WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:10.000 It's time for coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine 2 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:21.000 day. Now here's Nick coffee. All right, let's get it started. 3 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.879 Friday afternoon hour number two. Here Coffee and Company. That's us. We 4 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.079 are fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety and we now bring in a 5 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:32.840 friend of the show, mister Jeffrey Greer. Jeff, I was, I 6 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:35.240 was, I was thinking about it earlier. I don't really know how to 7 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:39.280 introduce you anymore because I still always think of hoops when I think of you. 8 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:44.200 But I know now that you're now an executive. You work for Soccer 9 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:48.119 Holdings, part of the Racing Louisville, the Louisville of City family, so 10 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:51.840 you know, you know, you're just Jeff Greer. I feel like everybody 11 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.159 should know Jeff Greer. I know that most of them do. But how 12 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.920 should I? How should I introduce you to this, this worldwide audience that 13 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:03.200 we bring you on to to talk to. Well, first of all, 14 00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:04.719 thank you for having me, Nick. It's nice to chat with you, 15 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:11.239 and I will say I'm really excited for you to open the check that my 16 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:17.640 mom is sending you. But yeah, I mean you could just say you 17 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:19.719 could just say it's Jeff and we'll go from there. Okay, So here's 18 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.480 what I'm gonna do. Your answer has given me my answer, which is, 19 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:26.680 I'm just gonna each week we talk to you whenever that is, I'm 20 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:32.359 gonna think of like a of a different like professional wrestling intro to give you 21 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:36.400 to like, you know, he's he's the lady's pet, he's every man's 22 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:38.959 regret, something like that, you know what I mean, Like just those 23 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:41.359 kind of things I think could be, you know, could be, could 24 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.120 be a lot of fun. So it is Jeff Greer. He's with us, 25 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:46.439 and uh, we'll talk about a lot of different things with Jeff. 26 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:49.519 That's what we typically do. But I have to start with the momentum that 27 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:53.439 we have here with Racing Louisville, coming off a couple of victories. They've 28 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:57.599 got a big game coming up tomorrow. I mean, we're talking. I 29 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.400 mean, what do we call this team? I mean, in a in 30 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:04.560 y Gotham FC. They have to put the NJ in why they're New Jersey, 31 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:07.560 New York because Gotham's not a real place, right, I mean that's 32 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:13.080 they're fraudulent. Yeah, well they are. They are but very good at 33 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:16.360 soccer. Clearly, yes, they are very good. They're the reigning champions. 34 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:23.000 They've got I think something like seven members of the US national team and 35 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.479 their starting lineup a couple of Spaniards who just won the World Cup. So 36 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.439 yeah, they're I mean, they're very very good. Uh. That being 37 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:31.800 said, they play in New Jersey, so I think it's a little bit 38 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:38.000 fraudulent to claim New York and your mantle. It's like it'd be like when 39 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:43.520 the Nets played in New Jersey and and but they would call themselves like the 40 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:46.400 New Jersey New York Nets, Like how weird would that would that have been? 41 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:47.599 They were just the New Jersey That's not the same thing. Pick a 42 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:52.680 side, Yeah, pick a side. They try to kind of claim Philadelphia 43 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.960 too, so I just you know, it is what it is. But 44 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:01.080 it sounds like an identity crisis on their end. No comment. But no, 45 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:06.000 they are. They're very, very talented, and their coach is really 46 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:12.280 good and actually is a good friend of our coach Devanas and has been a 47 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:16.080 good supporter of her. So it's a big matchup tomorrow for US on ESPN. 48 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:21.080 It's the first time for Racing that they'll play on ESPN. That's awesome. 49 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.759 So yeah, I'm pretty excited about that twelve PM and hopefully it doesn't 50 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:29.560 get too hot out well. So in the last couple of a couple of 51 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:31.879 matches, you guys have had again momentum. As I mentioned, you had 52 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:38.120 the victory over Houston and Chicago. What has led to this? I mean, 53 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:40.719 obviously a lot of draws here throughout the season and a couple you know, 54 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.039 losses as well, and obviously some wins too. It's not as if 55 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:46.759 there haven't been wins along the way, But what do you feel like has 56 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:50.639 really been the biggest factor in these last couple of weeks. Yeah, So 57 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:53.439 it started out look the first through the first ten games, we played the 58 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:59.599 toughest schedule in the league. So this is a critical stretch now, really 59 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.599 starting with that Chicago game. In Chicago's a good team, they're in playoff 60 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:09.639 position, but we played the top five teams, including Gotham in New York 61 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:13.639 while in New Jersey back at the end of April, we played i think 62 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:17.120 it was eight of those ten games against the top five teams in the league. 63 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:19.920 So there were a lot of draws there that I think at the end 64 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:24.360 of the year, we're going to look back and be actually probably pretty happy 65 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:28.920 with the results to get points on the road against good teams. But in 66 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:31.439 the last couple of weeks, what I think has really clicked is this is 67 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:35.480 a team that, as people who have followed soccer here, no, look, 68 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:39.079 lu Citi has been good for ten years. I mean they have been 69 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:44.600 to every Eastern Conference final in the club's existence, and it's just a very 70 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:49.439 different league than the that Racing is in, and it's been hard to get 71 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:55.639 going. So you've got a roster of players, the foundational players of this 72 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:59.560 club, who have never really won at this level before, and I think 73 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.720 the big differences adding in some veterans who have been on some winning teams over 74 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:08.600 the years, and then believing in themselves and obviously our coach Bedianna's has a 75 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:12.560 big part in that and in equipping them with the right amount of information for 76 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:16.000 them to feel confident in those games. And I think it's really starting to 77 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:19.879 click for them here tactically. And look, we talk about this all the 78 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.879 time in hoops too, right where it's like you get a new coach, 79 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:29.480 how long did it take Louisville and the teams that Rick Patino had to learn 80 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.360 that matchup, that matchup zone. I mean, how it took them. 81 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:38.160 They would usually start zooming after the new year, right like then they'd really 82 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.360 click in and you'd be like, Okay, now they seem to have gotten 83 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.480 it, and then they've drilled it so much that they're starting to look confident. 