WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:03.720 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Abriel with you 2 00:00:03.799 --> 00:00:07.360 on a Tuesday edition of our program, and tonight we're 3 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:11.359 going to talk college baseball, football, basketball as usual, also 4 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:14.039 some NBA. I know not many of you out there 5 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:17.559 are big NBA fans, but my guest, I'm very excited. 6 00:00:17.559 --> 00:00:20.199 One of my guests tonight is the radio voice of 7 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:24.280 the Dallas Mavericks and we had Chuck Cooperstein on the show. Gosh, 8 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.359 it's been at least at least three or four years, 9 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:29.760 and this is before I was doing the show in 10 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:33.359 the garage. But I've known Chuck since the early eighties 11 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:36.200 when he worked with us on the old Southwest Conference 12 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:40.960 radio network. He was a sportscaster on KRLD Radio in Dallas, 13 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.399 an all news talk station which back then was the 14 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:49.840 radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys. The rights have since changed, 15 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:52.359 I think a couple of times, but that's what KRLD 16 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:57.640 was best known for. And Coop came down from Sportsphone 17 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:01.640 in New York City. He's a New York native, and man, 18 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:04.200 he's got a great voice, but could talk a mile 19 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.319 a minute. And some of you may remember this back 20 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:11.640 pre internet. Now, if you wanted to get all the scores. 21 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.879 You could call a number, a nine hundred number, and 22 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.480 it costs you. And these guys would get on the 23 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:24.519 phone and rattle off these scores primarily for betters for gamblers. 24 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:28.560 I mean you could barely understand them. They were talking 25 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:31.319 so fast, and if you missed your score, you had 26 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:33.719 to keep listening for them to go through them all 27 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:37.480 over again, costing you more money. Well, Coop was one 28 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:41.959 of those guys and landed a job at KLD, and 29 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:44.400 we you know, you always need more people. I needed 30 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:48.519 studio hosts, and because we broadcast all the games for 31 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:52.159 all the teams, so we had to have guys doing halftime, 32 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:55.879 in pregame, scoreboard drop ins and things like that all 33 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:59.200 the time. And I had a couple of guys, but 34 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:02.519 I needed one more. So I reached out to the 35 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:06.079 new guy at the radio station and Coop came over, 36 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.960 and long story short, he went to work for us, 37 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:11.719 and we've been buddies ever since. Don't talk a whole lot. 38 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.560 We keep up on Facebook and things like that. But 39 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:19.919 he eventually, gosh, it took almost twenty years of him 40 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:22.639 and he did ball games. He did college football. After 41 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.919 I left, he was doing Southwest Conference football Westwood One Radio. 42 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:31.000 He had worked games in rupp Arena, Kentucky games for 43 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:34.479 Westwood I was a stats guy and you know, just 44 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.319 hung in there and did a lot of great, solid work, 45 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:39.759 and the next thing you know, the job was open, 46 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:43.080 and he landed the Dallas Mavericks radio job in twenty 47 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.360 oh five and he's been their voice ever since. Won 48 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:50.240 an NBA Championship ring calling the Mavericks games. But we're 49 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:54.960 gonna talk today about the Luca Donsige trade for Anthony Davis, 50 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:57.639 one of the greatest players in UK history. But we'll 51 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:02.439 also talk sec ball in basketball, but Chuck because he 52 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:04.960 is a proud Florida Gator, So that's coming up at 53 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.599 the bottom of this hour. We will also naturally talk 54 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:11.680 college baseball with Darren Headrick, the radio voice of the Wildcats, 55 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:15.080 because they're going and I have to admit I was 56 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:18.759 convinced when I turned that show on the Selections Show 57 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.039 yesterday that they were not going to get in. And 58 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:28.479 I have a hard time remembering a basketball season that 59 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:31.319 was similar. I think you may have to go back 60 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:35.159 to Joe Bees last year when the Wildcats kind of 61 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:39.919 struggled and they were surprise to get in to the 62 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:43.199 NCA Tournament and then pulled off a couple of upsets 63 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:46.560 beat a good UNLV team, not one of the great teams, 64 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:49.240 but a good one, and a really good University of 65 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:52.439 Washington team that had two future NBA players on it, 66 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:58.360 including Debtliff Shrimp. So the baseball Cats through strength to schedule, 67 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:03.360 