WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.160 on a Tuesday edition of our program. We're going to 3 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:08.800 be basketball heavy tonight, and for you football fans, we 4 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:11.839 have not forgotten about football, of course, but there's a 5 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:15.240 lot out there right now TBT, the Basketball Tournament. We 6 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:18.079 got a chance to chat with the Sean Woods, who 7 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.960 is the head coach of tbt's entry this year, and 8 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:25.039 Twany Beckham, the general manager. Of course, Shawn will join 9 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.399 us tomorrow and we talked last week at a little 10 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.879 bit about TBT. But they had a news conference today 11 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:35.479 to unveil the tournament brackets, which probably don't mean much 12 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:37.759 to you right now. To whim, we know more about 13 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.479 the other teams in the tournament, but of course the 14 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:45.719 Kentucky team La Familla is almost entirely former UK players. 15 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.200 They talked a little bit about the roster today. They're 16 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:50.920 going to add two or three more players. There was 17 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.679 also a player they're talking to who apparently has some 18 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:58.719 kind of connection to Sean but is not a UK guy, 19 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:01.679 but they didn't announce who that was yet, so that's 20 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:04.719 a little bit intriguing. So we'll hear about that coming 21 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:08.239 up in the days to come, but anyway, we'll hear 22 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:10.799 from Sean and twenty coming up here in just a minute. 23 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:13.359 But we also got a chance to chat with Kenny 24 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:15.400 Brooks and two of his players. They made two of 25 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.159 the women available to us today, just as they made 26 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:21.000 two of the men available yesterday. They will again next week. 27 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:23.599 And we'll hear from the guys coming up in our 28 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:25.760 second hour, but we'll hear from the women coming up 29 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:28.000 in just a minute. But I wanted to start off 30 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:33.319 with Sean and twenty talking about TBT. It's the million 31 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.640 dollar winner take All tournament and it was such a 32 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:41.959 success in lexingon last year. It's kind of grown a 33 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:44.599 bit that last year was not the first year. But 34 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:47.799 last year they put together a team led by twenty, 35 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:50.840 the general manager, that really had a shot at winning, 36 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:56.879 and Nate Cestina was a focal point, was the centerpiece, 37 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:00.560 was a great addition to that team and he was 38 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:04.280 literally the biggest reason they had a chance to win 39 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:08.199 it all. But and they knew this going in, he 40 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.120 had a contract with a team overseas and he had 41 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.960 to leave before the tournament was over, which meant, yeah, 42 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:17.439 they got to the final four, but when they were 43 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:20.560 playing in Philly against the Ohio State based team. They 44 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:25.360 didn't have their biggest, most effective guy and it really 45 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.120 it really caught me have cost him the game, and 46 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:32.400 I and laying all this on Sistina, but both Sean 47 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:36.879 and twenty talked about the fact that it really hurt 48 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:40.800 Kentucky's effort last year, and Beckham said, as he put 49 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.000 this roster together, he made sure or at least sought 50 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.120 to make sure that it wouldn't happen again. 51 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:48.599 Of course, like you just mentioned, we had a guy 52 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.120 that couldn't make it due to some stuff he had 53 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.439 going on in his personal life, and I think it 54 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.000 was a huge letdown to the guys. I mean, but 55 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:58.439 we still went. I think we fought. You know, he 56 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:00.439 was the guy that you know, the couldn't make it 57 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.159 the Philadelphia last year was like our Google guy. He 58 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.280 was our engine, he was our light, he was our spirit, 59 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:08.120 he was our energy. I mean, he was everything to 60 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:10.000 our team. So it was a huge leadown for us. 61 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:12.560 But you know, when me and Coach Woods just talked 62 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:14.680 about the roster construction this year, we wanted to make 63 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:17.039 sure that we put together nine to ten guys that 64 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:20.120 all had that spirit that so if something was to 65 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.199 happen this year, which we don't foresee or plan on, 66 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:26.000 because we let they be known early that you cannot, 67 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:28.479 for whatever reason, if you commit to us, you cannot 68 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.840 