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<v Speaker 1>It's stick Gabriel taking a little bit of time off,

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<v Speaker 1>so we thought we would replace some of the best

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<v Speaker 1>interviews from over the last several months. Please enjoy the

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<v Speaker 1>best of the Big Blue Insider. Joining us down the

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<v Speaker 1>Celebrity hotline is assistant coach Cody Fieger, Mark Pope's staff. Uh,

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<v Speaker 1>and I got to warn you, folks, he is I

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<v Speaker 1>was conson native. He is a Packers fan, as am I.

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<v Speaker 1>And we will talk Packers football before this interview is over.

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<v Speaker 1>But Coach, let's let's start with the Wildcats. Just tell

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<v Speaker 1>me what was your first year like for you when

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<v Speaker 1>you came to Kentucky. You knew the brand, you knew

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<v Speaker 1>the history, but you didn't really know it til you

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<v Speaker 1>lived it, did you.

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<v Speaker 2>No? No, you know, it was kind of like a

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<v Speaker 2>you know, Coach Pope called and you know, asked if

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<v Speaker 2>I was interested and wanted to come, and he has

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<v Speaker 2>like a dream, you know, and you know, it's like

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<v Speaker 2>everything I kind of thought of at this level, just

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<v Speaker 2>the people that care and how much they love it

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<v Speaker 2>and the passion for it. The only thing that I

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<v Speaker 2>experienced it like this is growing up as a Packers fan,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, so that that's kind of very similar how

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<v Speaker 2>it is growing up in Wisconsin, where all it is

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<v Speaker 2>Green Bay Packers all day long. That's the only thing

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<v Speaker 2>you care about. And that's what Kentucky basketball is is

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<v Speaker 2>to this state and to most people in the country.

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<v Speaker 1>You worked with Mark Pope at Utah Valley, then it'd

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<v Speaker 1>be y you when he called you. Was there any

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<v Speaker 1>hesitation or was it?

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<v Speaker 3>Did he?

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<v Speaker 1>Did he finish his sentence before you said? Yes?

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely not. I mean I was, I was all in.

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<v Speaker 2>I was so excited and you know, like I said,

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<v Speaker 2>it's it's it's everything. You want to be a part

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<v Speaker 2>of this place, he joked, go ahead, Yeah, it's it's

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<v Speaker 2>grateful for this opportunity and great people here to work with.

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<v Speaker 2>And you know, I've been lucky to work you know,

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<v Speaker 2>alongside him for for you know, twelve years now.

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<v Speaker 1>When he was introduced, he sort of joked about how

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<v Speaker 1>quickly his daughters said yes, because a move like that

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<v Speaker 1>was especially with teenagers, you know, they're gonna have to

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<v Speaker 1>leave their friends and all that stuff. Uh, but they

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<v Speaker 1>grew up Kentucky fans because of him, but they had

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<v Speaker 1>never been here.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>What was was was was there a Kentucky presence at all.

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<v Speaker 1>When it came to Mark Pope working at Utah Valley,

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<v Speaker 1>working at Brigham Young. I mean, I'm sure there were

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<v Speaker 1>some framed photos or something, but how much did you

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<v Speaker 1>know about Kentucky and him?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so, uh, you know, growing up, I would go

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<v Speaker 2>to the YMCA, and I had a good friend and

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<v Speaker 2>we would He was actually a big Kentucky fan, so

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<v Speaker 2>you know, we would we would play at the YMCA

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<v Speaker 2>and we'd end up pressing. Would be the only you know, fifth, sixth,

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<v Speaker 2>seventh graders pressing at the WYMCA, just normal pickup ball,

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<v Speaker 2>and we'd be like, so Kentucky d fence time and

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<v Speaker 2>just like what coach Tino did it, you know, Kentucky

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<v Speaker 2>a long time ago. So like I knew Travis Ford,

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<v Speaker 2>Jamal Mashburn, like all those guys were guys that I

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<v Speaker 2>watched and I grew up, you know, really enjoying. And

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<v Speaker 2>then you know, I grew up in Milwaukee. I'm a

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<v Speaker 2>huge Bucks fan and and Coach Pope was on you know,

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<v Speaker 2>some of the best Bucks teams ever. So he'd be

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<v Speaker 2>starting in the Eastern Conference finals, and you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>was just kind of grew up like watching Coach Pope

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<v Speaker 2>and and you know, it's it's it's kind of crazy

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<v Speaker 2>how it all all ended up. But yeah, he talked

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<v Speaker 2>about coach Patino. He talked about how special Kentucky was

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<v Speaker 2>and the people there, and you know, when we're at

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<v Speaker 2>Utah Valley, we played at Kentucky UH for a by game,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, you know, one guy gave him a

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<v Speaker 2>sword when we were out here. We're like, well, he's

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<v Speaker 2>the real deal. Out of here, man, this place is awesome.

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<v Speaker 1>We're talking to Cody Figure, assistant coach under Mark Pope

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<v Speaker 1>at University of Kentucky. And again, you grow up, as

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<v Speaker 1>you said, a Packers fan in Wisconsin, but you're a

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<v Speaker 1>basketball guy. How did that happen?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, So I just I honestly, I loved playing football

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<v Speaker 2>growing up, but I just I spent so much time

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<v Speaker 2>just loving basketball. I would go to YMTA every single

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<v Speaker 2>day when I was younger. I get to play basketball,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, after school. My parents just dropped me off

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<v Speaker 2>there and I hang out and play basketball for a

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<v Speaker 2>couple of hours, and I just kept on getting better

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<v Speaker 2>and I just enjoyed it, you know, and love watching

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<v Speaker 2>the NBA. At any time you could you could play,

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<v Speaker 2>I mean obviously I had to shovel my you know,

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<v Speaker 2>driveway a ton of times in Wisconsin just to play.

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<v Speaker 2>But I always really enjoyed it, and you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>love to talk basketball and watch it, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I grew up around you know, Rick and Jerris, going

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<v Speaker 2>to his camps, and you know, he was he was

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<v Speaker 2>so great to me when I was younger. He taught

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<v Speaker 2>me a ton of the game, and yeah, it was

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<v Speaker 2>just there's just so many great things that made me

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<v Speaker 2>enjoy basketball.

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<v Speaker 1>How did you end up at the University of Utah

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<v Speaker 1>and not at Marquette or Wisconsin or somewhere up there.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so Rick majeris, you know, former coach at Utah.

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<v Speaker 2>He's from Milwaukee. Originally he would do camps in Wisconsin.

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<v Speaker 2>So I went to those camps. My parents signed me

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<v Speaker 2>up and I was I went there when I was eight, nine, ten,

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<v Speaker 2>eleven every year for and Coach Majaris would always remember

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<v Speaker 2>me every year. But like because I was, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the hardest worker at camp. I'd dive on loose balls

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, take charges in camp, do all those

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<v Speaker 2>sorts of things, and he kind of remembered me every year.

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<v Speaker 2>And then you know, when when I turned fifteen, I'd

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<v Speaker 2>go in the morning session or sorry, when I was fifteen,

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<v Speaker 2>there was you know, the younger grade and then the

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<v Speaker 2>other group in the afternoon, and he asked me to

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<v Speaker 2>coach the younger grade, the younger group. So I was

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<v Speaker 2>fifteen years old and I was coaching you know, eight, nine, ten, eleven, okay,

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<v Speaker 2>twelve year olds, and then i'd be a camper in

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<v Speaker 2>the second session, and you know, we just kind of

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<v Speaker 2>formed a great relationship. He asked me to walk on

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<v Speaker 2>at Utah, but I'm too cheap, and I knew I

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<v Speaker 2>wanted to coach because I really enjoyed those camps. And

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<v Speaker 2>you know, then he said, all right, come work for

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<v Speaker 2>me and I'll give you scholarship. And that's kind of

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<v Speaker 2>how I wound up there.

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<v Speaker 1>And began as a video coordinator as a student and folks,

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<v Speaker 1>you need to know this.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah go ahead, Oh sorry, Yeah, so I was. I

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<v Speaker 2>was a student manager. I was with him twenty four

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<v Speaker 2>steven every single day, gotcha for a couple of years

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<v Speaker 2>and yeah, around them all day long. But I did

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<v Speaker 2>every single type of job.

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<v Speaker 1>Starting as a video coordinator, among other things. People need

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<v Speaker 1>to understand. I'm sure you know this. Frank Vogel, who

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<v Speaker 1>coached the LA Lakers to an NBA championship, began as

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<v Speaker 1>a video coordinator, or at least that was early in

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<v Speaker 1>his career at the University of Kentucky. So you know,

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<v Speaker 1>video coordinators going to great things. People need to know this.

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<v Speaker 1>And yeah, and Cody Figures now an assistant at Kentucky

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<v Speaker 1>and is on our celebrity hotline talking basketball. And again

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<v Speaker 1>another warning, we're going to talk Packers football a little

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<v Speaker 1>bit later. But with this first year under your belt,

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<v Speaker 1>tell me what it's like now on a recruiting trail

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<v Speaker 1>working with coach Polk to put together the portal class.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't want to use the word easier, but is

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<v Speaker 1>it smoother now with the better lay of the land?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I would, I would say, I mean this college

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<v Speaker 2>basketball is changing every thirty seconds here to tell you

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<v Speaker 2>the truth. But it is definitely a better feel of

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<v Speaker 2>what we're looking for in the twenty five class, twenty six,

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<v Speaker 2>twenty seventh class compared to last summer, when you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I had to bringing a whole new roster in a month,

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<v Speaker 2>and uh, you know, it's it's ever changing navigating waters

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<v Speaker 2>right now. So because they have as fluid as possible,

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<v Speaker 2>but it's definitely, you know, definitely able to see everything.

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<v Speaker 2>The hardest part, honestly was we were still playing and

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<v Speaker 2>then we were you know, the two biggest parts of

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<v Speaker 2>our jobs were at the same time, and it was

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<v Speaker 2>recruiting and we're still playing. That part was was complicated,

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<v Speaker 2>and we missed out on a couple of guys because

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<v Speaker 2>we're more worried about our team, Like these kids are

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<v Speaker 2>like I want to come on visits this and that.

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<v Speaker 2>We're like, we can't do that, Like we've we've got

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<v Speaker 2>to do everything we can with these teams and and

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<v Speaker 2>uh yeah, but that's that's that's kind of how it went.

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<v Speaker 2>But we're really grateful with the team and the roster

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<v Speaker 2>we have, and yeah, it's uh it. We had a

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<v Speaker 2>better feel for this year.

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<v Speaker 4>For sure.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a tough season. In some ways it was

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<v Speaker 1>rewarding and others. You had a nice NCAA tournament run,

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<v Speaker 1>not as deep as you like, of course, but won

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<v Speaker 1>some big games and Jackson Robinson goes down hurt that

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<v Speaker 1>that was a huge wrench in your plans, I know.

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<v Speaker 1>But then you had other guys begin to blossom like

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<v Speaker 1>Otega Away and and Amari Williams. You know the thing,

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<v Speaker 1>you knew he could play defense, but the things he

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<v Speaker 1>did with your all's offense. I mean, what was it

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<v Speaker 1>like watching this team develop and kind of grow and blossom.

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<v Speaker 2>It was it was it was you know, you like

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<v Speaker 2>you saw Mariy Williams have a triple double. Yeah, like

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<v Speaker 2>you said, you just saw guys just developed, developed, develop

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<v Speaker 2>all year long. And you know, Brandon Garrison, Colin Chandler,

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<v Speaker 2>Trenton No. I mean, we can go down the line

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<v Speaker 2>with every single one of these guys get better. Like

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<v Speaker 2>you said, Otega Away, who just you know, we knew

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<v Speaker 2>was going to be a great player. We recruit him

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<v Speaker 2>at BUYU and then you know, it's a great, great

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<v Speaker 2>transition here to Kentucky and we knew he was going

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<v Speaker 2>to be really good and talented, and he just stepped

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<v Speaker 2>up to the play eight and he was a second

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<v Speaker 2>team All League and you know, if you got a

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<v Speaker 2>chance come back, he's got a chance to be, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>SEC Player of the Year.

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<v Speaker 1>Or Chatting with Cody Fieger, Kentucky assistant basketball coach, we'll

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<v Speaker 1>talk more UK basketball on the other side of the

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<v Speaker 1>break here on six point thirty, Wlap It's Dick Gabriel,

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome back to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>you're chatting with Cody Fieger, assistant coach under Mark Pope

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<v Speaker 1>and a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native and Green Bay Packers fan,

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<v Speaker 1>and he is a guy who has been out on

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<v Speaker 1>the recruiting trail helping put together the transfer portal class.

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<v Speaker 1>How pleased are you? It's kind of an obvious question

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<v Speaker 1>with the group you come in he got coming in

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<v Speaker 1>for next season. You carry over some some really nice

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<v Speaker 1>players you're waiting to hear from. Will take a away,

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<v Speaker 1>but strong freshman class, some talented kids coming through the portal.

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<v Speaker 1>You got to be really excited.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm really excited. And you know, we talk to

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<v Speaker 2>these kids every day, every other day right now, and

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<v Speaker 2>they're really excited to represent Kentucky. And that's that's the

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<v Speaker 2>part that's really exciting that they want to come here

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<v Speaker 2>and just be a part of this program and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>our goals within the National Championship. But yeah, we're really

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<v Speaker 2>excited about these kids. They're hard workers, they want to

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<v Speaker 2>get to the league and they want to win a

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<v Speaker 2>championship here. So really fun group of kids. We had

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<v Speaker 2>them all come on a visit kind of together at

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<v Speaker 2>least four of them, and spend a lot of time

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<v Speaker 2>with their friends, their family and and yeah, it's a

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<v Speaker 2>great group of kids.

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<v Speaker 1>We mentioned earlier how long you've been with Mark Pope,

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<v Speaker 1>and he has a really interesting style of offense. And

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<v Speaker 1>I know it took a little while for the guys

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<v Speaker 1>this past season to adjust. Do you think this group

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<v Speaker 1>will better suit not that your last group didn't, but

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<v Speaker 1>will better suit the way you guys play offense and defense.

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<v Speaker 2>I think we're gonna you know, every year offensively and defensively.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, we've kind of changed things, like we keep

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<v Speaker 2>it pretty fluid offensively and defensively and what we're doing

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<v Speaker 2>and what we're looking for just depending on personnel. And

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<v Speaker 2>we'll do the same thing this year. Like we'll be

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<v Speaker 2>in practices and we'll see you guys do certain things.

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<v Speaker 2>We're like, oh, we got to add that, we got

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<v Speaker 2>to add this, we got to take this way. This

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<v Speaker 2>could be better. So every year we've kind of been

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<v Speaker 2>pretty fluid, and this team will this team will you know,

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<v Speaker 2>they're athletic, good pastors, good decision makers, so well, we'll

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<v Speaker 2>do a lot of things similar to last year. I'm sure,

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<v Speaker 2>but like I said, we'll keep it fluid and make

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<v Speaker 2>sure it fits exactly what we're looking for. Like I said,

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<v Speaker 2>we didn't know. We didn't know Mariy Williams was going

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<v Speaker 2>to be triple doubles and different things that he could do,

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<v Speaker 2>and just got to, you know, do our jobs and

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<v Speaker 2>put him in the best position possible at the end

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<v Speaker 2>of the day.

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<v Speaker 1>Coach you on more than one occasion the decision making,

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<v Speaker 1>you know. But that's true really in any sport, isn't

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<v Speaker 1>it If you don't have to think about it, If

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<v Speaker 1>you just inherently know, then you're two steps ahead of

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<v Speaker 1>your opponent, aren't you?

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<v Speaker 4>For sure?

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<v Speaker 2>For sure? And you know, we spend a ton of

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<v Speaker 2>time with our guys, We sent them a ton of film,

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<v Speaker 2>and they want to be great decision makers. They want

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<v Speaker 2>to be efficient. We think we're pretty good teachers with

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<v Speaker 2>that also, So it's you know, it's very important for us,

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<v Speaker 2>is decision making.

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<v Speaker 4>We don't want to call a ton of plays.

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<v Speaker 2>We want to we want to let these guys read

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<v Speaker 2>and make decisions out there. And because that's the best offense,

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<v Speaker 2>that that's the best players making decisions and making plays

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<v Speaker 2>for each other.

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<v Speaker 1>Talking to Cody Fieger, assistant coach at the University of Kentucky.

