WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabrielle with you 2 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:04.839 on a Monday following Father's Day. I hope you had 3 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:07.839 a great day. Hope you had a great weekend, especially 4 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:10.480 you single moms out there. People forget about the single 5 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:14.000 moms on Father's Day, but I had one myself, a 6 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:16.600 single mom, so anyhow, I hope you had a good one. 7 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:19.239 I got a chance to get with family because my 8 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:22.719 wonderful daughter's birthday was yesterday as well, so we had 9 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:26.879 a gathering on Saturday of the family, the granddaughters. We 10 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:29.839 had a good time, and of course being Father's Day weekend, 11 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:31.760 we got a chance to watch a little bit of 12 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:35.119 the golf. I don't sit through the entire tournament. I'm 13 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:36.840 a golf fan when it comes to the majors, but 14 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.520 I don't watch every stroke of every tournament. But I 15 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:44.520 did watch JJ spawn when the US opened at Oakmont 16 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:50.679 Up in Pennsylvania. Typical US Open course, really difficult, And 17 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:53.000 I heard an interview with Steve Sands at a golf 18 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.759 channel prior to the tournament where he said that the 19 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:00.640 greens for the tournament probably weren't as difficul as they 20 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:03.799 are on a given week but they still look pretty 21 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:06.359 tough to me. And you had in the rain, which 22 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.760 became pouring rain at one point, So what a challenge, 23 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.840 and what a great finish by JJ spawn a huge 24 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.239 birdie putt. He only needed a two putt, but he 25 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:19.280 drained one and I think was sixty four and a 26 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.719 half sixty four, Yeah, sixty four and a half feet 27 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:26.280 that rolled in there, And it was great. It was 28 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:29.159 great TV, It was great drama. Then we come to 29 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:33.319 find out that this gentleman had been up at three 30 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:36.719 am because he had to go to the pharmacy to 31 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:39.560 the store to get something for his daughter who had 32 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:41.840 been throwing up. So he had a sick little girl 33 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:46.840 and still came back and shook it all out of 34 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:50.040 his head and rally. He wasn't the leader going into 35 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:52.920 the last round, but he won the US Open, So 36 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:56.319 I hope that was fun. Coming up tonight, we're going 37 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.840 to talk to Jim Deopolis, who's a longtime friend and 38 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:03.000 he's been on the show before, but now he is 39 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:07.079 an inductee into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, 40 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:11.919 so he will go in alongside former Wildcat Danny Trevathan 41 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:15.759 among others. Coming up at the end of this month. 42 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:20.439 So Jim is a friend from way back when he 43 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:24.919 was a grad student at UK. I was a referee, 44 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:30.039 umpire official in the Inner Murals program and Jim was 45 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:33.000 my boss. He did our scheduling and things like that. 46 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:35.960 And from there he went on to be a high 47 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.439 school referee, a college ref in the OVC, at the 48 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:43.240 SEC and the National Football League, and even worked a 49 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:47.280 Super Bowl. So now going into the Kentucky Pro Football 50 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:50.120 Hall of Fame. And he's always been at these events. 51 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:52.639 And I talked to somebody last year, so why isn't 52 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:55.439 Jim Dappolis in the next thing? You know, I'm not 53 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:58.800 saying because I said anything, but he certainly deserves it. 54 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.960 Going in going to talk to John Hale of the 55 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:05.719 Arow Leader about UK football, if it's merrow moving, how 56 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.919 they're putting this team together these days, and we'll also 57 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:14.280 talk football and UK women's basketball with Christy Thomas. Shankers 58 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:17.560 are UK Radio Network pregame coverage along with Jeremy Jarman 59 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:20.800 and Logan Stenberg. Season is right on top of it 60 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.120 doesn't feel like it, but trust me, it is. It 61 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.240 gets the summer gets shorter every year. I think we 62 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:29.520 know this coming up next, we're going to talk about 63 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:31.800 the College World Series. I know the Wildcats are not 64 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.919 in it, although the state of Kentucky well represented with 65 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:38.639 two teams in Omaha this year, Murray State and the 66 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.439 University of Louisville. And I watched a lot of that 67 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:45.520 over the last few days, and yesterday marked a great 68 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:50.280 