thank you see and RPI and all that, it's all 68 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:07.400 tied together. They get in and we got a couple 69 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:11.919 of comments from Nick Menzioni and his players. Coming up 70 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:16.040 in our next segment, wild Cats take on West Virginia 71 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:20.879 on Friday at noon. You'll see the game on ESPNU, 72 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.240 but of course you'll hear it right here on six 73 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:28.480 thirty WLAP with Darren Hendrick. Pregame eleven forty five, first pitch, 74 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.639 probably a minute or two after high noon as the 75 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.639 Cats take on West Virginia, a team that was here 76 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:37.639 two years ago in the regional, not last year, but 77 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:40.439 the year before, and a team that plays a very 78 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:45.120 similar style to Kentucky. So we hear from the Cats 79 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:50.319 coming up shortly now, speaking of West Virginia, saw this 80 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:54.879 cross the wire Mary lou Retton, who is a native 81 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:58.519 of Fairmont, West Virginia, which happens to be my late 82 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:03.360 father's hometown. It's about ten miles south of Morgantown, which 83 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:07.879 is where WVU is located. I knew Mary lou Rehtton 84 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.240 was from Fairmont, and I hate to say this, but 85 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:15.120 it's one of those decaying cities where people just keep 86 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:19.439 moving away, and when you go there, it really has 87 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:23.800 that feel. When my brother and my buddies and I 88 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:27.480 go to Saratoga, we drive and a couple of times 89 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:30.639 we've taken a really slight detour off the interstate I 90 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:35.000 think it's seventy nine and gone into Fairmont. And the 91 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:38.240 last time we drove to my grandmother's house and looked 92 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.120 at it and that thing's falling apart. But anyway, Mary 93 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:46.639 lou Retton apparently lives there now and was arrested and 94 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.959 jailed on a misdemeanor charge of DUI. She was arrested 95 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:56.439 in Fairmont back on May seventeenth. The report came out 96 00:05:56.759 --> 00:06:01.399 a person in a Porsche driving erratically, spelled of alcohol, 97 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:05.319 slurred her words, failed to field sobriety test, refused a 98 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:10.279 roadside breath test and blood test, and paid a fifteen 99 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:14.279 hundred dollars personal recognizance bond. No comment from her attorney. 100 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:18.920 She was sixteen years old when she became the first 101 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.399 American female gymnast to win the all around gold at 102 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:28.000 the eighty four LA Olympics. Also won two silvers and 103 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:34.199 two bronze medals and really made gymnastics something big in 104 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:38.639 the US. But remember this. Back in twenty twenty three, 105 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:42.240 her family disclosed that Retin was recuperating from a rare 106 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:48.319 form of pneumonia and she was in intensive care. Doctors 107 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:53.439 found her oxygen levels dangerously low. They were thinking about 108 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.560 putting her on a ventilator. She was getting worse, but 109 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.000 went on some kind of oxygen treatment. She was in 110 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:02.920 a hospital for a weeks, but she improved well enough 111 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.920 to be sent home. Well, she's in a little bit 112 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:09.160 of trouble now, but I was rooted for her, being 113 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:13.079 from Fairmount, West Virginia, where I spent parts of several 114 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:19.240 summers visiting the grandparents. College Basketball Michigan got some good news. 115 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:24.720 I guess it's Yaksel lendeborg As withdrawn from the NBA draft. 116 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:28.879 Otaga Away has not done this yet, but this kid has. 117 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:32.199 He's going to play for Dusty May and the Wolverines 118 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:36.399 next year. That's what he told on three dot com. 119 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:40.879 He was ranked a number one player in the transfer portal. 120 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:43.319 Remember this is a kid who had a great year 121 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.879 last year at Alabama Birmingham Defensive Player of the Year 122 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:53.000 average nearly eighteen points, eleven and a half rebounds, four assists, 123 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:57.839 almost two blocks, and almost two steals per game. That's 124 00:07:57.839 --> 00:07:59.720 why he was the number one player in the portal. 