WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:07.080 It's time for coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:23.320 Sports Talk seven nine day. Now here's Nick Coffee. 3 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:27.879 All right, let's get it started, Ladies and gentlemen, our 4 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.160 number two here, four o'clock on a Monday afternoon. Coffee 5 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:34.119 and Company, fueled by Thornton's Nick Coffee. That's me, hence 6 00:00:34.119 --> 00:00:37.399 the name Coffee and Company. The company man mister John 7 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:39.359 Aldens alongside today. And he's been here for a while. 8 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:41.240 But I was out last week on vacation, and I'm 9 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:43.679 happy to be back. A lot to get to and 10 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:45.960 we are going to talk some loulf of basketball. 11 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:46.280 Trust me. 12 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:49.600 I was able to watch both of those exhibition games 13 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:50.960 if you want to call him that, over there in 14 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:55.359 the Bahamas, and I don't care about level of competition. 15 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:59.240 I still was very excited to see I mean really 16 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:00.840 from top of the bottom. I mean, first of all, 17 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.560 you get a chance to see all these guys play 18 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:03.320 for the first time ever. 19 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:05.599 I mean, I have no problem in admitting it. 20 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:08.280 I'm somebody that watches a lot of college basketball, probably 21 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:12.319 more than most and outside of Chucky Hepburn, I really don't. 22 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:14.959 I mean, I really don't know if I've watched any 23 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:17.079 of the other guys and remembered it, you know what 24 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:18.519 I mean. Like, I didn't watch a lot of Long 25 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:22.120 Beach State basketball that was where, of course Trey Ore played. 26 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:24.280 I watched by U a little. 27 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:26.239 Bit, but I don't remember a ton about Noah Waterman, 28 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.719 at least from you know, from those games. So I 29 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:30.680 think some people probably feel like there may be you know, 30 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:34.799 maybe they're being a bad fan by acknowledging it. Look, 31 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.879 this is not normal. They just added an entirely new team. 32 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:41.959 Everybody is new on this roster, so you know, just 33 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:43.879 to see them play for the first time was exciting, 34 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:46.959 and I'll give you some big picture takeaways as much 35 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:48.799 as I can from you know that kind of setting 36 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:52.079 a couple of games in the Bahamas against you know, competition, 37 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:55.920 that's not great. But yeah, I'm super excited about year 38 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:59.319 one for the Pat Kelsey era, and now just sucks. 39 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:01.680 We gotta wait months before we get a chance to 40 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:04.760 see these guys again. All right, let's bring him in. 41 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.800 He's mister Jeff Greer, and Jeff been a while since 42 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.599 we chatted. Before we get into the big news, I 43 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:12.240 have to know how's your summer going. Some are going 44 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:12.680 good still. 45 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:17.000 Yeah, man, it's too hot. It's too hot. But other 46 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:18.919 than that, yeah, I having a great time. 47 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:21.800 It's fun having a little kid who can actually like 48 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:24.560 start to do stuff and like like's getting in the 49 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:26.680 water and all those things. I know, Yeah, I have 50 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:29.680 plenty of experience with that. So yeah, we're having a 51 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:31.439 good summer. It seems like you guys are too. 52 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:32.520 Yep, no doubt about it. 53 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:35.039 My son is just now the age where he's getting 54 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:37.240 to the point where he's you know, I mean he's 55 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.719 always been into sports as much as someone can, but men, 56 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:41.599 there was a big difference from three to four to 57 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:43.759 where like now he you know, he understands more. 58 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:44.560 He's more competitive. 59 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:46.319 So it's kind of like I got a bro, you know, 60 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:47.879 not just you know, a human that I have to 61 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:50.240 keep alive and take care of. Like we're doing, We're 62 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:52.919 having a good time together. So yeah, I holp you 63 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:55.240 with the fane, keep the good summer vibes going, and 64 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.960 I know you guys over at Soccer Holdings had some 65 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:01.599 some big news exciting news to share today, as the 66 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:04.680 United States women's national soccer team is coming back to 67 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:07.360 Louisville first time in what twenty years. 