anniversary for UK baseball. We're going to relive that coming back. 69 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.879 But I got to tell you, it's like anything when 70 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.400 you get a chance to go to an event like 71 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:58.560 the College World Series. Many of you have been to 72 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:03.759 NC tournaments, to final fours, bowl games. They're fun and 73 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:06.479 you want to go back. And yeah, I know I'm 74 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:10.280 working these events, but it's still fun, and especially if 75 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:12.360 it's for the first time, like the College World Series 76 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:15.639 was for all of us last year. So we'll talk 77 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:17.360 about that, we'll talk about some of the things that 78 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:20.879 have gone on already in Omaha. But it's one of 79 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.160 the great sporting events and I hope for all of 80 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.959 our sakes, the program, the coach, the players, the fans 81 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:27.839 of media, we get a chance to do it again. 82 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:30.160 Say with us here on the Big bluon sider on 83 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:35.959 six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the big bluon Sider 84 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:38.920 coming up in just a few minutes. Jim Deopolis, former 85 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.720 NFL referee. He's a UK grad. When I was there, 86 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:46.920 he was in grad school and he ran the officials 87 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:51.120 for the intermural program. So I worked for Jim. How 88 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.959 little did I know he would go on to work 89 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:55.920 a Super Bowl as an NFL referee. He is going 90 00:04:55.959 --> 00:04:59.959 into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame coming up 91 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:01.439 at the end of the month. So we'll talk to 92 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:04.000 the ref in just a few minutes. But I did 93 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.000 want to talk, of course about the College World Series, 94 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:09.639 and I hope you had a great Father's Day yesterday. 95 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:12.959 And Darren Hendrick posted are the radio voice of the 96 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:19.160 baseball Wildcats, posted on social media reminding us that yesterday, 97 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:23.279 a year ago, June fifteenth, a year ago, was the 98 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:26.480 day Kentucky pulled off one of the great comebacks of 99 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:29.839 last year's College World Series. Got a home run in 100 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.560 the not bottom of the ninth inning and then a 101 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:35.279 home run in the bottom of the tenth inning by 102 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:39.560 Mitchell Daily to cap that come from behind when against 103 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:43.879 North Carolina State. Here's a swinging of dribe today left 104 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:45.959 Becos Nixon looking up. 105 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:49.399 Daily wadens Daily Wins It Daily Wins It. 106 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:53.800 Kentucky defeats at C State five to four on a 107 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.399 walk off home run five Mitchell. 108 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:59.439 Daily biggest home run in the history of the program. 109 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:03.079 And it also was a game that included a two 110 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:08.199 run homer by Nolan McCarthy, And I was watching some 111 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.560 highlights somebody put up on social media as well from 112 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.000 that game, and I had forgotten forgive me. But Kentucky 113 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:18.120 had an outfielder named Ty Krittenberger last year. He had 114 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:22.040 transferred in from Western Kentucky, played some early in the 115 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:24.600 year and then kind of lost the starting job to 116 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:29.279 Nolan McCarthy, became a pinch hitter, defensive specialist, and man 117 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:32.839 they needed him because he made a huge catch, a diving, 118 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.240 tumbling catch late in the game in centerfield to help 119 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:40.000 preserve that win. And because he didn't get to play 120 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.680 a lot, we didn't have much chance to talk about 121 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.759 Krittenberger's background in the game notes. There were two Kentucky 122 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:52.040 players last year on the roster who had relatives grandfathers. Well, 123 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:54.800 I think one was a great grandfather. But Ty's grandfather 124 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:59.800 was a well known general in the United States Army 125 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:05.160 and was critical in World War Two, and in fact, 126 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:09.959 I went back and re read his history and at 127 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:15.279 one point General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme Allied Commander 128 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:19.920 for the impending Allied invasion of Normandy in nineteen forty four, 129 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:25.959 selected Krittenberger, the UK centerfielder's grandfather, as one of three 130 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:33.800 core commanders for the invasion. But Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, 131 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:37.199 who was selected later as the first Army commander by 132 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:41.519 IKE for the D Day invasion, replaced all three of 133 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.839 the core commanders. Looking for it says here different differing 134 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:50.519 temperaments and commanders who had more combat experience, but still 135 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:55.879 Krittenberger if you just google him, go to wiki. He 136 00:07:55.959 --> 00:08:01.279 had an incredible career and again one of his offspring 137 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:04.720 went on to play centerfield for the Wildcats, a team 138 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:09.360 that played in the College World Series. Yesterday's games were crazy. 