bram I love you, uh and and Pat Kelsey
who's injected some life into this fan base in a way that I didn't know
was possible considering the last couple of years. So you know, I hate
to be bringing up the old stuff that you know kind of put us in
this position, but promise you we'll move on in just a second. But
the whole death penalty that Louisville like kind of got but didn't get right because
of the amount of time they had to wait, Like that had nothing to
do with Katina Powell in the banner. Like you know, I think people
know that, but sometimes it just gets it. You know. It feels
like Louisvill's been punished enough. Like when people say that, like what you're
referring to is the Brian Bowen nonsense, not Katina Powell, Like that was
already done. You didn't even have a like whenever you got hit with the
postseason ban and vacation of wins and you know, records all that kind of
stuff Fatino got. You know, I actually I'm not even really sure what
Patino got, to be honest with you, I don't remember. But you
know when that happened, like it was done the next year, you were
in the tournament, right, So the Bride Bowen thing when it came around,
and there was just no update in the entire thing, and it was
just a complete mess because the FBI was involved. Like that's truly what led
to Louisville really, in my opinion, getting the death penalty. The Kenny
Paine era was the death penalty. And to be fair to Kenny, like
not all that was his fault. Most of it was as far as it
being as bad as it was. But you know, you never end up
having to hire Kenny Payne if that thing, meaning that whole case didn't drag
on for five years something like that. So you know, I didn't look
at the banner back one day, But you know, I have no bad
thoughts, bad feelings, bad vibes about anything from that championship run because again,
like it happened, like I know that it happened, and I enjoyed
it, and you know that'll never change. All Right, Let's let's do
this. Let's take a quick break, get our first time out out of
the way, and we'll keep this thing rolling along. We'll talk some derby
stuff on the other side, and I'm not going to embarrass myself anymore than
I usually do on the show, because what I mean though, I'm not
going to talk about actually horse racing and the dirty because I couldn't tell you
a horse in the field, which probably not something I should admit, but
you know, I'm honest with you. We'll also talk some nil because it
sounds like the five or two circle they are in fact doing some things to
kind of cover themselves when it comes to players showing up, getting paid and
bouncing, which has happened lately and when it and with Reggie Bush getting his
Hidsman back, it's led to a really good back and forth on Twitter among
you know, a lot of people, hundreds of people with things that you
know, the to do list, when I think it actually might have been
Big Cat from Barstool to put it out there the updated to do list after
Reggie Bush got his Highsman back, just you know thing like Louisville's titles,
one of them on there, you know, Barry Bond's Hall of Fame,
that kind of stuff. There's a lot of suggestions that like that I agree
with, and some things that I didn't even realize, you know, stupid
punishments that are just you know, we're dumb then and are even dumber now.
So again, we'll be very busy throughout the afternoon, and I hope
you guys stick with us right here at is Coffee and Company, and we
are feel But Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety. All right, So John,
I U, I now know the destination of this trip I'm going on
next month. Yeah, we are going to go to Treasure Island, Florida,
which i'd heard of. It didn't know at all where it was in
the Sunshine State, but it you know, we flying to Tampa that area,
Tampa Saint Pete area, and it's relatively close. I mean it's probably
not you know, just a few miles away. But we're going to spend
uh, you know, spend four nights there next month at the end of
May. So you know, I'm excited. I don't It's a trip,
you know, maybe thirty six hours ago. I never knew what was going
to happen, and now we're going somewhere new and it's exciting. So it
so this is close to an area, uh that I've been to before,
that is Madeira Beach, which I was only there for like two days.
It was a bachelor party and it was it was awesome. So I guess,
you know, if the vibes are similar, then I think we should
be, uh, we should be, you know, in good shape.