68 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.639 Yeah, first time in twenty years, and I honestly, when 69 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:14.199 we first started these conversations, I thought it had been 70 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.560 twenty five years, But it turns out they played here 71 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.039 a couple times between nineteen ninety nine, which of course 72 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:25.199 was the famous World Cup win at the Rose Bowl 73 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:27.360 and the penalty shootout and all that stuff and really 74 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:32.120 kind of considered the landmark moment that the women's national 75 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:36.159 team arrived on the scene in American sports culture. But 76 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:41.039 they played at Cardinal Stadium in their celebratory victory tour 77 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:45.520 after that World Cup, and then they came back a 78 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:48.599 couple more times, I believe between ninety nine and four. 79 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.439 But yeah, this is a huge deal for our city. 80 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:57.680 They're very selective about where they go, and it's a 81 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:00.159 big big kudos to our general manager Ryan Dell, who 82 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:03.719 used to work for US Soccer to land this. 83 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:05.599 It's a big economic boost. 84 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:08.039 Obviously, they're gonna have a lot of people coming into 85 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.599 town from the region to come watch this game. 86 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:13.879 But it's also great for soccer here because. 87 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.279 It will show off the stadium, It'll it'll show off 88 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:18.920 the facilities they'll practice over here at our training center, 89 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.240 and it doesn't hurt to show off our facilities to 90 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:23.839 potential free agents too. 91 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:25.199 Who play for the national team. 92 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:29.079 So all in all, just a really great opportunity for 93 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.680 this city and for our club. 94 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.199 It makes sense for them to be selective as far 95 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:34.720 as where they want to go for the for these 96 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:37.800 kind of matches. But what do you think it is 97 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.079 they look for specifically in that? Is it just you know, 98 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.319 a community that will have that they'll have a lot 99 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.040 of fans show up because they are big on soccer, 100 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:45.399 is it? 101 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:46.120 You know? 102 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.560 I mean, I just maybe that's not a question you 103 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:50.920 can answer directly, but I'm just curious as to what 104 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:53.759 specifically they look for. Because you're right, then picking Louisville 105 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:55.759 is a great sign not only for this city as 106 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:58.720 a sports city, but it's it's certainly big for the 107 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.279 growing community of supporters around here. 108 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:05.120 Yeah, it's it's a nod to And look, we know 109 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:08.319 this from from all of our years being around basketball 110 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:12.000 and football and obviously golf here in Louisville and hosting 111 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:14.480 these events. You know, Louisville is a good events city. 112 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:18.360 It's great hospitality. With the Derby obviously baked in, you 113 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:22.079 already kind of have the annual ability to show off 114 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:24.600 your hospitality. But we know the NCAA tournament has been 115 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:28.519 here a whole lot. We know obviously you know PGA 116 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:31.160 Championship and the Ryder Cup and all these different events 117 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:35.199 have been coming here for a reason. And so when 118 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:38.199 they're looking around, you know, one you want to find 119 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:40.519 a willing partner. And of course we were like from 120 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:43.120 the get go, I mean, we pursued them to bring 121 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:46.079 them here. But you need to have great facilities, which 122 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.519 we we do have. I don't know how many people. 123 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:49.920 Know this in Louisville. 124 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:51.920 It's something to be really proud of, but we have 125 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:54.560 some of the best what are considered some of the 126 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:59.639 best practice facilities in stadium in American soccer period and 127 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:04.240 that's including MLS, that's including NWSL the highest level all 128 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.879 the way down. These are outstanding facilities. And then on 129 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:10.879 the women's side in particular, I mean the training center 130 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:14.800 is probably in the very very highest echelon in the world. 