139 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:15.160 They usually are crazy, good, crazy, weird. You've got Louisville 140 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:18.839 down to Arizona three to one going into the late innings. 141 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.199 They make it three to two, and then they explode 142 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:25.839 for six runs in the eighth inning to the Cardinals, 143 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:30.560 and they beat Arizona eight to three. Arizona started that 144 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:33.440 inning with an error routine ground ball to short and 145 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.399 they brought in their great relievers and Louisville just started 146 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:40.200 hitting the ball. An Arizona outfielder makes a mistake with 147 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:43.799 nobody out, and a Louisville kid hits a sinking line drive. 148 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.600 He tries to make a circus catch and misses it, 149 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:49.759 and it goes and stead as a single for a triple, 150 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:55.240 which came back to haunt Arizona. Obviously, there was an 151 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:59.279 overthrow at first base. The catcher backs it up, snags 152 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.519 the baseball, tries to throw it back towards second base. 153 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:06.080 The ball popped out of his hand and landed behind him, 154 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:09.519 and the kid didn't even know it. So meanwhile, the 155 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:12.440 Louisville base runners are circling the bag and this kid 156 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.759 finally realizes they yell at him and the ball is 157 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:17.080 sitting behind you. It's not in the middle of the infit. 158 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:20.519 It was just bizarre. But what U of l fans 159 00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:25.840 watching at home might remember is during the break between 160 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:31.559 the six and seventh innings, ESPN's cameras caught Louisville coach 161 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:36.399 of Dan McDonald getting into his team. I mean, and 162 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:40.360 if if you like coaches that yell at players, you 163 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:42.480 had to like this. It went on for quite a while. 164 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.759 Here's here's about fifteen seconds of it. 165 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:51.759 Hardly you get a bath ball in, right, you better 166 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:54.919 showing out when the ball is going in, Fayed, We're 167 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.879 not waiting coming out. 168 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.879 I bring this up because I like Dan McDonald. I 169 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:04.480 know UK fans are never going to cheer for U 170 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.159 L but I got to tell you this is a 171 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:09.679 good guy. He's a heck of a coach. But Doug 172 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:12.639 Flynn and I talked to opposing coaches before games whenever 173 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:15.919 we do broadcasts, and it's always just a real joy 174 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:19.519 to talk to him. He is a real gentleman. He's 175 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:23.240 a great coach, and he and Doug are very close. 176 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:25.679 Doug goes and speaks to the Louisville team every now 177 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:29.799 and then, you know, not necessarily just as an FCA speaker, 178 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.440 but as a guy a former big leaguer, you know, 179 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:34.919 just so he see. There's the same thing with UK players. 180 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:38.480 But I really enjoy always talking to Damn McDonald. I 181 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:43.399 respect what he's done at Louisville, and yeah, this was 182 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:45.440 And by the way, don't think for a mint and 183 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:48.200 Nick Manjeones doesn't do that. I've never seen him do 184 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.919 it in the middle of a game. I'm sure he has. 185 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.960 He generally waits till the game's over before he really 186 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:56.480 gets into his team. But it was just interesting that 187 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.720 it happened on this stage. You know, the College World 188 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.200 Series National TV is teamed down, et cetera, et cetera. 189 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:06.720 So that was a really interesting moment, and, like I said, 190 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:09.320 a bizarre game as Louisville comes back still in the 191 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.200 loser's bracket and has to fight its way out of that. 192 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:19.600 Cardinals next play Oregon State tomorrow at two o'clock. Today's games, 193 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.879 there's one going on right now because of course we 194 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.200 pre record. My apologies, I cannot tell you what's going 195 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:30.879 on right now between Arkansas and Murray State, but I 196 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:33.720 will tell you this. One of the great moments came 197 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:41.120 after Murray State's loss to UCLA. Racers fell behind, made 198 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:44.679 it a game late, they fall six to four on Saturday, 199 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:49.440 and in the interview room after a young man named 200 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:54.120 Dustin Mercer, who is a right fielder, and Murray's five 201 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:57.399 to four win over Kentucky back in March, Mercer had 202 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:02.120 an RBI single, but he was asked by a reporter 203 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:07.120 about the fact that He's sitting up on stage at 204 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:09.879 the podium behind the mix with a smile on his face, 205 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.799 and was always seemed to be smiling even though his 206 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:16.879 team lost, and he gave a great answer. 