125 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:04.519 The most recent NBA mock draft said he would be 126 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:09.399 he would go with the twenty sixth pick, But now 127 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:12.879 he's heading for ann Arbor. You gotta think that with 128 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.279 a kid who transferred in from UCLA, they got one 129 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:19.279 from Illinois, they got one from North Carolina. They're gonna 130 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:23.160 be probably top five preseason. They also got a couple 131 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:27.959 of big time incoming freshmen. Michigan won the Big Ten 132 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:32.840 last year beating Wisconsin. Remember that got to the sweet 133 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:39.000 sixteen before they lost to Auburn. And they're gonna be really, 134 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.559 really good if it all falls into place and everybody 135 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:46.639 stays healthy this coming year. By the way, I mentioned 136 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:53.440 Anthony Davis. Remember the trade for Luka Doncic Well, Donsich 137 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:58.240 evidently showed up in a photograph from a soccer match 138 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:02.000 overseas and I saw the picture and I, you know, 139 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:07.600 I don't pay a lot of attention to his physical appearance, 140 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:11.039 but even I can tell this guy's in much better shape. 141 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.440 You know. That was that was the criticism about his fitness. Wait, 142 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.279 will he stay in shape? Get in shape and stay 143 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:21.080 in shape? Will he work with Lebron? Well, he's doing 144 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:27.080 something right because his physical condition played a role in 145 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:30.960 the MAVs willingness to trade him. But now he's playing 146 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:39.399 alongside Lebron and apparently more serious about getting leaner, getting healthier. 147 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.559 And they're calling it his revenge body. But he was 148 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:51.519 at a real Madrid match and somebody wrote, slim Luca 149 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:55.440 will have this league shook. If that boy gets in shape, 150 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:59.159 the league is in trouble. When we come back to baseball, 151 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:03.679 Wildcats about it the hour, Chuck Cooperstein, Dallas Mavericks radio voice, 152 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:08.320 around six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider. 153 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:09.799 Coming up at the bottom of the hour just a 154 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:13.360 few minutes, Chuck Cooperstein, radio voice of the Dallas Mavericks, 155 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:17.960 whose roster now includes Anthony Davis, the center point literally 156 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:23.279 of Kentucky's twenty twelve INTAA title team Top of the Hour, 157 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:26.559 darreon Hedrick Radio, voice of the baseball Wildcats. They opened 158 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:31.000 play in the nca Tournament on Friday against West Virginia, 159 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:33.399 a game you will hear right here. Nick Benziona the 160 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:39.399 players talked earlier today and Nick reiterated everything Kentucky had 161 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:42.799 lost from last year's team, everything but the starting catcher 162 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:47.080 and at part time starting right fielder. Everybody else went pro. 163 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:51.039 And then from the pitching staff they lost their entire 164 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:58.000 starting rotation and top two relievers. Everybody went pro or graduated. 165 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.720 And from the position players, the center field and Nolan 166 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:05.559 McCarthy went through the portal, but everybody was gone except 167 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:08.600 for two regulars, so they had to rebuild thirty one 168 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:13.639 I think it is brand new players and Benjione talked 169 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:16.759 about the fact that they kind of had to start 170 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:21.639 over and accomplish what they could in a year immediately 171 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:23.559 after a trip to the College World Series. 172 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:26.480 So you're sitting there going, well, who did we have back? 173 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:30.559 We literally had Devin and James back, and every other 174 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:34.200 spot was wide open, and there was a lot of 175 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:36.559 people that never gave this team a chance to even 176 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:40.279 make the postseason. So these guys coming in had a 177 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:43.279 decision to make. Am I gonna just do whatever I 178 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:46.759 can to win that spot in that role or are 179 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:49.440 we going to be a team. And I'm super proud 180 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.039 of them because look what's happened. 181 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.120 They've become a team. 182 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:57.399 And even to the last day and the last minute, 183 00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:59.639 there was still some people that did not know or 184 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:01.960 believe if we were even worthy or going to make 185 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.080 the postseason. 186 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:07.320 Yep, that's right, and I'm guilty as charged. I didn't know. 187 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:10.600 I had my doubts, no doubt about it. I have 188 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:14.360 seen Kentucky teams with more wins not get into the tournament, 189 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:18.000 including one coach by Nick Benjeone I think three years ago, 190 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:23.120 and Minjione has lived through stuff like this before. But 191 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:27.320 strength to schedule being a part of that brutal sec 192 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.840 got the Wildcats through it. 193 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:31.759 People asked all the time, like, hey, what's what's Oklahoma 194 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:35.080 Texas like in baseball? Like I said, well, let's let's 195 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:40.039 review that Texas has been to Omaha more than any 196 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.120 college baseball program in the entire country. And Oklahoma just 197 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.759 