WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.439 All right, let's get it started. Welcome in, Happy hump Day, 2 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:09.000 another beautiful, beautiful day here in the fine city of Louisville, Kentucky. 3 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:11.599 College basketball is on. I mean, I'm saying the same 4 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:14.599 thing I said to start the show yesterday, but it's 5 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.239 worth repeating because once again we've got another beautiful day 6 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:19.920 and we've got college hoops on. In fact, more games 7 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:21.679 on today, as we're getting a little bit later in 8 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.879 the week, as these conference tournaments are getting rolling, and 9 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.800 as it as of right now looks like we've got 10 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:33.439 a close one between well and the YouTube TV is great, 11 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:37.280 but if you ever watched it on your this is 12 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:40.320 not something really worth complaining about it. It's just iderotates me. 13 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:43.119 So I keep YouTube TV on in a window like 14 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.000 a Google Chrome window on one of the monitors here, 15 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.039 and it's convenient. I can mute YouTube TV to where 16 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:51.920 I can still play sound from the studio and it's 17 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:54.079 not you know, pulling in the feed from the game. 18 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:56.799 But whenever you have it minimized, there's like that little 19 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:00.759 thing that hovers over that shows you know, pau rewind 20 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:04.319 fifteen seconds again, a really useful tool that I use 21 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.159 quite a bit. However, it gets in the way to 22 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:09.560 where I can't actually see the score. It blocks the 23 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:11.400 score bugs, so I got to move the mouse over it. 24 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:13.239 So again, not that big of a deal, but I 25 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:15.959 was trying to get an update on the game here 26 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.480 as far as the score, and I couldn't see it. 27 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:21.799 But anyways, we'll get you updated on all the games 28 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:24.239 going on, because, believe it or not, as of three o'clock, 29 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:27.439 we already have had some games conclude. We've got many 30 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:31.000 games coming up. So again, it's an awesome thing. In fact, 31 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:33.599 one of the things I noticed last night I was 32 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:38.879 watching the Horizon League championship game. It was down to 33 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:43.519 Youngstown State and who was it? Was it Robert Morris. 34 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:48.120 I did watch it, but I've been really taking in 35 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:50.560 a lot of college hoops lately. Basketball overload for me, 36 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.760 So I know Youngstown State lost, and I can't remember 37 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:55.560 who it was that they ended up losing to. But 38 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:58.079 either way, there are now a handful of teams, in fact, 39 00:01:58.159 --> 00:01:59.719 more than I realized now that I look at it, 40 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:02.000 that have already punched their ticket, that have won their 41 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:06.519 conference tournament. And as much as college basketball, I'm really 42 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.120 college sports in general at the high level, mostly college 43 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:12.560 football and men's basketball, women's basketball, and I'm sure there's 44 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.879 other sports where you can see athletes making a lot 45 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.560 of money in it, and it's you know, it's confirmation 46 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:20.840 essentially that they can call it an IL, they can 47 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.639 call it revenue sharing. But at the highest level, we 48 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:27.199 now have professional sports within college sports, and it makes 49 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:28.960 some people uncomfortable, and I get it, We've had those 50 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:34.879 conversations before. But if you are someone that's still longs 51 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:38.039 for those days of the pure wholesome moments in college 52 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:42.879 sports that you you know, really just get hit in 53 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:45.159 the fields because you can tell these student athletes men, 54 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:47.280 they're playing for the love of the game. They're playing 55 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:49.960 for the name on the front, not the back. They 56 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:52.719 don't care about an IL. They're not paying They just 57 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.680 you know, they don't They don't get an IL. And 58 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:57.360 I'm sure some of these guys that play at the 59 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.360 lower level do. But what I'm getting at here is 60 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.639 if you are some that really really misses those days 61 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:06.560 where you could just easily distract yourself because right now 62 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:09.240 you can if you just watch between the lines, you 63 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:10.840 wouldn't know that these guys are getting paid a lot 64 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:12.280 of money. But it's really this day and eight. It's 65 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.240 hard to not know that, right. It's such a factor. 66 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:15.759 If you're a fan of the sport and you want 67 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:17.000 to keep up at the sport and keep up with 68 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:20.039 your team, you're going to probably know that money was 69 00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:22.680 a big factor and this guy transferring here or there. 