Do you do you have a regular spot in Florida when you or your family,
you know, you and the wife whenever. When I was younger,
my family actually used to go all the time to Reddington Shores, which is
just north of Madeira Beach. That just sounds nice and fun. Fact that
I didn't do this obviously on purpose at all, but I'm wearing my John's
Pass Madeira Beach shirt today coincidence. That that's just that's vibes align. It
is. That is that's good stuff. And thank you to a couple of
my friends who you know, were listening yesterday and I guess they felt sorry
for me for just acting as if I'm not you know, super spontaneous,
which I still don't think that. I am. But I didn't realize,
like, you know, that was a bad thing. You know, I
don't. I didn't feel like I was being hard of myself. I was
just being honest about myself. But about two years ago it might have been
the same. I think it might have been the same summer. I believe
it was the summer of twenty twenty one. I believe I ended up going
on two trips to bachelor parties, but I surprised the entire bachelor party group.
Have ever told you the story before? No, I don't think so.
So if you're a loyal listener, you may remember this. But when
I say loyal listener, I mean, you know this is from years ago.
But it started with my buddy Brad, who got married and they stayed.
I think it was like four days in Madeer Beach, and I'd never
even heard of it. So for the longest time, I just didn't.
You know, these things are planned out at times like seven eight months in
advance, which is you know how you should do it right. But I
have a hard time committing, not just because of you know, a me
issue, but like for this job, like it's if I'm going to spend
money on a trip like maybe something that comes up to where like it just
doesn't make sense for me to go, and I can't go, so you
know, I try to, you know, book something rather it be eight
months out, maybe you know, two three months out, like that's what
I would prefer, especially, you know, depending upon what time of the
year it is. So for the longest time I couldn't go, and then
I was able to make it work. So they were there. They've been
there two days, and I drove up to Cincinnati, took a frontier flight
to Tampa, drove there and met him. They were coming up from the
beach completely hammered. Uh and and I was walking towards the beach from the
from the airbnb we were staying at, and it was a big surprise they
were you know, it was like that ignited the you know, the rest
of the trip because you know, I'd like to think I bring some good
vibes with me, and they didn't expect him, and then boom, there
you go. You get Rick coffee, not Nick coffee, which is the
bachelor party version of me, which it's not just a bachelor party three,
it's thing. It's really just you know, also the old neighborhood version of
you. Right, that's right, that's right, debauchery, that's really what
that's that's what fits with that. And then you know, six weeks later,
this one was more planned out. I have a buddy who I grew
up with that now lives in Seattle, has lived in LA and he got
married and they did something private, but he wanted to do a Vegas trip
with some of his friends from back you know, back here, you know
where we grew up. And three of my buddies ended up being able to
make it, and you know I I I couldn't for the longest time.
And then finally, you know what, you can get a pretty convenient flight
to Vegas, to be honest with you, even in direct so, my
buddy who actually had you know, was having the you know, the It
wasn't really a bachelor party. It was more of like a you know,
just a trip for you know us to celebrate the fact that they got married
and we hadn't seen him in years. Again, he lives across the country.
Well, he needed to know how many people were going, so I
let him know, like, hey, I'm actually gonna be there, but
I haven't told anybody yet, So let's you know, let's let's let's surprise
him. So he ends up taking him to Fremont Street once they land,
and I, you know, end up following behind like you know, twenty
minutes later and an uber and they were surprised. And I kind of liked
doing that, Like that could be like my party trick, right, like,
you know, know if people going on some I gotta get invited first
and then turn him down. You know, gonna want to just show up
to places where you know, people didn't want me to be there. But
that that was probably like the most like out of nowhere quick you know,
it really wasn't out of nowhere, but you know it's something that is probably
a little bit outside of you know me, It's not really doesn't fit with
how I typically operate. All right, it is Coffee and Company again.
We are field By Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety and let's just get
into the derby stuff here because in trust me, I don't mean like talking
horse racing. Not to say that, you know, that's a terrible thing
to do. It's just not something i've you know, should be doing.
