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 --> 00:00:08.880 Sports Talk seven ninety. 3 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:11.160 Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think 4 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:12.240 when we are. 5 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:15.480 Get off our show, idiot. The kids are crying or 6 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.239 trail off. The countries are screwing it up. Gold Play 7 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.879 Inner Murals, Brother, gold Play Inn Murals. 8 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:24.000 They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really not. 9 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:27.879 Who's the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you 10 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:28.559 kidding me? 11 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:29.519 Now? 12 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:34.479 Here's Nick Coffee? 13 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:41.200 All right, good afternoon, and welcome into a It's Wednesday, 14 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.840 right Wednesday edition of Coffee and Company here on Sports 15 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:47.320 Talk seven ninety, fueled by Thornton's as we take you 16 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:50.320 up until six o'clock. My name's Nick Coffee. The company man. 17 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:53.200 Mister John Alden is alongside today, and I'm coming to 18 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:56.159 you live from Charlotte, North Carolina. John. As far as 19 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:57.880 I know you're back at the I mean, I don't 20 00:00:57.880 --> 00:00:59.920 know where you are we're communicating, but I assume you 21 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:01.719 or in your cave, right, that is true. 22 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:03.479 I'm in the company man cave. 23 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:06.040 Okay, that's what I just wanted to make sure you know. 24 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:07.400 We can't see each other and I just want to 25 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:09.760 make sure you're you're you're in your safe space, which 26 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:12.000 I know that the company man Cave is in fact 27 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:13.719 your safe space. Are we sounding okay? 28 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:14.760 Yeah, we're sounding good. 29 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:17.359 Okay, I assume so. But you know, it's been a 30 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:19.519 while since I've been in this type of a setting 31 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:21.439 for the show. And what I mean by that is 32 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:24.519 that I'm not actually at the West End. I mean 33 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.079 i am, but I'm not. You know, I'm not down 34 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:29.079 on Radio Row. I am up here in my hotel room, 35 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:31.680 and there's a reason for that. But I'm here because 36 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:36.159 of the ACC Basketball media days, which is technically what 37 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:38.599 I think most people would refer to it as. However, 38 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:41.879 the ACC, when it comes to their branding, they're still 39 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:46.000 going with, you know, the ACC tip off at one point. 40 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.200 I think they call it Operation Basketball. I've not seen 41 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:51.599 any marketing material that is, you know, labeling it that. 42 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:56.760 But that's why I'm here and got here earlier today, 43 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.760 and I don't Usually I've got some like really interesting 44 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.760 stories to share about my travel adventures. I don't have 45 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:05.840 that today. However, you know, I do have a couple 46 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:08.719 of things I'll share about my journey here to to Charlotte. 47 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:14.840 North Carolina. But this is the fourth, maybe fifth time 48 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:19.879 I've been to this event. And I remember coming once 49 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:22.960 when Rick Patino was the coach. I came twice when 50 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:25.000 Coach Mack was the coach. So I guess this is 51 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:29.120 this is my fourth time, and every year it's just 52 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:34.280 a reminder that the ACC is really not, you know 53 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:37.199 what it what it once was. And I'm you know, 54 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:38.800 and I'll explain to you in just a second as 55 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:40.520 to why I'm not down on Radio Row, which they've 56 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:42.840 got a nice setup for me. They've got a little 57 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:45.199 a table that is just for us, well just for me, 58 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:47.560 I guess. And when I say us, it's it's because 59 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:49.479 it won't just be me Tomorrow. Tomorrow we're gonna have 60 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:51.759 Pat Kelsey on the show at four o'clock. He'll join 61 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:55.319 us live from Radio Row. And also we'll have at 62 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:56.879 some point, I don't know when, but we will have 63 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.919 Javon Hadley as well as Chucky Hepburn on the show 64 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:04.039 to join us. And you know, I'm gonna try my best, 65 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:05.800 and I got some time. I got I got a 66 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:08.080 little over twenty four hours to get prepared, and I'm 67 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:11.319 pretty much prepared. But I'm gonna try to make these interviews, 68 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:14.199 mostly the ones with the players, you know, I wanted 69 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:15.960 