207 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:18.679 I thought, you keep smiling. 208 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:21.039 I know, obviously the results not what you wanted, but 209 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.960 just kind of talk about, you know. 210 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:25.840 The attitude kind of going into obviously Monday, which is 211 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.200 the opportunity to be playing here. 212 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.440 I mean, obviously it's baseball heaven here. I was talking 213 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.360 about it yesterday, Like I walked around. I've never felt 214 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:37.120 famous before until I got here. Those kids don't care 215 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:39.159 whether I'm going to the big leagues or I'm done 216 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:41.559 playing in two weeks. They just wanted to talk to me, 217 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.320 and I think that's a really awesome experience. So I 218 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:47.279 know he lost and that's things he really does, but 219 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:50.480 keeping that kind of mental attitude of those kids are 220 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.679 here to watch us, and I mean that's super cool. 221 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:55.639 I mean, Skirk's son, he just loves watching us playball 222 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:59.240 and they look up to us, And yeah, about the smiling, 223 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:01.480 I'm done playing baseball in two weeks, no matter what. 224 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.600 So I'm just trying to keep that on my face 225 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.600 and enjoy the ride. 226 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:08.039 I just thought that was great, And I guarantee you 227 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.840 he wasn't saying I were just glad to be here, 228 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.480 because they are, but that's not what they want. They 229 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:15.720 played well in that UCLA game. He just gave up 230 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:19.240 some runs early and fought back and had the time 231 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:22.200 run to play more than once, but just couldn't quite 232 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:24.679 pull it off. So they're playing it. They may be 233 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:29.519 done by now, but just a great answer by that kid. 234 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:33.519 And what great for me watching the College World Series 235 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.799 And I've watched it more this year than I ever have, 236 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:40.759 excluding last year when I was there, because I was there. 237 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:43.159 And I don't know if that makes much sense to you, 238 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.080 And I don't know if that affects you as you're 239 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:49.080 watching nca Tournament games. If you've ever been to an 240 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:53.440 NCAA Tournament game at a neutral site with Kentucky playing, 241 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.799 or maybe you're watching UK play and you couldn't go 242 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.799 that year, you know what it feels like to be there. 243 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:05.279 And ESPN does a great job at the College World Series, 244 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:09.200 more so than with Pro Ball, showing the crowd, showing 245 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:13.639 the color shots, showing kids, exterior shots of the stadium, 246 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:19.480 interior shots. They do such a great job of capturing 247 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:25.120 the mood and the field and the color at that place. 248 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:28.080 It's just a different vibe than it is at a 249 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:32.039 pro game. And I've never covered a World series, a 250 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:37.759 pro World Series, but Omaha, Charles Schwab Stadium to call 251 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:42.919 it the Chuck. It's just a really great place and 252 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.720 it's a great event. And I'm listening to this kid 253 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.519 from Murray make this comment in an interview room where 254 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:51.840 I was at this time last year, and in fact 255 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:55.799 a year ago yesterday, I was sitting in there listening 256 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:59.279 to the Kentucky kids talk about Mitchell Daily's home run, 257 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:03.480 talking about Nicholson's home run to tide the game in 258 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:06.000 the bottom of the ninth. I was there when Nick 259 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:10.679 Manjione accepted the Coach of the Year trophy, So it 260 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.679 means a little bit more. Not trying to pair it 261 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.159 a the SEC, but it's just kind of cool if 262 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.879 you've been there, and in the time we were all 263 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.440 there the media, we got to know her every inch 264 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.759 of that place. So now watching it, yeah, I wish 265 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:27.679 we were all back there covering the game, watching Kentucky play. 266 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:32.039 But maybe next year. SEC still has two teams, one 267 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.320 in the winner's bracket, one in the loser's bracket. LSU 268 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:40.440 beat Arkansas on Saturday, so that's why Arkansas playing Murray 269 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:45.480 State in the loser's bracket. Tonight UCLA LSU at seven 270 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:49.279 o'clock in the winner's bracket, and again tomorrow, Oregon State 271 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:55.200 takes on Louisville. Beaver's eliminated last year in Lexington, but 272 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:59.919 they're making a run this year. And Coastal Carolina plays 273 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:05.919 Wednesday at two o'clock. Coastal has won twenty five straight games. 