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<v Speaker 1>He is a Milwaukee native. Fair warning now begins the

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<v Speaker 1>Green Bay Packer portion of our conversation. But you mentioned

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<v Speaker 1>earlier just growing up in Wisconsin and Milwaukee and everything

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<v Speaker 1>is all Packers all the time, just as it's for

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<v Speaker 1>the most part in most of the state of Kentucky

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<v Speaker 1>uk LT. I grew up in Louisville back back in

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<v Speaker 1>the day when they didn't play each other, believe it

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<v Speaker 1>or not, so you could actually root for both teams.

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<v Speaker 1>But it's a pretty even split in Jefferson County. But

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<v Speaker 1>but tell me what it's like on Packers Sundays in Milwaukee.

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<v Speaker 1>In Wisconsin, I mean, and I lived in Dallas for

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<v Speaker 1>two years. It's got to be like when the Cowboys

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<v Speaker 1>are playing, everything shuts down. It's got to be that

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<v Speaker 1>way in Wisconsin, true.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh for sure. So you know, like I said, when

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<v Speaker 2>I was born, my parents put me on the season

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<v Speaker 2>ticket list. Of course, so I'm that was the first

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<v Speaker 2>thing that happened.

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<v Speaker 1>Where are you now?

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<v Speaker 4>And I was.

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<v Speaker 2>I was eighty thousand away when I was born, and

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<v Speaker 2>now I'm not Now I'm at forty two thousand, I

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<v Speaker 2>want to say, so, you know, hopefully my great great

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<v Speaker 2>grandkids could get season tickets. My dad's got season tickets though,

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<v Speaker 2>so excellent, you know, so I have a chance there.

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<v Speaker 2>But yeah, so that was the first thing that was

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<v Speaker 2>done when I was born. And then my parents also

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<v Speaker 2>bought me a stock in the.

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<v Speaker 4>Packers, just like me.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, yeah, come on, there's not many owners walking around

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<v Speaker 2>the city of Lexington. Say I want a football team.

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<v Speaker 1>We are NFL owners, You are correct, So we are NFL.

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<v Speaker 1>That's right. We're important. By the way, I also own

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<v Speaker 1>a share, a micro share of a horse that won

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<v Speaker 1>the Kentucky Derby, So I'm not just an NFL owner,

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<v Speaker 1>but a Kentucky Derby owner. So winner.

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<v Speaker 4>Oh my gosh, graduating a.

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<v Speaker 1>Pretty important guy coach sitting in here in my in

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<v Speaker 1>my garage, recording this conversation. Uh, favorite player, favorite Packers

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<v Speaker 1>player or players? Growing up?

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, Brett Farb was my hero, right And you know,

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<v Speaker 2>there's this new documentary that just came out yesterday and

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<v Speaker 2>I'm about fifteen minutes into it and I don't know

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<v Speaker 2>if I want to finish it because talking about his

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<v Speaker 2>good stuff right now, right, But I love him, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Robert Brookes, you know, you know Sterling Sharp, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>Defense, Reggie White, there you girls.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Clay Matthews. I mean, there's so many, so many

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<v Speaker 2>greats that you know that I enjoyed for years.

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<v Speaker 1>I have a Clay Matthews Jersey believe it or not.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, oh yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>No, he was, you know, and and Reggie. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>I've been to Green Bay once and I remember I

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00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.240
<v Speaker 1>flew in with my buddies. We're all Packer fans, and

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00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.200
<v Speaker 1>we flew directly into Green Bay. We didn't fly and

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<v Speaker 1>then drive, and I purposely looked out the window and

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<v Speaker 1>thought about Reggie White, because, as you know, when Reggie

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<v Speaker 1>White signed, people followed because he couldn't signed anywhere, but

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<v Speaker 1>he signs with a little bitty Green Bay, And I thought,

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<v Speaker 1>what must it be have been like for Reggie White?

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<v Speaker 1>But then he was a boy from Tennessee, so it

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00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.879
<v Speaker 1>wasn't that big a deal, you know. So but I'm

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<v Speaker 1>thinking when he flew into Green Bay and was looking around,

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<v Speaker 1>and as you know, when you find a Green Bay man,

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00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:13.960
<v Speaker 1>it's farmland surrounding this tiny little city. But excellence followed,

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<v Speaker 1>and the Super Bowl followed as well a few minutes

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<v Speaker 1>left of Cody figure. We are talking about our beloved

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<v Speaker 1>Green Bay Packers. By the way, my favorite player I

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<v Speaker 1>got some years on you, Mine was Bart Starr And

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00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:31.440
<v Speaker 1>so my dog's name is bark Starr. She's laying right here.

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<v Speaker 1>But it's just it's such a generational thing, just like

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<v Speaker 1>Kentucky basketball, isn't it. I mean, you talk to any

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<v Speaker 1>Kentucky fan, whatever the age, and from their generation, they've

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<v Speaker 1>got favorites. And now you've got kids who wanted to

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<v Speaker 1>be John Wall and it wasn't that long ago John

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<v Speaker 1>Wall was at Kentucky. But it doesn't make it's got

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<v Speaker 1>to make you feel like it's all one and the same.

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<v Speaker 1>Am I right?

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<v Speaker 5>Oh for sure?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean I got you know, Trent Now showed

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<v Speaker 2>me a picture of him with John Walla. I'm like, wow,

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<v Speaker 2>it looks like six seven years old. I'm like, this

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<v Speaker 2>is this is insane? You know, it's crazy.

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<v Speaker 5>It's crazy.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh, next time, Well, if you do go up to

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<v Speaker 2>Packer game. My dad's got season tickets, like I said,

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<v Speaker 2>and the tailgates. He's missed like four home games in

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<v Speaker 2>like forty years or something like that. So wow, you

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00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:29.440
<v Speaker 2>got to you gotta go up there and uh and

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<v Speaker 2>start tailgating with him at seven am if the games

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<v Speaker 2>at noon, and then you know, the games at three.

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<v Speaker 2>He starts tailgating five hours before, so of course right

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<v Speaker 2>across the street from Lambeau. It's it's a it's a great.

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<v Speaker 1>Setup, you know, tailgating and the NFL is a real art.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean it's pretty good at Kentucky and the SEC,

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<v Speaker 1>but it's it's nothing like the NFL, I don't think,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think the Packer tailgate and you know what,

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<v Speaker 1>you may have seen this. I've seen the Packers once

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<v Speaker 1>in Green Bay, but I've seen him in Nashville, Cincinnati, Dallas,

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<v Speaker 1>a couple other cities, and Packer fans, as you know,

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<v Speaker 1>are everywhere. We're everywhere. And and so it's the tailgating,

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00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:06.200
<v Speaker 1>isn't it yep?

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<v Speaker 4>Yep? Yeah, oh for sure. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Like I went to UH. I took my son to

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<v Speaker 2>his first Packer game a couple of years ago into

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00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:17.480
<v Speaker 2>Edinburgh and good retailgated and had a great time and

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<v Speaker 2>you know it was perfect Patch and some other friends

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<v Speaker 2>out there. So yeah, well it's so similar to Kentucky

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<v Speaker 2>basketball man, it's so similar.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Well, speaking of sons and Brett Farv. My son's

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<v Speaker 1>team is the Denver Broncos because when we played them

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<v Speaker 1>in the Super Bowl, I spent that week on the

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<v Speaker 1>radio ragging about how we were gonna win. I was

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<v Speaker 1>very obnoxious. So my son, being being a contrarian, he

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<v Speaker 1>decided he was going to root for whoever the Packers

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<v Speaker 1>were playing. It happened to be the Broncos, and of

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<v Speaker 1>course they beat us, so I have to and I've

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<v Speaker 1>actually purchased Broncos gear for him for Christmas. I hate

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<v Speaker 1>to admit, but you know, you got you gotta be

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<v Speaker 1>an honorable know.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah you're good, dad, Yeah you're good.

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<v Speaker 1>But when my first granddaughter was born, you know, she

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<v Speaker 1>got a Green Bay Packers doll and that did not

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00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:14.799
<v Speaker 1>sit well with with her parents. So anyway, it's you can.

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00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.079
<v Speaker 1>I got to be the subjective journalist, but when it

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00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:18.839
<v Speaker 1>comes to the Packers, that can be a real jerk.

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00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:20.799
<v Speaker 1>It's a lot of fun, That's what I say about

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00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:24.640
<v Speaker 1>owning stock. Yeah, it gives you license to be obnoxious,

391
00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:28.839
<v Speaker 1>which is so great, so great. Uh does your dad

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<v Speaker 1>still live in Milwaukee or where does he live?

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00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:37.519
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, my my parents still live in in Milwaukee, and

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00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.359
<v Speaker 2>you know they're Uh, you know, my brother lives up

395
00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:43.279
<v Speaker 2>there and they still go to Packer games. And then

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00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:45.640
<v Speaker 2>you know, I'm hoping going to get up to Lambeau

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00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.960
<v Speaker 2>this year. Just gotta check kick at our schedule. But yeah,

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00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:53.279
<v Speaker 2>they're still living up there and they you know, when

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00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.119
<v Speaker 2>the Packers lose, I try to give my dad.

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00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:58.759
<v Speaker 4>A couple of days.

401
00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:59.440
<v Speaker 1>The smart does.

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00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.039
<v Speaker 2>That's the way it's always been.

403
00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:04.960
<v Speaker 1>Smart smart. And by the way, I was overjoyed when

404
00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.359
<v Speaker 1>Randall Cobb ended up with the Green Bay Packers. It

405
00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.680
<v Speaker 1>was so great. And of course, yeah, the the year prior,

406
00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:15.160
<v Speaker 1>our punter for the Packers who won a Super Bowl,

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00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.839
<v Speaker 1>Tim Mastay was a Kentucky guy.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh I didn't know that.

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00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:21.759
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, And I think he team maybe living back

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00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:24.039
<v Speaker 1>here in Lexingon. So I find out, I'll send him

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<v Speaker 1>your way. We're listening to the Best of the Big

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<v Speaker 1>Blue Insider. More to come here on six thirty w LAP.

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<v Speaker 1>It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the

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<v Speaker 1>Big Blue Insider. My business partner and I Tim francis

415
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:40.480
<v Speaker 1>basically the exec producer of The Big Blue Insider and

416
00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:43.839
<v Speaker 1>a guy who was quite active with the group that

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<v Speaker 1>stages the Mark Stoops event in the summertime Coaches for

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<v Speaker 1>Kids event. We took a trip over to Churchill Downs

419
00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:58.240
<v Speaker 1>to watch Torpedo Anna and Mystic Dan training and also

420
00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:01.319
<v Speaker 1>to get the trainer, Kenny McPeek, who signed some items

421
00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:05.960
<v Speaker 1>for the Silent Auction, And it was obviously a terrible

422
00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.079
<v Speaker 1>day to do that. We knew that rain was in

423
00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:12.599
<v Speaker 1>the forecast, just not this kind of rain. We drove

424
00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:16.920
<v Speaker 1>through them monsoon, which, well, it was still there when

425
00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:19.000
<v Speaker 1>we got to Churchill. And I spent a lot of

426
00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.920
<v Speaker 1>early mornings at Churchill Downs covering the Kentucky Derby and

427
00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.960
<v Speaker 1>Breeders Cup and things like that. Never have I encountered

428
00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.000
<v Speaker 1>rain like this. And then when Kenny McPeak showed up,

429
00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.599
<v Speaker 1>it is born. We actually get those barn a few

430
00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.039
<v Speaker 1>minutes before he did. Well, he showed up and of

431
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:35.559
<v Speaker 1>course he is driven back and forth between Lexington and

432
00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:40.680
<v Speaker 1>Louisville for decades. Literally, he says, I've never seen rain

433
00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:45.039
<v Speaker 1>like this coming to the racetrack. And I told my partner,

434
00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:47.480
<v Speaker 1>I said, I bet they don't send these horses out.

435
00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.960
<v Speaker 1>Well they did. They sent them out to gallop. We

436
00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:53.400
<v Speaker 1>watched Anna gallop. They didn't gallop Dan until later on

437
00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:57.960
<v Speaker 1>in the morning. But in the driving pouring rain, a

438
00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:03.319
<v Speaker 1>lot of trainers had our horses out and Thorpina Anna

439
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:05.480
<v Speaker 1>was one of them, and of course she's a pro.

440
00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:09.960
<v Speaker 1>She's a pros pro. Robbie Alberato, who works now for

441
00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:14.799
<v Speaker 1>Kenny McPeak three, he's retired as a jockey. He galloped

442
00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:17.279
<v Speaker 1>and this morning we're gonna hear from Robbie coming up

443
00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:20.039
<v Speaker 1>a little bit later on. But I had a chance

444
00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:25.000
<v Speaker 1>to chat with Kenny after the champion Philly galloped. And

445
00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:29.640
<v Speaker 1>remember now, Thorpeda Anda won the Kentucky Oaks last year

446
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:35.039
<v Speaker 1>for Kenny McPeak and the next day Mystic Dan won

447
00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:39.200
<v Speaker 1>the Kentucky Derby. Such a rarity for a trainer to

448
00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:42.720
<v Speaker 1>win the Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday.

449
00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:47.200
<v Speaker 1>But Kenny McPeak, a UK product, a Tates Creek High

450
00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:51.920
<v Speaker 1>School alum, did that and we had a chance to

451
00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.920
<v Speaker 1>chat about it. I talked to him a couple of

452
00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:56.079
<v Speaker 1>days after the race. He was on the show the

453
00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:59.519
<v Speaker 1>Monday after Kentucky Derby. Well we caught up this morning

454
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.519
<v Speaker 1>between the rain drops. How bad was that rain this morning?

455
00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:07.200
<v Speaker 6>Yes, all the years, all the years that I've been

456
00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:10.839
<v Speaker 6>training at Churchill, I've never seen rain like that coming in.

457
00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:13.519
<v Speaker 3>Or while I was there, so it's pretty it's.

458
00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:17.759
<v Speaker 6>Sunny in the background there. But yeah, it kind of

459
00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.240
<v Speaker 6>puts a gamer on our day.

460
00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.839
<v Speaker 3>But it's okay.

461
00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.720
<v Speaker 1>See, how does it affect.

462
00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:26.440
<v Speaker 6>Your work, Well, everywhere you get frozen race tracks, you

463
00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:29.680
<v Speaker 6>get sloppy race tracks, you get different different setups. But

464
00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:32.839
<v Speaker 6>and sometimes it's too hot too. You try to get

465
00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:36.359
<v Speaker 6>done early. So it's a typical. We have to just what.

466
00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:38.359
<v Speaker 1>Has life been like for you. I mean, you haven't

467
00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:40.720
<v Speaker 1>been a low profile but since you won the Oaks

468
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.079
<v Speaker 1>and Derby back to back.

469
00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.880
<v Speaker 6>Well, I've signed a lot of things I've got I

470
00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:47.759
<v Speaker 6>think the memborabilia people have actually learned how to forge

471
00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:51.440
<v Speaker 6>my signature, which is interesting. But but that's you know,

472
00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:54.279
<v Speaker 6>that's an honor to do all that, and you know

473
00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:56.319
<v Speaker 6>a lot of people want to have selfies and things

474
00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:56.640
<v Speaker 6>like that.

475
00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.599
<v Speaker 3>So yeah, it's been kind of unique.

476
00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:01.400
<v Speaker 6>It's a long way from you know, Tates Creek High

477
00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:03.160
<v Speaker 6>School or growing up in Lexington.

478
00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:07.559
<v Speaker 1>I hear you on with Tony Kornheiser and you're lobbying,

479
00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:10.279
<v Speaker 1>lobbying to do the Five Good Minutes on PTI. But

480
00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.559
<v Speaker 1>just the fact that you've got a little more notoriety now,

481
00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:15.440
<v Speaker 1>which is great for the sport, isn't it. And I

482
00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:18.440
<v Speaker 1>know you're not looking to promote yourself as much as

483
00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.119
<v Speaker 1>you are the sport.

484
00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.079
<v Speaker 6>Well, you know me a long time when I had

485
00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:23.920
<v Speaker 6>that good Horse to Hana Run years ago, my mother

486
00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:27.400
<v Speaker 6>would say, speaking full sentences, make sure you take your

487
00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.920
<v Speaker 6>sunglasses off, and you do interviews.

488
00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.200
<v Speaker 3>All that.

489
00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:34.200
<v Speaker 6>She always critiqued all that. So I've learned to be

490
00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:37.599
<v Speaker 6>relatively well spoken. So they then you all tend to

491
00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:41.079
<v Speaker 6>gravitate to me, which is fine. I don't know if

492
00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:44.599
<v Speaker 6>that's well, it's obviously it's always good. But I think

493
00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:49.880
<v Speaker 6>this sport needs more openness, more information out there, and

494
00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.240
<v Speaker 6>the more people understand it, I think the more they

495
00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.400
<v Speaker 6>can appreciate what we do.