to make. I want it to be not what they 70 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:19.080 get at every other stop along the day for them 71 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:22.000 when they're you know, stopping in here and there throughout 72 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:25.159 the West End and talking to you know, a beat 73 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.960 writer from here and there and all that. But anyways, 74 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:30.120 we were all set up and I'll explain myself. So 75 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:32.719 here's what happened. I landed today earlier this morning at 76 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:38.120 like eleven o'clock, got my rental car, and I wasn't 77 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:39.520 gonna do this, but I'm just gonna do it. John. 78 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.919 You know, I'm an open book. We talked about it yesterday, right, Like, 79 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:45.840 there's some people that don't love that I at times 80 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.479 talk a lot about my personal life on the show, 81 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.159 and I've you know, I get it. Like it's not 82 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:54.719 that I think I'm I have such an interesting life 83 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:56.840 and such an entertaining life that I'm just you know, 84 00:03:57.159 --> 00:03:58.680 eager to share it with you as if it's going 85 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:03.319 to be super entertaining. But you know, I got a show, 86 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:05.719 I got three hours to talk every day, and we 87 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:07.360 talk a lot of sports. We're gonna do that today. 88 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.280 Trust me. We got a lot on the docket today, 89 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:13.599 if you will. But my morning was interesting because I 90 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.360 got up, my flight left at like six o'clock, and 91 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:18.839 in fact, my flight boarded at six a m. We 92 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:21.680 took off at six point thirty. It's American Airlines, a 93 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:24.920 direct flight from Louisville to Charlotte. It's money. In fact, 94 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:27.439 let me give you a random thing that I honestly 95 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:29.319 wouldn't have even remembered to tell you. But here I 96 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:32.920 am reh, you know, reliving my morning with you guys. 97 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.160 So John, I get on the plane. I walked to 98 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:38.920 my seat twenty three C I think it was my 99 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:41.519 was my seat. I get my my you know, my 100 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.519 carry on bag that's got all the equipment, and I 101 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.920 put it up above my seat and I sit down, 102 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.639 and you know, I get my air pods out. I'm 103 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:50.759 getting ready to start a movie that I'm gonna watch 104 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.560 while I'm on the plane. And then all of a sudden, 105 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:54.319 you know, to to the to the right of me, 106 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:56.959 you know, sitting in the aisle seat to the other 107 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.160 side of me, just so happened to be one of 108 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.160 my close friends fathers, somebody I've known for thirty years. 109 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.120 What are the chances of that right, sounds like the 110 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:05.519 beginning of a movie. 111 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:08.240 Honestly, yeah, I mean like I didn't you know, I 112 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.000 didn't even well, it could be a cool movie, like 113 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.560 who knows, you know, maybe uh, maybe we end up 114 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:14.959 having an adventure and now he's he's here for we're 115 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:17.639 both here for work. But it's obviously different works different, Like, 116 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:19.720 you know, he's not in the in the business that 117 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:22.160 I'm in. But I mean, what are the chances of that, 118 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:25.000 you know, you get on a plane, you you sit down, 119 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.480 and to your right just so happens to be somebody 120 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:30.279 that you've known forever. Like it's one thing if we're 121 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.240 just at the airport and see each other and run 122 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:34.240 into each other at six o'clock in the morning. Nonetheless, 123 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:36.399 we're on the same flight and we're sitting right next 124 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:37.879 to each other. So that that I felt like the 125 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.399 day was gonna be the day was gonna be good. 126 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.560 It was a good way to start my day. So 127 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.879 shout out to Big Tim Ridley. His uh, his son 128 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.199 is little Tim, who I grew up with and is 129 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.600 still a close friend of mine. So you know, we 130 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:50.680 we you know, it wasn't like I was on the 131 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:52.920 plane with strangers. I was on the plane with somebody 132 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:53.879 I've known for a long time. 133 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:56.680 So from assuming you said said hello to mister big 134 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:58.079 tim Oh, we sat right next to year. 135 00:05:58.160 --> 00:05:59.759 We talked. Yeah, mean we were you know, yeah. I 136 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:02.399 mean again, like I'm on one, I'm on one side 137 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:04.199 of the aisle, He's on the other side of the aisle. 