84 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:47.360 And that's what we're seeing with this team, is that it's really clicked 85 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.360 in the last couple of weeks with what they're trying to do and they're starting 86 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:54.720 to grind out some results. Yeah, I get the sense that the you 87 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:58.160 know, the way things have played out since really day one with Racing Louisville 88 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.920 until now. As far as just the Olds, it's it's it's pretty expected 89 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:05.560 given you know how new it is. But we'll get back to racing in 90 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:08.800 a second. But you you brought up Blue City. I mean, do 91 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.600 people I think everybody says it, meaning that you know they're aware, but 92 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.720 do people really understand how crazy it is that since that club launched, they've 93 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:19.639 just been since I mean, they've been good since day one, and that 94 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:24.360 doesn't happen very often and really any level of sports, when you when you 95 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.360 get to a team that's kind of just you know, an expansion team created 96 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:31.480 from scratch essentially. No, it's very rare. We're so spoiled when it 97 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:35.000 comes to that. Yeah, you're just kind of used to going there on 98 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:40.439 Friday or Saturday and City wins, especially at home. I would say, 99 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:45.000 like, and anybody who's been with the club for the duration or for a 100 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.560 long time would tell you the same thing, as you know, the USL 101 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:51.079 Championship, the league that they're in, it's the second tier on the men's 102 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:56.000 side, would tell you the league has gotten a lot better and a lot 103 00:06:56.040 --> 00:07:00.600 more difficult in these last couple of years. And to that end, I 104 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:02.519 mean that makes it even more impressive. I mean, it's just like every 105 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:06.040 year they're right there at the end of the year, and it makes for 106 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:12.079 fun games because you expect them to win every time. So my hope for 107 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:15.160 Racing obviously a very different setup, but is to get to the point where 108 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:20.399 even if it's you know, a team that is fighting for playoff contention, 109 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:26.120 that at least at home, you come to those games expecting Racing to win, 110 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:29.040 and if they don't win, they play their butts off to try to 111 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:31.199 get at least a point out of it. Jeff Greer is our guest here 112 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:35.600 joining the Sun Sports Talk seven ninety talking about Racing Louisville's big match tomorrow taking 113 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:41.720 on Gotham FC. And I've been in Louisville my whole life, and I 114 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:46.680 know what really can get this city going as far as excitement and things you 115 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:50.879 can do to really just add some juice and honoring the greatest Muhammad Ali is 116 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:56.680 certainly a move that works every time. It's worked in basketball, it's worked 117 00:07:56.680 --> 00:08:00.120 in football, and you guys are doing that tomorrow with it being Ali Day. 118 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:01.639 What are some of the plans as far as how you guys are going 119 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:05.279 to honor the champ as you hope to have a big crowd out there tomorrow 120 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:09.000 at noon. Yeah, So that was something when I first started back in 121 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.800 twenty twenty two of trying to come up with some ways to connect more with 122 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:18.000 the different pillars in our community. We've done a lot of stuff obviously with 123 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:22.480 the team name around Turchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby as you would expect, 124 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:28.000 but the Ali Center I've known, I'm sure you're also mutually friends with any 125 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:33.360 more who is now the PR person over at at the Ali Center. I've 126 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:37.559 known her for a while, and there's a couple other folks over there who 127 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:41.320 I've gotten to know, and it was just important to me to try to 128 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:45.840 figure out a way to connect with them. And what it ended up being 129 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:50.720 was in June they have the annual Ali Festival where they do all this wonderful 130 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:54.279 stuff. It actually just ended, I think a couple of days ago now, 131 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:58.600 and so each year for the last three now this being the third year, 132 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:03.080 what we've done is it's just been kind of a combination of a bunch 133 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:05.960 of stuff. We take our players over to the Ali Center o our staff 134 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.960 to learn a little bit about about Muhammad, but also the work of the 135 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:16.000 center and just kind of appreciate what he means to the city and what the 136 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:20.519 Center means to the city. Lani Ali has spoken to our team now twice. 137 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.960 You spoke to our team yesterday. That's awesome, great, Yeah, 138 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.159 I told a great rumble in the Jungle story that that was awesome. The 139 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:33.559 little rope Adope, the genesis of the rope adope strategy and using your platform 140 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.840 to speak up and all that. And then at the game, you know, 141 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:41.879 we've got all sorts of video stuff and we'll have different content. But 142 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:45.320 the biggest thing that's that's great for us is, you know, we go 143 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:50.120 help them at the greatest give back, which is usually like stuff and backpacks 144 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:54.480 or like packing snacks for kids, or you know, little things like that 145 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.600 that that add up to a big project. And you know, other big 146 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:01.080 organizations around town help out, like U of L. And then we return 147 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:07.360 the favor by having one hundred plus employees and employee families and friends out to 148 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.919 the game. So they're gonna come out, have a great time. They'll 149 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:13.559 take up a whole section. The Ali family will be there, Lonnie and 150 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.200 their whole group. So it should be a great time. It's gonna be 151 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:22.159 a big opportunity for us to take advantage of that little Louisville mojo, like 152 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:26.000 you said, and put on for the city. And when it comes to 153 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:30.759 you know, the mojo, the vibe. You guys are having a pregame 154 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:33.480 happy How we're talking two dollars beers, Jeff, we're talking three dollars mimosas 155 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:37.159 starting at ten thirty. That's dangerous. That's dangerous. See in your language, 156 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:41.360 it's I mean three dollars mimosas. That's dangerous for Gotham, because if 157 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.320 I get a few of those in me, it's gonna be I'm gonna be 158 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:48.440 impacting the atmosphere there because that's that's a heck of a deal. Three dollar 159 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.519 momses come on now and two dollars beers too. I mean, that's that's 160 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:54.200 that alone is an incentive to get out there and check out a great matchup. 