496
00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:56.640
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's interesting because you know, kind of growing up

497
00:25:56.680 --> 00:26:00.440
<v Speaker 1>professionally covering races, ran into so many trains. You just

498
00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:02.720
<v Speaker 1>didn't trust the media, which I can I can get

499
00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:05.559
<v Speaker 1>if they're not used to that. But I mean, you guys,

500
00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:09.480
<v Speaker 1>you're independent contractors and you're promoting.

501
00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:14.599
<v Speaker 6>The game right well, I think anytime, like for example,

502
00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:17.240
<v Speaker 6>you're you're you're helping talk about the sport right now,

503
00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.519
<v Speaker 6>and and and anytime people can learn about it.

504
00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:22.680
<v Speaker 3>I think it's just better. I mean, I've always.

505
00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:24.240
<v Speaker 6>Been open and you and I've known each other a

506
00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.559
<v Speaker 6>long time and I'm not going to change that. Whether

507
00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:28.119
<v Speaker 6>I won the Derby or the Oaks or not, this

508
00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:32.119
<v Speaker 6>conversation wouldn't be any different. But it's it's real, you know,

509
00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:34.720
<v Speaker 6>an honor for somebody to seek out your opinion or

510
00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.519
<v Speaker 6>certainly care about what you're up to. And and I

511
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:41.119
<v Speaker 6>think horse racing really does need to be much more open,

512
00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.160
<v Speaker 6>and I wish more guys did.

513
00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:44.880
<v Speaker 1>That helps to have a superstar like Anna, doesn't it.

514
00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:48.960
<v Speaker 1>She was galloping today in the weather and Robbie the

515
00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:51.039
<v Speaker 1>first thing he said when he got off is she's

516
00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:54.519
<v Speaker 1>the smartest horse he's ever been on. That's got to

517
00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:56.720
<v Speaker 1>be a huge plus. As a trainer, I would.

518
00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.240
<v Speaker 6>Think, Well, I've said to my whole time, it's for

519
00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:01.000
<v Speaker 6>a long time, Sonny, get over here, come here. I've

520
00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.359
<v Speaker 6>said to my team for a long time. You know,

521
00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:06.000
<v Speaker 6>we were always one good horse away from from uh

522
00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:09.119
<v Speaker 6>really getting the lights shine shining on us a little

523
00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:11.640
<v Speaker 6>bit more. And and it really is all about stock.

524
00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:14.599
<v Speaker 6>I mean, I've got some great clientele, and you know,

525
00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:17.200
<v Speaker 6>we worked those sales really hard. And if you could

526
00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:19.359
<v Speaker 6>come up with a horse like Mystic Dan or Anna.

527
00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:23.200
<v Speaker 6>And actually, you know, Mystic Dan's probably my proudest moment.

528
00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.599
<v Speaker 6>I don't know if you know all the backstory on that,

529
00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:28.079
<v Speaker 6>and I don't know people out there do. But so

530
00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:31.920
<v Speaker 6>I bought his mother. Actually the ownership wasn't going to

531
00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.960
<v Speaker 6>keep her as a mayor, and I convinced him to

532
00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:39.240
<v Speaker 6>and then I did the mating and then we fold

533
00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:43.880
<v Speaker 6>her at Magdalena and Lexington. Wow, and he's subsequently born.

534
00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:47.720
<v Speaker 6>We raised him, Yeah, we raised him at Magdalena, we

535
00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:51.119
<v Speaker 6>broke him to saddle. We obviously raced him and win

536
00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:54.279
<v Speaker 6>the Derby. And then I mean all that that most

537
00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:57.319
<v Speaker 6>people are happy to have their fingerprints on just one stage.

538
00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:00.839
<v Speaker 6>We had her fingerprints on every stage. That's probably my

539
00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:05.160
<v Speaker 6>proudest moment is as a horseman. I mean there are.

540
00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:07.400
<v Speaker 3>People that are very proud to fold.

541
00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:11.559
<v Speaker 6>A mayor or, made it a mayor and raised a

542
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.839
<v Speaker 6>Derby winner. And I mean, look, I probably should have

543
00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:16.559
<v Speaker 6>quit on Sunday after that weekend.

544
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:19.039
<v Speaker 3>Anyway, it's all good.

545
00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.839
<v Speaker 1>How's he doing.

546
00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:23.079
<v Speaker 6>He's doing great, He's in tomorrow and he's a horse

547
00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:26.119
<v Speaker 6>that I think we made some mistakes with him coming

548
00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:28.599
<v Speaker 6>out of his Derby win, we maybe shouldn't run in

549
00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:32.319
<v Speaker 6>the Belmont in hindsight, His two races late in the year,

550
00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:35.799
<v Speaker 6>late three year old, early four were in hindsight, I

551
00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:37.480
<v Speaker 6>wish I could kind of have a do over there.

552
00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.240
<v Speaker 3>But then we backed up and.

553
00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:42.599
<v Speaker 6>We regrouped, and his last race was superb and so

554
00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.799
<v Speaker 6>we'd like to think we're getting back in the winter

555
00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.599
<v Speaker 6>circle tomorrow.

556
00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:48.400
<v Speaker 1>We won't have a triple crown winner this year, obviously,

557
00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:51.119
<v Speaker 1>And I know you've been interviewed about Bill Mott's decision,

558
00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:53.720
<v Speaker 1>and it's hard to second guess a Bill Mott. I

559
00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:56.799
<v Speaker 1>know where are you on the calendar and in tradition

560
00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:59.759
<v Speaker 1>and should things change in thoroughbred racing?

561
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:03.039
<v Speaker 6>Well, I think this should change it, and I think

562
00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.839
<v Speaker 6>it should be the first Saturday in May, the first

563
00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:06.599
<v Speaker 6>Saturday in June, the first Saturday in July.

564
00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.599
<v Speaker 3>You know, there will be people who would argue with that,

565
00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.640
<v Speaker 3>but every sport.

566
00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:13.079
<v Speaker 6>Changes, you know, I can remember, you know, the NBA

567
00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:15.079
<v Speaker 6>Finals are over much earlier than June.

568
00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.079
<v Speaker 4>You know.

569
00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:20.160
<v Speaker 6>Now now March Madness goes into April. NFL you know

570
00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:22.359
<v Speaker 6>they've gone from I don't how many games fourteen games

571
00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:26.599
<v Speaker 6>now they play eighteen. You know, so those things do change,

572
00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:29.359
<v Speaker 6>and I don't think it's a big deal, but I

573
00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:32.759
<v Speaker 6>think pattern wise, for trainers to come back in two

574
00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:36.440
<v Speaker 6>weeks three weeks, it's not the best thing for the horse.

575
00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:40.440
<v Speaker 6>In hindsight, I wouldn't have run Mystic Dan in the Preakness.

576
00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.759
<v Speaker 6>I would have skipped it and maybe just gone straight

577
00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:47.279
<v Speaker 6>to the Belmont. That's would have been similar to Bill,

578
00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:49.160
<v Speaker 6>and I respect Bill for his decision.

579
00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:51.119
<v Speaker 1>Why did you run? I mean you did? Do you

580
00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:53.079
<v Speaker 1>feel like that was part of the racing lore?

581
00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:55.200
<v Speaker 6>Well, he was doing good and he ran well, he

582
00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:58.279
<v Speaker 6>ran second, he didn't he didn't embarrass us at all.

583
00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:01.759
<v Speaker 6>But after that race, you know, look he was over

584
00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.960
<v Speaker 6>the top, and of course we didn't know that untill

585
00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:06.279
<v Speaker 6>he ran really flat in the Beaumont. But it's not

586
00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:09.000
<v Speaker 6>the first time that's happened to any horse. I guess

587
00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:11.759
<v Speaker 6>that makes the Triple Crown that much more difficult. But

588
00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.960
<v Speaker 6>you know, look, in this day and age, I think

589
00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:16.359
<v Speaker 6>I think it'd be better for the horse, and we're

590
00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:19.079
<v Speaker 6>all worried about the health and welfare of the horses

591
00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:22.559
<v Speaker 6>and to adjust that, but you've got to get into

592
00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:25.880
<v Speaker 6>He's like like Pimlico to agree and Belmont to agree,

593
00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:29.720
<v Speaker 6>and how does that happen? And that's somebody with a

594
00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.759
<v Speaker 6>higher pace scale than me.

595
00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:33.599
<v Speaker 1>Well, I'll let you go with this. People may or

596
00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:36.559
<v Speaker 1>may not know you're a huge UK fan. Keeping an

597
00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:38.799
<v Speaker 1>eye on Mark Pope's stable. I mean, he's got some

598
00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:40.640
<v Speaker 1>some pretty nice stock over there.

599
00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:44.519
<v Speaker 6>Yes, So so Pat Kelsey comes around. We've got a

600
00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:48.119
<v Speaker 6>horse named after coach, Yeah, Louisville coach. And my wife's

601
00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:51.000
<v Speaker 6>a u of L graduate, and so that's a little

602
00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:54.400
<v Speaker 6>bone of contention around our family at home. But I

603
00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:57.839
<v Speaker 6>threw L's down with Kelsey here derby week and Pope

604
00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:00.720
<v Speaker 6>called me the next day and actually reached out to

605
00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.839
<v Speaker 6>somebody get me his phone number.

606
00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:03.000
<v Speaker 3>So he reached out to me.

607
00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:05.200
<v Speaker 6>So I've gotten to know each other a little bit,

608
00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:09.559
<v Speaker 6>actually facetiming over another deal about a week ago, and

609
00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:15.519
<v Speaker 6>we were chatting and Gino's formal affairs got some suits,

610
00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:19.519
<v Speaker 6>some formal suits for the basketball team over there, and

611
00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:21.799
<v Speaker 6>I reached out to Mark and let him know that.

612
00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:24.599
<v Speaker 6>But yeah, I'm gonna My goal is and how you

613
00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:26.559
<v Speaker 6>know this, this is to do the widet mid court

614
00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:29.839
<v Speaker 6>gotta happen. I wanted to do it this year's U

615
00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:32.440
<v Speaker 6>of L game. I gotta wait next year. I suppose

616
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:36.440
<v Speaker 6>Pope says I need to win another Derby. Man, be

617
00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:38.160
<v Speaker 6>all right, I'm here working right now, right.

618
00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:42.720
<v Speaker 1>Thanks, Kenny, You're welcome. Kenny's a great trainer. He's got

619
00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:45.839
<v Speaker 1>more than two thousand career wins. He's won virtually every

620
00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:51.599
<v Speaker 1>stakes race you can win in America, breeders Cup races,

621
00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:54.240
<v Speaker 1>He's won the Belmont, He's won the Preakness and the

622
00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:59.799
<v Speaker 1>Kentucky Derby, and has his own racing app called horse

623
00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:04.000
<v Speaker 1>Racing Now. And through that app you can listen to

624
00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:07.880
<v Speaker 1>his podcast. And on that podcast, he picked this year's

625
00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:11.799
<v Speaker 1>Kentucky Derby winner and he believes that horse will win

626
00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:16.519
<v Speaker 1>the Bellmont. He's picking Sovereignty. He's picking Sovereignty to win

627
00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:19.519
<v Speaker 1>the third leg of racing's Triple Crown. There'll be no

628
00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:23.640
<v Speaker 1>Triple Crown winner this year, of course, But yeah, he

629
00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:25.920
<v Speaker 1>knows his stuff, and in fact, I got to know

630
00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:29.519
<v Speaker 1>him fairly well in nineteen ninety five when he trained

631
00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:32.599
<v Speaker 1>a horse call it the Hanno Run. He picked the

632
00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:36.920
<v Speaker 1>horse out of a sale for six thousand dollars, purchased

633
00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:40.920
<v Speaker 1>the horse for the Monroe's Roy and Joyce Monroe and

634
00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:43.319
<v Speaker 1>trained him up to the Kentucky Derby. And you might

635
00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:46.400
<v Speaker 1>recall this if you're a racing fan. He trained at

636
00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:49.880
<v Speaker 1>Keenland all week long, didn't bring him over to Churchill

637
00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:52.720
<v Speaker 1>Downs and people were throwing their hands up and scratching

638
00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:55.400
<v Speaker 1>you can't do that. Well he did it, and now

639
00:32:55.440 --> 00:33:00.519
<v Speaker 1>the horse ran second in the Kentucky Derby. Nine. That

640
00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:03.720
<v Speaker 1>was as close as Kenny got until he won it

641
00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:07.160
<v Speaker 1>with Mystic Dan this past year, and Donald Run by

642
00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:10.200
<v Speaker 1>the way, went on to be a successful stallion up

643
00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:12.400
<v Speaker 1>in Canada. So despite the whether, we had a good

644
00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:14.599
<v Speaker 1>time talking to Kenny and coming up next week from

645
00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:18.640
<v Speaker 1>Robbie Albarrado, and by the way, we enjoyed being around sunny.

646
00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:23.000
<v Speaker 1>The Big Yellow Lab was excited about something this morning

647
00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:25.400
<v Speaker 1>and let us know about it. You're listening to the

648
00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:27.720
<v Speaker 1>best of the Big Blue Insider. More to come here

649
00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:31.599
<v Speaker 1>on six thirty wlap. Hey, it's Dick Gabriel and you're

650
00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:34.559
<v Speaker 1>listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider. Before

651
00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:37.880
<v Speaker 1>we were at Churchill Downs this morning in the monsoon

652
00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:41.400
<v Speaker 1>to watch Thorpedo Anna. I had a chance to talk

653
00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:45.000
<v Speaker 1>to Robbie Albarado. He is one of the winningest jockeys

654
00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:48.079
<v Speaker 1>of all time. Of course, he retired back in twenty

655
00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:53.359
<v Speaker 1>twenty one. He is third all time as a jockey

656
00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:56.960
<v Speaker 1>at Churchill Downs in Victory, behind only Pat Day and

657
00:33:57.039 --> 00:34:02.119
<v Speaker 1>Calvin Burrell. He's won more than five thousand races. But now,

658
00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:05.759
<v Speaker 1>as we said, working for Kenny galloping horses in the morning,

659
00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:08.719
<v Speaker 1>we talked to him right after he got off Torpedo Anna,

660
00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:14.079
<v Speaker 1>because before and after he galloped that horse, he told

661
00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:18.079
<v Speaker 1>us she is the smartest horse he has ever ridden. Robbie,

662
00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:20.679
<v Speaker 1>this rain is something else. What is it like when

663
00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.519
<v Speaker 1>you're out there galloping in weather like this?

664
00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:25.519
<v Speaker 7>It's a little fun man, but it's always nice to

665
00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:27.599
<v Speaker 7>be on a battle horse, a really talented horse, which

666
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:31.000
<v Speaker 7>I was on this morning. I was on the infamous

667
00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:35.480
<v Speaker 7>Torpedo Anna. She's special. She's the smartest horse I've ever

668
00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:38.480
<v Speaker 7>been on. I've ridden thirty thousand race thirty four thousand

669
00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:41.400
<v Speaker 7>races and maybe another fifty thousand more in the mornings,

670
00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:43.079
<v Speaker 7>and she's about for all, the smartest horse I've been on.

671
00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:45.039
<v Speaker 1>What is the smart horse to do? How do you know?

672
00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.639
<v Speaker 1>She's smart?

673
00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:48.400
<v Speaker 7>But like the conditions is normally on a fast track.

674
00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:51.320
<v Speaker 7>She will try to get rank and run off and

675
00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:53.320
<v Speaker 7>try to she can't, but she tried to run off,

676
00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:56.199
<v Speaker 7>get really strong. And today she got out there.

677
00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:58.280
<v Speaker 8>It was raining really hard. She's seen the track condition,

678
00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:59.480
<v Speaker 8>I guess, and she felt it.

679
00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:02.239
<v Speaker 7>She was very calm and easy, whichy'all wanted that this

680
00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:03.000
<v Speaker 7>morning from her.

681
00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:07.840
<v Speaker 1>You've ridden great horses. I mean a lot of the

682
00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:10.440
<v Speaker 1>great ones are pretty smart. They're not all that smart, though.

683
00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.599
<v Speaker 4>Are they. They?

684
00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:13.599
<v Speaker 8>You know, they're not all smart. Some of them are.