138 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.399 We're both in row twenty three. So yeah, we uh 139 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.680 we chatted for a little while. And I will admit 140 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:10.439 I did fall asleep. It was very early once the 141 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.879 once the flight took off, but you know that was 142 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:15.480 a good way to start today. Well, then, my wife 143 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.839 and I have this rule where if we fly and 144 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.120 we're not with each other, we call each other before 145 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:23.959 we take off. It's not that I have like a 146 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:26.879 paranoia of like the plane's gonna go down, but I 147 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.079 still you know, when you get it, you know, you 148 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:31.800 actually do have a better chance of dying in a 149 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:34.480 car wreck than a plane wreck. I mean, it's weird, 150 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:37.360 you know, the stats and facts actually prove that, but 151 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:39.480 you know, being in a plane just it's a little 152 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:40.920 more scary because you don't do it as often, and 153 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:42.480 you get in your car every day and drive, and 154 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.879 you know, it's just part of your life. So I 155 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:47.000 called my wife and she didn't answer, and I just assume, well, 156 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:50.000 it's because she probably didn't hear her phone. It's very early, 157 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:52.720 you know, no big deal. But I texted her and said, hey, honey, 158 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:55.800 I'm about to take off. Love you. Well, I land 159 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:58.600 texted her, called her nothing. So I'm kind of thinking, okay, well, 160 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:00.519 maybe she's in the shower getting ready for work. Because 161 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:02.800 when I landed, I mean it was in fact, I 162 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:05.160 didn't land, yeah, I got I think I landed like 163 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.519 eight fifteen, So at that point she usually is getting ready. 164 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.160 So no big deal. I go and get the rental 165 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:13.720 car and I make my way to the actual I check, 166 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:15.399 you know, I go to the desk at the rental 167 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:17.680 place and give them my information and all that, and 168 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:20.000 then I make the long walk to the actual garage 169 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:21.879 to get in the rental car. And I'm thinking to myself, 170 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:24.240 before I take off, I'm gonna call my wife once 171 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:26.319 again just to see, you know, hey, just to tell 172 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.399 her I'm here, just to check on her. Well, I 173 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:32.079 couldn't get a hold of her, so sure enough, I'm thinking, okay, well, 174 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:35.079 you know, maybe, you know, maybe she just isn't hearing 175 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.759 her phone. Maybe she knew that she missed my call 176 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.920 but didn't have the chance to call me back because 177 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:44.000 she you know, one thing I do, and I do 178 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:45.839 a lot of things, as you know, as a dad, 179 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:48.759 but I'm in charge every morning of getting the kids 180 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:52.519 to and from where they're going, whether it be school, daycare. 181 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.040 This week, it's fall breaks, so my daughter she's going 182 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:57.600 to different places, my son's going to daycare. But for 183 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:00.360 the last you know, however long we've been working together 184 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:02.600 in this afternoon show, I've been I've been responsible for 185 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:04.399 getting the kids up and getting where they need to be, 186 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:06.680 and I love it. So, you know, I'm thinking maybe 187 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:10.040 she's a little preoccupied because she's getting the kids ready 188 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:11.800 and just hasn't had a chance to call me. Well, 189 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:13.399 then it gets to be like nine o'clock and I 190 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:15.600 still haven't heard from her, and I reach out to 191 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:18.839 the person who's supposed to be watching my daughter today 192 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:21.199 and she's like, I haven't heard from him. You know, 193 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.279 I texted somebody who knows my wife. Haven't heard from her. 194 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:25.199 So I'm freaking out, like I'm I'm I'm won't, I'm 195 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:29.759 not gonna, I won't leave the airport because I'm like back, yes, yeah, 196 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.320 and it's just me being a paranoid weirdo. Like most 197 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.320 people would have been like, who gives a damn. She's 198 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:38.320 probably oversleeping. Nothing I can do about it. I'm in 199 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:40.559 another state. And I don't mean to say like I 200 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:42.600 didn't do that because I'm such a great husband and 201 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.360 I am better than anybody else. I am a paranoid 202 