back out. And we put that in our contract with 69 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:32.280 the guys as well, and. 70 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:35.039 We talked to Sistina about it before he left, of course, 71 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:37.960 and you know, he was not happy about the back 72 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:40.039 that he had to lead, but that's just the way 73 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.680 the situation was. And Sean talked about Beckham in the 74 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:47.000 most glowing terms about the work that Beckham has done 75 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.240 putting this team together. He said he's missed his calling 76 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:53.400 and he needs to be an nbagm but putting the 77 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:57.759 team together, crafting this team, finding the players, working through 78 00:03:57.800 --> 00:03:59.800 their schedules because a lot of them are still playing 79 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:05.960 pro overseas, and making sure they understand, as they did 80 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:08.919 last year, that this isn't just a fun thing to 81 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:12.319 get together, break a sweat, play some ball. No, they 82 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:14.599 want to get together and they want to win. But 83 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:20.319 Sean also talked at length about the fact that the 84 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.839 players so enjoyed last year and they talked about it 85 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:26.800 with us both during and after the fact that they 86 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:28.959 got to wear the jersey again. They got to feel 87 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:33.279 the love of the BBN again, which maybe they didn't 88 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:36.199 fully appreciate when they were kids, back when they were 89 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.240 playing for the Wildcats for you know, one and done 90 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.600 or maybe even longer than that. I'll love the Harrison 91 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.240 Twins and Willie Cauley Stein, but they got a chance 92 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:50.519 at an older age with perspective to experience that love again. 93 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:53.720 The guys that we got are so looking forward to 94 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:59.600 it because they saw it last year. But not only that, man, 95 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.439 they get the be a Kentucky basketball player again, you know, 96 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:05.839 And that's bigger than anything is. You get to be 97 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:09.360 a Kentucky basketball player again. The only bad sad part 98 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:11.240 about is they don't get to play a REP anymore, 99 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.800 but they get to play where it all started in 100 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:17.040 Memoria Colisseum and we all have blood, sweat and tears 101 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:19.680 on that court in that building. So that's going to 102 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.240 bring a little more camaraderie to the situation too. 103 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:25.079 I just love that comment, And there was that pregnant 104 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.800 pause from Sean. They get to be a Kentucky basketball 105 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:31.000 player again as he was choosing his words. It was 106 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:33.720 just very cool when he said that. Sean brought this 107 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.680 up on My show last week. And he said it 108 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:37.680 again today that he kind of had to have a 109 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.040 come to Jesus meeting with some of the guys with 110 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:42.839 the team last year as they were working, just to 111 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:46.720 make sure they understood that this was about wearing that 112 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:50.279 jersey again and about Kentucky pride, not just going for 113 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.560 the million dollars. And he said it kind of came 114 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:56.000 together over in Louisville. They beat Louisville, and you know, 115 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:59.279 there was a little bit of back and forth after 116 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.560 the game, and he said that kind of pulled the 117 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:02.199 team together. 118 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:06.079 It's bigger than money. This was the pride of Kentucky 119 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:12.040 got involved and that Louisville situation. I'm telling you right now, 120 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.040 I hadn't played a college basketball game was nineteen ninety two, 121 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:20.360 and I hadn't I've been a coach in college for 122 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:24.160 twenty five years. Besides went in a conference championship getting 123 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:26.560 the opportunity to go to NCAA tournament. There was no 124 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:29.560 rush that I had I have had since I've been 125 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:32.720 a UK player than that UK U of L TBT 126 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.000 game at Freedom Hall. I mean, it was unlike anything 127 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:39.600 that I've gone through. And I think that's when it 128 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:43.279 clicked that we had something from a pride standpoint, because 129 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:46.519 it was nothing but pride from them and us. And 130 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:50.439 as you see how it ended very very chippy, But 131 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:54.279 that was just a competitive U of l UK situation 132 00:06:54.959 --> 00:07:00.360 and it was nothing like, nothing like it in all 133 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:03.120 my years in twenty five thirty years since I've been gone. 134 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:05.680 And no, they will not play in RUPP They'll play 135 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:11.040 in the coliseum. But with the improved Memorial Coliseum, it's 136 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:13.680 gonna be even more intimate, right and as Sean said, 137 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.480 especially his teams under Patino. You know, the Calipari teams 138 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.680 got to work in the Craft Center, but they did 139 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:21.920 a little bit of work in the coliseum. It's going 140 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.319 to be great to see a game there as well. 141 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:27.600 Of course, the coliseum is home for the UK women. 