685
00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:15.480
<v Speaker 7>Are. We get a lot of coach that get honoy

686
00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.719
<v Speaker 7>and stubborn some time, and then some bunch of phillies

687
00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:19.880
<v Speaker 7>have got there, you know. Some of them more sensitive

688
00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:22.199
<v Speaker 7>and you can't do much much on them. But uh,

689
00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.480
<v Speaker 7>the smart as they're different.

690
00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:25.119
<v Speaker 8>They're they're the good ones. They're different.

691
00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:27.920
<v Speaker 7>They breed different, their they move different, they act different.

692
00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:31.199
<v Speaker 8>They sleep all day long in the stall. And that's

693
00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:33.639
<v Speaker 8>a good telltale sign of a really good horseman. Why.

694
00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:35.239
<v Speaker 8>I don't know. I don't know why.

695
00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:38.480
<v Speaker 7>I guess sleeps to their advantage. They train hard. They

696
00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:40.639
<v Speaker 7>train hard, so they sleep well.

697
00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.599
<v Speaker 8>I don't know what it is.

698
00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:44.360
<v Speaker 7>Curling horses right, curling course of the year, so lay

699
00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:46.159
<v Speaker 7>down all the time. Mindshaft another horse of the year,

700
00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:46.960
<v Speaker 7>So lay down all the time?

701
00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.719
<v Speaker 8>Swis skydiver.

702
00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:49.559
<v Speaker 7>I mean I can name read off some gulls I've

703
00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:51.519
<v Speaker 7>been on that they slate, they sleep all day long.

704
00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:55.360
<v Speaker 1>Well, we've seen Thorpedia and a wind. She's she's the

705
00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:59.199
<v Speaker 1>greatest female out there right now. How does being smart

706
00:35:59.239 --> 00:36:02.280
<v Speaker 1>do you think help for when she's actually racing?

707
00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:06.039
<v Speaker 7>Well, I feel like and uh, she can overcome quite

708
00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:08.519
<v Speaker 7>a bit of in a race, and she adjust to

709
00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:10.519
<v Speaker 7>if you have to call anaudible, she's there for you

710
00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.920
<v Speaker 7>if you need to give her back a little more,

711
00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:14.440
<v Speaker 7>get a ford a little more. She's pretty manageable in

712
00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:16.239
<v Speaker 7>a race. The morning time she gets ranged. But in

713
00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:18.360
<v Speaker 7>the racetime she's managed, but looks like Brian says, she'd

714
00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:21.000
<v Speaker 7>just about doing anything with her and uh, they execute

715
00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:24.360
<v Speaker 7>off other horse's mistakes. It's like the humans. They see

716
00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:27.119
<v Speaker 7>what happens. They're like athletes ball players, right, they see,

717
00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.519
<v Speaker 7>they see a play about to happen.

718
00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:31.679
<v Speaker 8>They adjust. Then it's a great feeling to be on them.

719
00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:34.199
<v Speaker 1>Kind though, what she like around the barn, because not

720
00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:37.039
<v Speaker 1>all great horses are great citizens.

721
00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:38.599
<v Speaker 8>Well, right now she's walking around.

722
00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:40.840
<v Speaker 7>She's got a bath this morning, she gets pampered pretty

723
00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:44.440
<v Speaker 7>good around here. Obviously, she's walking around the barn now.

724
00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:46.719
<v Speaker 7>And when they put her install, she'll probably he's a

725
00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:49.159
<v Speaker 7>little hate and she'll lay down, take a nap. She'll

726
00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:51.119
<v Speaker 7>get back out for a while, leaning against the right

727
00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:53.519
<v Speaker 7>side of the stall or a but to the to

728
00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:55.480
<v Speaker 7>the gate, and she don'tt be bothered. I mean, she

729
00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:57.920
<v Speaker 7>don't want to be bothered, so she does that, and

730
00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.840
<v Speaker 7>she wants to be bothered.

731
00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:02.039
<v Speaker 8>She'll be facing the gate here this morning.

732
00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:04.400
<v Speaker 1>With all this weather. We're hearing about all the scratches

733
00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:07.880
<v Speaker 1>for the race car today, which is not unusual. But

734
00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:10.679
<v Speaker 1>a lot of you guys were out there galloping horses

735
00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:12.800
<v Speaker 1>in weather like this. I mean, that's all part of it, though,

736
00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.159
<v Speaker 1>isn't it.

737
00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:15.639
<v Speaker 8>I rode for thirty one years and I'm from Louisiana.

738
00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:18.599
<v Speaker 7>We're called mudbugs from Louisiana, and I hate it right

739
00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:21.280
<v Speaker 7>in the mud. I just absolutely hated it. I mean,

740
00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:23.039
<v Speaker 7>I didn't like nothing about it. It's hard to focus,

741
00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:25.440
<v Speaker 7>especially when it's raining hard like it was morning. It's

742
00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:27.079
<v Speaker 7>hard to focus, it's hard to get up. You know,

743
00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.559
<v Speaker 7>some horses don't like it.

744
00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:30.440
<v Speaker 8>Some horses love it. You gotta call it make changes

745
00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:32.039
<v Speaker 8>you got. There's so much involved in the mud and

746
00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.159
<v Speaker 8>I want to other things.

747
00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:35.320
<v Speaker 7>If you come from way back in their mud race,

748
00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:37.719
<v Speaker 7>I mean you get drenched with water and mud, and

749
00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:40.599
<v Speaker 7>so you're about ten pounds heavier than the horse that

750
00:37:40.679 --> 00:37:44.239
<v Speaker 7>up front. So that's when people handicap if they take

751
00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:47.000
<v Speaker 7>that in consideration. Come from behind horse and his muddy.

752
00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:48.880
<v Speaker 7>By the time they get to the stretch, you can

753
00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:51.880
<v Speaker 7>have ten pounds more mud and water drenched posts of

754
00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:53.519
<v Speaker 7>the guy that's in front clean.

755
00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:55.599
<v Speaker 1>And some horses would just stop. They hate that.

756
00:37:56.280 --> 00:37:57.519
<v Speaker 8>You can tell. You can tell right away.

757
00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:59.360
<v Speaker 7>Yeah, you can tell in the post ray when you're

758
00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:01.519
<v Speaker 7>warming them up, you feel and you can feel they're

759
00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:05.000
<v Speaker 7>you know, they're not like they're normally or uncharacteristic themselves,

760
00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:07.079
<v Speaker 7>and so you can tell right away the ones that do,

761
00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:09.199
<v Speaker 7>like you know what, I goes to their breedings, man,

762
00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:11.880
<v Speaker 7>that the breedings of the mud runners are like if

763
00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:14.280
<v Speaker 7>you ride of curling in the mud, you can almost.

764
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.639
<v Speaker 8>Go to the window because they're gonna be right there. One, two, three, Well.

765
00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:19.400
<v Speaker 1>I'll let you go with this. Anna is gonna be,

766
00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:23.159
<v Speaker 1>you know, forever known as one of the greats. But

767
00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:25.000
<v Speaker 1>just tell me about what it's like to get on

768
00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:28.280
<v Speaker 1>a nice day just to get on her as often

769
00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:30.400
<v Speaker 1>as you do. I mean, is it still a thrill

770
00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:30.760
<v Speaker 1>for you?

771
00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:34.119
<v Speaker 7>Absolutely? Man, We have a good communication me and her.

772
00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:36.320
<v Speaker 7>I could tell every move she makes. I know how

773
00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:39.199
<v Speaker 7>she's feeling. I know how she's felt every time. I

774
00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:40.719
<v Speaker 7>can tell you when she's ad a tip top shape,

775
00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:42.199
<v Speaker 7>when she feels the best. But I heard telling me

776
00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:43.599
<v Speaker 7>what I heard talking to him and telling me I

777
00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:45.760
<v Speaker 7>can feel her. She does little things that makes her

778
00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:46.679
<v Speaker 7>like only she's got.

779
00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:48.760
<v Speaker 8>Her ears for it. Her r's far it bounding forward,

780
00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.599
<v Speaker 8>she's doing well.

781
00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.000
<v Speaker 2>She's doing ok.

782
00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.639
<v Speaker 8>He's professional.

783
00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:55.719
<v Speaker 1>Trobby Alvarado. You're listening to the best of the Big

784
00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:58.079
<v Speaker 1>New Insider. Our number two is next here on six

785
00:38:58.239 --> 00:38:59.719
<v Speaker 1>thirty w lap.

786
00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:54.920
<v Speaker 9>Then anything any such, stating the show anything can anything

787
00:39:55.159 --> 00:39:57.079
<v Speaker 9>to anything.

788
00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:56.840
<v Speaker 1>He's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider,

789
00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:59.719
<v Speaker 1>our number two taking a little time off, so please

790
00:40:59.800 --> 00:41:03.440
<v Speaker 1>enjoy with the best of the Big Blue Insider joining

791
00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:05.440
<v Speaker 1>us now. And there are only seventy eight days to

792
00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:08.840
<v Speaker 1>football season, so what a better time to speak to

793
00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:12.000
<v Speaker 1>mister Van Hiles, the former Kentucky offensive back. We talk

794
00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:14.000
<v Speaker 1>a lot of football with Van He talks a lot

795
00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:16.639
<v Speaker 1>of football with everybody because of the great work he

796
00:41:16.760 --> 00:41:20.119
<v Speaker 1>does on the interweb as the coast of driving with

797
00:41:20.239 --> 00:41:24.119
<v Speaker 1>styles and a guy who you know you hear himoned

798
00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:27.519
<v Speaker 1>with Tom leach Man. Everybody wants your knowledge. How about that?

799
00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:31.039
<v Speaker 4>I actually thought we was gonna talk track and fields.

800
00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:37.000
<v Speaker 4>We can we can understand.

801
00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:38.599
<v Speaker 1>Because that's going on right now and UK's got some

802
00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:42.599
<v Speaker 1>all Americans. But before we get there, I got to

803
00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:45.119
<v Speaker 1>get your response and a reaction to the move by

804
00:41:45.159 --> 00:41:47.639
<v Speaker 1>the big dog. I mean, everybody's weighing in on it.

805
00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:50.840
<v Speaker 1>Is this something that will shake the foundation of the

806
00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:52.599
<v Speaker 1>uk U of L rivalry? What do you think?

807
00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:55.000
<v Speaker 2>Yeah?

808
00:41:55.079 --> 00:41:59.840
<v Speaker 4>It's his football with me is like as a FA

809
00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:05.000
<v Speaker 4>and form a player and as someone who can understand

810
00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:08.440
<v Speaker 4>what happens with sports and how people move on, it's

811
00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:11.599
<v Speaker 4>it's it's a bad move from a fan and a

812
00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:14.039
<v Speaker 4>former player because how dare you go to that team

813
00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:18.639
<v Speaker 4>up more? But as a outside of that, people move

814
00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:20.519
<v Speaker 4>all the time like this is not the first time

815
00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:22.280
<v Speaker 4>it happened and it won't be the last.

816
00:42:22.840 --> 00:42:22.960
<v Speaker 2>Uh.

817
00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:26.639
<v Speaker 4>This This industry and profession is so cut throat that

818
00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:30.760
<v Speaker 4>either you're hired to get fired or either you move

819
00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:35.639
<v Speaker 4>before something bad happened. So I'm not shocked it happened.

820
00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:42.000
<v Speaker 4>I am frustrated with how some things that have gone

821
00:42:42.199 --> 00:42:45.599
<v Speaker 4>has transpired in the past couple of years. And I

822
00:42:45.960 --> 00:42:51.199
<v Speaker 4>don't like what I've heard from some comments that on

823
00:42:51.360 --> 00:42:54.400
<v Speaker 4>the way out and and those are things that I

824
00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:58.559
<v Speaker 4>highly dislike with how well those students are taken care of.

825
00:42:58.920 --> 00:43:04.280
<v Speaker 1>Them, be a little more specific comments by whom bye

826
00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:06.280
<v Speaker 1>By vents with with.

827
00:43:07.880 --> 00:43:13.199
<v Speaker 4>Some some statements about our situation with the Dolphins and

828
00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:17.840
<v Speaker 4>good sales, like that's your job, if that's your job,

829
00:43:18.719 --> 00:43:23.320
<v Speaker 4>and that means to me, you're backtracking on how significant

830
00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:27.400
<v Speaker 4>your your your fingerprints were on this program if you're

831
00:43:27.400 --> 00:43:30.119
<v Speaker 4>going to have excuses that didn't need to be said.

832
00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:33.800
<v Speaker 4>So there are some things that I don't like that.

833
00:43:34.239 --> 00:43:37.159
<v Speaker 4>I mean, when you're getting paid probably one of the

834
00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:41.239
<v Speaker 4>highest salaries of a position coach because let's let's not

835
00:43:41.320 --> 00:43:45.360
<v Speaker 4>forget he's a position coach with some additional titles. But

836
00:43:45.960 --> 00:43:50.159
<v Speaker 4>the the recruiting aspect of in my opinion, I could

837
00:43:50.199 --> 00:43:54.400
<v Speaker 4>be wrong because I don't know how their their their

838
00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:59.119
<v Speaker 4>process was. That that is a that is a coaching staff,

839
00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:02.880
<v Speaker 4>entire coaching staff thing is recruiting. It's not just a

840
00:44:02.960 --> 00:44:05.559
<v Speaker 4>one guy thing, right. So those are some things that

841
00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:08.199
<v Speaker 4>that really brought me the wrong way this morning. But

842
00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:12.760
<v Speaker 4>you know, once set, when you leave, and that that

843
00:44:12.920 --> 00:44:15.679
<v Speaker 4>to me means that he didn't totally leave on his

844
00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:16.519
<v Speaker 4>own the court.

845
00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:21.360
<v Speaker 1>Interesting. Yeah, and it sounds like and the only thing

846
00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:26.199
<v Speaker 1>I had heard, uh is that with Kentucky looking more

847
00:44:26.199 --> 00:44:29.159
<v Speaker 1>and more at the portal, you know, maybe the work

848
00:44:29.239 --> 00:44:31.000
<v Speaker 1>he was doing as and you're right, he's in a

849
00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:34.719
<v Speaker 1>position coach but also a recruiting coordinator also associate head coach,

850
00:44:35.280 --> 00:44:37.639
<v Speaker 1>which I think you can't forget that this is your

851
00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:41.400
<v Speaker 1>number two guy going out the door, and not only

852
00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:43.679
<v Speaker 1>that going to the arts rival and they, as you

853
00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:50.199
<v Speaker 1>well know, uh, they recruit many of the same kids, man,

854
00:44:50.280 --> 00:44:52.920
<v Speaker 1>And and that that to me is no pun intended

855
00:44:52.960 --> 00:44:54.559
<v Speaker 1>a big big red flag.

856
00:44:56.800 --> 00:45:00.639
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, it's well, and here's here's here, here's my thing.

857
00:45:00.800 --> 00:45:03.400
<v Speaker 4>This is where we're going to figure out some things,

858
00:45:03.519 --> 00:45:09.360
<v Speaker 4>right Because I like Vince because, like I said on

859
00:45:09.440 --> 00:45:13.119
<v Speaker 4>the locker last Wednesday, this was our press secretary. He

860
00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:15.760
<v Speaker 4>was the person who got out in front of everything

861
00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:20.960
<v Speaker 4>and it smoothed the faithful out with with his charismatic

862
00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:27.199
<v Speaker 4>aura I would say, so that was what he was

863
00:45:27.519 --> 00:45:30.960
<v Speaker 4>really great at. Now let's see what happened after this.

864
00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:34.760
<v Speaker 4>Let's see how the recruiting goes after this. Let's see

865
00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:38.920
<v Speaker 4>if we take a backstep since he's now have moved on,

866
00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:42.079
<v Speaker 4>is recruiting going to stay the same or is it

867
00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:44.559
<v Speaker 4>going to go the other way. If it stays the same,

868
00:45:44.679 --> 00:45:47.599
<v Speaker 4>then that means that it was the type of process

869
00:45:47.840 --> 00:45:51.079
<v Speaker 4>that I think it should be and potentially was. If

870
00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:53.599
<v Speaker 4>it isn't, that means now we lost our, as some

871
00:45:53.679 --> 00:45:56.079
<v Speaker 4>people say, our best recruiter. So then if we lose,

872
00:45:56.159 --> 00:45:58.840
<v Speaker 4>if you lose your best recruiter, things should not go upward.