played for the Baseball National Championship in twenty twenty two. 198 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:51.440 So yeah, a league just got better. So I would 199 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:54.519 tell you that I love our slogan on the wall 200 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:57.320 out there. It just means more. And that's what the 201 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.559 league has done, is like we've continued to get better 202 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:03.600 and had more teams. And the thing that I'm appreciative 203 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:07.840 about is the rest of the country knows and they understand, 204 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:10.919 maybe now at a higher level. And when you just 205 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.080 look at our non conference winning percentage, it was over 206 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.919 eight forty. I think it was eight forty this year, 207 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.960 up from a year ago. 208 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.360 So when you just. 209 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:20.159 Look at what our league has been able to do, 210 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.480 not only against each other, I mean it is a dogfight. 211 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:24.519 And I would tell you I think in our league, 212 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.440 correct if I'm wrong, but I think an SEC team 213 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:29.360 has played for a national championship fifteen of the sixteen years. 214 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.080 Let that sink in. 215 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:33.720 That basically says like who's it going to be this year? 216 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.039 The fact that Kentucky is going down for the third 217 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:40.480 consecutive year and this year, like the first couple, you 218 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.799 had a great foundation when they went through a regional, 219 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:47.120 hosted a regional two years ago. Most of that team 220 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:50.360 came back. That was the core of the team that 221 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:52.360 went to the College World Series. One of those guys 222 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.759 as Nicks, that were gone, but now they're going a 223 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.799 third straight time. 224 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:58.960 I've been in this situation before as a head coach, 225 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:03.200 and when we lost that many people, we finished dead 226 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:07.279 last in the SEC, dead last. And I'm just proud 227 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:09.960 of this group of guys in the staff because we 228 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:12.120 are now five wins away from going back to the 229 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.039 College World Series. 230 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:16.600 I do remember that team. Oh that was a tough 231 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.320 season to cover a lot of young guys that just 232 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.240 didn't know how to win, didn't know what they were doing. 233 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.759 There were some young guys on this team, but some 234 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:28.279 veterans as well, including Patrick Herrera who transferred in from 235 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:33.720 Northwestern at the end of GOT the twenty three season 236 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:37.960 twenty two season, and he said, to what happened in 237 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:41.159 Nashville when they were swept by Vandy and then losing 238 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.919 to Oklahoma, they just had to put that behind him. 239 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:46.080 It is what it is. You gotta look past to 240 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.639 move on. So we just have gone one hundred percent 241 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.039 in these practices. You know, would rather err on the 242 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:53.440 side of giving it or all and not making it 243 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.360 than worrying about what's going to happen and you know, 244 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:59.600 going half hearted. So just giving it all in practice 245 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:02.159 and just ain't out with coaches Cumans just bouncing back 246 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:02.440 like that. 247 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.559 Veteran lefty reliever Evan Byers has been a part of 248 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.720 all three of these nca tournament teams. Uh And he 249 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.480 said yeah, he admitted that seeing that name flashed on 250 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.720 the TV screen was a bit of a relief. 251 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:17.840 Yeah, definitely a relief, a lot of excitement in the room. 252 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.320 You know, in nearest past, we knew we were going 253 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.519 to be in the tournament. We knew we're gonna be 254 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.960 a top you know, eight seed last year, hosting a 255 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.440 regional of the year before that. So the uncertainty in 256 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:29.080 the room kind of calls for more excitements. 257 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.799 That was cool to see. 258 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.759 Go back to see the video and everybody's reactions. It 259 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:33.320 was a lot of fun and it was funny to 260 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.600 watch them guys, you know react. 