131 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.959 So as that part of the game catches up, so 132 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:22.199 they look for facilities. Certainly the mayor helped in the 133 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:25.040 Louisville Sports Commission and our friends and Louisble Tourism. You 134 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.319 need to have all of that aligned and have some marketing, 135 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.839 and then the biggest thing, Nick is, you know, we 136 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:34.279 have to have a minimum fifteen thousand capacity at our stadium, 137 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:37.319 so we're going to get bleachers brought in. Sports Commission 138 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:39.959 really helped with that. We'll have some bleachers brought in 139 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.120 on the open end of the stadium to fill it 140 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:44.839 in a little bit more so that there's more places 141 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:48.000 to sit versus the standing room capacity that we normally have. 142 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:51.279 But once we were able to kind of fulfill all 143 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:52.319 of those things. 144 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:53.600 I mean, they were ready to go. 145 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.639 And they always like coming to newer places or different 146 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:01.600 places than the same old cities that they usually go 147 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:02.720 to for these games. 148 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:05.560 It's wild for me to think about the US women's 149 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.959 national team playing at any point at Cardinal Stadium that 150 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.839 is now you know, doesn't exist anymore, But I guess 151 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:12.839 back then that really would have been the only place 152 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:15.360 you could have put it. Now we have this phenomenal 153 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.279 stadium right there in downtown Louisville that is probably the 154 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.959 best thing visibly you can see from that stretch there 155 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.680 on sixty four and seventy one. It just looks absolutely amazing. 156 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:27.839 One of the things when it comes to the growth 157 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:29.399 of soccer in the community. I know you didn't grow 158 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:31.759 up here, but obviously you know you're it's soccer is 159 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:34.120 a big part of your meets your career now. I mean, 160 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.040 have you heard from others that have been around the 161 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:40.680 soccer community for you know, maybe generations, maybe decades as 162 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:42.800 far as like just where we are as a city 163 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:45.879 that supports this sport now compared to last time we 164 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.519 were here, Because I feel like even within United States 165 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:50.319 women' soccer, there's probably not a ton of people still 166 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:51.959 involved that you know, maybe there is that would have 167 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:54.120 been there around that time, But I feel like this 168 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:57.360 could be a good storyline in the soccer world nationally 169 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.800 that Wow, this city of Louisville, Kentucky. You know, people 170 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:02.639 think Derby, people think basketball lois slugger, but man, they 171 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:04.160 really have come a long way when it comes to 172 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:05.800 the sport of soccer. Mean, they wouldn't be coming here 173 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:07.240 to do this if that wasn't the case. But I 174 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.879 feel like this could probably give you more attention towards 175 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:11.160 that than anything you guys have done. 176 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.720 Yeah, look, it's this is this is It's been a 177 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:18.600 huge summer for our entire organization. We had one of 178 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:22.040 the biggest clubs in Germany come play here. Just last 179 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:27.600 week Eintracht Frankfurt. They are historically a very top level 180 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:30.360 team in Germany. Not you know, there's a couple of 181 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.840 teams ahead of them in the pecking order, but still 182 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:36.639 a team that is well respected. To have them come 183 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:38.960 here and play lou City last week was really cool 184 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.039 and they had rave reviews to bring back to Germany, 185 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.840 which is important because the other piece of news was 186 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:49.080 that FIFA named US as one of the World Cup 187 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.679 training sites for twenty twenty six, when the Men's World 188 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:54.200 Cup is here, and that's a big thing too, is 189 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.600 to be able to say, hey, we're going to have 190 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.679 a team come train here. I don't think we know 191 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.360 who that is going to be yet, but we're gonna 192 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:03.159 have one of the forty eight teams in that World 193 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:06.080 Cup come and train in Louisville and be based in Louisville. 194 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:08.440 So you know, they'll stay at you know, probably the 195 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.559 Omni or one of the nice hotels downtown, right and 196 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:14.200 and they'll be around, they'll be in the facility and 197 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:17.120 so this just adds another element to that is this 198 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:21.080 great summer that we're having just you know, shows how 199 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:24.080 far the investment in this sport has come. 200 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:26.480 There's always been a base. 201 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:27.279 Here in Louisville. 