873
00:45:59.719 --> 00:46:02.280
<v Speaker 4>The creation should be a downward trend. So it's gonna

874
00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:05.039
<v Speaker 4>be interesting what this this twenty sixth I guess this

875
00:46:05.159 --> 00:46:08.039
<v Speaker 4>twenty twenty sixth class is going to be as we

876
00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:10.360
<v Speaker 4>get into the season, because I wasn't gonna say it

877
00:46:10.920 --> 00:46:15.840
<v Speaker 4>that when everything happens. Commitment means nothing from these kids anymore.

878
00:46:16.119 --> 00:46:18.079
<v Speaker 4>Back when I played, when you committed, you pretty much

879
00:46:18.079 --> 00:46:22.159
<v Speaker 4>stayed with that commitment. Now it's to the hour hour.

880
00:46:22.280 --> 00:46:25.559
<v Speaker 4>Are those kids going to stay with that that commitment

881
00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:27.719
<v Speaker 4>already going to move on to another team that came

882
00:46:27.800 --> 00:46:29.599
<v Speaker 4>in the last minute and offered them a scholarship.

883
00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:36.239
<v Speaker 1>That's It's very true, but sort of the secondary recruiting

884
00:46:36.239 --> 00:46:39.280
<v Speaker 1>if you want to call it successful in some fronts

885
00:46:39.559 --> 00:46:43.960
<v Speaker 1>because of Vince Marrow maintaining relationships and the best example,

886
00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:48.000
<v Speaker 1>it's not the only example, but the best example was Wandale.

887
00:46:48.320 --> 00:46:52.039
<v Speaker 1>They didn't burn that bridge. He can seriously consider Kentucky

888
00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:57.519
<v Speaker 1>because Evince went to Nebraska events, maintained the relationship with

889
00:46:57.679 --> 00:47:00.280
<v Speaker 1>him and his dad, and then when he when he

890
00:47:00.400 --> 00:47:04.360
<v Speaker 1>needed to come back toward his hometown, he lands in

891
00:47:04.360 --> 00:47:06.840
<v Speaker 1>the UK and has a huge season. So you can't

892
00:47:06.920 --> 00:47:09.760
<v Speaker 1>discount that kind of stuff with Vince Merrill, Like.

893
00:47:09.800 --> 00:47:14.119
<v Speaker 4>You say, yeah, and I will comment out with I

894
00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:18.079
<v Speaker 4>think that was Vince's recruit, like that was his guy.

895
00:47:18.599 --> 00:47:21.840
<v Speaker 4>So in retrospect you can say, well he left him

896
00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:23.679
<v Speaker 4>somewhere else and then go with Vinc the first right,

897
00:47:25.480 --> 00:47:28.360
<v Speaker 4>It is the recruiting. And that's why I say, like

898
00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:32.280
<v Speaker 4>he's the press secretary. That is a tough job to

899
00:47:32.440 --> 00:47:35.679
<v Speaker 4>have and he did a great job of that. And

900
00:47:35.840 --> 00:47:40.320
<v Speaker 4>with that, sometimes the perception is you are the guy

901
00:47:40.519 --> 00:47:43.679
<v Speaker 4>and the only guy, when then that discredits all the

902
00:47:43.760 --> 00:47:47.679
<v Speaker 4>position coaches who have to have a relationship with the

903
00:47:47.800 --> 00:47:52.199
<v Speaker 4>recruit anywhere. I consistently tell people that this. In order

904
00:47:52.280 --> 00:47:55.000
<v Speaker 4>for a guy to come to your institution, he has

905
00:47:55.079 --> 00:47:58.559
<v Speaker 4>to have at least a decent relationship with the guy

906
00:47:58.639 --> 00:48:00.960
<v Speaker 4>that he's going to spend the most I'm with, which

907
00:48:01.039 --> 00:48:04.039
<v Speaker 4>is his position coach. Right, So if you come into

908
00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:10.840
<v Speaker 4>a visit and you and Coach Collins don't jail, well

909
00:48:11.719 --> 00:48:13.159
<v Speaker 4>you're probably not gonna come to Kentucky.

910
00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:13.519
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

911
00:48:13.880 --> 00:48:16.599
<v Speaker 4>So there is something that's a little bit more than that.

912
00:48:16.920 --> 00:48:19.480
<v Speaker 4>Vince being a charismatic guy, and that's the only reason

913
00:48:19.920 --> 00:48:23.800
<v Speaker 4>why certain individual came to Kentucky. Unless he is your

914
00:48:24.320 --> 00:48:28.920
<v Speaker 4>he is your recruiter. If that's not the case, then

915
00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:30.000
<v Speaker 4>I think that's more to it.

916
00:48:30.199 --> 00:48:33.480
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, No, I understand that, because if it's a guy

917
00:48:33.519 --> 00:48:35.880
<v Speaker 1>who recruited you, even if he's not your position coach,

918
00:48:35.920 --> 00:48:38.599
<v Speaker 1>he's the first guy who showed up at your school

919
00:48:39.400 --> 00:48:41.760
<v Speaker 1>or at your practice or you know, and maybe even

920
00:48:41.840 --> 00:48:45.039
<v Speaker 1>offered you the schollarie. And uh, and you don't forget

921
00:48:45.079 --> 00:48:47.960
<v Speaker 1>about that. We're talking uh to Van Hiuse, former Kentucky

922
00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:52.519
<v Speaker 1>offensive back and a football analyst. Let's say on social media.

923
00:48:53.440 --> 00:48:56.639
<v Speaker 1>I was talking to Tom Leach earlier this week and

924
00:48:57.079 --> 00:48:59.480
<v Speaker 1>We talked about the fact that it's going to be

925
00:48:59.559 --> 00:49:02.800
<v Speaker 1>interesting to see, now who becomes a good cop. And

926
00:49:02.920 --> 00:49:05.440
<v Speaker 1>you've done some coaching, you've been a player. You know,

927
00:49:06.280 --> 00:49:08.559
<v Speaker 1>every team does the good cop back of the coach.

928
00:49:08.719 --> 00:49:11.760
<v Speaker 1>Head coach has to be the bad cop oftentimes, So

929
00:49:11.920 --> 00:49:14.960
<v Speaker 1>who does the player turn to? And it's been Vince

930
00:49:15.599 --> 00:49:17.880
<v Speaker 1>So now I think that's gonna be really interesting, don't you.

931
00:49:18.880 --> 00:49:21.000
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, now that is a good one. Now from what

932
00:49:21.159 --> 00:49:25.280
<v Speaker 4>I've I've heard, I don't know is that that could

933
00:49:25.320 --> 00:49:29.360
<v Speaker 4>potential to be Coach Washington. He seems like that guy

934
00:49:29.719 --> 00:49:35.039
<v Speaker 4>that players will gravitate to. I think, to me, there's

935
00:49:35.159 --> 00:49:38.119
<v Speaker 4>two guys that I can see and it'll be Coach

936
00:49:38.239 --> 00:49:40.719
<v Speaker 4>Washington and Coach Collins. I think those two guys from

937
00:49:40.719 --> 00:49:44.159
<v Speaker 4>the outside looking in. I could be completely wrong. Those

938
00:49:44.280 --> 00:49:47.559
<v Speaker 4>guys seem like they're younger guys. I think they might

939
00:49:47.639 --> 00:49:50.280
<v Speaker 4>be able to relate to the players more, and they

940
00:49:50.360 --> 00:49:53.760
<v Speaker 4>seem like they have. When I've seen Coach Collins on

941
00:49:53.840 --> 00:49:57.639
<v Speaker 4>the sideline, he's not that yeller, that guy who's gonna

942
00:49:57.639 --> 00:50:00.960
<v Speaker 4>get who's gonna go after Yeah, it seems like a

943
00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:03.599
<v Speaker 4>guy who's gonna talk to you and we're going to

944
00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:07.159
<v Speaker 4>get to a solution via communication more than me. I

945
00:50:07.239 --> 00:50:09.239
<v Speaker 4>guess a two style of communication more than a one

946
00:50:09.280 --> 00:50:12.920
<v Speaker 4>stole of communication. Yeah, so I would say potentially could

947
00:50:12.960 --> 00:50:16.199
<v Speaker 4>be those two guys. But you are right that I

948
00:50:16.320 --> 00:50:18.239
<v Speaker 4>know with Lyn Bowden that was his guy. I know

949
00:50:18.320 --> 00:50:20.639
<v Speaker 4>with Barrion Brown that was his guy. So yeah, you

950
00:50:20.800 --> 00:50:24.000
<v Speaker 4>are kind of losing that that guy where Coachtus can say,

951
00:50:24.039 --> 00:50:25.440
<v Speaker 4>you know, I'm going to get on this guy. Hey,

952
00:50:25.920 --> 00:50:27.559
<v Speaker 4>just know that he's gonna come to you. This is

953
00:50:27.599 --> 00:50:28.920
<v Speaker 4>what I'm going to talk to him. And now you

954
00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:31.119
<v Speaker 4>have the information Hofere, we can just move this thing

955
00:50:31.199 --> 00:50:34.159
<v Speaker 4>over after I've ripped him a new one, so to speak.

956
00:50:34.559 --> 00:50:37.760
<v Speaker 1>He is Van Hiles. He is a football analyst. You

957
00:50:37.840 --> 00:50:41.519
<v Speaker 1>can take in his work at the Locker four one one,

958
00:50:41.639 --> 00:50:45.360
<v Speaker 1>Driving with Styles, follow him on Twitter at v Style seventeen.

959
00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:48.920
<v Speaker 1>Back with moren a minute on six thirty WLAP. It's

960
00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:51.480
<v Speaker 1>Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the Big

961
00:50:51.599 --> 00:50:54.880
<v Speaker 1>Blue Insider. We're talking with Van Hiles. We've been talking

962
00:50:55.000 --> 00:50:59.599
<v Speaker 1>about Vince Merrow and one of your pin tweets is

963
00:50:59.639 --> 00:51:02.360
<v Speaker 1>about in U case football recruiting and the ability to

964
00:51:02.519 --> 00:51:05.760
<v Speaker 1>identify talent early and be one of the first to

965
00:51:05.880 --> 00:51:10.039
<v Speaker 1>give an athlete attention. Explain to our listeners, it seems

966
00:51:10.119 --> 00:51:13.440
<v Speaker 1>like an obvious thing to say, but why that is

967
00:51:13.559 --> 00:51:17.639
<v Speaker 1>so important? Obviously got I said to seventeen year olds,

968
00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:18.400
<v Speaker 1>you know what I'm saying.

969
00:51:19.800 --> 00:51:23.559
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, that Unfortunately, I think it's changing. But for me,

970
00:51:23.719 --> 00:51:26.880
<v Speaker 4>it's like I'll never forget. When I was in high school,

971
00:51:26.920 --> 00:51:29.079
<v Speaker 4>the first team that came after me was Southern MISSISSISPI.

972
00:51:29.800 --> 00:51:32.639
<v Speaker 4>When and when they came after me, it was aggressive

973
00:51:33.239 --> 00:51:37.639
<v Speaker 4>and they were the first, and I always held that like, well, now,

974
00:51:37.800 --> 00:51:41.360
<v Speaker 4>why is everybody else coming to me when I think

975
00:51:41.400 --> 00:51:43.440
<v Speaker 4>I was pretty good the whole time. Yeah, And I

976
00:51:43.559 --> 00:51:47.920
<v Speaker 4>think that that tappened to a young kid's ego. It's

977
00:51:47.920 --> 00:51:50.119
<v Speaker 4>tapped into something like you have been with me since

978
00:51:50.159 --> 00:51:54.280
<v Speaker 4>they want and has never left. I think those teams

979
00:51:54.519 --> 00:51:59.000
<v Speaker 4>hold a high level of gratitude for young men. I

980
00:51:59.079 --> 00:52:00.840
<v Speaker 4>think it still does. But I think there are some

981
00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:04.159
<v Speaker 4>kids now that have a brand on the front of

982
00:52:04.239 --> 00:52:06.360
<v Speaker 4>the jersey that can always come in the last minute

983
00:52:06.400 --> 00:52:09.840
<v Speaker 4>steal you from someone who has been with you since

984
00:52:09.880 --> 00:52:13.760
<v Speaker 4>your junior or sophomore year. But that is a great

985
00:52:13.840 --> 00:52:16.719
<v Speaker 4>thing for a kid to know that someone saw something

986
00:52:16.800 --> 00:52:19.480
<v Speaker 4>in me before somebody everybody else did. So they saw

987
00:52:19.559 --> 00:52:22.119
<v Speaker 4>the talent. And not only they see the talent, they

988
00:52:22.159 --> 00:52:25.559
<v Speaker 4>were aggressive with their they pursuit of me and my talents,

989
00:52:25.639 --> 00:52:28.239
<v Speaker 4>and also they treated me well and they stayed in contact.

990
00:52:28.639 --> 00:52:30.880
<v Speaker 4>So yes, that that can be a big thing. I

991
00:52:31.719 --> 00:52:35.960
<v Speaker 4>think back in those days, we identify guys real early

992
00:52:36.159 --> 00:52:38.000
<v Speaker 4>and then a great and did a great job of

993
00:52:38.599 --> 00:52:41.440
<v Speaker 4>having those guys understand that you are a high priority

994
00:52:41.559 --> 00:52:44.119
<v Speaker 4>for us, and it's not going to take anybody to

995
00:52:44.239 --> 00:52:46.039
<v Speaker 4>knock you off of that. That list has been a

996
00:52:46.079 --> 00:52:48.679
<v Speaker 4>high priority of us, because we're talking to you now,

997
00:52:49.239 --> 00:52:51.119
<v Speaker 4>and I think we did get a couple of players

998
00:52:51.159 --> 00:52:53.559
<v Speaker 4>here because of that ability to identify talents.

999
00:52:53.760 --> 00:52:56.079
<v Speaker 1>But as you've pointed out a couple of minutes ago,

1000
00:52:56.719 --> 00:53:01.119
<v Speaker 1>things have changed so much dramatically cheap among them. You know,

1001
00:53:01.280 --> 00:53:04.119
<v Speaker 1>I could be on you when you're a freshman and

1002
00:53:04.239 --> 00:53:08.360
<v Speaker 1>make that acquaintance and develop a relationship, and three and

1003
00:53:08.400 --> 00:53:10.519
<v Speaker 1>a half years later you want to come to Kentucky

1004
00:53:10.639 --> 00:53:13.519
<v Speaker 1>or wherever. But then here comes brand X with twice

1005
00:53:13.599 --> 00:53:16.440
<v Speaker 1>the amount of money. You know, and I know the

1006
00:53:16.519 --> 00:53:20.679
<v Speaker 1>guardrails are starting to fall into place, but that that's

1007
00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:22.400
<v Speaker 1>just got a drive recruiters nuts.

1008
00:53:22.440 --> 00:53:25.800
<v Speaker 4>I would think, oh, for sure, when you have invested

1009
00:53:25.880 --> 00:53:29.239
<v Speaker 4>so much time. Yeah, and unfortunately I don't have the

1010
00:53:30.880 --> 00:53:33.760
<v Speaker 4>boosters or the ability to offer you. I don't know

1011
00:53:33.840 --> 00:53:36.239
<v Speaker 4>the numbers were true, but let's just say a million dollars.

1012
00:53:36.280 --> 00:53:38.079
<v Speaker 4>All I can offer you is one hundred and fifty

1013
00:53:38.440 --> 00:53:41.840
<v Speaker 4>So and honestly, as a kid, how can how can

1014
00:53:42.039 --> 00:53:45.559
<v Speaker 4>I say no to kind of in your estimation at

1015
00:53:45.639 --> 00:53:49.000
<v Speaker 4>seventeen eighteen life changing money? My parents probably haven't made

1016
00:53:49.039 --> 00:53:52.239
<v Speaker 4>a million dollars in their entire career of whatever their

1017
00:53:52.360 --> 00:53:54.960
<v Speaker 4>job is. For me to make it in a matter

1018
00:53:55.039 --> 00:53:57.199
<v Speaker 4>of a few months, it's something that I could not

1019
00:53:57.400 --> 00:54:00.760
<v Speaker 4>pass up, and I would understand is doing that. But

1020
00:54:00.880 --> 00:54:03.719
<v Speaker 4>that also leads to the thing of as a parent,

1021
00:54:04.400 --> 00:54:07.440
<v Speaker 4>that million dollars is great at the moment, but it

1022
00:54:07.559 --> 00:54:10.119
<v Speaker 4>might not be great for four years because it is

1023
00:54:10.159 --> 00:54:13.480
<v Speaker 4>an easy situation of that team taking some of that

1024
00:54:13.559 --> 00:54:14.519
<v Speaker 4>money back and now you have.