161 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:56.679 Now, I'm a little curious about the behind the scenes stuff when it 162 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:01.440 comes to you guys having this on ESPN two. How often, I guess, 163 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:03.960 how much of a heads up do you do you get when it comes 164 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:07.399 to knowing that it's going to be in that slot as far as television, 165 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:09.320 And I'm sure behind the scenes with you guys, you know, I know 166 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.200 you try your best every single opportunity to to show what you guys are doing, 167 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:16.759 whether it be if it's on national TV or not. But it's a 168 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.799 big opportunity. There's a lot more exposure here than which you're typically used to. 169 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:24.679 Yeah, so it's this has been a big year for the league in 170 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:28.840 general, and especially for us here in Louisville. We're obviously the smallest market 171 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:33.840 of the league. So you've got teams in LA and San Francisco and New 172 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:37.799 York and DC and Chicago, et cetera, cetera. So when they signed 173 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:41.279 this new deal, it was estimated to be about two hundred and forty two 174 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:45.039 hundred and fifty million dollars over the next couple of years. But it included 175 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:50.240 ESPN and included CBS, it included Prime Video, and they treat the Amazon 176 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:54.000 game was crazy. We had one back in May. They basically treated it 177 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:58.000 like it was Thursday night football, so they had like miked up sessions and 178 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.639 it's also like one hundred something staff here. And of course ESPN two is 179 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:09.720 a big one as well, so they actually moved ESPN it was ESPN two 180 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:13.480 one o'clock. They moved us up to ESPN regular for twelve o'clock for this 181 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:18.440 game. And that's I mean, ESPN two is great. ESPN sure, 182 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:22.039 obviously it's going to be an even bigger audience. So yeah, it's a 183 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:24.120 big chance for me to kind of, you know, help them out with 184 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:28.279 photos and different storylines, and that's a very fun part of my job. 185 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:33.679 Fin Yeah, that's your that's your lane for sure. And you know, 186 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:37.399 with sports being such a dominant thing right now, when it comes to live 187 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:41.799 television. Most I mean, people still watch content on their television, but 188 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:46.000 it's usually through a stream on one of these streaming services or maybe they know. 189 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.879 I guess people still use DVR, but I don't know if people like 190 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.919 so. Because of that, there's so many TVs, they just end up 191 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.600 on one of the ESPN family of stations. So like the exposure that you 192 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.879 guys are going to get across the country with this, like it's it's human 193 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:03.639 right. It may not be every single person is tuning in for the entire 194 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:07.679 game, but yeah, I mean I've kind of nerded out here lately, 195 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:09.559 just realizing and it makes total sense because I'm someone that's like this. But 196 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.799 the vast majority of people who are watching something live on television it is sports 197 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.320 related. So I think that's why the NBA is dropping in viewership. However, 198 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:22.759 their new METEA Rites deal is insanely lucrative because they have something that most, 199 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.759 not many, you know, entertainment entities can claim that everybody's watching their 200 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.639 stuff live in sports. You know. I guess maybe you can turn your 201 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:33.759 phone off and catch up later if you need to, But now that's a 202 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.559 big deal to see you guys getting on the deuce ESPN two. All right, 203 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.240 before we let you go, Jeff, I got to ask you this 204 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.039 when it comes to your coverage of Louisvile basketball. Obviously, you work for 205 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:48.240 the CJ for many years, work for the athletic very familiar with Louisville hoops 206 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:50.639 in the last really decade or so. Does it make you feel old like 207 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:54.279 it does me to see Peyton on the staff and Russ come back and give 208 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:58.399 a speech like he's been, you know, gone for thirty years. It 209 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:01.360 was great to see that. You know, as a fan myself, that's 210 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:05.600 awesome to see. But man, how these guys getting older makes makes me 211 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.919 feel like we're old? We're old dudes now? Yeah, I mean it 212 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:13.360 doesn't help when I walk into the office and I'm around all these twenty two 213 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:16.039 year old Yeah. Like I made a reference. I made a reference to 214 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:20.159 the R and B group one twelve today. I made the peaches and cream 215 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.200 got it? I mean, calm on, nobody got it. I did 216 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:31.360 it because you know that I'm a thing peaches and cream exactly. Thank you, 217 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:35.000 Thank you forgetting that. I knew you would, But no, you 218 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.840 know when it really hit me was when they were retired Russ's number. That 219 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:43.159 really was just like, Wow, things are progressing very rapidly here for me. 220 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:48.440 Uh you know, And but it's cool because you know, you could 221 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.320 kind of always and I know you would probably say the same thing as like 222 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:56.279 you can kind of pinpoint, like if you told me ten years ago, 223 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:00.840 hey, you know, Russ Smith would be would be you know, involved 224 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:05.440 in kind of eclectic business and and Peyton Steevie would probably end up being in 225 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:09.840 coaching, and Luke Hancock is on TV and doing the media thing, and 226 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:13.360 uh, you know, Kristin Cunningham is in coaching. Like if you told 227 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.360 me that ten years ago, I'd be like, yeah, that sounds about 228 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:20.879 right. Like it usually matches the personality of these guys you as you get 229 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:24.600 to know them and get to be around them. And there's still a couple 230 