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:48.080 person and I fear the worst at all times. So 203 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.679 I'm at the airport in this rental car and I'm 204 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:53.519 calling people and I finally I finally got a hold 205 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:56.559 of I finally got a hold of my my in laws, 206 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:00.480 my wife's grandmother, and I call I was like, hey, 207 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:02.840 you know, I hate to do this, but like I 208 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:04.600 can't get a hold of her. Nobody's talked to her. 209 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:08.600 I imagine she's overslept, but I'm but I'm scared, like 210 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:13.559 I'm worried. And throughout the entire time, I never really 211 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:16.559 felt like this was, you know, a scary situation, but 212 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:18.879 still like I, you know, I was, it wasn't usual. 213 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.000 And also she needed to get up so she could 214 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:22.879 go to work and take her If my son's not 215 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:24.879 a daycare at a certain time, then he can't get in, 216 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.519 and then we got to find somebody to watch him. 217 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.960 So and I should have mentioned this initially. Her her grandmother, 218 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.639 my grandmother in law, lives like a mile away. She's 219 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:35.159 just down the road from us. So it wasn't like 220 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:37.919 I had somebody, you know, do a wellness check from 221 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.360 you know, miles away. And sure enough, as soon as 222 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:43.240 she told me, like, hey, I'm about to pull in, 223 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.279 do you have the garage code? That's whenever my wife 224 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:49.000 called me and was like, hey, overslept, I'm like, you think, 225 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:53.519 goodness gracious, she scared the crap out of me. So 226 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.159 I was thinking, Okay, this may not be a thing, 227 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.440 like I may not actually even get Charlotte, Like I 228 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:00.960 may just you know, walk back, book a flight, come 229 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:04.320 home because I'm scared to death of something that's gone wrong, 230 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.200 or you know, God forbid, I have to come home 231 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:10.039 because something's happened. But she, you know, she said she overslept, 232 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:12.159 and you know, that made me, you know feel what 233 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.720 you know, not not that you know, Actually, John, you're 234 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:18.120 you're you're not that you're not a newly wed anymore, 235 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:21.120 right like you yeah, you're not a newly wedd anymore. 236 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.440 I mean you're not, like, it's not like you've been 237 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:24.320 married for you know, twenty years. But no, you're not. 238 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.039 It's not a new thing anymore. Do you like at 239 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:29.840 times like do you do? You keep score on stuff? 240 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:31.840 And if you don't know what I'm referring to, then 241 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:34.200 then then I know the answer. But if you are 242 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.840 thinking about it, then I know that you know what 243 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.559 I'm talking about. 244 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.919 I think I know what you mean. 245 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:40.440 She's scared. She scared me, and I wanted and I 246 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.360 wanted her to know that she should feel bad for 247 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:44.559 scaring me. So like, you know, not that I wanted 248 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.600 to feel bad like she should. You know, Yeah, but 249 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.399 does that makes sense? 250 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:49.919 Like I hate throw I hate to throw my wife 251 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:51.440 under the bus she does what do you. 252 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.759 Think I just did the last ten minutes? 253 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:56.039 I'm I'm kind of I'm more like I feel like 254 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:58.000 on not on your wife's sides, this isn't really a 255 00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:59.840 sad thing. But I tend to have more of the 256 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:03.200 uh not realize I should answer the phone type of 257 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:06.320 thing or you know, you know, check in those types 258 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.440 of things. I'm more I'm the one who gets the 259 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.759 talking to if that yeah, you're. 260 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:11.919 Living in the moment. Yeah, and I and I'm just 261 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.120 you know, I'm a I'm a paranoid person in general, 262 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:16.440 and you know, it's just my nature. But you know, 263 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.320 I kind of felt Long story short, what I was 264 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:19.919 getting at with this whole thing is like, once I 265 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:22.679 did realize she was okay, it was like a victory 266 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.960 for me one because you know, for a brief moment, 267 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.120 I was worried something happened in my family because you know, 268 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:29.360 I'm a lunatic. That's just how my mind works. But 269 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.639 