1025
00:54:14.559 --> 00:54:17.119
<v Speaker 1>To go in the transfer for Yeah, it's a mess

1026
00:54:17.239 --> 00:54:21.920
<v Speaker 1>right now, but perhaps this new there's a commissioner essentially,

1027
00:54:22.519 --> 00:54:25.599
<v Speaker 1>you know the CSC. I don't know how how much

1028
00:54:25.639 --> 00:54:28.440
<v Speaker 1>attention first of all, you paid to it. Secondly, if

1029
00:54:28.440 --> 00:54:31.400
<v Speaker 1>you're optimistic at all, but something's better than nothing in

1030
00:54:31.519 --> 00:54:34.960
<v Speaker 1>terms of guardrails, right, Yeah, I.

1031
00:54:36.760 --> 00:54:40.119
<v Speaker 4>Think I like it for football, and I think it

1032
00:54:40.320 --> 00:54:46.039
<v Speaker 4>can't add some element of restricting of a restrictive plate

1033
00:54:46.239 --> 00:54:50.159
<v Speaker 4>like and drive it. But the only thing I don't

1034
00:54:50.239 --> 00:54:55.599
<v Speaker 4>dislike is it's honestly, it's gonna hurt the smaller programs

1035
00:54:56.480 --> 00:55:00.159
<v Speaker 4>and as a as I talked about work person, Uh,

1036
00:55:00.320 --> 00:55:05.360
<v Speaker 4>I'm a track guy, and it's going to greatly, immensely

1037
00:55:05.480 --> 00:55:08.440
<v Speaker 4>hurt track, which is to me, is the best sport

1038
00:55:08.480 --> 00:55:10.880
<v Speaker 4>because it's the easiest sport and cheap the sport to

1039
00:55:11.000 --> 00:55:14.280
<v Speaker 4>get into. So I think it's great for football and

1040
00:55:14.440 --> 00:55:17.800
<v Speaker 4>basketball and even baseball because I had friends who play

1041
00:55:17.880 --> 00:55:20.559
<v Speaker 4>baseball who couldn't get a full scholarship. About time that

1042
00:55:20.719 --> 00:55:24.559
<v Speaker 4>those guys get full scholarships on the entire team. But

1043
00:55:24.719 --> 00:55:27.039
<v Speaker 4>then there's the auxiliary sports that are really going to

1044
00:55:27.079 --> 00:55:30.039
<v Speaker 4>get hit, and that's something that that that I don't like.

1045
00:55:30.199 --> 00:55:32.079
<v Speaker 1>No, I agree with you, and they're going to go away.

1046
00:55:32.719 --> 00:55:34.760
<v Speaker 1>They are going to be programs and it's already happening,

1047
00:55:35.800 --> 00:55:39.039
<v Speaker 1>you know. So well, speaking of track, as promised, we

1048
00:55:39.119 --> 00:55:42.960
<v Speaker 1>will talk about it. U K's got some individuals competing

1049
00:55:43.039 --> 00:55:45.519
<v Speaker 1>in Eugene, Oregon. Have you ever been out of that facility.

1050
00:55:46.519 --> 00:55:50.000
<v Speaker 4>I have not, and I had the chance I was

1051
00:55:50.079 --> 00:55:52.280
<v Speaker 4>working in Portland. I was like, nah, I'm too busy,

1052
00:55:52.880 --> 00:55:55.800
<v Speaker 4>but yeah, I have never been to it, but I

1053
00:55:55.880 --> 00:55:58.039
<v Speaker 4>heard it's like almost impossible to get there though.

1054
00:55:59.239 --> 00:56:02.320
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Eugene is not super close to Portland, but uh

1055
00:56:02.519 --> 00:56:05.920
<v Speaker 1>yeah there. It's just like why tennis is always at

1056
00:56:05.920 --> 00:56:09.280
<v Speaker 1>the University of Georgia. The facility is tremendous. I've seen

1057
00:56:09.320 --> 00:56:12.079
<v Speaker 1>it on TV, and man, do they love it out there,

1058
00:56:12.119 --> 00:56:15.679
<v Speaker 1>don't they? The crowds they get. UK's got a freshman

1059
00:56:15.800 --> 00:56:20.480
<v Speaker 1>Janet jakimboy A Memo who is an All second team

1060
00:56:20.519 --> 00:56:25.159
<v Speaker 1>All American. Kentucky lost a great coach to the University

1061
00:56:25.159 --> 00:56:29.400
<v Speaker 1>of Texas and then hired another great coach. You got

1062
00:56:29.519 --> 00:56:31.079
<v Speaker 1>to be really proud of your alma mater for the

1063
00:56:31.480 --> 00:56:32.159
<v Speaker 1>track program.

1064
00:56:33.079 --> 00:56:36.800
<v Speaker 4>Yeah and here and quite honestly, I know people don't understand.

1065
00:56:36.840 --> 00:56:38.840
<v Speaker 4>And the track program was really good when I was there.

1066
00:56:39.239 --> 00:56:42.679
<v Speaker 4>It was just wasn't given the attention that it should

1067
00:56:42.679 --> 00:56:42.880
<v Speaker 4>have been.

1068
00:56:42.920 --> 00:56:43.039
<v Speaker 3>Well.

1069
00:56:43.079 --> 00:56:45.000
<v Speaker 4>We we had two Olympians on the team when I

1070
00:56:45.159 --> 00:56:48.800
<v Speaker 4>was there, so it is great to see it still progress.

1071
00:56:48.960 --> 00:56:54.039
<v Speaker 4>I am elated that they improved the facilities because our

1072
00:56:54.159 --> 00:56:58.519
<v Speaker 4>indoor track was horrible. And people want to say the

1073
00:56:58.559 --> 00:57:01.880
<v Speaker 4>football indoor was was bad, but that track around the

1074
00:57:01.960 --> 00:57:05.760
<v Speaker 4>indoor was worse than the football field. And I am

1075
00:57:06.559 --> 00:57:08.719
<v Speaker 4>glad that they tryal and moved it all there. And

1076
00:57:09.079 --> 00:57:10.800
<v Speaker 4>I'm gonna say something crazy, I'm glad they moved it

1077
00:57:10.840 --> 00:57:13.159
<v Speaker 4>all there, not because of football, because quite honestly, the

1078
00:57:13.199 --> 00:57:15.719
<v Speaker 4>football team had enough room to practice. I know they're

1079
00:57:15.760 --> 00:57:17.760
<v Speaker 4>going to complain about the indels, but come on, y'all,

1080
00:57:18.320 --> 00:57:21.280
<v Speaker 4>the track was atrocious. There was no loan jump pit,

1081
00:57:21.360 --> 00:57:24.679
<v Speaker 4>there's no provall pit. It was one of the worst

1082
00:57:24.719 --> 00:57:27.039
<v Speaker 4>in the conference. In I half the brand new facility.

1083
00:57:27.199 --> 00:57:30.000
<v Speaker 4>I am elated for I'm glad that they're getting the

1084
00:57:30.840 --> 00:57:32.360
<v Speaker 4>just due that they finally deserve.

1085
00:57:33.400 --> 00:57:36.239
<v Speaker 1>Well, somebody told me back when I was still working TV,

1086
00:57:36.440 --> 00:57:38.119
<v Speaker 1>and I don't think I ever got a chance to

1087
00:57:38.159 --> 00:57:41.320
<v Speaker 1>do the story, but UK had a pole vaulter and

1088
00:57:41.440 --> 00:57:44.320
<v Speaker 1>that was a big deal. Hey, we got a pole vaulter. Now,

1089
00:57:45.159 --> 00:57:46.760
<v Speaker 1>I didn't even know that there was a dearth of

1090
00:57:46.840 --> 00:57:48.760
<v Speaker 1>pole vaulters, which to me growing I used to go

1091
00:57:48.840 --> 00:57:52.960
<v Speaker 1>to the Mason Dixon Games and man, I love that stuff,

1092
00:57:53.000 --> 00:57:56.239
<v Speaker 1>and the pole vaulters were the people, not the sprinters,

1093
00:57:56.559 --> 00:57:59.480
<v Speaker 1>but it was the pole vaulters that captured my imagine.

1094
00:57:59.559 --> 00:58:04.199
<v Speaker 1>I couldn't imagine flying like that, putting your trust, you know,

1095
00:58:04.360 --> 00:58:06.199
<v Speaker 1>and you're running as hard as you can and you

1096
00:58:06.400 --> 00:58:09.280
<v Speaker 1>jam that pull into that pit and next thing you know,

1097
00:58:09.880 --> 00:58:14.400
<v Speaker 1>you're fifteen sixteen or higher feet off the ground. But no, now,

1098
00:58:14.639 --> 00:58:16.400
<v Speaker 1>have you been in a new indoor facility yet?

1099
00:58:17.519 --> 00:58:20.760
<v Speaker 4>I have not been, But I know people who out

1100
00:58:20.800 --> 00:58:23.159
<v Speaker 4>there and they say it's amazing.

1101
00:58:23.360 --> 00:58:24.960
<v Speaker 1>You got to come up next time you come up

1102
00:58:24.960 --> 00:58:29.360
<v Speaker 1>for football, make yourself a little extra time because it'll

1103
00:58:29.400 --> 00:58:30.320
<v Speaker 1>bring a tear to your eye.

1104
00:58:30.360 --> 00:58:35.360
<v Speaker 4>Coach, I'm telling you, okay, I'll do that. I'm because

1105
00:58:35.400 --> 00:58:40.199
<v Speaker 4>it was long overdue. I just as a track guy. Yeah,

1106
00:58:40.239 --> 00:58:42.719
<v Speaker 4>it was long over you for a team up that

1107
00:58:42.880 --> 00:58:45.840
<v Speaker 4>caliber and in the best conference. So yeah, it was.

1108
00:58:45.960 --> 00:58:48.000
<v Speaker 4>It was. It was all way over there, all right.

1109
00:58:48.079 --> 00:58:50.280
<v Speaker 1>You're also a grill master. I mentioned this. What's on

1110
00:58:50.360 --> 00:58:54.159
<v Speaker 1>the grill coming up anytime soon? Anything good? Anything challenging?

1111
00:58:55.199 --> 00:58:58.840
<v Speaker 4>No, this is this is something that everyone has to do,

1112
00:58:59.199 --> 00:59:02.079
<v Speaker 4>and I I can't believe I've done it. I can't

1113
00:59:02.119 --> 00:59:05.199
<v Speaker 4>believe I'm saying it is. My wife has been begging

1114
00:59:05.280 --> 00:59:09.239
<v Speaker 4>me to real steak bites, which is just huge, the

1115
00:59:09.280 --> 00:59:12.880
<v Speaker 4>steak up and really that way, and I was like, now,

1116
00:59:12.880 --> 00:59:14.239
<v Speaker 4>I'm not gonna do I'm not gonna do it. I

1117
00:59:14.320 --> 00:59:19.719
<v Speaker 4>mean years and because I'm a traditionalist, eat eat a

1118
00:59:19.960 --> 00:59:26.920
<v Speaker 4>full steak, like come on, well, because she's not a

1119
00:59:27.000 --> 00:59:30.519
<v Speaker 4>heavy eater, and she felt like sometimes she's wasting steak.

1120
00:59:30.960 --> 00:59:34.679
<v Speaker 4>So you cube it up. And the best thing about

1121
00:59:35.079 --> 00:59:38.760
<v Speaker 4>cubing it up is you get the seasoning and the

1122
00:59:38.920 --> 00:59:44.920
<v Speaker 4>smoke on all six That's that's the best thing. So now, honestly,

1123
00:59:45.039 --> 00:59:51.559
<v Speaker 4>I'm cubing up almost everything. I'm going overboard it because

1124
00:59:51.800 --> 00:59:54.800
<v Speaker 4>it is. It is so great. So that's what I'm

1125
00:59:55.159 --> 00:59:59.119
<v Speaker 4>I'm really doing. I'm I'm cubing up chicken or the whole,

1126
00:59:59.239 --> 00:59:59.800
<v Speaker 4>the whole deal.

1127
01:00:00.360 --> 01:00:01.480
<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna have to look into that.

1128
01:00:02.639 --> 01:00:06.880
<v Speaker 4>Hey, real too, and you do individual ribs, it'll change

1129
01:00:06.880 --> 01:00:10.079
<v Speaker 4>your life. And that's crazy for me to say, because

1130
01:00:10.079 --> 01:00:11.000
<v Speaker 4>I'm a big, real guy.

1131
01:00:11.280 --> 01:00:15.639
<v Speaker 1>Life changing grilling from v Style seventeen And if you

1132
01:00:15.719 --> 01:00:17.920
<v Speaker 1>go to his Twitter page, you'll see a nice little

1133
01:00:18.000 --> 01:00:21.280
<v Speaker 1>picture of him and his family, but the background picture

1134
01:00:21.880 --> 01:00:30.679
<v Speaker 1>is what four different types of meat. Yeah, it's so great.

1135
01:00:31.440 --> 01:00:33.800
<v Speaker 1>You tried to talk me through grilling fish next time

1136
01:00:33.840 --> 01:00:35.039
<v Speaker 1>we talk, I'm gonna have you do that.

1137
01:00:35.360 --> 01:00:35.440
<v Speaker 4>Man.

1138
01:00:35.559 --> 01:00:38.000
<v Speaker 1>Have you talked to me again about that? Because I

1139
01:00:38.159 --> 01:00:40.960
<v Speaker 1>just don't have the courage to do it. But but

1140
01:00:41.079 --> 01:00:42.679
<v Speaker 1>I think you can get me through that. But we

1141
01:00:42.800 --> 01:00:45.920
<v Speaker 1>are out of time. V Style seventeen on Twitter. Thank

1142
01:00:45.960 --> 01:00:47.719
<v Speaker 1>you so much. Great as always talking to you.

1143
01:00:48.559 --> 01:00:51.280
<v Speaker 8>Anytime you know that you're listening to the Best of

1144
01:00:51.360 --> 01:00:52.280
<v Speaker 8>the Big Blue Insider.

1145
01:00:52.519 --> 01:00:55.880
<v Speaker 1>More to come here on six thirty w LAP. It's

1146
01:00:55.960 --> 01:00:58.440
<v Speaker 1>Dick Gabriel, welcome back to the Best of the Big

1147
01:00:58.559 --> 01:01:01.719
<v Speaker 1>Blue Insider, joining us now from his home over in Louisville.

1148
01:01:01.760 --> 01:01:04.920
<v Speaker 1>Freelance writer Tim Sullivan, who's covered the Cats and the

1149
01:01:05.039 --> 01:01:08.199
<v Speaker 1>Cards and when he was with the paper up in Cincinnati,

1150
01:01:08.280 --> 01:01:11.840
<v Speaker 1>the Bengals, the Reds, and Tim, welcome back. Haven't talked

1151
01:01:11.840 --> 01:01:14.800
<v Speaker 1>to you in a while. How did you enjoy this

1152
01:01:15.000 --> 01:01:19.840
<v Speaker 1>last basketball season? Because you know you're over in Louisville,

1153
01:01:19.840 --> 01:01:22.679
<v Speaker 1>you're keeping an eye on UK and both of these

1154
01:01:22.800 --> 01:01:26.639
<v Speaker 1>teams were such a delight to their respective fan bases,

1155
01:01:26.679 --> 01:01:27.199
<v Speaker 1>you know what I mean.

1156
01:01:28.280 --> 01:01:31.360
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, it's been a really interesting season.

1157
01:01:31.400 --> 01:01:31.840
<v Speaker 1>And then the.

1158
01:01:33.480 --> 01:01:39.079
<v Speaker 5>Turnaround at U of L has been very dramatic. Jenny

1159
01:01:39.159 --> 01:01:42.119
<v Speaker 5>Payne to Pat Kelsey and I guess there's a meeting

1160
01:01:42.159 --> 01:01:45.800
<v Speaker 5>today where he's supposed to get a big grade. Yeah, so,

1161
01:01:46.800 --> 01:01:50.559
<v Speaker 5>and it's well deserved. It's been an interesting year to

1162
01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:56.920
<v Speaker 5>me just to see how the nil and has has

1163
01:01:57.159 --> 01:01:59.000
<v Speaker 5>changed the face of it. And a lot of people

1164
01:01:59.079 --> 01:02:02.679
<v Speaker 5>wrote about how you weren't getting Cinderella's anymore because all

1165
01:02:02.679 --> 01:02:08.800
<v Speaker 5>of the players are approached at the major level, and uh,

1166
01:02:09.880 --> 01:02:18.760
<v Speaker 5>you know, there's tremendous roster change really virtually everywhere. And yeah,

1167
01:02:18.920 --> 01:02:21.199
<v Speaker 5>I don't know that's a great thing for the sport,

1168
01:02:21.320 --> 01:02:23.000
<v Speaker 5>but I do think it's a great thing for the

1169
01:02:23.079 --> 01:02:24.440
<v Speaker 5>players to be able to make a buck.