Because I make a fool of myself. So DRB I believe it was did
a story yesterday talking to some locals asking about the prices of Derby, and
I didn't realize that, you know, the infield for the Derby, I
mean, is me just double check here? And by the way, infield
is just to get in, right, It's not like you know because now
they have all inclusive, which I think a lot of people know that,
but I'm maybe I'm wrong. So yeah, just to get in the infield,
which is now kind of its own area. You cannot go back and
forth between infield and the rest of the track you like you used to be
able to. So to get in for Oaks infield, I think it's seventy
five Derby is one hundred and thirty dollars just to get in. So if
you do that in the infield, and then you're buying drinks, very expensive
drinks, a lot of them throughout the entire day, food betting of course,
Like that's a lot of money. So I think people will still pay
it, right, Like I I wouldn't do it one because I don't have
a whole lot of money. And you know, for me, I'm somebody
that maybe you're like this too, John, I think you're not cheap,
but probably wise with your money. If if I know that I've paid something
that I would never typically pay, Like as far as the amount of money
to do something, it's almost just not worth it for me overall, because
I'm just gonna think, like, man, this better really really meet or
probably exceed expectations for me to feel like it was worth it. Yeah,
you almost can't even enjoy just the simple basicness of it. Yeah. So
look, if you're gonna go, the way to go is to get a
ticket. Now that's a lot more expensive, but again you get all inclusive
alcohol, you know, soda, food, I mean, and the food's
not you know it's it's it's good food. You know it's you keep in
mind like it's it's they're buying a ton of stuff in bulk, like it's
it's not like you can just customize a whole lot of stuff. I think
there are some like unique areas where you can get like I don't know,
there's a lot of food options so starting I believe in twenty twenty one they
made this change. So again, there are may be people that didn't realize
that. So if you're just thinking like the infield. Well, no,
you can't go to the paddock of that area, which, by the way,
they debuted the new paddock today for the media, which I saw some
of the pictures videos. You know, it looks cool. But here's my
prediction about the paddock, Like people who who you know aren't there regularly or
maybe for the first time, they're gonna say how nice it is and how
awesome it is. And others will say that too, you know, locals
even, but it's just gonna be so much different than what we've all known.
And I actually think post Derby you'll have people saying that the paddock sucks
and doesn't mean that Churchill Downs did something wrong, but that you know,
that's it had been really the same for how long and then they're gonna just
up and change it. So I just think if you're you know, you
can enjoy Derby meeting, the Derby season, the day of Derby, like
there's so like there cannot be a day in Louisville or maybe Kentucky for that
matter. I don't really know. I'm sure you know, the state itself
celebrates it to an extent, but probably not as much as we do because
you know, it's it's in Louisville. But as far as the three hundred
and sixty five days of the year, takeaway Christmas, Thanksgiving, that kind
of stuff. But I would be willing to bet that the households in the
Louisville, Kentucky and area, there are more parties that people throw on that
day than any other day outside of those major holidays. And there are some
that have been going on for thirty years. So you can not pay for
a ticket to that and still bet and you know, bring your own booze,
do your food, hang out with friends, you know, go inside
and use the you know, don't have to wait line with the restroom probably
so I know a lot of people to do that. But here's the thing.
They'll still have a full house on Friday at Oaks. They'll still have
a full house on Saturday for the derby, and they'll probably go up each
year as far as the price, and there'll be enough people that will pay
it and go and and that's just the market right Like they're not gonnak.
They could raise it even more than what it is right now and it's not
going to impact them in a negative way. Some would say maybe it's greed.
But you know, I mean if they can, mean, do you
think they're just taking advantage of it being one to fifty or do you think
this is really the like every year it's going to get more and more expensive.
That's a great question. I wouldn't think that they would that they would
think I wouldn't believe that they would feel justified in an increase just because it's
one fifty and not one forty nine. Like there's nothing. Mean, it's
cool that it's one fifty one hundred and fifty years, but it doesn't change
the experience of the derby. Now, maybe they've got the new Padduck and
that's like something they really you know that they you know clearly they invested a
lot of money in it. So I don't know what the reason would be.
But you know a lot of times over the years, think prices just
go up, right, I mean, that's just uh, you know,
it's just how it how it works right now, and that's really been you
know, cost of living that kind of stuff. It's always gone up.
But I feel like we've we in the last few years, like everything's way
more expensive and there's like we had to play I don't want to say,
we but businesses in general felt like they had to play catch up after COVID.
