WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.839 Welcome to the Big Booinsider Dick Abriel with you on 2 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:05.160 a Friday, as we wrap up the week, of course 3 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:09.599 talking football, baseball, basketball, as generally we usually do this 4 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.679 time here, there's a lot of overlap. Of course, it's 5 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:15.400 the football off season, basketball wrapping up with the NBA 6 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:18.160 baseball you know is happening. The College World Series will 7 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:22.120 wrap up this weekend. But there is Kentucky News UK 8 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:26.320 news on both the basketball and the football fronts. Good 9 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:28.879 news this, this is such a great coincidence. We had 10 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:32.320 DJ Moberley on the show last night. I did such 11 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:36.359 a great job talking about Jasper Johnson, who will it 12 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:40.640 now is a wildcat, of course, but before he starts 13 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:43.439 playing as a wildcat, he's got a little more work 14 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:46.679 to do. Perhaps he's trying to make the USA Under 15 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:51.320 nineteen World Cup team. He has made the penultimate cut. 16 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.079 He made it all the way to the list of 17 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:58.439 fifteen finalists. They only keep twelve, so his dream is 18 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.399 still alive of playing for the USA Under nineteen World 19 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:05.200 Cup team. That's the team that will play in the 20 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:10.280 FOEBA Tournament in Lusanne, Switzerland, at the end of June 21 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:15.280 through July sixth. Malachi Moreno trying out and apparently did 22 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:19.640 very well, but suffered a minor injury, so he kind 23 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:22.120 of shut things down. Mark Pope's out there as well, 24 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.760 working with the national team, at least he was for 25 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:29.079 a while. He's back now, but Malachi Moreno a minor injury. 26 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:32.560 They're not saying what it was, but he's done so 27 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:34.439 he'll have a chance to heal and rest up and 28 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:38.680 get ready for the upcoming season. But apparently Moreno was 29 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:43.920 showing up extremely well in these tryouts, So that's something 30 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:47.640 for Kentucky fans to be excited about, as if they 31 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.840 don't already have a lot to be excited about, including 32 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:55.439 comes news that UK will host a multi team event 33 00:01:56.120 --> 00:01:58.480 at rupp Aerna. Chris Fisher writing about it on two 34 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:01.439 four to seven sports dot com, the Cats Pulse site. 35 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:05.840 He is quoting college basketball analyst Roco Miller, who said 36 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:08.919 the multi team Event or MTE, of course you've got 37 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:14.240 to have an acronym, will feature feature Valparaizo and Eastern Illinois. 38 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.919 The dates are to be determined, but that should, according 39 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:23.080 to Chris, wrap up UK's non conference schedule. Of course, 40 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:27.039 you've got the exhibitions against Purdue and Georgetown. You got Louisville, 41 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:30.719 Michigan State and a Champions Classic, North Carolina in the 42 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:36.319 acc SEC Challenge, Gonzaga and Nashville, Indiana back on the schedule, 43 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:41.560 and Saint John's in the CBS Classic. Mark Pope wanted 44 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:46.479 a tough schedule. Mark Pope gets what he wanted. This 45 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.599 will severely test his team, but wild can't stay healthy. 46 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:54.360 They should win most of those games, right, which would 47 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.240 put them in a great position or a good seed 48 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.479 in the nca Tournament. Well, that's the good news for 49 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.719 Wildcat fans. Of course, Kentucky football fans have to be 50 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.439 concerned right now with the de commitment of Jarvis Strickland. 51 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.280 This happened after we had posted the show yesterday, but 52 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:16.039 he was the only signee, the only commit rather from 53 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.199 the state of Kentucky. So far, not a huge class 54 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:24.199 right now for UK recruiters, but he was the first. 55 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:27.800 He's from Paduca Tillman, He's an Alignman, He's a four star. 56 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:32.919 This is not good obviously, and he has been recruited 57 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.840 in the past, yes by Louisville as well as Tennessee, Michigan, 58 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:41.319 Michigan State, North Carolina, South Carolina, oh Miss Vandy, but 59 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.240 he was chiefly recruited by Vince Merriw, so don't be 60 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:49.840 surprised if he ends up wearing red right now. As 61 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:52.879 we said, it is a modest recruiting class for twenty 62 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:56.879 oh six without a single player now from Kentucky or Ohio, 63 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:01.080 so we'll see how that plays. Out of the top 64 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:05.879 ten players per two four seven in the Commonwealth, five 65 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:10.199 are committed to Louisville, one to Indiana, and one to 66 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:15.240 Western Kentucky. Still a little early, and of course teams 67 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.360 are moving much more deliberately these days because of the 68 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:23.160 portal in Kentucky of late, as you know, has gone 69 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:27.639 heavily into the portal. But they can't lose too many 70 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:31.079 more of those battles, especially when it comes to recruiting 71 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:35.519 kids in their own backyard. NBA Playoffs last night, we're 72 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.160 gonna have a game seven. Nothing better than a game seven. 