1170
01:02:25.199 --> 01:02:27.360
<v Speaker 1>Do you agree with that though? Do you think they

1171
01:02:27.679 --> 01:02:30.719
<v Speaker 1>errow the age of the Cinderella is over for that reason?

1172
01:02:32.239 --> 01:02:34.960
<v Speaker 5>I don't know that's permanently over. And I think there

1173
01:02:35.400 --> 01:02:40.159
<v Speaker 5>they're going to be uh some changes. You know, Congress

1174
01:02:40.199 --> 01:02:44.719
<v Speaker 5>gets involved and it seems like they're they're trying to

1175
01:02:46.239 --> 01:02:48.679
<v Speaker 5>make their way to that. But you know, I'm not

1176
01:02:49.000 --> 01:02:53.039
<v Speaker 5>really sure what what you can do to give back.

1177
01:02:53.159 --> 01:02:59.199
<v Speaker 5>I mean, it's a free market. The school did lost money, uh,

1178
01:02:59.320 --> 01:03:05.360
<v Speaker 5>and the biggest alumni basis you Wan dominate, And I

1179
01:03:05.480 --> 01:03:08.679
<v Speaker 5>think we just have to assume that that's you know

1180
01:03:08.800 --> 01:03:11.960
<v Speaker 5>that's going to be the case going forward. You know,

1181
01:03:12.400 --> 01:03:14.840
<v Speaker 5>word number one seeds in the final four, and I

1182
01:03:14.920 --> 01:03:18.039
<v Speaker 5>don't think that was an accident.

1183
01:03:19.199 --> 01:03:22.000
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, of course that didn't happen last year. But there's

1184
01:03:22.079 --> 01:03:25.679
<v Speaker 1>there's been more time for the player movement to take

1185
01:03:25.760 --> 01:03:26.920
<v Speaker 1>hold at in there.

1186
01:03:28.039 --> 01:03:33.840
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, and I think that the spectators may not enjoy

1187
01:03:33.920 --> 01:03:38.519
<v Speaker 5>it as much because you'd like to follow player's growth

1188
01:03:38.920 --> 01:03:43.599
<v Speaker 5>in your program. But you know, it's it's hard to

1189
01:03:44.039 --> 01:03:49.679
<v Speaker 5>tell a player who has a marketable asset that he

1190
01:03:49.800 --> 01:03:55.440
<v Speaker 5>can't capitalize on it. There really wasn't any place in

1191
01:03:56.000 --> 01:04:01.519
<v Speaker 5>an American society where other than college sports, where an

1192
01:04:01.559 --> 01:04:04.800
<v Speaker 5>individual was not able to seek their market value that

1193
01:04:04.920 --> 01:04:08.000
<v Speaker 5>I know of it. I think this has been a

1194
01:04:08.079 --> 01:04:11.840
<v Speaker 5>long time coming and it's going to be difficult for

1195
01:04:12.920 --> 01:04:15.519
<v Speaker 5>some people to adjust to it, and it's going to

1196
01:04:15.639 --> 01:04:20.920
<v Speaker 5>change the landscape, and not just in football and basketball,

1197
01:04:21.000 --> 01:04:23.679
<v Speaker 5>but I think you'll see it, you know, trickle down

1198
01:04:23.760 --> 01:04:25.960
<v Speaker 5>to weather sports as well.

1199
01:04:26.039 --> 01:04:30.400
<v Speaker 1>Oh yeah. Well, and some believe that the only answer

1200
01:04:31.599 --> 01:04:35.800
<v Speaker 1>is to present players with contracts that lock them into

1201
01:04:35.880 --> 01:04:39.880
<v Speaker 1>a school for anywhere from two to three years or

1202
01:04:39.960 --> 01:04:43.519
<v Speaker 1>and obviously I firmly believed Tim they've got to change

1203
01:04:43.559 --> 01:04:46.559
<v Speaker 1>the portal to where kids can't jump in there every year.

1204
01:04:46.679 --> 01:04:51.239
<v Speaker 5>Do you agree, Well, I think you have to negotiate that.

1205
01:04:51.400 --> 01:04:56.760
<v Speaker 5>You know, if you're going to have a limits on

1206
01:04:57.480 --> 01:05:00.960
<v Speaker 5>player movement, the players have to have a boye center.

1207
01:05:01.159 --> 01:05:01.800
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, they have.

1208
01:05:02.719 --> 01:05:06.079
<v Speaker 5>Do you agree? And you know that that probably means

1209
01:05:06.119 --> 01:05:08.480
<v Speaker 5>that they're going to unionize and have collective bargaining.

1210
01:05:08.719 --> 01:05:08.920
<v Speaker 1>Yeah.

1211
01:05:10.960 --> 01:05:13.960
<v Speaker 5>I don't see that happening quickly, but I think that

1212
01:05:14.159 --> 01:05:15.199
<v Speaker 5>may be where we're headed.

1213
01:05:15.800 --> 01:05:18.880
<v Speaker 1>We're talking to Tim Sullivan, freelance writer over and Louisville's

1214
01:05:18.920 --> 01:05:22.480
<v Speaker 1>worked for the Courier Journals, worked for the newspaper in

1215
01:05:22.599 --> 01:05:26.639
<v Speaker 1>San Diego, Cincinnati. Uh, and as you mentioned, Uh, you

1216
01:05:26.719 --> 01:05:31.079
<v Speaker 1>know U of L fans had to be overjoyed this year. Obviously,

1217
01:05:32.079 --> 01:05:37.119
<v Speaker 1>I know Kentucky fans were, But did you see this

1218
01:05:37.519 --> 01:05:40.519
<v Speaker 1>coming at all? But Kelsey, I mean, he's a ball

1219
01:05:40.599 --> 01:05:45.159
<v Speaker 1>of energy and just you know, instantly liked by the

1220
01:05:45.280 --> 01:05:50.000
<v Speaker 1>fan base. But uh, people here were hoping for the

1221
01:05:50.119 --> 01:05:52.199
<v Speaker 1>best with Mark Pope. I don't know how many predicted

1222
01:05:52.639 --> 01:05:54.800
<v Speaker 1>getting to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. But

1223
01:05:54.840 --> 01:05:55.960
<v Speaker 1>what about U of L fans?

1224
01:05:57.599 --> 01:06:00.920
<v Speaker 5>Well, I think you know when season started and you

1225
01:06:01.000 --> 01:06:04.760
<v Speaker 5>had a completely new roster. A lot of people would

1226
01:06:04.800 --> 01:06:06.880
<v Speaker 5>have been happy with a five hundred season after what,

1227
01:06:07.159 --> 01:06:09.559
<v Speaker 5>you know, what they'd had the last two years. What

1228
01:06:09.800 --> 01:06:15.119
<v Speaker 5>ended up happening was I think beyond anybody's expectation, maybe

1229
01:06:15.199 --> 01:06:19.440
<v Speaker 5>except for Kelsey and the players, but you know, he

1230
01:06:20.679 --> 01:06:25.480
<v Speaker 5>he had an opportunity here. This is still an elite

1231
01:06:26.760 --> 01:06:33.960
<v Speaker 5>program in terms of arena conference, fan base and all that,

1232
01:06:34.119 --> 01:06:38.679
<v Speaker 5>and it just it took someone who could wield the

1233
01:06:38.760 --> 01:06:44.239
<v Speaker 5>modern weapons of a player movement to restore it to

1234
01:06:45.800 --> 01:06:48.239
<v Speaker 5>something close to its former glory.

1235
01:06:48.320 --> 01:06:49.000
<v Speaker 4>I saw a.

1236
01:06:50.599 --> 01:06:54.880
<v Speaker 5>Odds, you know, one of those two early odds on yeah,

1237
01:06:55.039 --> 01:06:58.960
<v Speaker 5>twenty twenty sixth season, and I think Louisville Frank third

1238
01:06:59.159 --> 01:07:04.559
<v Speaker 5>is in terms of the national championship hopes, which struck

1239
01:07:04.679 --> 01:07:10.760
<v Speaker 5>me as wow, I mean, but it apparently had.

1240
01:07:11.880 --> 01:07:14.679
<v Speaker 1>Now I saw the same thing. It's got Kentucky sixth,

1241
01:07:15.800 --> 01:07:18.519
<v Speaker 1>which is just crazy. But you know, hey, if you

1242
01:07:18.599 --> 01:07:20.280
<v Speaker 1>want to lay a couple of bucks down right now,

1243
01:07:20.760 --> 01:07:24.239
<v Speaker 1>you might make some money in the near future. But

1244
01:07:24.360 --> 01:07:29.119
<v Speaker 1>it does speak highly of now. The reputation is being restored,

1245
01:07:30.039 --> 01:07:33.519
<v Speaker 1>and I consider Louisville of Blue Blood up there with

1246
01:07:33.639 --> 01:07:36.000
<v Speaker 1>Kentucky and Duke in North Carolina and it's funny you

1247
01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:40.280
<v Speaker 1>talked about how the fans love Cinderella's and they truly do.

1248
01:07:41.360 --> 01:07:44.679
<v Speaker 1>But I also find it interesting, tim, having been in

1249
01:07:44.760 --> 01:07:46.719
<v Speaker 1>the line of work that I'm in for so long

1250
01:07:46.840 --> 01:07:50.880
<v Speaker 1>looking at TV ratings, once you get into the second

1251
01:07:50.920 --> 01:07:54.599
<v Speaker 1>and third weekends of the NCAA tournament, unless the big

1252
01:07:54.760 --> 01:07:57.760
<v Speaker 1>name schools are there, the ratings aren't as good, which

1253
01:07:57.800 --> 01:08:01.440
<v Speaker 1>I think is curious. What's good for basketball, isn't it?

1254
01:08:02.559 --> 01:08:06.079
<v Speaker 5>Well I think so, and you know it's it's good

1255
01:08:06.079 --> 01:08:09.559
<v Speaker 5>for the players. You probably get a higher level with

1256
01:08:09.840 --> 01:08:14.400
<v Speaker 5>you know, as the talent migrates toward you know, bigger programs,

1257
01:08:14.480 --> 01:08:19.000
<v Speaker 5>but you know there is an adjustment period because you know,

1258
01:08:19.119 --> 01:08:22.520
<v Speaker 5>so many of these teams are starting for the scratch

1259
01:08:22.640 --> 01:08:25.800
<v Speaker 5>or or near scratch. I think of the of the

1260
01:08:25.840 --> 01:08:30.079
<v Speaker 5>final four teams, you know, Duke and and Houston were

1261
01:08:30.720 --> 01:08:34.439
<v Speaker 5>you know, primarily comprised the holdover players, but you know,

1262
01:08:35.079 --> 01:08:39.960
<v Speaker 5>Florida and Auburn not so much. So you know, it's

1263
01:08:40.000 --> 01:08:42.279
<v Speaker 5>going to take a while, I think, for people to

1264
01:08:43.199 --> 01:08:48.319
<v Speaker 5>get comfortable with that unless there are some significant changes

1265
01:08:48.399 --> 01:08:49.920
<v Speaker 5>to the way this operates.

1266
01:08:51.039 --> 01:08:52.920
<v Speaker 1>What did you think of the Final four that had

1267
01:08:52.960 --> 01:08:54.760
<v Speaker 1>to be one of the best you've ever seen. I mean,

1268
01:08:54.840 --> 01:08:56.600
<v Speaker 1>that was incredible all three games.

1269
01:08:57.119 --> 01:09:02.479
<v Speaker 5>It was certainly, certainly as dramatic as any I've seen,

1270
01:09:04.079 --> 01:09:10.520
<v Speaker 5>the collapse of do the incredible ending of the championship game.

1271
01:09:11.600 --> 01:09:15.640
<v Speaker 5>That was almost ready to turn the TV off and

1272
01:09:15.720 --> 01:09:19.720
<v Speaker 5>go to bed. Some of those couldn't couldn't quite pull away. Yeah,

1273
01:09:20.680 --> 01:09:22.039
<v Speaker 5>I'm glad I stayed up.

1274
01:09:22.279 --> 01:09:24.520
<v Speaker 1>You're listening to the Best of the Big Blue Insider.

1275
01:09:24.760 --> 01:09:27.159
<v Speaker 1>More to come here on six point thirty w LAP.

1276
01:09:27.720 --> 01:09:30.159
<v Speaker 1>It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the

1277
01:09:30.279 --> 01:09:33.359
<v Speaker 1>Big Blue Insider, chatting with Tim Sullivan, our friend from

1278
01:09:33.399 --> 01:09:36.119
<v Speaker 1>over in Louisville. He's a freelance writer. Yeah, I'm gonna

1279
01:09:36.119 --> 01:09:37.439
<v Speaker 1>get back to the UK and U of L. But

1280
01:09:37.479 --> 01:09:40.079
<v Speaker 1>I got to ask you, what's been your reaction? And

1281
01:09:40.159 --> 01:09:41.800
<v Speaker 1>you were in San Diego for a while, but all

1282
01:09:41.880 --> 01:09:45.359
<v Speaker 1>that time, the Bengals, since you've covered them, since you

1283
01:09:45.439 --> 01:09:49.960
<v Speaker 1>were away, were notorious, if that's the right word, infamous

1284
01:09:50.039 --> 01:09:53.239
<v Speaker 1>for not spending money. And now they've spent half a

1285
01:09:53.359 --> 01:09:56.399
<v Speaker 1>billion on a couple of players or more. I think

1286
01:09:56.439 --> 01:09:59.079
<v Speaker 1>I guess you got to say three players. What was

1287
01:09:59.119 --> 01:10:02.239
<v Speaker 1>your reaction that when you saw that they're finally loosening

1288
01:10:02.359 --> 01:10:03.279
<v Speaker 1>up the purse strings.

1289
01:10:03.520 --> 01:10:06.119
<v Speaker 5>Well, I think that tells you how profitable the NFL

1290
01:10:06.159 --> 01:10:10.600
<v Speaker 5>has become. They have really more money than they can

1291
01:10:11.119 --> 01:10:15.800
<v Speaker 5>justify spending. For years, you got the sense that the

1292
01:10:16.680 --> 01:10:20.159
<v Speaker 5>Bengals were this mom and pop operation and they didn't

1293
01:10:20.199 --> 01:10:27.119
<v Speaker 5>have other businesses that they could tap into to raise

1294
01:10:27.199 --> 01:10:33.039
<v Speaker 5>their payroll. But you know, now, geez, the NFL is

1295
01:10:33.079 --> 01:10:38.199
<v Speaker 5>just printing money. And I think that the Bengals recognized

1296
01:10:38.239 --> 01:10:42.079
<v Speaker 5>that they have an opportunity as long as you know,

1297
01:10:42.199 --> 01:10:45.720
<v Speaker 5>Joe Burrow is in his prime to make a run

1298
01:10:45.800 --> 01:10:50.000
<v Speaker 5>and maybe finally win a Super Bowl, and you've got

1299
01:10:50.079 --> 01:10:54.960
<v Speaker 5>to fortify him with the right pieces around him. And

1300
01:10:55.800 --> 01:10:59.039
<v Speaker 5>you know, I'm kind of reminded of when I was

1301
01:10:59.079 --> 01:11:03.600
<v Speaker 5>covering the Bengals. They the drafted Anthony munoz Uh in

1302
01:11:03.840 --> 01:11:06.039
<v Speaker 5>the with the third pick in the drafts all of

1303
01:11:06.079 --> 01:11:09.000
<v Speaker 5>a sudden, Ken Anderson was not getting hit from a

1304
01:11:09.039 --> 01:11:13.960
<v Speaker 5>blind size and he, you know, became the league m

1305
01:11:14.039 --> 01:11:17.439
<v Speaker 5>v P. I think, uh he was eighty one uh

1306
01:11:18.239 --> 01:11:22.000
<v Speaker 5>and and how one key player can make it an

1307
01:11:22.159 --> 01:11:27.279
<v Speaker 5>enormous difference. So they're they're never going to spend like

1308
01:11:27.840 --> 01:11:33.039
<v Speaker 5>you know, bigger market teams, I don't think. But Jeez.