261 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.960 So, not only are the Wildcats in there are a 262 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:42.320 three seed taken on West Virginia a couple of weeks ago, 263 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.200 more than a couple of weeks ago. They were projected 264 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:47.120 to be a three seed, didn't They sweep Oklahoma bumped 265 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:50.600 up to a potential two seed. Fortunately they're not going 266 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:54.200 to Oregon, which was a projection a while back. They 267 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:58.080 will go to Clemson and it begins on Friday one 268 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:01.759 of the UK note a big paid a for Kentucky 269 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:05.639 offensive line coach Eric Wolford. UK has given him a 270 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:10.799 contract extension plus a one hundred thousand dollars rays for 271 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:15.480 twenty twenty five, So now his contract is worth nine 272 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:20.480 hundred thousand dollars. That's the going rate for veteran coaches. However, 273 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:24.399 this is a guy the coaches a position that's been 274 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:27.519 under a lot of fire, a lot of scrutiny, and 275 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:30.720 will have to come through this year. If Kentucky's going 276 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:34.600 to do anything to bounce back from a disappointing season 277 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:38.879 last year, that offensive line has got to get better. 278 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:45.440 Chuck Cooperstein next in six thirty WLAP welcome back to 279 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:47.440 the Big Blue and Cider and joining us now in 280 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.120 our celebrity highline is a guy I met when he 281 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.919 walked through our studio doors in Dallas at the Southwest 282 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:56.120 Conference Network GOSH back in the early eighties, and since then, 283 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.679 Chuck Cooperstein has done an awful lot, but more than anything, 284 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.600 he is own as the radio voice of the Dallas 285 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:07.519 Mavericks and a buddy since like I said, Gosh, just coop. 286 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.759 It just seems like it was yesterday, doesn't it. 287 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:15.799 Nineteen eighty four, November November of nineteen eighty four. I 288 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.519 got the call. 289 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.119 Yeah, amazing. 290 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.200 Can we tell Can we tell more about the first 291 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.119 the first day though? 292 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.839 Sure ahead. 293 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.000 So the first you called me earlier in the week 294 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.079 and said, no, come on in. It happened to be 295 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:30.119 a really big weekend, like TCU was playing Texas and 296 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:32.079 that was the one year. That was the year that 297 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.759 Whacker had the team really going, and you know that 298 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:37.279 one was number ten, one was number twelve, and you 299 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:39.240 wanted me to do the studio shows for all the 300 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.599 you know, for all the for all the games that day. 301 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:45.680 They're like three or four games that day and we 302 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.839 get to or at least I thought I was training. 303 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:54.279 Let's put it this way. I thought I was training you. 304 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:57.880 You said, at about ten fifty you ready to go. 305 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:02.880 I didn't. I didn't know the format, I didn't know anything. 306 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:08.599 So so Dick, so Dick Gabriel unnamed, unnamed went in 307 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.759 and did the pregame show that day. Until I can 308 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.079 pick her out what was actually going on? 309 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:18.000 Oh man, uh yeah, but it all worked out. 310 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:22.319 It all worked out somehow. I survived well. 311 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:25.240 And what people need to understand is back then that 312 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:27.319 league was the only league that owned the rights to 313 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:31.160 all the games, all the networks, and so we talked 314 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:34.519 to all nine networks, sometimes as many as six at once. 315 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.240 It was really exciting. But uh, you had come down 316 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:39.079 from New York to work for the great Carol d 317 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:44.640 Radio and since then you called TCU Texas, SMU Basketball 318 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:48.799 Football Westwood One. Uh, what a great career. But now 319 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.000 the MAVs, you've got an NBA championship ring. 320 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:56.279 I do, but long time, long time ago, but I 321 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:56.680 got one. 322 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.640 It was yeah, and uh, I still think you should 323 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:02.119 have had another one, but let's not talk about that. 324 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:08.119 I know, but man, being part of a franchise this 325 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:12.799 year has been at really the epicenter of two huge stories. 326 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:16.880 Trading away to the superstar and then snagging, against visually 327 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:20.279 all odds, the number one draft pick in a lottery. 328 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:22.559 What has that been like, Coop, To be a part 329 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.599 of an operation. 330 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:27.720 Like that, It's been the wildest roller coaster you could 331 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:34.799 ever imagine. Look, nobody has ever experienced this, Oh, because 332 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:39.640 no twenty five year old superstar, five time first team 333 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:42.839 All NBA player has ever been traded in his prime. 