Yeah. Oh, it's kind of the way it's felt. Yeah,
and it probably hasn't impacted their you know, their sales. I mean,
I don't know that for sure, but I mean, is there been one
place that you go not like all the time, but you now know,
like in your last I don't know, however, many trips over the last
nine to twelve months. Like it's just way more expensive than it was even
like a few years ago. It's not a specific place, but it's fast
food in general, fast food. In the last three or four years,
I'd say the average meal price has probably gone up four or five dollars.
Yeah. So I don't eat a lot of fast food, and you know,
I only really go to a couple of places. If I'm gonna do
it, I'm a Taco Bell or you know, McDonald's. Guy. There's
other great places too, but I just, you know, I don't usually
eat eat fast food. And when I do, like, you know,
it's that's convenient for me. But man, Taco Bell, which I love
them, and I'm not gonna stop going there. I probably should for a
variety of reasons. But it used to be the cheap place for fast food.
And maybe maybe that was like before you were old enough to you know,
be spending your own money and getting fast food. But like Taco Bell,
like you could get you could get a lot of stuff and it wouldn't
be nearly as expensive as as another place. Now. I mean when we
go there with my with you know, the four of us, my wife,
myself, and my two children, and my kids don't get meals.
They get like a cheese roll up and in order of like the chips and
the cheese. I mean, we're paying like forty dollars, Like it's insane,
and I'm sure every other place is like that, but I just don't
go there. But that's the one that all like I as soon as I
as soon as I pull out for you know, you know, pull up
to the window from the drive through where you order, you know, like
it just hits me. Soon as I put in my car and drive to
go, I'm like, damn, what happened? I could have gone to
sit down restaurant in eight for cheaper. I feel like most places used to
have like their signature, like five dollars or six dollars box where it seemed
like it was a lot of food for a good amount of money. That
stuff doesn't exist anymore. Your average meal, at least for me, if
I have to have fast food on a night, just a random night out,
it's nine or ten dollars for one meal. Yeah, that's no joke,
double than what it was. Less get less with it, less with
it? Yeah, well never mind. I was gonna say something else,
but you know, I don't want to. I don't want to get myself
in trouble. So just real quick before we move on from the Derby stuff.
So just so, the cheapest ticket right now at Vivid Seats to get
into Oaks, And again this is with all inclusive. It's two hundred and
thirty seven dollars. Now there's going to be fees added, I'm sure,
and parking, you know, but if you plan on, you know,
drinking some booze, you're gonna be there all day. I mean, I'm
not gonna tell you it's worth it, because that's only something you could determine
as an individual. But that is I think that's a better deal than paying
the seventy five bucks for the infield that it only just gets you into the
infield when you just you know, you don't have any shade, like it's
it's just out, you know. I think that's that that would be the
way to go because you got to keep in mind, like if you get
I mean what a beer cost at the Kentucky Derby. I feel like last
year it was like fourteen dollars, So you get two beers, that's thirty
bucks. If you leave a dollar tip each time, like that adds up.
So again, I can't tell you. I'm not gonna tell people how
to spend their money, but if you do plan on going eating, drinking,
you know quite a bit, I think that would be the way to
go rather than the infield. Now, the Derby, the cheapest ticket to
get in right now is eight hundred and forty one dollars, So you know
that's much more expensive, but you know people will pay it. Again,
it's going to be packed, it's going to be crowded. But I will
say this, I think we talked about it a couple of weeks ago when
Derby came up John and I mentioned that one of the things that I never
get I haven't gotten used to yet, and it's happened every year in it's
probably even more so each year that's passed since I've been working Derby for has
I just assume because it's our event, like that, a massive chunk of
the people there are from here each year that I've gone. Really, since
you know, twenty eighteen, I feel like I've realized that, you know,
the vast majority of people there are not anywhere from here. They're not
from here at all, you know what I mean. And I say that
because a lot of the locals have probably decided, you know, I can
enjoy Derby, have a great Derby season, Derby events, the Derby itself
with parties and stuff like, I can have it without going to it,
you know what I mean. I think something people should go to at least
once. But then again, you know, there's a lot of running so
many out of towners because they want to have that experience that they'll only get
maybe once or twice in their life. Yeah, most people who not I
mean, there's no way to know this numbers, you know, for sure.