70 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:27.960 So watching last night, it was it was Robert Morris 71 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:32.639 who I saw ended up knocking off Youngstown State in 72 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:36.159 the Horizon League Championship. And then also last night you 73 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.879 and see Wilmington they got back to the tournament and 74 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:41.520 then over the weekend Drake, which was actually kind of cool. 75 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.560 They've been to the tournament more so than a lot 76 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.400 of teams of the mid major level. But cool story, right. 77 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:50.599 Ben McCollum, the former D two dominant coach, a guy 78 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.960 who's a legend at the D two level. He jumped 79 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:55.560 up this year from D two Missouri Valley State. I 80 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.599 think it was to go to Drake. Brought his whole 81 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:00.479 team with him essentially. I mean not every but the 82 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:02.680 majority of the guys who play for him just came 83 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:04.840 with him when he left his old school to go 84 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.520 to Drake. So you know, these guys think about this 85 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:09.879 a year ago, they're the D two level. They probably 86 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:11.400 didn't know for sure if their coach was going to 87 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:13.599 be leaving or not. And now a year later they've 88 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.680 been able to jump up to the Division One level 89 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:18.360 and now they're going to the tournament. So I'm someone 90 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:21.959 that will always enjoy watching that because just making the 91 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:25.560 tournament when you've got sixty eight teams is really not 92 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.839 a high bar to set, especially when you are a 93 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:32.519 college basketball program that has actually accomplished some things. I mean, 94 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:35.279 even if you're not a program that has even like 95 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.959 made multiple final fours. You know, just making the tournament 96 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.759 in most instances should never be your bar. Now, you'd 97 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:46.399 rather be there than not. But in Louisville, this year 98 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:48.319 clearly is gonna make it. And this would have been 99 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:49.879 a ran. You know, this would have been a very 100 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:53.079 unusual exceptions given how bad we were for the previous 101 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.879 three years. So these guys who play for High Point 102 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.360 by the high Point is in from a big South 103 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:01.920 Lipscomb they won the Atlantic Son Wafford, they won the 104 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:05.399 SoCon Troy was your winner of the Sun Belt, Omaha, 105 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:09.839 the Mavericks making their first appearance, they won the Summit League. 106 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:17.319 Saint Francis, the Red Flash they won the Northeastern Conference Final. Gonzaga, 107 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:19.759 they count, but they're you know, they're a regular. They 108 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:22.519 won last night. So you know, every school I mentioned 109 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:27.399 outside of Gonzaga, I feel like has guys who the 110 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:30.879 dream is to play D one and they probably, you know, 111 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.720 they had options. I'm sure if you're playing at those 112 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:35.959 level schools. But my point is this, they go to 113 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:39.040 college at that level. I would imagine if you're going 114 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.079 to high Point or you're going to Wafford, the majority 115 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:45.079 of the schools you chose high Point or Wafford over 116 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:47.759 are probably in that same level. So you enter your 117 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:51.519 college career knowing that it's unless you're going to a 118 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:55.639 powerhouse who wins their conference tournament every year. I mean, 119 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:57.120 you don't know if you're ever going to make the 120 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.519 Big Dance, right, So it's really a different world for 121 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:04.879 this level of college basketball. They're not. I mean, I'm 122 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.879 sure if they can make some anile money, they're gonna say, 123 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.639 hell yeah, sign me up. I'll take some money. Who 124 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.680 wouldn't want to do that? But they also live in 125 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:16.720 reality where the bag's not being dropped at Troy University 126 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:18.680 for you to come and play in the Sun Belt 127 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.720 Conference at least not to the extent of you know, 128 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:25.040 going to a SEC Big ten or ACC school. So 129 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.879 to see these guys you know, clearly still get such 130 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:33.240 satisfaction and have their hard work paid off by getting there, 131 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.600 it does kind of remind me that as much as 132 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.360 this is pro sports and it's very much a transactional industry, 133 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:42.000 now college athletics is, you still have some moments like 134 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:45.240 this that can really again fill that void if you're 135 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:49.800 