202 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:31.240 Look, Louisville is a population center, and so that means 203 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.000 soccer is going to be popular here. Soccer has been 204 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:37.120 popular for our entire lives in terms of people playing it. 205 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.399 But now it's about the investment of. 206 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:41.960 Building facilities and. 207 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:43.799 Obviously with the start of Loose City and then adding 208 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.120 racing and the academy that we have here, it's just 209 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:50.360 very much grown on the last decade. And yeah, to 210 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.440 your point, you know, if you talk to like, go 211 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:55.360 talk to Amina Ekech former U of l Legend and 212 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.879 UFL Legend period and now a pro played here for 213 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:01.320 a couple of years and talk to her about what 214 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:04.159 soccer was like when she was seven or ten years 215 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.360 old in Louisville compared to now fifteen years later, and 216 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.720 she'll tell you. I mean, it is just it's been 217 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.039 a glow up. As the young folks say, it's been 218 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:16.799 really cool to see it all pop up so quickly. 219 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:20.759 So you mentioned the Louisll Sports Commission as well as 220 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:23.200 Mayor Greenberg and his team. You know, when people bring 221 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.879 up like why isn't you know, why isn't lou City 222 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.679 in MLS. Why don't we even have a you know, 223 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.320 a G League team, Like, there's a lot of people 224 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:33.720 who want professional sports to work to be here. You know, 225 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.240 you guys obviously have done that at soccer holdings with 226 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:39.279 both Racing and Louse City. But you know, there's always 227 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.480 talks about potentially Louisville being an NBA city, which I'm 228 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.200 not really sure if that'll ever actually happen. But my 229 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:46.759 point is this, you know, how important is it for 230 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.360 you guys to have that support from the Sports Commission, 231 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.399 from the mayor in his office. I think there's some 232 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:53.320 you know, it makes sense people who aren't involved in 233 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.120 it wouldn't really know the process, all the things that 234 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:58.399 you have to do to like bring these events here 235 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:02.360 like this this you mentioned FIFA is going to have 236 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:04.399 you guys host for the for the women's national team 237 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.960 and all that kind of stuff. Like do you since 238 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:09.039 the support is there from the community to where if 239 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:10.759 you guys want to be able to host and you 240 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.720 want to be able to do these big things that 241 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:16.000 those people in office again, the mayor and the Sports Commission, 242 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.080 Like I just get the sense that there's a whole 243 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:21.080 lot of support to do whatever you guys need to 244 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:22.679 to get done to make these kind of things happen. 245 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.080 And that's awesome to see. 246 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.759 Yeah, of course, yeah, it takes a lot of effort. 247 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:30.519 And again to your point, like since moving so to speak, 248 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.440 inside the walls instead of being a reporter and covering 249 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:36.080 these things and talking about them, you really do get 250 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:40.240 to see just how invested everyone is, but also just 251 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:42.519 how much time things take and how much attention to 252 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:46.039 detailed things take. I mentioned the bleacher bleachers earlier. Well 253 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.919 that took that took a I think at least two 254 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.360 different mentions and meetings and then a phone call to 255 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.840 a phone call to a phone call to line up 256 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.879 the bleachers. And just something as simple as that you 257 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:59.000 would think, you know, oh it's simple, just get some bleachers. 258 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.720 Well now you've got a trans support them from a 259 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.679 different part in the city. I mean, it's it. There's 260 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.639 a lot of that stuff, and obviously there's some of 261 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.000 that at a higher level, and there's some stuff that's 262 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.279 even more minute school than that, or that's the wrong word, 263 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.600 but but even more of a minuche than that. That 264 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:17.720 requires a lot of time and effort and a whole 265 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.960 lot of people involved. 