142 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:29.720 As I mentioned earlier. We had a chance to talk 143 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:34.079 to a couple of players earlier today and Clara Strack 144 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.800 one of them. She had a big year transferring in 145 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:41.120 from Virginia Tech, second team All Conference Defensive Player of 146 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:44.639 the Year, led the SEC in block shots, was eleventh 147 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:48.319 in the country in block shots and thirteenth in blocks 148 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.120 per game, a two and a half per contest, and 149 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.160 I asked her about the fact that she had such 150 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:57.040 a big year and now she's going to be front 151 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:00.800 and center on everybody's scouting report and she can expect 152 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:03.519 with the upcoming season how she's going to attack that. 153 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:06.199 Yeah, I mean, I think I'm just excited, Like like 154 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.519 coachbrook said, this year is really exciting for us. We 155 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.519 have our experience already, Like I think last year coming 156 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:14.120 in like not only did I not have a ton 157 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:17.160 of experience in general in like college basketball, but now 158 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:19.120 I have a whole other year in the SEC. So 159 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:22.399 I think I'm excited and I'm ready for like those 160 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:26.079 challenges like that. But obviously I have an amazing team 161 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.279 around me, so I think that that will help a 162 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:29.000 lot with all that. 163 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.120 As Clara Strack, who of course was such a big 164 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:34.440 part of the team, as was Georgia Amore and Kenny 165 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:36.240 Brooks talked about it, as she did on my show 166 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.120 the other night, the fact that Amore's gone but of 167 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:42.000 course not forgotten been a part of the culture that's 168 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:46.360 in place now at Kentucky. But I've always felt like 169 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:50.559 last year's team, Amore could be big, Strack could be big, 170 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:54.840 but minus Tony Key, they weren't really gonna have a 171 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:57.720 big shot at winning a tough game. I thought I 172 00:08:57.799 --> 00:08:59.799 kind of in my mind had her like you know, 173 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:04.080 Magic Johnson, Kareem abdul Jabbar and more and stract. But 174 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:07.600 James Worthy, I thought was the glued to those great 175 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:10.159 Laker teams, and I thought Tianni Key was the glue here. 176 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.840 I didn't bring that up to her. I don't know 177 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:15.919 if she make the connection with those older Laker greats 178 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.600 and James Worthy, but I talked to her about being 179 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:21.600 a player not afraid of doing the dirty work and 180 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:23.039 doing again this coming season. 181 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:27.080 Yeah, I think, honestly a big focus throughout the season, 182 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:31.039 through the postseason, and even now. It just was just 183 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.159 doing the little things, focusing on the little things, like 184 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:35.840 coach work says a lot, it's not it's not how 185 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:37.440 fast you do it, it's how you do it. So 186 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:40.240 like just focusing on those little things and doing them 187 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:44.279 well and just getting stronger, being like you said, doing 188 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:46.440 the dirty work, doing whatever the team needs. Honestly, just 189 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:50.120 being helpful and anyways what I strive to do. So 190 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:52.879 I think, you know, each team in the SEC brings 191 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.159 something a little bit different. It's very similar though, but 192 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:58.919 just reading the game, honestly, just figuring out what we 193 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:01.240 need and how I can help. I think that's always 194 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:02.320 always my focus. 195 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:06.720 Up next, the true legend, the legend of thoroughbred racing 196 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:10.600 is stepping away. It looks like for good. D Wayne Lucas. 