334 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.359 So the backlash you know from the fan base was 335 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:54.400 just vociferous. Whatever you might think was a really bad 336 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:59.960 day after Kentucky basketball loss, multiply that by about five million. 337 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.400 Wow. 338 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.799 And that's and that's what you have here, and really 339 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:07.319 what you've had here on a pretty much pretty much 340 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:10.160 daily basis since February second, when the trade went down. 341 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:16.400 You know, Cooper Flagg being you know, the resumptive number one. 342 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.359 And again there were a bunch of people who are 343 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:21.640 still convinced, you know, or won't believe it until Adam 344 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:24.400 Silver walks in that microphone and announces that Cooper Flag 345 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.839 is going to play for the Mavericks on June twenty fifth. 346 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:34.720 I mean that only it only partially assuages the issue, 347 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:38.759 you know, because this team was you know, the franchise 348 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:42.599 as we know it was built on dirt, nabiski and 349 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:45.920 twenty one years and never leaving, you know, his statue 350 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:50.079 with what loyalty never fades. And then Luca was you know, 351 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.519 the heir apparent at the one cross over year before 352 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.519 he took over and did things then no Mavericks player 353 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:59.240 had ever done. And that was ripped away from the 354 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:03.039 fan base and fortunately now they have the chance to 355 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:06.960 fall in love with another player. Sure, but at the 356 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.480 same time, you know, given how everything is played out 357 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:12.960 in the NBA playoffs this year, you know, the Mavericks 358 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:15.519 believe going into the season that they had a team 359 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:17.640 that was capable of winning the championship, that they just 360 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:20.119 needed to make some tweaks around the edges. And they 361 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.480 did that. And you know, until Luca got hurt on Christmas. 362 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:26.519 They were nineteen and ten, they were just fine. And 363 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:28.839 then he got hurt, and then he got traded, and 364 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.720 then everybody got hurt. It all fell apart down. 365 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:35.240 Yeah, but hurt. And here in the Big Boo Nation, 366 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:39.799 Anthony Davis comes over. And by the way, Chuck, we're 367 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:41.400 going to get to this a little later. Chuck is 368 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.480 a proud, proud Florida Gator, and he has worked several 369 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:47.720 games in Rupp Arena for Westwood One Radio, so he 370 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:51.519 knows college sports as well. But I think people here 371 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:54.480 were a little stunned, not just at the trade, Chuck, 372 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:58.960 but that people who follow the NBA were like, only 373 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:02.240 for Anthony Davis know there was more than that, but around. 374 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:04.319 Here there wasn't. It wasn't much. It wasn't much more 375 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:04.640 than that. 376 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.640 But around here that name has so much cachet, and 377 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.319 yet they probably didn't understand what the MAVs were giving up. 378 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:15.880 And plus Ad has been hurt a lot. But I 379 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:18.559 guess you can understand why people around here are still 380 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.279 protective of Anthony. 381 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:23.920 Davis absolutely the way that Mavericks fans are protective of 382 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.319 Luca exactly. It really runs the way it Listen, Anthony 383 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:29.519 Davis top seventy five all time players going to the 384 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:33.200 Hall of Fame. I mean, they didn't get nothing for him, 385 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:35.440 but did they get but did they get the best 386 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:38.119 player in the trade? That can that can be argued, 387 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:43.279 That can be argued, you know, and especially you know, 388 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.200 the biggest issue that people have with Davis is that 389 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:48.960 he's never healthy. Now granted, you know the last couple 390 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:52.319 of years he was more healthy, but he's never really 391 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:55.720 been a particularly healthy player. And he's, uh, you know 392 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:58.680 what he's going to be what thirty three next year? 393 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:03.000 You know, he played what fifty eight games this year? 394 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.440 I mean, he has a hard time playing sixty games. 395 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:07.799 And if you know, if he's not going to be around, 396 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:10.960 I mean, even Luca, who generally misses somewhere between twelve 397 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.920 to fifteen games a year prior to this year. He's 398 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:17.640 playing more games, he's more he's been more impactful now again. 399 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:21.720 You know, Nico Harrison will tell you if you watch 400 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:24.799 that game we played against the Rockets back in mid February, 401 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:27.640