73 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:43.399 Indiana destroyed Oklahoma City. A lot of people thought the 74 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:45.879 thunder would put him away last night, that Aliburton just 75 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.439 couldn't go, couldn't be himself. Well he wasn't totally himself. 76 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:53.600 He had fourteen points in twenty three minutes. But the Pacers, 77 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:57.959 led by thirty at the end of the third quarter 78 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:04.040 thirty points. They outscored OKC thirty six to eighteen. In 79 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:08.399 the second quarter, they clamped down shake Gilgess Alexander. He 80 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.000 played thirty one minutes at twenty one points, only two assists, 81 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:17.759 eight turnovers. That's a career high for him in the postseason. 82 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.040 So they cut off the head last night and they 83 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:24.800 reaped the benefits. And now this goes Game seven in OKC. 84 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.480 Caseon Wallace, former Wildcat, played fourteen minutes, had two points, 85 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:33.680 and again he's more about defense, but couldn't get it 86 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:37.160 done last night. Jalen Williams had forty the other night, 87 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:41.800 sixteen last night in twenty seven minutes. It was a 88 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.399 disaster for Oklahoma City. Couldn't have worked that better for Indiana. 89 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:52.480 So now winner take oh. Could another former ABA team 90 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:57.959 win an NBA championship? San Antonio did it? Can Indiana 91 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:01.800 do it? And added trophy to those three tree ABA 92 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.120 championship trophies, one of which I know came at the 93 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:09.000 expense of our Kentucky colonels. That's why I'm rooting for 94 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.399 ok SEE, not as much well SJSG. I want Shay 95 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:16.319 Gilders Alexander to get himself a trophy, to get himself 96 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:20.079 a championship. He's the league MVP. But of course if 97 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:23.560 Halliburton leads the Pacers to a championship, then people are 98 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:25.319 gonna say, oh, this should have been Halliburton, not along. 99 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:28.240 And if you follow the NBA, you know that at 100 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:31.199 one point there was a survey. I saw this and 101 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:36.319 just briefly paid attention to it that Halliburton was rated 102 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.120 the most overrated player in the NBA. Well, I heard 103 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:43.120 an interview I think it was with Brian Windhorst on 104 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:48.480 twenty Corneizer's show where only a fraction of the players 105 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:52.160 surveyed in the league. There, I think only like two 106 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:56.879 hundred and thirty something players in the NBA in less 107 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:03.399 than half responded and only twenty something listed Halliburton and 108 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:07.120 the rest was divided among many other players. So you're 109 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:09.399 talking about less than ten percent of the players in 110 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:13.480 the league at least per that survey. Really believe that 111 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:17.240 anybody who watches him will tell you it's bogus. I'm 112 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:19.720 not saying he deserve the honor the MVP on her 113 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:24.319 over Shay Gilders Alexander. I do believe SGA bias Aside 114 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:28.879 should have won it, and he did. But if he 115 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:31.160 is able to rally the Pacers to a win over 116 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:35.920 Okac in Game seven on the road, then the debate 117 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:40.720 will go on forever. But he's good enough to play 118 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:44.439 right now. We can tell you that. One other note 119 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:46.839 in the NBA, you saw this that the Lakers were 120 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.879 sold for ten billion dollars. You know, these owners say, oh, 121 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:52.920 we can't pay dec I salaries. Well they can in 122 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:58.639 LA and nobody disputed that. But some of the reaction 123 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.079 and response around the league has been interesting in that 124 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:06.360 they're saying, well, now with another gazillionaire buying the team, 125 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:09.959 it can be run more. The Lakers as a team 126 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:14.720 can be run more like a business. What does that mean, Well, 127 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:20.839 apparently the Lakers in terms of the bus family, that's it. 128 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:23.639 That's their sole source of income. What they make on 129 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:27.240 the Lakers goes back into the team. It's not part 130 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:31.480 of a portfolio as it is for virtually every other team, 131 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:38.120 primarily in pro sports. And that means that if they 132 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.159 make money, they can plow it back into facilities and 133 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:45.759 contracts and things like that, Whereas if the team is 134 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:49.080 part of a huge profile, then revenue from other elements 135 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:54.000 of the portfolio can help support the team. I had 136 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:56.440 no idea this was going on. The advantage, how does 137 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:01.200 it work? Well, they make zillions of dollars off their 138 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:05.480 TV revenue their contract with Spectrum. That package pays the 139 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:10.399 Lakers three billion with a b over twenty years, a 140 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:13.799 deal that began in twenty twelve. That's my far the 141 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:18.919 biggest deal in the NBA. But now with a group 142 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:22.799 that has deeper pockets behind the Lakers, you may see 143 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:25.759 a real change in the way that outfit's run. And 144 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:28.639 there are a lot of Laker fans around here. Up next, 145 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.399 we'll talk football UK and Eku on the other side 146 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:34.879 of the break here on six thirty WLP. Welcome back 147 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:36.639 to the Big Moon Sider. Coming up in just a 148 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:39.679 few minutes, Nick MinJe on, the head UK baseball coach, 149 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.840 we'll join us a little bit later on. Well, here 150 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.480 from a young man who is putting together a documentary 151 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:49.039 on my broadcast brother, Doug Flynn. So that's coming up. Also, Heroes, 152 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:52.799 Fools and Flakes. I wanted to direct your attention to YouTube. 