197 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:13.240 Also at the bottom of the ara, Maggie Davis of 198 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.639 BBN Tonight nearly x eighteen. She was there listening and 199 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:19.080 talking basketball with all these same folks. We'll talk to 200 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.440 her a little bit later on Chris Fisher of two 201 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:24.000 four to seven Sports. You see his work on the 202 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.360 pages of The Cat's Paws. That's next on The Big 203 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:30.360 Bloom Sider six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the Big 204 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.279 Blue and Sider. Coming up at the bottom of the hour, 205 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:35.840 Maggie Davis from BBN Tonight. We'll talk Kentucky basketball. She 206 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:41.360 was there earlier today when the Lefamia ballplayers and general 207 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:43.919 manager spoke with us, as well as some of the 208 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:46.919 UK women. And we'll also hear more from the men 209 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:49.399 coming up in hour number two, as we had a 210 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:52.200 chance to chat with two of the brand new Wildcats 211 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:56.679 as we mentioned earlier yesterday. So I did want to 212 00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:59.399 take time though to talk about d Wayne Lucas and 213 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:02.759 even if you're not a horse racing officionado, you know 214 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:06.360 he is. And if you're from the state of Kentucky especially, 215 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.440 you likely are a racing fan for one weekend out 216 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.759 of the year. And if you've been following for a 217 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:15.759 little while, you know about d Wayne Lucas. Yeah, Bob 218 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:19.360 Bafford's won more Kentucky derbyes. He's won more Triple Crown 219 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:22.799 races by a couple but actually by three now. But 220 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:29.159 d Wayne Lucas was really the first trainer to think 221 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:32.240 of himself and think of racing and think of the 222 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:35.159 horses as well when he came to sports marketing. And 223 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:40.600 I say that because he's so personable and outgoing and 224 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:43.799 was one of the first trainers to realize the value 225 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:48.000 of speaking to you and me the fans through the media. Yeah, 226 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:50.559 self serving, Sure, I love talking to him. We all 227 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.720 did you know? And now, of course he is retiring 228 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.879 because of serious illness, and I doubt that we see 229 00:11:56.919 --> 00:12:00.279 him again. He has admitted he is stepping away for good. 230 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:06.039 But what he did for the sport was phenomenal, not 231 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.720 just as a successful trainer, but as a guy who 232 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:14.360 speaks to America and has spoken to America for some time. 233 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:17.919 And this goes back to the early eighties. There was 234 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:21.039 a horse named Genuine Risk of Philly. She won the 235 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:25.080 Derby in nineteen eighty not a big horse, but a 236 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:30.240 good horse, and pulled a huge upset in the Kentucky Derby, 237 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:35.039 but did not win the Preakness because a horse named 238 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:40.080 Codex won the race. Angel Cordero as they turned for 239 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:43.559 home was a board Codex and kind of carried Genuine 240 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.639 with Risk wide a little bit, and later he was 241 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.039 accused of bullying the Philly that kind of thing. Well. 242 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:53.279 Codex was trained by de Wayne Lucas. That was his 243 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:57.879 first triple Crown win and he had another one in 244 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:01.919 the Preakness in nineteen eighty five with Tanks Prospect. One 245 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:06.600 is first Kentucky Derby in nineteen eighty eight, coincidentally enough, 246 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:12.519 with the Philly winning colors. A huge gray horse. She 247 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:17.080 was seventeen hands high. And I'll never forget that was 248 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.960 a stretch where I picked a Derby winner four out 249 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:24.440 of five years running and I did not pick winning colors. 250 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:28.399 And the reason is when I first saw her, she 251 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:31.440 was the first Derby horse I saw that week at church. 252 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:33.360 I spent the used to spend the entire week on 253 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:37.120 the backside of Churchill Downs in the early mornings. And 254 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.559 I'd heard about the phillyat thought okay, and I'd seen 255 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:42.320 her win in the Santa I Needa Derby, but that 256 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:46.840 was TV. I'm walking past Lucas's barn and here comes 257 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:51.399 winning colors out from under the shedrow the derby. Head 258 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.519 of the derby. The jockey had to hug her neck, 259 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:58.159 her withers to make sure he didn't hit his head 260 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:01.840 on the beam head because the horse was so tall. 261 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:06.559 And I said to myself on Monday morning handicapping, note 262 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:10.200 she's not a girl, meaning most Phillies at that age 263 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:15.559 are smaller than the boys, and even smaller colts are't 264 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:19.039 as strong and probably aren't as likely to win. I mean, 265 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:20.840 there have been many horses that have proved that wrong. 