1309
01:11:33.520 --> 01:11:35.960
<v Speaker 5>If if you if you have a player like Burrow

1310
01:11:36.039 --> 01:11:39.199
<v Speaker 5>and you know the other pieces that they assembled and make,

1311
01:11:39.239 --> 01:11:43.680
<v Speaker 5>and you don't commit to trying to get it done,

1312
01:11:45.319 --> 01:11:47.439
<v Speaker 5>you know what what it wire you a business and

1313
01:11:47.560 --> 01:11:50.560
<v Speaker 5>you know the other factory there is. They're they're trying

1314
01:11:50.600 --> 01:11:55.800
<v Speaker 5>to make a push for for stadium redevelopment, and uh,

1315
01:11:56.359 --> 01:11:59.319
<v Speaker 5>I think I think that that plays into this a

1316
01:11:59.399 --> 01:12:01.760
<v Speaker 5>lot too. They're you know, they're trying to show the

1317
01:12:02.720 --> 01:12:05.159
<v Speaker 5>the voters that you know, they're serious and that they

1318
01:12:05.319 --> 01:12:08.399
<v Speaker 5>you know, they want they want to win as much

1319
01:12:08.399 --> 01:12:10.439
<v Speaker 5>as the fans do, which you know, I think the

1320
01:12:10.520 --> 01:12:12.600
<v Speaker 5>fans have not always been convinced of that.

1321
01:12:13.680 --> 01:12:16.199
<v Speaker 1>You got sideways with people in San Diego about a

1322
01:12:16.279 --> 01:12:19.399
<v Speaker 1>stadium and it just befuddles me, Tim, And I'm I know, what,

1323
01:12:19.520 --> 01:12:24.159
<v Speaker 1>did you why there's this constant need for a new stadium.

1324
01:12:24.199 --> 01:12:28.880
<v Speaker 1>They're all just palaces, They're all just incredible, uh, monuments

1325
01:12:28.960 --> 01:12:32.079
<v Speaker 1>to excess, and yet there's always that need. It's keeping

1326
01:12:32.159 --> 01:12:33.279
<v Speaker 1>up with the Joneses, isn't it?

1327
01:12:34.560 --> 01:12:40.359
<v Speaker 5>Well it is, and sadly there's there's usually another market

1328
01:12:40.439 --> 01:12:45.640
<v Speaker 5>that will prostrate itself to get franchise. And you know,

1329
01:12:45.720 --> 01:12:47.039
<v Speaker 5>as long as that's the case.

1330
01:12:47.840 --> 01:12:49.079
<v Speaker 4>You know, these.

1331
01:12:50.439 --> 01:12:53.000
<v Speaker 5>Existing franchises are going to use the leverage they have

1332
01:12:53.239 --> 01:12:58.600
<v Speaker 5>and the desperation of the the locals to to keep

1333
01:12:58.720 --> 01:13:01.920
<v Speaker 5>a team or you know, to attract the team.

1334
01:13:03.399 --> 01:13:06.119
<v Speaker 4>To to get a new deal.

1335
01:13:06.119 --> 01:13:11.319
<v Speaker 5>I don't think you will find any economists of significant

1336
01:13:11.800 --> 01:13:15.600
<v Speaker 5>standing who will say that that the subsidizing sports stadia

1337
01:13:16.239 --> 01:13:19.399
<v Speaker 5>is a good idea. But you know, it's an emotional

1338
01:13:19.479 --> 01:13:21.319
<v Speaker 5>decision that's not really a private one.

1339
01:13:22.279 --> 01:13:26.359
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. And and TV there's a term for people who

1340
01:13:26.920 --> 01:13:30.520
<v Speaker 1>buy advertising and sporting events, and it can be what's

1341
01:13:30.560 --> 01:13:34.159
<v Speaker 1>called an emotional buy. You know, either whoever's in charge

1342
01:13:34.720 --> 01:13:36.880
<v Speaker 1>is a fan of that team or wants to cash

1343
01:13:36.920 --> 01:13:39.960
<v Speaker 1>in on the emotions of a fan base. And you

1344
01:13:40.079 --> 01:13:43.359
<v Speaker 1>and I have careers thanks to the emotions of fans

1345
01:13:43.399 --> 01:13:45.720
<v Speaker 1>who you don't want to follow teams and things like that.

1346
01:13:45.880 --> 01:13:48.319
<v Speaker 1>But when it comes to putting your money on the line,

1347
01:13:48.399 --> 01:13:49.479
<v Speaker 1>that's a different issue.

1348
01:13:49.319 --> 01:13:49.600
<v Speaker 2>Isn't it.

1349
01:13:50.800 --> 01:13:59.159
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, And you know, the the history of stadium construction,

1350
01:14:00.079 --> 01:14:06.479
<v Speaker 5>you know, has accelerated dramatically since since you and I

1351
01:14:06.600 --> 01:14:10.000
<v Speaker 5>started in this business. Yeah that I think it was

1352
01:14:10.039 --> 01:14:15.319
<v Speaker 5>the Miami Heat that, you know, their arena was this

1353
01:14:15.680 --> 01:14:20.000
<v Speaker 5>declared antiquated and they built a new one like twenty

1354
01:14:20.119 --> 01:14:24.039
<v Speaker 5>years after the first one opened. Yeah, this is this

1355
01:14:24.199 --> 01:14:26.920
<v Speaker 5>is not healthy. And you know, I was there in

1356
01:14:27.000 --> 01:14:33.199
<v Speaker 5>Cincinnati when the Paul Brown Stadium opened and I thought, yeah,

1357
01:14:33.600 --> 01:14:36.239
<v Speaker 5>this is going to be here for a long time.

1358
01:14:36.359 --> 01:14:39.680
<v Speaker 5>But I don't know that it will last as long

1359
01:14:39.760 --> 01:14:41.720
<v Speaker 5>as Riverfront Stadium did.

1360
01:14:42.039 --> 01:14:44.640
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's a good point. And I remember when there

1361
01:14:44.760 --> 01:14:48.159
<v Speaker 1>was such a controversy about rupp Aerna what should be done?

1362
01:14:48.680 --> 01:14:50.840
<v Speaker 1>And it truly had become outdated. It would opened in

1363
01:14:50.920 --> 01:14:54.279
<v Speaker 1>nineteen seventy seven or seventy six, I guess I should say.

1364
01:14:55.079 --> 01:14:57.880
<v Speaker 1>But there were people who were, you know, saying, well,

1365
01:14:58.079 --> 01:14:59.840
<v Speaker 1>all you need to do is take the roof off

1366
01:15:00.119 --> 01:15:02.399
<v Speaker 1>build up, you know, with no idea what that would

1367
01:15:02.439 --> 01:15:04.760
<v Speaker 1>have done, or no thought would it would have done

1368
01:15:04.800 --> 01:15:07.000
<v Speaker 1>to the shops around the Civic Center and things like that.

1369
01:15:07.560 --> 01:15:10.680
<v Speaker 1>But everybody has an answer. Well, let's get back to

1370
01:15:10.760 --> 01:15:11.239
<v Speaker 1>the teams.

1371
01:15:11.279 --> 01:15:11.399
<v Speaker 3>Now.

1372
01:15:11.600 --> 01:15:15.640
<v Speaker 1>We're looking at spring football. You know, Kentucky's guide its

1373
01:15:15.680 --> 01:15:19.520
<v Speaker 1>open practice coming up with a pledge to rebuild the

1374
01:15:19.600 --> 01:15:22.319
<v Speaker 1>offensive line. You know, they get all these new old

1375
01:15:22.399 --> 01:15:25.640
<v Speaker 1>linemen thanks to the portal, and I know that hopes

1376
01:15:25.680 --> 01:15:27.760
<v Speaker 1>are high over on your end, of the interstate. What

1377
01:15:27.840 --> 01:15:29.880
<v Speaker 1>are they say in this spring about the Cardinals and

1378
01:15:30.279 --> 01:15:32.279
<v Speaker 1>what should we expect when those two teams play in

1379
01:15:32.359 --> 01:15:32.680
<v Speaker 1>the fall.

1380
01:15:33.880 --> 01:15:37.399
<v Speaker 5>Well, I think that there's a certainly a lot of

1381
01:15:37.479 --> 01:15:41.199
<v Speaker 5>optimism on this end of sixty four. I don't know

1382
01:15:42.720 --> 01:15:47.439
<v Speaker 5>that it's quite the same UK. I think the fans

1383
01:15:47.520 --> 01:15:51.520
<v Speaker 5>are a little wary of what's become of the program.

1384
01:15:51.640 --> 01:15:56.479
<v Speaker 5>But you know, I remember when UK was a doormat

1385
01:15:56.600 --> 01:16:02.079
<v Speaker 5>and now it's risen and it probably hasn't broken through,

1386
01:16:02.279 --> 01:16:08.279
<v Speaker 5>or it definitely hasn't broken through to the Alabama George level,

1387
01:16:08.399 --> 01:16:11.359
<v Speaker 5>and it may never just look at the recruiting base

1388
01:16:11.439 --> 01:16:17.039
<v Speaker 5>because schools have versus UK. But you know, people are

1389
01:16:17.079 --> 01:16:19.720
<v Speaker 5>not going to be satisfied with with eight and five

1390
01:16:20.079 --> 01:16:21.199
<v Speaker 5>uh anymore.

1391
01:16:21.319 --> 01:16:21.880
<v Speaker 1>And that's.

1392
01:16:23.199 --> 01:16:25.359
<v Speaker 5>That's that's going to wear on a coach. I don't

1393
01:16:25.399 --> 01:16:28.479
<v Speaker 5>know that you can expect much better than that in

1394
01:16:28.520 --> 01:16:32.000
<v Speaker 5>the SEC, given the strength of all those programs. But

1395
01:16:33.439 --> 01:16:36.079
<v Speaker 5>we'll see. I mean, I know there's some money in

1396
01:16:36.199 --> 01:16:41.880
<v Speaker 5>Lexington and they should be able to track uh some players,

1397
01:16:41.920 --> 01:16:43.399
<v Speaker 5>but I don't know that they're ever going to get

1398
01:16:43.439 --> 01:16:48.279
<v Speaker 5>the five stars that go to LSU or Alabama or Georgia.

1399
01:16:48.439 --> 01:16:51.920
<v Speaker 5>So uh, you're not You're not going to be satisfied

1400
01:16:51.960 --> 01:16:55.239
<v Speaker 5>with that, I don't think indefinitely. And and that's uh,

1401
01:16:55.640 --> 01:17:01.079
<v Speaker 5>you know, that's the challenge, and I I wish them much,

1402
01:17:01.840 --> 01:17:07.439
<v Speaker 5>but I think in some ways feels like a make

1403
01:17:07.479 --> 01:17:10.159
<v Speaker 5>or break season over there.

1404
01:17:10.239 --> 01:17:11.840
<v Speaker 4>But I could be wrong.

1405
01:17:12.159 --> 01:17:14.960
<v Speaker 1>That's well, I think you are, You're right in so

1406
01:17:15.039 --> 01:17:18.520
<v Speaker 1>many ways, But I keep reminding people to your point.

1407
01:17:19.239 --> 01:17:22.239
<v Speaker 1>The other schools aren't stopping what they're doing. You know,

1408
01:17:22.359 --> 01:17:26.000
<v Speaker 1>as hard as Kentucky's working, those other schools with the

1409
01:17:26.119 --> 01:17:31.720
<v Speaker 1>traditional infrastructure are still pouring millions into their respective programs.

1410
01:17:32.239 --> 01:17:34.279
<v Speaker 1>But so much I think is laid at the feet

1411
01:17:34.359 --> 01:17:36.960
<v Speaker 1>of coaches. You know, I think at the college you

1412
01:17:37.359 --> 01:17:40.840
<v Speaker 1>covered a lot of pro sports, much more so at

1413
01:17:40.880 --> 01:17:43.960
<v Speaker 1>the college level. You know, the coaches are almost deified.

1414
01:17:44.039 --> 01:17:46.000
<v Speaker 1>You know, people believe that they can make it happen

1415
01:17:46.439 --> 01:17:49.039
<v Speaker 1>if they're just a good enough coach, which isn't entirely true.

1416
01:17:49.079 --> 01:17:52.680
<v Speaker 1>But now college coaches, as you know, are general managers

1417
01:17:53.159 --> 01:17:55.640
<v Speaker 1>as much as as head coaches. And most of them

1418
01:17:55.680 --> 01:17:56.760
<v Speaker 1>aren't happy with that, are they.

1419
01:17:57.800 --> 01:17:58.000
<v Speaker 4>Well.

1420
01:17:58.279 --> 01:18:04.359
<v Speaker 5>I mean seeing quite a number of great basketball coaches

1421
01:18:04.399 --> 01:18:08.000
<v Speaker 5>who've left the business because they didn't deal with it.

1422
01:18:08.079 --> 01:18:11.760
<v Speaker 5>You know, presumably that's the reason that you know, Shoushevski

1423
01:18:11.880 --> 01:18:17.479
<v Speaker 5>and beh on and on have decided to move on.

1424
01:18:17.680 --> 01:18:20.920
<v Speaker 5>But uh, you know, I think if you look at

1425
01:18:20.960 --> 01:18:26.039
<v Speaker 5>it objectively, say you're a five star high school player

1426
01:18:26.800 --> 01:18:31.800
<v Speaker 5>and or or an elite transfer portal player, you know,

1427
01:18:32.279 --> 01:18:34.760
<v Speaker 5>if your goal is to get to the NFL, where

1428
01:18:34.800 --> 01:18:37.000
<v Speaker 5>are you going to go to? Kentucky? Going to go

1429
01:18:37.119 --> 01:18:42.359
<v Speaker 5>to some place that you know has four first rounders

1430
01:18:42.399 --> 01:18:46.640
<v Speaker 5>every year? And you know, I don't blame the players

1431
01:18:46.680 --> 01:18:49.399
<v Speaker 5>from seeking that the best deal they can, but you know,

1432
01:18:49.680 --> 01:18:55.880
<v Speaker 5>it's unless you have a home court, home field and

1433
01:18:56.000 --> 01:18:59.880
<v Speaker 5>managed from being a Kentucky resident, it's hard for me

1434
01:19:00.159 --> 01:19:03.479
<v Speaker 5>to see that you're going to be compete with with

1435
01:19:03.680 --> 01:19:07.439
<v Speaker 5>Ohio State and Michigan and USC and you know, all

1436
01:19:07.600 --> 01:19:09.000
<v Speaker 5>the traditional powers.

1437
01:19:09.159 --> 01:19:13.640
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, unless you can outbid the other teams. And as

1438
01:19:14.199 --> 01:19:17.079
<v Speaker 1>coaches have said, players are looking for the bag, and

1439
01:19:17.119 --> 01:19:18.960
<v Speaker 1>if they're looking for the bag and you can provide it,

1440
01:19:19.039 --> 01:19:21.680
<v Speaker 1>well then you've got a chance. So but that's unfortunate.

1441
01:19:21.800 --> 01:19:23.720
<v Speaker 1>That's where we are now, and we have to leave

1442
01:19:23.760 --> 01:19:26.840
<v Speaker 1>it at that. Tim Sullivan h follow him on Twitter,

1443
01:19:26.880 --> 01:19:28.960
<v Speaker 1>you're still on Twitter. I should ask you at it

1444
01:19:29.039 --> 01:19:30.399
<v Speaker 1>that Tim Sullivan.

1445
01:19:31.399 --> 01:19:33.279
<v Speaker 8>Okay, not as.

1446
01:19:33.279 --> 01:19:37.399
<v Speaker 5>Active as I was, but yeah, I still will put

1447
01:19:37.479 --> 01:19:38.479
<v Speaker 5>something up now on there.

1448
01:19:38.600 --> 01:19:42.399
<v Speaker 1>Okay, weak people, good talking to you, man, have a

1449
01:19:42.439 --> 01:19:42.760
<v Speaker 1>good one.

1450
01:19:42.840 --> 01:19:44.800
<v Speaker 5>Thank you all right, kick any time.

1451
01:19:45.279 --> 01:19:47.279
<v Speaker 1>That'll do it for now. Thanks for joining us for

1452
01:19:47.359 --> 01:19:50.159
<v Speaker 1>this special edition the best of the Big Blue Insider.

1453
01:19:50.479 --> 01:19:53.000
<v Speaker 1>That's it. Good night from the garage in Lexington.

1454
01:20:00.760 --> 01:21:12.479
<v Speaker 9>Such sect, such status taping, can anything only sat sing

1455
01:21:13.840 --> 01:21:36.479
<v Speaker 9>to lack the dips them tinging

1456
01:21:41.640 --> 01:21:41.680
<v Speaker 7>The