somebody that misses the old amateurism model, which is archaic 136 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.399 and it's insane that it lasted as long as it did. 137 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:55.279 But yeah, I enjoyed watching the few teams in the 138 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.920 last couple of days be able to actually get it 139 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.680 done because look, you can be a let's say you 140 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:04.240 win your league and maybe I can pull some numbers 141 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.720 here because I'd be interested to see this, because it 142 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:09.040 really does point out that just making the tournament, even 143 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.720 if you're a sixteen seed and you know that you're 144 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.879 probably going to get your butt kicked, or even a 145 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:15.040 fifteen seed, I mean, you're still going to in your 146 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.600 mind think, okay, let's go be Cinderella. Let's go let's 147 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.319 go find a slipper and put it on and try 148 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:22.839 to ride some march magic into a deep run. You 149 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:25.480 could tell yourself that, but you're aware of you know 150 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:30.639 who you are. So just getting there, regardless of where 151 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.800 your seed is, even if you're the playing game, is 152 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:37.079 a big deal because you can be really, really good 153 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:39.839 and not winning your conference tournament every year, right like 154 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:43.720 winning your league. And this is a conversation that probably 155 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.600 isn't something many people care about because again different levels. 156 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.079 People who care about college basketball around here don't really 157 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:52.040 get into the weeds of low level college basketball, understandably so, 158 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.839 but I've always felt like you should make the tournament 159 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.560 if you win your conference, not your conference tournament at 160 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:00.360 that lower level, because that's actually a more impressive thing, 161 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.519 and that actually is i think a bigger accomplishment from 162 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:05.560 you know, the gauntlet, if you can even call it that. 163 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:07.600 I'm sure some of these teams maybe they run through 164 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:11.079 their league, but I wouldn't be shocked if you've got 165 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:17.800 a school that wins their conference regular season title, let's 166 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:21.360 say four out of every six years they're regular season 167 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:24.800 champs or co champs, I would not be shocked if 168 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.199 that results in only one or two actual trips to 169 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:30.680 the tournament, because you know, there's teams you know that 170 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:34.519 are good, but you know, only one team gets to 171 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:37.559 go from these conferences. There's no bidstealers in these leagues 172 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:40.840 that we're watching here right Like high Point Winthrop's not 173 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.240 going to get in because high Point snuck past them 174 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:46.240 in the championship game. So it is such a big 175 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:49.080 rewarding thing that even if you're good and you had 176 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.399 you know, two games to spare in your conference and 177 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:55.559 you've got the one seed, you still have that pressure 178 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:59.519 of winning sometimes four straight days in order to actually 179 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.279 get the you know, get the ticket to the big dance. 180 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:07.159 And I'm not sure if there are championship games tonight 181 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:09.159 we'll get we'll get a look at the scores that 182 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.960 have already you know, we've already got some games that 183 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.399 have concluded. We also have some games that are getting 184 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.159 ready to start. So a full day at college hoops 185 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:17.919 will get you caught up on all that. I should 186 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.519 let you know that this is Coffee and Company. I 187 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:21.200 haven't let you know that. I assume you did know that. 188 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:24.000 The fancy voiceover guy let you know when the show started. 189 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:25.799 But again, it is Coffee and Company, and we are 190 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.159 fueled by Thornton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety's 191 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:30.600 taking you up till six o'clock. So sit back, relax, 192 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:33.759 make yourself at home. We do not have Austin with 193 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:37.080 us today. He's out he's got to do his other gig. 194 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:39.320 But when I say other gig, he's got like four 195 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:42.440 jobs within our company here at iHeart. So when I 196 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.519 say other gig, you know he's not out bartending or 197 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:48.120 you know, working on the assembly line or I don't 198 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:50.519 know whatever other gig he could have. He's also he's 199 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.480 just doing another job for us here. So there's an 200 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:54.960 event he's got to be at. So it's okay, It's okay. Look, 201 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.600 you want depth, you want to be able to go 202 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:59.840 to your bench when it matters most, and that's March. 