But you know, when I would find, you know, somebody with
a crazy hat or somebody that really you know, not just dressed nice,
but you know they're kind of a character as far as what they're wearing.
And I talk to them and they're from another city, like it's not their
first, second third, it's like their tenth or twentieth thrty. Like it's
probably not an annual thing for people, but that that is something that you
know, as somebody who I mean, I have no I have nothing to
gain by the derby being popular or not, but it is, you know,
it's what we do. It's it's the big event that you know,
happens every year where there are more eyeballs on this city from across the globe.
And I feel like each year we execute and the people that come here
really love it and they come back. So shout out to Churchill Downs and
guess because of all that said, they can charge whatever they want and people
will probably pay it. All right, let's get to our next break.
What I want to do here. On the other side, there's an update
that kind of just got you know, ignored, I feel like in the
portal meaning like now like it became immediate today, something that will you know,
speed up the decisions for some of these guys that are considering transferring.
And again Tea, you know tall you know, setting up teasing as they
say, like nil, like you know stuff. I don't know how interesting
that is to people, but it sounds like the five oo' two circle specifically,
and I'm sure other collectors are doing the same thing across the country.
There's starting to be some protection on their end as far as what they can
do to prevent people from showing up, taking money and leaving. Well,
I guess they can't stop them from leaving, but you know they will be
required to pay it back, which is the way that it should be.
So we'll get to that in a lot more. Keep it rolling along here,
it's coffee and company. We are fueled by Thornton's on at Sports Talk
seven ninety. One of the first texts that we got on the text line
today is actually before the show started, somebody asked me if I was going
to sing Happy birthday to Jeff Brom. I won't do that, but you
know I will wish him happy birthday once again anytimes you think I'll say that
during the show today we're now at two, but your happy fifty third birthday
to mister Jeff Brom. All right, let me tell you guys about my
friends at the Louisville Men's Clinic. Had a good call with Brendan, one
of the associates there at the Men's Clinic, and I'm going to be trying
one of their other services coming up here soon. One of their one of
their weight loss therapies. It's more of a program to kind of, you
know, help you manage you know, kind of manage which you eat,
that kind of stuff. But there's different options if you're so if you're looking
to lose weight and you need some assistance. I mean, they've got a
variety of different weight loss they therapy options that you can choose from. But
for me, it was the low T that really got me started with the
Men's Clinic. And you know, may not be low T for you.
Maybe it's a rec talvis function and that's uncomfortable, but I don't know why
anybody wouldn't do something about it. And that's something is to go see doctor
Wood at the louis Of Men's Clinic. Louis Men's Clinic. Dot com is
their website. The number is five O two four four four four thousand.
They have helped thousands of men here in the Kentucky and area for over ten
years and I know many of them, myself included. It's one of those
things where you think, Wow, why didn't I do this sooner? So
better late than ever again louisvill Men's Clinic dot com. You can click make
an appointment on their website or you can give them a call FABO two four
four four four thousand. All right. So, the change here in the
transfer portal that I think just kind of it was actually in. It was
in last week's NCAA transfer legislation, and it was a significant update to college
basketball and the calendar, but it didn't seem to get really noticed today.
I think it might have been Jeff Borzello of ESPN who really kind of put
this out there and made everybody realize, oh, this is pretty significant.
So all transfers need to be put in the portal by May first. The
change here is that that includes a graduate transfer, so you can't sit around
and wait. You have to be in by May first, no matter what
your situation is. There is an exception where you can you can end up
getting a window to hit the portal if your coach leaves. But I think
at this point, as we get till you know, as we get to
the end of April. It's very very rare for someone to be at mean,
I don't think any coaches are going to get let go. I mean,
I'm sure maybe one of the three hundred and sixty something Division one schools
maybe they make a change because you know, but the cycle itself of you
know, coaching changes is over as far as guys either being retained or fired.