274 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:11.240 The Chantaicleers are on fire, so if Murray State is 275 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:14.080 out today, that's your Cinderella, even though it's not. Coastal 276 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:17.639 has been to the World Series multiple times and actually 277 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:21.879 won it back in twenty thirteen, So those guys play 278 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:26.440 on Wednesday afternoon. Up next, Jim Dappolis, UK grad and 279 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:30.679 retired NFL referee and now a Kentucky Pro Football Hall 280 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.240 of Famer, want to come on the Big Moved Sider 281 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:39.600 six thirty WLAP joining us now on our celebrity hodline 282 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.480 as a guy I used to actually work for back 283 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.840 in the day when I officiated games at UK and 284 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:47.759 Jim Dappolis went on too much, Bigger and better things 285 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.120 went on to work high school, college and then in 286 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.919 the NFL on the field for eleven years, as an 287 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:57.840 NFL referee supervisor for twelve and now is going in 288 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:02.159 to the Kentucky NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame along 289 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:07.400 with four other notables. Ref. I couldn't be happier. Congratulations, Well, 290 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.039 thank you, Dick. 291 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:13.160 It's really an awful, great experience. What I'm getting right here, 292 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:16.359 as we've discussed, this is something that it's just so 293 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:20.480 humbling to me to be inclusied with these individuals. You know, 294 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:23.839 words just can't express how thankful I am for this. 295 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:26.559 I see you every year. We talk quite a bit 296 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.400 on the phone, but I always see you at this event, 297 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.279 and uh, and yeah, it's such a great So many 298 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.880 great people show up. If you were from Kentucky and 299 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:39.119 played in the NFL, or you know, or if you 300 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.720 spent a lot of time in Kentucky and played in 301 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:44.799 the league, it's great. And you got a heck of 302 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:49.599 a class going in. Danny Trevathan, Michael Bush, Walt Yurowski, 303 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:53.480 and Sam Gruneisen who played at sant X back in 304 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:57.160 the day and played pro football. You're keeping pretty good, 305 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.000 pretty good company there, ref. 306 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.440 You know, Jick when when I look at those guys 307 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:06.319 and I'm thinking, God, how am I in a group 308 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:09.720 of them? You know they're going to be showing highlight 309 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:13.519 films of you know, Danny making tackles and Michael Bush 310 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:16.119 running with a ball, and you know what am I 311 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.839 going to be doing? You know, I haven't thrown a 312 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:21.359 football or you know, they probably showed me getting knocked 313 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:24.319 down or given a signal for something. But like I said, 314 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:28.079 it is just so so humbling to be included with 315 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:33.319 this group of individual, unbelievable football players in their own 316 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:36.359 right and be included with them is just a it's 317 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.359 so exciting for me. 318 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.759 I don't think I've ever asked you this. Why did 319 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.680 you become an official in the first place? 320 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:45.640 Well, it was kind of interesting. You know, we were 321 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:48.400 topfully for the same reason you did. You know, we 322 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:52.240 were students at the university, uh, trying to pick up 323 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.759 a little bit of extra cash. I I just did 324 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.920 it to kind of, you know, kind of enjoy the 325 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:59.519 opportunity and pick up some extra cash when I was 326 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:02.799 a graduate student at UK, and you know, I set 327 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:06.160 some goals. I listened to Tommy Bell gave a talk 328 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:10.680 one time through the Central Kentucky Football Officials Association, and 329 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.599 I set a goal to get in the NFL. That 330 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.759 I ever think I was going to get here, absolutely not. 331 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:17.480 I just you know, I was hoping that I would. 