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:30.240 other guys who haven't quite ended their careers yet, whether that's in the US 231 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.840 or abroad where you kind of have an idea of where they may be headed 232 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:39.360 down the line. But yeah, it's certainly starting to add to my uh 233 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.279 to my gray hairs here every time I see those guys being treated like legends 234 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.840 instead of just like, oh, they played here two years ago. Yeah, 235 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:48.679 you're right, because the what you laid about laid out about us, 236 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:52.759 Payton even and even Kristen is true. I would have believed you. But 237 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.360 I'm thinking, where the hell did time go? Like how has how did 238 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.159 it? How did this happen? How did this happen so quickly, so 239 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:00.440 real quick? I know, I know, I said I let you go. 240 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.519 I got one more thing I want to share with you because I you 241 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:06.639 mentioned working with a lot of folks that are younger than you, and it's 242 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:10.000 the same thing around here. Like my producer John who's on vacation this week. 243 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.759 You know he you know, he's a grown up. He's got he's 244 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.120 got a mortgage and a wife. Like he's a grown up, but he's 245 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.559 twenty four. I'm I'm I'm thirty five, but to be thirty six, 246 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:21.799 So like I don't feel like I'm talking to a kid. But there are 247 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:25.519 things in reference that, like you know that I saw something on TikTok and 248 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.879 I did it with him the other day on the show. Like I'll mention 249 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.519 like five words to a song. You know, you mentioned the peaches and 250 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.720 cream thing, and I'll instantly think, like, how do you how the 251 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:36.639 hell do you not know that song, and then I'll think like, well, 252 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.519 yeah, he probably was two years old. It makes total sense, 253 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:42.159 and that there's nothing that makes me feel more old than that. Like I 254 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.759 I did the make what did master P make him say? That's what I 255 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.039 asked him and he had no clue, and obviously it's to make him say, 256 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:51.519 oh, so he had no clue what I was talking about. He 257 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.279 played the song on the rejoin and he was like, yeah, I've never 258 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.279 heard this. This is awful, And I'm like, I'm an old guy 259 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:00.639 now, like this is old stuff. So yeah, if you find a 260 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:03.639 support group for us, let me know. I'll I'll try to, you 261 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:07.480 know, make it out because I know there's nothing more pop culture references, 262 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:11.440 like that's not a that's not a thing I want to feel old about, 263 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.400 you know what I mean? Yeah, no, I agree. I think 264 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:18.599 we should definitely start a support group and we can do like the starting lineups 265 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.880 of the NL East in the late nineties and like, you know, just 266 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:25.480 try to run through some songs and maybe make a couple like fresh prints and 267 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:30.480 like Seinfeld references and just see what people can catch on to. But yeah, 268 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:33.359 it's it's tough, man, it's tough out here. And even my 269 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:37.200 wife, she's four years younger than me, and I say some stuff and 270 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.880 she's like, yeah, I don't that was that was before my time. 271 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:44.160 I'm like, you're not that far much like that farther down the ladder than 272 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:47.039 me that you can make me feel old. And she's like, wow, 273 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.079 well, I'm mid thirties or late thirties, so good luck, buddy. 274 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:52.440 It's just terrible. Yeah, and there's a and that's crazy because you're right 275 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.960 mid thirties, late thirties. It might as well be two different planets. 276 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.640 I mean, it's it's happening. It's happening. But hey, we're hey, 277 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.079 we're we're in this together, my man, you and me. All 278 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:06.039 right, thank you. I appreciate it. Jeff, you are the man. 279 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.960 I appreciate you making time for us as always, and we'll be cheering, 280 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.599 cheering for a big victory tomorrow. All right, sounds good, my 281 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.799 man. You have a great weekend you too. Again. That is Jeff 282 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:18.440 Career, always appreciated making time for us and always enjoy the conversation. Good 283 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.480 stuff there. All right, quick break, we'll come back here on the 284 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:22.240 other side, and I believe we're going to bring in another special guest. 285 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:26.039 How about a great Friday here, Father's Day Friday. Yeah, good, 286 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:30.079 good vibes rolling along. We're gonna bring in doctor Eric McElroy. So good 287 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:37.119 stuff. Keep it locked right here on Sports Talk seven ninety. That's right 288 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:41.400 about halfway through here on a Friday edition of Coffee and Company, fueled by 289 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.279 Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety. Getting you set for the weekend. Father's 290 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:48.200 Day weekend. I'm really looking forward to that, not only as a dad 291 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:52.480 myself, but to hang out with my dad, step dad and you know, 292 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:56.720 enjoy the holiday. And uh, no better way to get the Friday 293 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.960 vibes enhanced than bringing in our own Eric McRoy program physical therapy. Eric. 294 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:07.599 How we doing, brother, I'm doing fantastic. Uh, great week great 295 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:11.240 weather. You know, Father's Days around the corner. So you got any 296 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:15.160 big Father's Day plans? You know, just with my kids. My wife 297 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:21.200 unfortunately or fortunately either way, is teaching a course. Uh so I'll be 298 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:25.839 you know tonight with the kids. Uh. We got a busy day tomorrow. 299 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:29.400 We'll go out to the Racing Louisville soccer game. Nice and you know, 300 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:32.359 my son has something in the morning. And then yeah, some golf. 301 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.200 I mean, it'll be fun. It's gonna be a good weekend. 