203 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.679 We go to the bench today. We bring in Carl 204 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.200 filling In, who will take us up till six o'clock. 205 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:07.519 So again we're we're locked and loaded. If you want 206 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.799 to take us with you wherever you go, you can 207 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.840 listen live on the iHeart Radio. I also listened live 208 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:13.200 at seven ninety Louisville dot com. And if you guys 209 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.720 want to be a part of the show today, obviously 210 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.159 today's day where you can certainly you have a better 211 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.080 chance of getting through just because you know we're a 212 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.919 little bit lighter when it comes to the contribution that 213 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:24.279 we're going to get. So FABO two BOBS seven seventy 214 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.720 nine hundred is the number if you want to give 215 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.200 us a call. We'll open up phone lines once we 216 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.320 go to break here and just just about five six 217 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:31.159 minutes or so, and then you can also text in 218 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:34.360 the Ellenn Federal Credit Union tex line FIBO two four 219 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:37.679 three eight ninety seventy three. Again FABO two four three 220 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:43.200 eight ninety seventy three. So before we do take our 221 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:45.240 first break, I did want to kind of pick up 222 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:47.759 where we left off yesterday. However, I don't think we 223 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:50.320 actually had at least I hadn't talked about it on 224 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.039 I don't think I talked about it. Towards the end 225 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:53.559 of the show. It started to appear that way. But 226 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:58.600 the tragic news about Junior Bridgeman a Louisville legend, not 227 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:03.240 only because of his impact on on the city of Louisville, 228 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.360 the Louisville basketball program, the business world, really just the 229 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:10.759 community as a whole. So again I feel silly kind 230 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.240 of resetting this because I assume everybody listening is well 231 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:15.399 aware of what happened, because you know, it was something 232 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.080 that we did bring up here and there throughout the 233 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:20.840 show yesterday, but I was not going to address anything 234 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:24.639 that wasn't confirmed by you know, legitimate outlets out there. 235 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:27.519 So it was in an event yesterday he was being 236 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:31.360 interviewed by Kent Taylor and had a heart attack. And 237 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.960 he knew he had a heart attack. Apparently he had 238 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:37.480 told people that he feels like that that's what had happened. 239 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:41.159 But he was at the Gold House and at seventy 240 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.240 one years old, had a heart attack and passed away. 241 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.679 So very very sad. You know, I can't think of 242 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:52.759 many people that have been as impactful and successful as 243 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:55.960 Junior Bridgeman, right. I mean I obviously was not around 244 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:59.159 to see him play. He's a lot older than I am, 245 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.320 but I think you could be substantially younger than me 246 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.960 and know who Junior Bridgeman is because of just how 247 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:07.600 successful he is and how I mean he's a philanthropist. 248 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:11.440 He's somebody that was able to create an insane amount 249 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:16.159 of wealth for himself and it just became, I think 250 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:19.080 second nature for him to just share that wealth and 251 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:22.440 give back and do good things for people who need it. 252 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.399 So again, very sad thoughts in prayers with his family, 253 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:29.279 his loved ones, and of course his louisl basketball family. 254 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.440 You know, Junior for good reason became a mentor and 255 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:35.080 a guy that a lot of his peers other former 256 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.279 Louisville basketball players looked up to, because how could you not. 257 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:41.759 And you know what really stood out to me about 258 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:43.919 Junior One, I knew he was a good player, but 259 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:46.799 I'm somebody that really just I learned about him at 260 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.480 a young age. But by the time I learned who 261 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.600 he was when I was young, he was already a 262 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:54.200 super successful businessman. And now here he is at seventy one. 263 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:57.080 He was a billionaire. But he was an All American 264 00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:59.559 for the Cards in seventy five and of course was 265 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.399 part of that national semi finals team in seventy five 266 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:06.320 as well, two time Missouri Valley Player of the Years. 