also it's like, well, you know, now she knows how 270 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.559 much I care. Now she knows that, Like, you know, 271 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.440 I was willing to just get back in the car 272 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:38.039 and or get back on the plane and come back home. 273 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.080 So anyways, like it was a it was a weird 274 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.960 morning all in all, but I got here, I got 275 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:46.120 situated the hotel where I'm at. You know, they, you know, 276 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.559 I guess it's because of the event that's going on, 277 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:49.519 they let me check in early, which is really rare. 278 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.480 I was thinking that I would be potentially on the clock, 279 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.399 like hey, they're gonna let me get to my room, 280 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:56.759 They're gonna let me check in, and it's gonna be 281 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:58.759 like right around the time when the show starts, and 282 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:00.600 I'm gonna have like all my luggage. I mean I 283 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.919 don't have I don't have a lot of stuff. I'm 284 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.639 only here for two days. But I was thinking, like 285 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:05.320 i'm here, I'm gonna be the guy in Radio Row, 286 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:07.720 you know, like with my neck pellow from the plane, 287 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.200 like looking like a bum, you know what I mean, 288 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.720 Like I don't have any place to stay. I'm just here. 289 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.720 I'm living on Radio Row. Like that's what I kind of, 290 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:14.279 you know. I was worried about that, but they let 291 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.480 me check in early. And then I thought, okay, the 292 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.919 commissioner Phillips, he talked, and I'm thinking, I gotta get 293 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:21.960 some lunch. I haven't eaten. So I end up going 294 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.600 to uh end up going to Buffalo Wild Wings that's 295 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:27.000 just down the just a block away from where we are. 296 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:31.600 And I've got like a tan pullover on and sure enough, 297 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:34.559 i pick up a wing and I just you know, 298 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.840 dropped it right on it. And like I'm thinking, okay, well, 299 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:40.399 like maybe I can get a wet nap and you 300 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:44.559 know and clean off my but not look like a bum. 301 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:49.039 So I decided to make this this the safe move, 302 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:51.879 and that was getting all the equipment set up to 303 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:54.080 do the show down there today would have been a 304 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.120 little bit of a time crunch and I would have looked, 305 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.759 you know, I would have been wearing a hoodie that 306 00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:59.960 you know, or a pullover that has you know, buffalo 307 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:02.240 sauce all over, which would have made me look unprofessional. 308 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:04.320 So I decided to do the show from the room today. 309 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.960 But it has been quite the experience thus far, just 310 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.039 kind of you know, I mean, it's a new world 311 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:12.600 here in the ACC, and I'm kind of glad I'm 312 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.240 saying this here in my hotel room. Not that people 313 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.639 would like come up and you know, punch me if 314 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.440 I was saying it in front of the other ACC 315 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.679 people that are here covering it. But like today was 316 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:24.919 a real visual reminder for me that, like the ACC 317 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.240 is a basketball league, it still has some big brands, 318 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.480 and louisll' is one of them. They have been good 319 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.320 in a while, but like Louisville is still a program 320 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.799 that even if you are well aware of how bad 321 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.919 they've been recently, you would still say historically they are 322 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:40.039 one of the bigger brands in the sport, not the biggest, 323 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:43.320 and obviously, you know, you can't stay down that long 324 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.919 as far as how bad they've been lately. But I 325 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.720 just you know, I came here. The first year I 326 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:50.440 came here was in Ricks might have been it was 327 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.080 Rix last year. It was a year Donovan Mitchell, and yeah, 328 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.519 Donovan Mitchell's last year. They were a really good team 329 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.120 by the way. They just ended up getting upset in 330 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.480 the second round by Michigan. But I remember being here. 331 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:02.679 Maybe it was just because I was younger and it 332 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.600 was the first time here. But you gotta keep in 333 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:10.200 mind we're talking Roy Williams, Mike Skueshsky, Jim Beaheim, Mike 334 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.799 Bray and by the way, Tony Bennett, and these are 335 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:14.799 people that you know have been there since. I mean, 336 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:17.519 it's not like and even Rick Betino, to be honest 337 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:20.080 with you, but all these coaches I just referenced, I mean, hell, 338 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:24.000 Tony Bennett still around and the others have just recently departed. 