302 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:37.359 We just uh we well, we're gonna go to Churchill Downs, which has 303 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:41.519 kind of become like our thing each and every year, which will which will 304 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:44.319 be a lot of fun. But uh, my wife last night she gave 305 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.079 me an early gift and that was she she interviewed our kids, both of 306 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.240 them. I have an eight year old daughter and a and a four year 307 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:53.440 old son, and she basically asked them questions about me, and you know, 308 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:56.720 what's what, what's what's dad's favorite color? What does dad like to 309 00:19:56.759 --> 00:20:00.559 do? What do you what do you think makes him really happy? And 310 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:03.400 they were so eager to answer the questions. It's the best gift I'll probably 311 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:06.039 ever get as a father, which is cool because they were so you know, 312 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:07.759 it was it was it was a nice surprise. So you know, 313 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:11.519 little things like that make Father's Day a lot of fun. But I wanted 314 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:14.119 to tell you if you're going to the game tomorrow. We just talked with 315 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:18.720 Jeff Greer of Soccer Holdings about this big this big match tomorrow with Gotham. 316 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:22.079 Just keep in mind, don't don't be don't shy away from spoiling yourself for 317 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:26.240 Father's Day weekend, They've got Happy Hour going on. Okay, two dollars 318 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:29.920 beers at ten thirty and then three dollars mimosas, So you know, don't 319 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:32.759 don't be afraid to have maybe an extra one just to you really take care 320 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.880 of yourself for Father's Day, you know what I mean? Oh, for 321 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:37.799 sure, absolutely, I'll definitely partake in that, you know, do a 322 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:42.079 little early so I'm able to drive when we leave here, we go exactly 323 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:45.960 exactly. So one of the things I wanted to chat with you about is 324 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.960 the big news in the UFC where Connor McGregor was expected to make his big 325 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:53.079 return. He was supposed to fight in the next couple weeks and now it 326 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:57.079 has been it's been postponed or I guess canceled, not postponed. He was 327 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.759 gonna fight. It's gonna face Michael Chandler in Vegas, and this was going 328 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:04.759 to be his first fight since July of twenty twenty one when he broke his 329 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:07.480 leg. And there's not been a whole lot out there. Not that we're 330 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:11.759 entitled to know everything as far as injuries and health and whatnot, but a 331 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:17.079 lot of those who cover the UFC Mixed Martial Arts say that this is not 332 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:21.119 career threatening and it's really not even super severe. It's just the timing is 333 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:23.359 not ideal and that maybe if this fight was going to take place, you 334 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:26.599 know, in a month after what the initial scheduled date was, then maybe 335 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:33.160 he'd be able to go. But knowing what Connor McGregor went through against Dustin 336 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:36.720 Fourier, which was of course just a devastating injury, and he hasn't fought 337 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:38.279 since then. I mean, I'm not going to ask you to guess what's 338 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:41.519 going on here, but what do you think like that process was like for 339 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:45.839 him to I mean, it's been a long time and we're talking roughly three 340 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:48.759 years since that happened, but he hasn't fought since then. I just there's 341 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:51.559 a lot of curiosity out there from fans thinking what could it be. He 342 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.400 seems to be okay. There's social media stuff that makes it look as if 343 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:56.119 he's not, you know, visually injured, which hey, you can walk 344 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.640 around and live every day life. Doesn't mean you can get into the octagon 345 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:02.519 and be a part of a big fight. But just curious your thoughts here 346 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:04.319 because the timing has some worry that maybe he is really, you know, 347 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:08.160 not being able to get healthy. Yeah, I think that, you know, 348 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:12.000 that is a long time I think for the nature of his injury given 349 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:15.599 and you know, there's a lot of variables in play, and they're getting 350 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:19.440 scheduled fights and how they're scheduled, and you know, he's not going to 351 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:23.039 take just any fight and that and he doesn't have to, which you know 352 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:26.400 that plays into it. Another UFC fighter may have already picked up a fight, 353 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:30.079 you know what I mean. He's in a little different vote with his 354 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:36.440 popularity and his success in the way UFC works, or MMA and itself. 355 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:40.480 You know, it's hard to say I'm in you know, me talking to 356 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:45.359 me for years, it's I don't love to speculate that athletes would be you 357 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:51.200 know, not hiding anything or trying to avoid something, you know, or 358 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:56.440 but I do think that given the circumstances of his return, could there be 359 00:22:56.680 --> 00:23:00.359 First of all, it's a devast that's a hard injury to come back from. 360 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:03.559 And the nature of the sport, right so of course you know they 361 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:07.400 take leg kicks, which for you and I would fracture our leg, and 362 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.920 they train their legs to be able to do that when you have new bone 363 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:12.319 and other things involved, you know, the ability to do that, to 364 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:15.440 plant, to kick, to move around the ring like they need to to 365 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:19.880 avoid ankle locks. You know, those things are all part of you know, 366 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.319 this guy's gonna come in and try to win a fight. He's very 367 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:27.000 aware of what Connor McGregor's went through. And then he's not gonna you know, 368 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:30.839 nobody wants to. They're not gonna cheap, but they're gonna win and 369 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:33.839 when they come in, they're gonna exploit weaknesses. And so for Connor McGregor, 370 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:37.079 he's gonna go into this fight. It's very important that he comes in 371 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:40.039 and wins this fight. It's his first fight in a while. He needs 372 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:45.200 to be in the best shape he could pass to a ben and so they're 373 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.799 all those things are gonna come into play. So, you know, is 374 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:51.319 it something that you and I could watch him moving around and think, oh, 375 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.640 well, you know, he looks fine, well looking fine and like 376 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:56.079 you said, and going you know, five rounds in a UFC fight, 377 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:02.319 which is extremely exhausting the way they you know, you know, for in 378 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:06.319 the length of time, those are some of the longest three four minutes or 379 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:08.279 whatever it is. I can't remember off the top of my head. Uh, 380 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.920 you know, that's incredibly difficult. So you know, and and then 381 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:15.079 it's not like you have a game the next week that you can make up 382 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:18.240 for it, you know what I mean. I think that gets lost too. 383 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.920 The timing has to be right for him, and if he's not feeling 384 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:25.599 at the level he needs to be at and it's putting himself at risk for 385 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.720 whatever, then he is going to pull from the fight. Yeah, I 386 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:32.000 mean, it's so different than you know, the typical sports that that we 387 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.319 discussed. But you know, when you're talking about a combat sport, like 388 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:36.920 for example, if if I'm if I'm playing basketball and I know the guy 389 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:41.400 guarding me is coming off of, you know, a knee injury, I'm 390 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:44.240 not going to be afraid to really kind of utilize the pick and roll and 391 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:47.400 make him work. Well, if you're in a UFC fight and they know 392 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.960 you're you're coming off of an injury, even if it's been a long time, 393 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:53.599 strategy would tell them to attack, to attack right like and take advantage. 