267 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:08.639 Only he's only yeah, he's got He's one of only 268 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:14.080 twenty players to have his jersey honored. I mean, he's 269 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.399 a part of the Athletic Hall of Fame as you 270 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:17.840 could expect. I mean, this is a guy who was 271 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:21.480 a phenomenal player, here for Denny Crumb. Early in Denny's 272 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:24.080 days at Louisville and then in the NBA, had a 273 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:26.000 hell of an impact there as well. First round pick 274 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:29.159 in the seventy five draft, played twelve seasons for the Bucks, 275 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:31.600 I'm sorry, twelve seasons in the NBA, ten for the 276 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.159 Bucks and two with the LA Clippers. His jersey's retired 277 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:38.600 by the Bucks. Played in seven hundred and eleven games 278 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:41.840 for that franchise. And this is another thing that really 279 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.759 isn't surprising, but I didn't know this until yesterday. It 280 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:48.240 makes total sense. But the guy's got a lengthy resume 281 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:52.200 of impressive accomplishments. I did not realize. But for four 282 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:55.840 years he served as the president of the NBA Players Association, 283 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:02.440 And that may be the gig that really nobody else 284 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:07.120 that's ever played basketball in the NBA is more deserving 285 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.679 of having that that honor. Meaning their peers have have 286 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:13.000 named them the person who is the president of their 287 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.279 you know, basically of their union if you want to 288 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:18.320 call it that. Right, it's the players Association who collectively 289 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.519 they're looking out for themselves, the players, the employees essentially, right, 290 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:24.399 And he was the leader of that for four years 291 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:26.799 which again is a sign of respect that he has 292 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:30.320 from his peers. So, you know, Junior Bridgman's somebody that 293 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:32.440 around here. You hear of him and you're like, oh yeah, 294 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:36.320 I mean, nobody's unaware of his status and his accomplishments 295 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:41.960 and his success. But because we're just understandably so proud 296 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.600 that he's connected to us. He's a former cardinal, he 297 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:47.240 still is very much involved in the city of Louisville, 298 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.960 cares a lot about the city of Louisville, has done 299 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:52.039 so many great things. You know, we just we just 300 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:54.360 it's almost like we just take claimed him. Yeah, Like 301 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:57.039 when we think of him, it's not as much about 302 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:59.440 what he did, you know, globally, it's just knowing he's 303 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:03.120 super success and he's one of ours, right, He's he's 304 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:06.759 he's somebody that that that represented this city, represented the program, 305 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.200 and he's a Louisville legend, right, And I don't just 306 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:11.399 mean the University of the basketball program. I mean a 307 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.600 Louisville legend, really a Kentucky legend, to be honest. So 308 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.159 you know, I when I when I think of him, 309 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.159 for years, I've kind of had the same mindset. While 310 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:23.799 that guy's super successful what a great story. And and 311 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.639 yesterday a lot of folks, you know, as you could expect, 312 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:30.000 sharing their condolence, is sharing stories about him because you know, 313 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.039 they knew him well and he meant a lot to them. 314 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:34.440 I mean, there were guys in the NBA last night, 315 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.840 coaches and even Shaquille O'Neil, who was on set with 316 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.000 inside the NBA, I mean getting very emotionally choked up 317 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:44.720 because they they they they absolutely looked up to Junior 318 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.720 Bridgeman and and thought he was somebody that you know, 319 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:50.960 they could they could get advice fro him, and he's 320 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:54.000 one of those guys that it takes, unfortunately, something like this, 321 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.039 meaning him passing away unexpectedly, for you to really truly 322 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:02.080 understand the impact that he had, the amount of people 323 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:05.080 he impacted, and you know, the links in which he 324 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:08.480 went to to, you know, to be a guy that 325 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.960 after seventy one years of life, I mean, he seems 326 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:15.320 like a very well, very well beloved guy. And I 327 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:19.000 thought last night hearing it was it was Doc Rivers, 328 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:24.320 who of course spent some time with the Milwaukee Bucks franchise, 329 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.120 and obviously he's I mean, he's people know who Doc 330 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.399 Rivers is, but he he, like many, had a very 331 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:34.639 very close connection to Junior Bridgeman, and he was choked 332 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:36.600 up and talking about it last night. And I don't 333 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:38.840 know if I've heard anybody in you know, a minute 334 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:41.240 in a minute and a half here, ninety seconds roughly 335 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:45.519 that really can put into perspective you know why Junior 336 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:50.919 Bridgeman is in fact the absolute model professional basketball player. 