266 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:23.000 But you know, the bigger the horse is stronger the horse, 267 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:27.000 the faster potentially the horse. So by the time Saturday 268 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:29.039 came around and I'm placed in my bets, I ruled 269 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:32.200 out winning colors like a dope. And Lucas, who was 270 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:36.919 an aggressive trainer when it came to entering horses and riding, 271 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:40.360 you know, or racing, sent his rider to the front 272 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:45.279 and she stole the race, So winning Colors was his 273 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:48.559 first Derby winner. He won four thunder Gulch. I was 274 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:54.399 not on in ninety five. Grindstone in ninety six won 275 00:14:54.519 --> 00:15:00.679 by a nose that beat Bob Baffert's first Kentucky Derby horse, Cavanier. 276 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.559 I loved Cavanier. I was all over. Cavanier had a 277 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:07.159 big ticket on. Cavanier thought I had won it. I 278 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.799 was standing near the finish line, thought I had won it. 279 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:14.480 A Grindstone nipped Cavanier and the good news there was 280 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.039 he made a winner as an owner of WT Young, 281 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:20.240 Bill Young and Wayne. Lucas after the race said his 282 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:24.159 biggest joy was leading Bill Young to the winner circle. 283 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:28.200 And I got to know mister Young. Later on he 284 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.600 owned Stormcat. I went out to the farm. He granted 285 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.559 me an interview, which was rare, and I really got 286 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.360 to like him. But that was ninety six. Three years later, 287 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:43.039 Lucas enters a fairly long shot in Charismatic. Charismatic had 288 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.080 won the election in stakes, and it was not that 289 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:49.440 unusual back in the day for Derby horses to run 290 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:53.200 a week or so out like the Derby Trial. For 291 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:55.320 a while, there was a week out, was four days 292 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:58.039 away from the Derby and they still run into Kentucky 293 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:01.679 Derby with success ran an election in stakes I think 294 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.559 two weeks prior, so everybody thought, I horse can't win 295 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.519 the Derby. After racing two weeks ago and with Chris Antley, 296 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:12.559 Aboard won the Kentucky Derby and of course most recently, 297 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:17.720 Lucas won the Preakness Stakes two years ago, was seized 298 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:24.559 the Gray. During the broadcast of that coverage, NBC aired 299 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:29.399 a piece with Steve Karnaki. You've seen him on election coverage. 300 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:31.679 He's the guy with the white shirt, sleeves rolled up, 301 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:34.799 going over the numbers, crushing the numbers. Well, they've added 302 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:36.639 him to the sports coverage and he's good at it. 303 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:38.879 But he was a big racing fan. He was a 304 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:43.399 big Wayne Lucas fan. So he did a piece on 305 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:47.799 Wayne Lucas where he stood on the track one morning nbcquy, 306 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.200 So he got to stand on the track and he 307 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.960 was Mike and Lucas was sitting on his horse with 308 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:55.799 his stetson, the cowboy hat with his shades first thing 309 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:00.279 in the morning, talking to Steve Karnaki of NBC's It 310 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.720 was really well done. Here's part of it. 311 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:06.200 At your age, to keep doing this at this level, 312 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.480 what drives. 313 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.599 You to do this? 314 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:12.279 It's a good question. The uh, I don't need to, 315 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:17.079 but I love the competition. I good friends with almost 316 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:20.880 all of these trainers. Yeah, and yet I love taking 317 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.240 them out. 318 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:23.799 I mean, in just the last couple of years, you 319 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:26.519 win the Kentucky Oaks, you want the Freakness. 320 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.960 I mean, it's a renaissance. 321 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:31.400 It seems well. I think it validates that you're doing 322 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.400 things right. Yet, even though you have that age, I 323 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:37.480 don't think I'll retire as long as I can beat 324 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:39.559 these guys as. 325 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:42.319 They come to the top of the stretch, seize the grave, 326 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:49.880 turning for home in front safe the gray. Let's stop 327 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:58.240 break that the aldest trainer to ever win a Triple 328 00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.240 Crown race. 329 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.599 That the Preakness win. 330 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:05.079 Last year you got fifteen triple Crown race wins. Now 331 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.319 Baffort's sitting there at seventeen. 