394 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:57.799 It's just it's so different. A third time, they're there to win, 395 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:02.480 and you know, and you know, the opponents are aware of that. 396 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.720 It's not like they're doing anything they don't know they're gonna do. But 397 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:07.039 you know, he's gonna put that thought into it. And as an athlete, 398 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:12.759 he's got a you know, a very short period of time in the 399 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:17.519 big scheme of things. Not that he needs to you know, make more 400 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:21.200 money necessarily, but but you know, I mean he's still a competitor, 401 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:23.640 sure, I mean, you know, and so I think that he's got 402 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:26.519 good luck fighting in the UFC and the octagon. If you're not in there 403 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.359 to compete, right right, right, you're not gonna coast. He wants 404 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.960 to win. He's not just there for the fame and the you know, 405 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:36.680 I mean, he takes advantage of that, but he's not. He wants 406 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.880 to win. And the older he gets, the harder that's going to be. 407 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:41.640 He's no, he's not an idiot. Uh. He knows his time 408 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.039 is limited. Uh. They all know that. And so when they're only 409 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:48.039 getting so many fights, they're going to make sure that the ones they do 410 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:52.279 get that they're able to go ahead and and uh and perform at their highest 411 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.519 level. And by the way, this isn't uncommon. I mean, yeah, 412 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:56.519 the UFC. You know, it was an awesome event. I don't 413 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:59.559 know if you went out there and went I've been around the sport for a 414 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:03.880 long time. Brother owns an MMA gym in Orlando, Florida, and you 415 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.599 know, you know, one of the matches or one of the fights that 416 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:11.160 night, there was a guy coming off very limited. You know, he 417 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:14.599 was kind of a replacement fighter. And you know, for those guys to 418 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.599 step in and do that, it's pretty impressive too, uh you know. 419 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:21.799 Or I may even say, you may have been another fight, uh not 420 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:23.680 this one, but one before that my brother and I were talking about. 421 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:29.799 But for them to come in on short notice and to replace somebody who had 422 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:33.000 to again pulled out because of an injury, I mean, that's a huge 423 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:36.839 task, tall tax, you know. And I think Connor McGregor is one 424 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:38.680 of his previous fights, somebody did that. So you know, I think 425 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:44.839 that you know, this isn't necessarily uncommon that a fighter has to be pull 426 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:48.400 out. Uh And you know, and it's hard on them, right because 427 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.480 it's a payday they're not going to get and they don't know when the next 428 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:53.880 one's coming. So yeah, it's I don't want to speculate I think that 429 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:57.440 he's going to be any time an athlete kind of get back to what you're 430 00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:04.240 asking is coming off of an injury, and they're going to be over critical 431 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:11.839 of how they're doing going into that fight, and sometimes maybe to the he 432 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:15.039 still may have gone in and done well, but they don't have a lot 433 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:17.720 of time. I mean, he has a lot of time what we think 434 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:19.240 is a lot of time. But they they are going to be the closer 435 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:25.880 they get to that fight, they're going to utilize their team help them make 436 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:30.160 a decision and really have to decide, you know, hey, am I 437 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:33.400 really ready? Am I where I need to be to go in and compete 438 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.960 at the level I expect myself to do it. And if the answer to 439 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:41.759 them is no, then you know, whether we think they're ready or not, 440 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:45.759 that's ultimately it's going to come down to their decisions. So one of 441 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:49.039 the things I've really enjoyed over the years in our conversations about athletes, rather 442 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:52.720 it be rehabbing injuries or training and you know, making sure they're taking care 443 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:56.720 of their bodies, is that every sport, regardless of how different they are, 444 00:27:57.160 --> 00:28:00.720 you know they have their own way of training and you know their own 445 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:04.599 style, And I'm just curious when it comes to mixed martial arts UFC fighters, 446 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:08.440 you know, when they're spending you know, countless hours training making sure 447 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:12.640 that they're in the best position possible before they step in there and get after 448 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:17.599 it. Like how often what they're doing in training like leading, like just 449 00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:22.359 say a week or two prior to an actual fight, are is the training 450 00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:25.759 they're going through? Like how how similar is that to what they're actually gonna 451 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.200 get in the ring, right, Like I know, you know, usually 452 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:30.839 sparring, right, it's not as if you're actually you know, practicing with 453 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:33.759 somebody who's also at the same level of level as you. But I'm just 454 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:37.160 curious, like with with Connor, it's been so long since he's actually been 455 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:40.480 in this position, you know, just you know, trying to curious if 456 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:44.160 maybe it's just maybe he wasn't quite ready because when you're training again, you 457 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.759 want to make sure you're ready. But like you know, like any sport, 458 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:48.240 it's one thing to get ready. You can do repetition, you can 459 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:52.640 try to recreate a very you know, real atmosphere that's similar to what you're 460 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:55.680 gonna do when it's actually go time and the lights are on. But I 461 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.160 imagine you have c just like anything else. Man, you don't really know 462 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:00.839 until