So the holding out hope that somebody may just you know, be trying
to finish up school and then bail because they can because they graduated. That's
over, at least, you know, until maybe somebody hires a lawyer because
the NCAA just continues to lose. But I like this rule. I think
you should you know, the fact that they've always taken care of and really
you know, rewarded players who graduated and had eligibility left. I mean,
that's how the whole thing started, really and then you know, the grad
transfers is when we really started to see at least you know, a handful
of notable players moving on to other schools. And then you know, the
whole thing changed in the last last few years. But last year there were
you know, for example, Bob Huggins got fired because of his DUI thing
that was not I mean, that was a rare exception and that led to
Trey Mitchell being able to hit the portal and he was a big piece for
Calipari, especially from you know, veteran, from a veteran standpoint, and
then you had Javon Quinnerly. This is just this is an example that I
that I mentioned from time to time because this is just some shady stuff.
But again it's another example of the players having every bit of the power and
using it to their advantage. And I guess you know, you can't be
mad at them, be mad at the system. Well, the system has
changed because there were guys who were going through everything throughout the off season.
Right we're talking you know, spring, they're still on campus, they're working
out, trying to get better, probably making an I own money. And
in the summer, you know, a lot of these schools will go on
a summer trip. Right every three to four years, you're allowed to take
a trip abroad where you have you know, some games, and you know
you Quitterally is the one guy that I remember there being a lot of outrage
from like college basketball writers because he never had indicated at any point that he
was looking to leave, but he knew deep down that through summer school he
was going to graduate. So Natoates, by the way, still ended up
making a final four despite losing this guy, he ended up going to Pimp
to Memphis to play for Penny Hardaway. But you know, that's a guy
that just knew. Hey, I'm not going to tell anybody, you know,
because you know who knows. Maybe I'll change my mind. But also
if I tell him, then it'll be very uncomfortable, you know, a
few months, and I still want to take advantage of you know, Nil
and this in the facilities and all that kind of stuff. Well then as
soon as you know, he got closer to actually graduating finishing summer school,
he hit the portal. And he's not the only one, but he was
a notable player. And that that I mean, I don't and I think
again, guys who graduate should be rewarded, but they should also have to
hit the portal like one year or the same day that everybody else does.
So like, for example, there's a guy I can't think of his last
name, but a guy that's apparently going to transfer, well he's transferring from
well, actually I don't know. He just make sure I get this correct
because one of the players for Mark Pope, who was I believe his best
I don't know if he's his best player, but he's his best NBA prospect.
He is Jackson something. Is that ringing a bell at all? I
mean, I'm looking at the authority for Kentucky, you know, Kentucky Sports
Here at Kentucky's sports radio. I don't see anything about it. But there's
a guy named Jackson. I think Jackson Robinson. Yeah, that sounds right
with an X. Yes, okay, yeah, So he's apparently gonna go
pro and you know he's not looked at to be a really highly regarded prospect.
So I think Kentucky fans just assume, well, he's gonna graduate,
so he doesn't have to hit the window here. He can go through the
process and then just decide, you know, to pull out for the draft
like the end of May, and then he'll be ready to go for Kentucky.
Well, now you know, he has to enter the portal. So
if he doesn't enter the portal by May first, which I don't know why,
it wouldn't just leave your options open. But if he doesn't, that
means he's not he's either going to stay at BYU for that last year or
however many years he has left, or he's not considering college and he's all
in on the NBA. Which I don't know much about this guy, but
I think there'll be a lot of players that see themselves kind of maybe as
like an early to mid second round at best. But this draft is believed
to be the weakest draft in the history of the NBA, so it could
lead to some guys really improving their stock when they go through the process and
just deciding, Look, you know, there's no scenario I would ever be,
you know, picked in the twenties of a draft. But you know
what, this draft is weak as hell, and I'm gonna take advantage because
I think my agent has told me that I'm going to be in that spot
and that's life changing money. I mean, there will be people, and
again it's probably an exaggeration. You never know what to believe when people are
talking about the draft because they stand nothing to benefit by telling anybody about what
they think about players any of that stuff. It's all agent driven. But
you know, when it comes to the you know, this field, apparently
there's dudes that will get drafted maybe at the end of the first round,
that wouldn't be drafted at all in most drafts, in the two rounds,
just because of how weak this draft is. So again it sounds like exaggeration,
but who knows. All right, quick break, we'll come back,
keep it rolling along. We got two more hours to go right here on
Sports Talk seven ninety these