266 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:19.879 But yeah. 267 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:22.440 I mean, look this city, we love our sports, right, 268 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.759 I mean, we love sports here. 269 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:24.480 It doesn't matter. 270 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:26.840 Like I said earlier, we're talking about golf and horse 271 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.120 racing in the same conversation as football and basketball and 272 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:33.720 soccer and and these sports are all over the map. 273 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.600 I mean, shoot, if they had a tennis tournament here, 274 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:36.039 I think. 275 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:36.799 That would be packed too. 276 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:40.440 I know Cincinnati does well with theirs, so you know, 277 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:44.120 across the board, the PLL again had their All Star 278 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.840 has had their All Star stuff here, so that. 279 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:47.840 Stuff is packed too. 280 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:50.879 So the biggest thing I think Nick, as we. 281 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:53.320 Go forward, and I would say this, if there's an 282 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:56.240 NBA team someday that comes to Louisville. I know that's 283 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.559 a very divisive topic among people at the Lightning rout 284 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:02.320 of the top is you just always need to make 285 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:04.279 sure that there is corporate alignment. 286 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:06.559 And what I mean by that, it's something. 287 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:08.559 I have not thought about a whole lot until I 288 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:11.519 got into this business, is you don't just need the mayor. 289 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:15.080 You don't just need sports commission, Tourism Bureau. A lot 290 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:17.480 of the people in like the nonprofit world and the 291 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:21.000 civic part of everything, but you need businesses to line 292 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:24.519 up too, and you need money behind things, and you 293 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.879 need them to not just write checks. You need them 294 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:30.559 to write checks, but also have a staff that wants that, 295 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.080 that wants the excitement. And we've got some great partners 296 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:37.120 who have been very involved over the years, and you 297 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:41.159 just need that persistently and consistently to get that stuff 298 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.200 up and running and then sustain it. So it's a 299 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:46.919 big part of all of this, and I think Louisville 300 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.600 has done a great job of building that up. 301 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.600 Well, you've clearly been very busy. But I got asked, 302 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.080 did you get a chance to see any of the 303 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.440 Bahamas games last week? Any highlights anything? 304 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:57.799 No? 305 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:00.399 Well, yeah, I saw some highlights I saw obviously. 306 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.679 I mean, you know, I'm I'm very close with with 307 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:07.360 Mike Rutherford and I always his tweets just always seem. 308 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:11.240 To find my timeline at the time that I'm checking my. 309 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:13.200 My Twitter feed and was making me laugh about forty 310 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.200 and oh and all that stuff. 311 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:18.279 But look, what are you laughing? On the table? 312 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.919 I love that. I love it. 313 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.919 Uh, it's definitely on the table. 314 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:23.080 I nobody's played a game yet, but but. 315 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.360 No, I did the so I wrote the Lindy's Uh. 316 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.480 I do the Lindy's magazine a SEC preview, and I 317 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.919 write the Louisville preview the last couple of years. 318 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:35.960 And okay, you know, little humble bread. Okay, I pick 319 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:37.000 up the Lindy's every year. 320 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:38.879 Maybe there you go, there you go. 321 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.080 So but no, I I I talked to the editors 322 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:47.120 there about about Louisville and and you know, like you 323 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:49.159 said right before I came on, I mean, this is 324 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:53.440 an entirely new team and entirely new coaching staff, and 325 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:59.480 I know there's some familiar faces helping out, but it's fascinating. 326 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:02.200 To me what could happened. The potential is extremely. 