332 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:11.039 Do you think you could pass them get that record back? 333 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.839 The answer to that is not important to me. When 334 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:17.599 you're younger, all of those things are real important, you know. 335 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:22.160 But I'll be ninety comfortable up here. As you can see, 336 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.519 I got a slow horsh and. 337 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.839 I find that it's. 338 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:32.000 Probably better now than it's everything. 339 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:35.160 Now that was last year prior to the Preakness. You 340 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:38.279 heard that coverage of the Preakness in there. But sadly 341 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:42.119 Lucas his health has taken a bad turn, so he 342 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:46.279 has stepped away from racing, but remarks that Mark Cassi 343 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:49.119 the Great Trainer made to Steve Kornaki, I think resonates. 344 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:54.119 Yes, he'sa you know, icon, probably the greatest of all time. 345 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:58.079 This is a tough game. We want to beat each other. 346 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:02.279 When Wayne wins, we all enjoy it. That's called respect 347 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.880 and he has all our respect. I mean he has 348 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:08.279 one tough son of a gun too. I think we 349 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.720 all want to be Wayne Lucas. 350 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:13.880 You know, is Mark Cassie talking to Steve Kornaki And 351 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.400 then again those are remarks courtesy of NBC Sports. Maggie 352 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.920 Davis of BBN Tonight is next year on six thirty 353 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:24.359 WLAP Welcome back to the Big Blu Insider joining us 354 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:27.880 now someone I bumped into earlier today. Well, we planned 355 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:32.240 to talk on tonight's show, but Maggie Davis covered the 356 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:36.640 TBT presentation as well as the presentation by the UK 357 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:41.720 women's basketball team earlier today. But we always talk about 358 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:45.160 summertime being slow. But that's good stuff for BBN tonight, 359 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:45.559 isn't it. 360 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.200 Oh? You know it? 361 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:49.000 I mean, you know as well as anybody who goes 362 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:51.000 into filling some of these summer shows. And for us 363 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:55.000 thirty minutes tonight only about UK five nights a week, 364 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.960 twelve months out of the year, Like it doesn't matter 365 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.920 what's going on. We are talking about the Kentucky Wildcats, 366 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.200 which is a blessing. Like the fact that we get 367 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.640 to do that is amazing and it's incredible. It's a 368 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:07.240 testament to the fan base and the interest in all 369 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:09.759 of these programs. But then it does require a little 370 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.240 bit of legwork normally this time of the year to 371 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:15.160 give them something to sink their teeth into, right, Like 372 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.119 this is a fan base that's always hungry for the latest, 373 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:20.240 what's coming up? What should we know? What are you 374 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:23.279 excited about? And sometimes this time of the year there's 375 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:25.799 not a lot to stay in regard to any of 376 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:28.160 those things. But today you mentioned it, we get to 377 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.640 talk about the basketball tournament lost and the other coming 378 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.799 back for TVT again this year Bracket reveals got to 379 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:36.000 hear from the head coach, Sean Woods, which is very cool, 380 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.440 I think, and then obviously the women's basketball team to 381 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:41.079 hear from Kenny Brooks really for the first time in 382 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:44.799 any sort of like extended period of a full press 383 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:47.839 conference since the end of last season, so it kind 384 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:50.839 of closed the book on Chapter one starts the preview 385 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.799 year two of the Brooks era, and then to hear 386 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:55.960 from Sianna Key and Clara Strack and get excited about 387 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:57.880 those two back in the blue and white this year. 388 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:00.480 I think bobn is going to love this new women's 389 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:03.039 basketball team, So it's exciting to start to get to 390 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:05.720 talk about them and their season and what can be 391 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.240 coming up. 392 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:09.000 Yeah, no Georgia, aymore, but a new identity and we'll 393 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:12.039 talk about that. Let's let's go chronologically because there's there's 394 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:14.920 a lot to unpack, as you kids like to say, uh, 395 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.680 from earlier today. And of course, Sean Woods is a 396 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:20.759 weekly guest on my show. I'm sure you know that 397 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:23.480 because you you listen religiously and take notes. 398 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:27.880 Yes, but but I listened twice live and on podcasts. 399 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:30.240 Had a girl, and so does your grandma. I know 400 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:33.559 that when you're on. But I've talked to Sean about 401 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:37.559