you're out there right well, and then you have the factors of the 463 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:03.920 true win and all the nerves and everything that comes that he's not getting in 464 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:07.720 training. I mean you can't replicate that. Yeah, and you know fear. 465 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:11.920 But look, they I don't care how tough these guys are, which 466 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:15.079 they are extremely but you press your leg like that, you're thinking about it. 467 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:19.759 I mean, there's that's just human biology. Yeah, it's the human 468 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:25.400 element of sports. It's impossible not to have it in your mind and plain 469 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:29.599 in his mind. And think about Connor McGregor. Again, you have to 470 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:32.640 think about all baria. Well, he's got a lot more media obligations and 471 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.599 all those kind of things than a lot of these fighters don't happen. And 472 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:38.279 you know that takes time. And he's gonna say him because he getting paid, 473 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:41.240 or he's gonna do him excuse me because he gets paid for him and 474 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:45.559 you know, and let's face it, I mean in the world of UFC, 475 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:48.680 now he makes a cracked ton of money. But you know, it's 476 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:56.240 not that they need those kind of things. And so they're training, he's 477 00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:00.279 doing a lot. A lot of things are very similar to others. Weren't 478 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:03.880 conditioning, strength training. They're doing a lot of those things, performance enhancing, 479 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:08.599 enhancement stuff, injury prevention. Those things are all happening now. They're 480 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:12.440 from a sports standpoint. You know, you're working different disciplines. You know, 481 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:15.079 that's what's kind of unique from HIMMA. You have the wrestling component, 482 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:18.880 the ground component, the striking component. It's all intertwined. Now. When 483 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:22.880 we started watching mm a years ago, you had somebody who was really heavy 484 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:26.839 in one discipline and they would try to fight to their to their strengths. 485 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:32.640 Right, that's totally different. And so you know there there's all of that 486 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:37.160 that that's happening like every other sport. And so as he's getting closer to 487 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:40.519 the fight, he's obviously trying to peak, so he's going to start taking 488 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.839 care of his body. He's in a back off how heavy's training. He's 489 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:45.279 still sparring, he's still doing those things, but he's not going at it 490 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:48.839 like he would have a month or two before that. But that's where a 491 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:52.039 lot of the nerves and the preparation of mental preparation and things of like. 492 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:55.720 All right, it's not body weight where I need to be. You know, 493 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.880 maybe he's overweight. I don't know, you know what I mean, 494 00:30:56.960 --> 00:31:00.039 And that's huge, right, they have to be able to cut weight and 495 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:03.839 make weight of the fight doesn't matter. So that's where a lot of that 496 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:07.319 stuff comes in for UFC fighters. They're starting to get their body to the 497 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:10.640 point where you know, he may walk around at you know, a certain 498 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:14.319 weight, but he fights twenty pounds lighter. You know, can I get 499 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:17.839 my body to that point? You know, you think a guy who's done 500 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:19.359 it just many times that would be easy, but it's not always the case. 501 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:22.160 And so I think that there's a lot of those kind of things start 502 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:27.079 to happen where you know, those decisions start to play in as he gets 503 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:30.160 closer to the fight that are going to impact his ability to say yes or 504 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:33.759 no or I can prepare. You know, when they set these schedules, 505 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:36.599 they're assuming he's going to be ready, right, but there's nothing to say 506 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:40.519 he's going to be. You just never know, you never know, anything 507 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:42.519 can happen. Now, you mentioned you were at the event that took place 508 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:45.279 this past weekend. I wasn't able to make it, but I you know, 509 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:49.720 I did see the phenomenal turnout. The I mean, there's clearly an 510 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:55.200 appetite for UFC around here because I don't know if I've seen the Young Center 511 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:59.079 with a sporting event that had that much momentum and that many people talking about 512 00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:01.880 it in your interest in and and no knowledge of the sport. I mean, 513 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:05.920 I feel like the UFC would would have to want to come back here, 514 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:07.079 maybe bring a pay per view here. I know we're not Vegas and 515 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:10.000 they go to some of the most extravagant places in the world, but I 516 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:13.759 thought it was really awesome to see that we at least showed our part that 517 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.519 hey, you bring it here, We're going to come and support it. 518 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:22.119 Absolutely. I meant this month, outside of one little hiccup, have not 519 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:27.440 shown the world how well Louisville, Kentucky does with events like that. Amen. 520 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:30.279 Brother, We're a sports city. We're a sports city in any sport 521 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:32.640 you know, bring it in, We're going to support it. And uh, 522 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:37.319 I think that that's I was super impressed by the crowd. I was 523 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:40.480 super impressed by the energy and for them, not just for the you know, 524 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:44.480 the the last three fights that you're you know, you're more well known 525 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:50.559 fighters, but for undercart I mean, everything was. It was incredible and 526 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:52.920 I can't I can't imagine how they don't come back. I can't imagine how 527 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:55.319 we don't get a pay per view fight. Could you imagine? Yeah, 528 00:32:55.359 --> 00:33:00.359 I mean we made him money. We made them tons of money. I 529 00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:04.119 mean, bring in some of these big time fights. I guarantee it'll sell 530 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:07.000 out, and you know, and and then the build up to it would 531 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:09.680 even be you know, people would be involved to you know, the build 532 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:14.119 up to the fight too. So I think, yeah, I was extremely 533 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:17.359 impressed. I was really proud of the city and how how they came out 534 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:21.200 to support it. You know, my brother, who you know, was 535 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:24.119 Louisville. You know, he's been in Florida for twenty eight years. Still 536 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:30.039 home to him to some level, so he was super impressed that in that 537 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:32.079 world for a long time. So you know, it's really cool to see. 538 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:36.960 And uh, you know, I hopefully that they'll look at that and 539 