327 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:07.519 High, and to me, on paper, Louisville has enough talent 328 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.919 to be very much a team in the mix in 329 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.960 the top like five or six in the ACC. 330 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.240 And like just from a talent standpoint and what those 331 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.879 guys did at other schools, you know, I just I 332 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:23.159 feel like that's a really good roster. I'm probably most 333 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:26.200 intrigued by what they do up front. I think they're 334 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:29.480 gonna be a little bit of a leaner, leaner side 335 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:31.840 up front and space the floor a little bit more. 336 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.919 I think James Scott is the guy who's got to 337 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.799 really step in as a shop blocker and be that 338 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:37.399 guy for them. 339 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.440 But but no. 340 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:43.039 I mean it's fully impressive and I think you know, 341 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:46.840 Pat Kelsey has done exactly what Louisville needed. 342 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:49.480 Somebody to do over the last four or five months. 343 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:52.279 So I'm sure they've sold some seat and tickets. 344 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.279 I don't know if you have that inside info or not. 345 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.000 I'm sure they have. 346 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.919 Oh yeah, they're they're heading the right direction with that, 347 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.440 that's for sure. 348 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.159 Yeah, that's what you need, Nick. 349 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.519 Yeah, I mean, even if it's summertime games in the Bahamas, 350 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.960 you just need to build some excitement. 351 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.600 There's certainly plenty of talent there, no. 352 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.000 Doubt about it. 353 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.240 Couldn't have said it better Jeff. As always, we appreciate 354 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.440 the time. Congrats to everybody over there at Soccer Holdings. 355 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:13.360 I know there's so much work that goes in to 356 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.799 everything that you guys do, So keep it up and 357 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.440 we'll be in touch. 358 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:16.840 My friend. 359 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.799 Awesome, thanks for having me, Nick, I appreciate it. 360 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.080 No problem. 361 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:22.679 Again that is Jeff Breer. Always appreciate his time and 362 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.039 enjoy the conversation as well. We'll take a quick break 363 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:27.320 and we'll carry that conversation into the next segment in 364 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:31.159 regards to Louisville basketball, because yeah, I mean, I've I mean, 365 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:33.039 I could just sit here and give you my thoughts 366 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:35.480 on every single player that I watched play last week. 367 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.799 I don't think that would be very interesting, certainly wouldn't 368 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:40.519 make for great radio. So I'll condense it just with 369 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:43.279 some big takeaways that I have. And yes, I'm aware 370 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:47.080 that you know they played two teams in the Bahamas, 371 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:50.480 one school from Canada and one team called the Bahamas 372 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.039 Select who. I have no clue if though the level 373 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:56.360 of you know, talent on those teams. But I knew 374 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.039 that going in that it wasn't going to be about hey, 375 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:00.440 they're going to go play some elite teams, but still 376 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.639 just seeing the personnel that Pat Kelsey has to work with, 377 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.160 seeing the style of play that this group's going to 378 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.680 have exciting stuff, no doubt. So we'll talk more about 379 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.559 that as we take you up till six o'clock. Again, 380 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.680 it's coffee and Company and we are fueled by Thornton's 381 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:16.200 right here on Sports Talk seven ninety. That's right, coffee 382 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.119 and company rolling along here on a Monday afternoon on 383 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.799 Sports Talk seven ninety. Thank you so much for hanging 384 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:24.160 out with us. I hope you guys missed me as 385 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:26.880 much as I missed you. I mean I did miss 386 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.559 you know, I missed the show and I'm not here, 387 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:31.039 but it was probably the best vacation I've had as 388 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.599 far as just you know, not really thinking a whole 389 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:38.519 lot about work. Which I don't say that to present 390 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:41.200 myself as somebody that just works harder than everybody. I 391 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:44.039 just look, I'm I'm wired a little bit differently mentally, 392 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.599 so like I worry about I'm a worrier. It's like 393 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.119 when I'm not here, I worry about, well, you know what, 394 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.680 they probably are going to realize it don't even need me, 395 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.799 probably my life show and I'm probably just going to 396 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:55.240 hand the gig off to John, the company Man's going 397 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:57.279 to take the reins. And you know, like I just 398 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.599 I don't know why my mind goes in the direction 399 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.400 that it goes. But I would have thought had I 400 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:04.519 known all that was gonna be going on last week 401 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.960