337 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.120 He's the guy that the National Basketball Association should always 338 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:56.679 point to as the best example of somebody who used 339 00:16:56.679 --> 00:17:00.399 basketball to get an education, used basketball to make a 340 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.759 great living, but then used everything that came with his 341 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:09.759 basketball career to become a billionaire, to use that wealth 342 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.960 to help people, not only when it comes to helping 343 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:17.319 you know, monetarily, but also with guidance other athletes who 344 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:22.200 don't have the awareness of like finances and that kind 345 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.039 of stuff. But here's Doc Rivers yesterday, and I thought 346 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.559 this was really, really, really heartfelt and certainly worth hearing 347 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:32.920 given the unfortunate circumstances here. So again I knew there 348 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.039 was a connection with Doc Rivers and the Bucks. For 349 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:38.799 some reason, I was thinking that he was the Bucks 350 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.960 coach and then got fired and went to Philadelphia. But 351 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:43.440 it's the other way around. He was Philadelphia, got canned, 352 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:47.759 and now he's now he's in he's in Milwaukee. So yeah, condolences, 353 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:49.720 I mean, just really sad. But man, what a life 354 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:53.119 and what an impact Junior Bridgman had. And I mean, 355 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:55.519 I think you could really get lost in these next 356 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:58.519 few days, maybe even longer than that, just hearing different 357 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:01.480 stories that others have about Junior Bridgeman, how much they 358 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:04.640 looked up to him. He's probably a guy that in 359 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:11.240 the circle of high level sports entertainment, basketball mostly, but 360 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.039 not just basketball. I mean, he had a level of 361 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:17.640 wealth that probably could call anybody he needed to because 362 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.640 he's just that's the kind of you know, company he 363 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:21.240 could keep, that's the kind of circles he ran. And 364 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:23.640 he was one of the most successful businessmen in America. 365 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.319 So you know, there's so many He's not an A 366 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:29.240 list celebrity, right, he doesn't walk down the street and 367 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:31.960 everybody know who he is, but the people who are 368 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:34.240 like this is something I thought that was really really 369 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:36.640 well said. And I don't remember which player it was. 370 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.680 It might have been Dangelo Russell, of course, Louisville native 371 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:42.119 who apparently had some connection some relationship with Junior a 372 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:45.519 lot of guys did, but he was your favorite player's 373 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:48.240 favorite player, probably not only because he was a great, 374 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.759 I mean phenomenal NBA player himself. Again, he's got his 375 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:53.119 number retired by the Bucks. Was a first round pick, 376 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:58.279 had a hell of a career, right but NBA stars 377 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:01.079 looked up to him and really loved just soaking up 378 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:04.000 his guidance and his you know, his knowledge on on 379 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:06.079 you know, how to be a businessman, how to you know, 380 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.359 how to carry yourself, how to be a pro off 381 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:12.519 the court. So it's always nice to see former cardinals 382 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:15.000 and guys who represent, you know, the program you care about, 383 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:17.680 have success really at any level doing anything you want. 384 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.480 You want these guys to do well. But Junior did it, 385 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.759 and then it's just it's also it's just I don't know, 386 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.920 it's one of those things that I would have never 387 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.920 thought about it until, of course something like this happens. 388 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:31.960 But think about the best NBA players ever, Think about 389 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:36.000 your favorite NBA player ever, like somebody that you really 390 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.759 just idolized that you think the world of. Be a 391 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.279 real big surprise if Junior Bridgeman wasn't one of their 392 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:43.640 role models, which is pretty cool to say. I really 393 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:45.559 do believe that. All right, quick break, we got a 394 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.799 lot to get into. We'll get you caught up on 395 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:48.920 all the scores from around the country. We've got some 396 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:52.119 games going on as we speak, some games coming up. 397 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:55.839 We've got more bracketology updates to look at them. Getting scared, guys, 398 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:59.160 I'm not not about, you know, any one specific matchup, 399 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.039 but I think there's a big difference in being a 400 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:06.279 seven in and eight for obvious reasons, because if you're seven 401 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.559