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.440 you know, Dan and White will be like, yeah, we got to 540 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:43.480 come back there soon or put them on the regular rotation for sure, no 541 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:45.880 doubt. Good stuff. Eric. I appreciate you making time for us on 542 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:47.279 a Friday. Enjoy your weekend, my man. And have a good Father's 543 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:50.799 Day. Okay, buddy, you do the same, have fun. On's 544 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:52.839 some money to track. I'll try. I'll do my best. Thanks brother, 545 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:55.799 all right. So yeah, that's Eric mamcelroy, pro re physic with 546 00:33:55.839 --> 00:34:00.359 therapy. Always a good conversation with doctor McElroy. Quick break. Will come 547 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.759 back on the other side, wrap at the four o'clock hour and keep this 548 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:07.880 thing rolling along. Getting your step for the weekend a Father's Day weekend for 549 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:09.880 those who missed the news earlier. Coleman Hawkins and and we talked about for 550 00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:13.400 I mean, I think a lot of people know who he is, and 551 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:15.000 he's been mentioned here and there for a while, but there was about a 552 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:19.840 four to five day window where Louisville fans, you know, felt like they 553 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:22.840 were in pretty good shape to land him. Of course that didn't happen, 554 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:29.559 and I still get pushback on this, and it's fine, but Louisville decided 555 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:32.960 not to continue to pursue him as somebody to add to their team, and 556 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:37.960 maybe down the line that looks like a big mistake because maybe they could have 557 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:40.840 landed him. But in the end, he ended up quickly scheduling a visit 558 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:45.360 to Kansas State. In fact, he visited Kansas State and Jerome Tang right 559 00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:47.920 after it was I mean, in fact, I think he replaced his louisvill 560 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:52.159 visit with a visit to Kansas State, was going to visit LSU this weekend, 561 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:55.599 canceled that visit, and then earlier today decided to commit to Kansas State 562 00:34:55.679 --> 00:35:06.440 and Sham's Cherania. NBA Insider reporting that Colemenhawkins is believed to be now the 563 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:10.519 highest paid player in college basketball through NIL says it's believed to be the most 564 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:16.320 lucrative college INNIL deal at two million dollars, negotiated from a collective by Nate 565 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:24.159 Conley of some agency and Aaron Turner of Veris Basketball. So if you're wondering, 566 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:29.880 I mean, and again, I can't prove anything in regards to how 567 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:32.679 much money is actually in play here. I just have a hard time thinking 568 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:40.239 that even if you had a big amount of money for NIL, which, 569 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:45.000 by the way, I think the average let me look it up here, 570 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:52.039 I think the average NIL. And again it's just a guess. But there 571 00:35:52.039 --> 00:35:58.159 are people who really, you know, almost like scientifically study INNIL and if 572 00:35:58.199 --> 00:36:01.800 you look at let's see here, Yeah, so great. Whenever Osabor decided 573 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:06.639 to go to Washington and he was believed to get two million. That led 574 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:13.199 to a lot of reaction from people who claimed that they absolutely overpaid, meaning 575 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:17.440 that just because Osibor got two million from Washington did not mean that, you 576 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:21.960 know, did not mean that he was you know, that that was the 577 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:23.360 going rate for him. They just overpaid, which whatever, either way, 578 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:27.239 if they got the money, then they got the money. But that led 579 00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:30.840 to Jason Belzer, who is a CEO of Student Athlete NIL, which is 580 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:37.599 a company that really helps collectives launch and really, I guess, you know, 581 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:39.719 helps them enter that space of being a collective. In the NIL world, 582 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:44.960 the average, yes, is the average in IL budget for a Power 583 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:47.519 five college basketball program is expected to be one and a half million next season. 584 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:52.559 Let's just say it's two million and the average. You know, there's 585 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.719 gonna be some that have four or five, but yeah, there's gonna be 586 00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:59.519 some that barely have a million just because of resources. Right. I just 587 00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:04.079 don't think anybody would be, no matter who you are in college, who 588 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:07.840 would be worth two million. If the average is one point five and let's 589 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:09.199 say the max is like, I don't know, five, it doesn't make 590 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:14.239 any sense. And I think when you see woj who broke the news about 591 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:17.880 Osibor, and you see Shams breaking the news about Coleman Hawkins, it's because 592 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:22.360 agents are feeding them that info because they want to get more of these type 593 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:27.119 of clients who can actually get a big amount of money from these schools in 594 00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:30.280 NIL, even if it's not two million. I also am well, I 595 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:34.440 mean, regardless of the number Osibor and Hawkins, I have no problem acknowledging 596 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:37.159 that those two are probably the two dudes that did in fact get the most 597 00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:39.920 money that you know, compared to everybody else. But is it that amount, 598 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:45.800 don't know. But either way, these agents, their percentage, meaning 599 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:51.320 the cut that they get is way bigger than what they get when they when 600 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:57.000 they are representing NFL NBA players. So NIL is a hustle for those guys, 601 00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:59.639 right, These college kids are wide eyed, they want an agent, 602 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:02.679 they want feel important, and they're given up fifteen to twenty percent to agents. 603 00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:06.679 Where that's just I mean that it's a hustle for these agents when it 604 00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:09.800 comes to entering the NIL space. So it's all agent driven, just like 605 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:15.039 the draft stuff is, right, So I actually feel less inclined to believe 606 00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:19.800 the real number when it's put out there by shams and wojes, despite them 607 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:23.280 being as connected as anybody. That is because agents are feeding them info and 608 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:27.239 wanted to be out there that way. If you're a college athlete and you 609 00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:30.159 feel like you've got real nil value, you're gonna want to go link up 610 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:34.440 with one of these agents because they helped great Osiborg get two million. They 611 00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:38.000 help Coleman Hawkins get north of two million, so I'm sure they're getting paid. 612 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:40.480 I just have always had a hard time believing it it's the actual number 613 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:44.599 that people put out there. But maybe I'm just a jealous hater, because 614 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:45.199 you know, that's life changing