339 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:28.000 But it was a star studded event and the and 340 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:31.679 and you know, you could you could absolutely feel as 341 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:36.039 if you were at a conference basketball media day and 342 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:40.559 and nobody would would would give any thought to question 343 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:43.840 you if you said, the ACC is the superior league 344 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:48.159 in basketball, And you can still maybe claim that when 345 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:53.240 it comes to like history and brands and you know, reach, 346 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.559 But then again I don't. I mean, I think it's 347 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:58.679 just Carolina that really commands a national audience. Carolina and Duke. 348 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:01.360 I guess those are the only two. But like you know, 349 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:04.679 there's two ways to look at it in the now. 350 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.679 In the moment, I'm looking at it as an opportunity 351 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.120 for Pat Kelsey and his team to take advantage of 352 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:13.240 a league that you know isn't very good, and that's 353 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:15.600 not what you want. You don't want your basketball conference 354 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.960 to be. I mean, you don't want your conference in 355 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:20.399 any sport to be you know, subpar. And it's not 356 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.639 the worst league out there. But like being here and 357 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:27.519 just kind of seeing what this event was five, six, 358 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.360 seven years ago to what it is now, it's just 359 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.120 a reminder of like the league has fallen quite a 360 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.080 bit now. These events aren't what they once were, like 361 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:38.320 it used to be. I'm talking an entire area of 362 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:42.960 the Hotel Radio row. Now there's probably ten of us 363 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.000 that are going to be set up doing shows. And 364 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.480 I'm not kidding you. I'll go through and look and 365 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:48.559 I'll give the Courier Journal credit. They've they've got a 366 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:51.480 set up here. I don't know who's here working for 367 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.399 them for the CJ, but every other like placard that 368 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.120 is sitting up on each of the tables. And by 369 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.759 the way, you don't have to have a you could 370 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.320 be here covering the event and not have like a 371 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:01.279 setup like that because you know, you may not be 372 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:04.279 doing anything live or doing any video interviews or anything 373 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.360 like that. But you know, it's just Carolina Schools to 374 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:10.720 cover this because it's relatively close. And you know, I 375 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.759 thought about it, like, hey, would it be worth you know, 376 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:15.279 coming and covering this? And I thought, you know, it's 377 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:17.919 Pat Kelsey's first year. I happen to think that they're 378 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.120 going to be one of the better teams in the 379 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:23.440 ACC this year, and you know I could make it work. 380 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:27.360 So why not? Right? So when I say there's two 381 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.960 ways to look at it, here's what I mean. It's 382 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.360 not good big picture that the ACC has has taken 383 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:37.080 humongous steps backwards in a really quick amount of time. 384 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.440 Like I can't I mean as far as the hierarchy 385 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.759 of college sports when it comes to the conferences, like 386 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.720 can you think in John you're younger than me, so 387 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:48.080 maybe you're the wrong person to ask, but historically speaking, 388 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:52.159 conferences like, there's not been many or any conference, whether 389 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:54.200 it be basketball or football that you once looked at 390 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.240 and said, Wow, that league was really great and then 391 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.279 it just you know, fell off and it wasn't it 392 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.240 wasn't even relevant. 393 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.080 No, it feels like it's coming spurts. 394 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:05.559 Obviously, you mentioned the ACC kind of had their moment 395 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.559 for a few years, and I believe after that the 396 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.279 Big Ten kind of had their moment and then each 397 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.119 of the league's not that they fell off, they're just 398 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.920 not at the they're not the top tier year in 399 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.839 and year out like you do get with the SEC 400 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.519 and football. 401 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.880