332 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.559 I was hoping i'd work a championship game, you know, 333 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:23.680 one of those games up at Saint x Or, you know, 334 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:26.079 one of the high school championship games. But I got 335 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.200 some breaks, and then in the Ohio Valley Conference, I 336 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:31.440 kept pursuing it. I really wanted to do basketball. I 337 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:34.200 really wanted to get in the NBA at basketball, but 338 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:37.839 my breaks came in football, so it gave me an opportunity. 339 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:41.720 I got some great opportunities, so hey, I pursued it 340 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:44.839 and very fortunate to end up where I did. 341 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.400 So did you start with a khsaai zoom? 342 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:51.599 Yeah? Oh yeah, absolutely Well even before that, I was 343 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:55.799 working for the IBM club. An individual named Pete Owens 344 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.599 gave me an opportunity to officiate some you know, flag 345 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:02.839 football all games that they had over the IBM, which 346 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:06.839 were probably the toughest games I've ever infistiated with those guys, 347 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.519 But you know I did. I started with a K say, 348 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:14.200 working junior high school games around the state. Go over 349 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:16.960 to Jetsamane County and work, you know, five games on 350 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:20.400 a Sunday afternoon. You know, it just took a lot 351 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:22.680 of time. As you remember when you were doing your 352 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:25.279 fat you know, you get to get there. But you know, 353 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.519 it was a great way to get some additional income. 354 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:32.039 I didn't want to have to sack groceries as at 355 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:35.000 Kroger's on weekend, So just gave me an opportunity to 356 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:38.519 pick up some money and pursue something that I really enjoyed. 357 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:42.759 Yeah, and the thing people don't understand about KJSA officials 358 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:45.839 to this days are not paid nearly enough. And you guys, 359 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:48.319 I don't know how much traveling you mentioned going over 360 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:50.480 to Jessmon County, but I've talked to guys in election 361 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.440 and who have had it. On a Friday afternoon, take 362 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:55.880 off and drive up into the mountains or or head. 363 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.680 I mean, you know, you put a lot of miles 364 00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.079 in your car. 365 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:01.440 Don't you let me tell you I did games up 366 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:05.960 in Whiteburg, get Lynch, and you know, I think one 367 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.599 day we had a game in Lynch and they had 368 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:10.480 a de snake the locker room before we went in there. 369 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:14.559 You know, I had some great stories of my opportunities 370 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:19.039 worked there. You know, I worked with Bobby Flynn, who 371 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:21.400 you know, the former senator. We were on a crew 372 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:25.319 together with Carl Elevation, John Clark, and Gary Paxson, and 373 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:29.480 these are guys that were so that mentored me when 374 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.759 I first started. Gave me the opportunity, and I'm so 375 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:36.720 thankful that I had that opportunity. But I started doing 376 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.279 it and I just fell in love with Talking to. 377 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:43.680 Jim d'opoulos, who is a member of the twenty twenty 378 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:47.759 five class the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, will 379 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:50.559 be honored at the end of this month, and we're 380 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:53.240 talking about his career which started when he was a 381 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.559 student in UK and worked his way through the OVC 382 00:21:58.319 --> 00:22:00.200 where it was it tough to get in. I mean 383 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:04.519 where they need great officials now need officials period. Now, 384 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.359 what was it like back then when you were trying 385 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.839 to move. 386 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:11.039 Up, Well, it was difficult. You know, you need to 387 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:13.599 do spend a lot of time working scrimmages. 388 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.319 Uh. 389 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.599 You know, I had the opportunity, uh to work with 390 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.880 individuals in Lexington and they would bring you to scrimmages. 391 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:23.720 I'd go down over to Georgetown to work with scrimmage, 392 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:26.839 I'd uh, then I would go to Eastern and Western 393 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:29.400 and work scrimmages. And then I you know, you finally 394 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.279 get a break and somebody sees you, and you know, 395 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.559 you get that opportunity, so you know, and then you 396 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:39.400 just start making your application and hopefully I know that 397 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:41.960 if it hadn't been for Frank firsty, I probably would 398 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:44.839 have never get the cell piece of conference because Fran 399 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.319 was very instrumental in my getting in there. But it 400 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:52.640 was every afternoon going over to Kentucky practices and working 401 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:56.720