153 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:57.720 There is a documentary. It's basically a thirty minute piece 154 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:02.240 produced by the Buffalo Bills on Ray Davis, former Wildcat, 155 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:06.039 played just the one year two years back, but since 156 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.000 then and during that point, and I think it really 157 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:12.000 here started with Daryl Bird's great piece in the cast 158 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:15.039 Balls that kind of got the nation looking at Ray Davis. 159 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.919 If you ask me, I give Daryl all kinds of 160 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:21.360 credit on that, the fact that Ray was essentially he wasn't, 161 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:25.960 you know, technically homeless, but was just in trouble and 162 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.080 was taken in by a couple. And the next thing 163 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:31.759 you know, he's playing prep school football, he's playing college football. 164 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:35.200 He's a Kentucky he's now in the pros, had a 165 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:38.080 great first year with the Buffalo Bills, and he was 166 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:41.200 honored recently in San Francisco by the Boys and Girls 167 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.039 Club of San Francisco, which has been a big part 168 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:47.559 of his life. And there's a thirty minute special on YouTube. 169 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:52.000 Just type in Ray Davis and it'll pop up. But 170 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:55.279 it's called Buffalo Bills Beyond Blue and Red, and it's 171 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:58.080 really well done. As this person who's thrown together some 172 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.360 documentaries and I mean that liter eight times working on 173 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:04.600 local TV, when you know, with one hand you're putting 174 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:07.799 the newscast together with another you're working on a documentary. 175 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.559 I really envy these outfits that can you hire multiple people, 176 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:13.000 and I've had a chance to do that a couple 177 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:15.279 of times. It spoils you and take a lot of 178 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.720 time and put a really nice piece together, and they 179 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.000 did this. It's really really well done, and it makes 180 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:25.039 it even more special the fact that he played here 181 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:26.879 for a year and we got to know him, didn't 182 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.200 we He talked a lot to the media, and he 183 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:32.080 wants to do that when he's done. I do believe 184 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:33.759 he wants a career in media when he's done. He 185 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:38.960 majored in communications and he'll be good at it. And 186 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.200 I know that he kind of wanted to slow things 187 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:44.919 down on talking about himself, but you know, he was, 188 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:48.519 like I said, honored out there in his home base 189 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.159 of San Francisco. And the piece was really well done. 190 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.159 So just type in go to YouTube, type in Ray 191 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:58.279 Davis and it will pop up. While we're on the NFL, 192 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.919 I was reading Big Blue review, not the UK Big Blue, 193 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:05.120 but the New York Football Giants, and the writer was 194 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.240 looking at following Mini came going into camp, that kind 195 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.240 of stuff, who's gonna make it, who's not? And as 196 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.600 you would expect. He's got would Dale Robinson safely on 197 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:18.559 the team as a slot back and Drew Phillips, the 198 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:21.559 former Wildcat, as a defensive back. So I try to 199 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:25.639 keep an eye on the ex Wildcats. One other NFL note, 200 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:29.399 Shador Sanders, we told you yesterday cited for driving one 201 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:33.240 on one in a sixty That's a pretty hipty speeding ticket. 202 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:36.720 That was actually the second ticket of the month. That 203 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:39.080 was on a Monday. The next day he got stopped 204 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:42.399 again doing ninety one and a sixty five, and he 205 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:47.879 was respectful and polite to the police. But please, please, guys, 206 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:52.360 how many more accidents do we have to have where, 207 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.600 like Terrence Clark, you might lose your life and like 208 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:59.759 in other instances, somebody else loses their life. Nothing I 209 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:03.080 say is going to make these eighteen nineteen twenty year 210 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.559 old multimillionaires in big vehicles shout or Sanders driving a 211 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:08.600 pickup truck. He's doing a one on one in a 212 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:12.080 pickup truck. With anything I say, he's not going to 213 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:14.200 get him to slow down. I don't know what will. 214 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:17.639 No amount of money will, no amunt of fines, maybe 215 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:21.240 jail time, I don't know, but it has to happen. 216 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:25.600 Please slow it down, guys, please well while we're tucking football. 217 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:29.279 Will must Champ was over in Richmond the other night. 218 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:32.159 He was helping his buddy Walt Wells. They are both 219 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:37.200 guys who have in their past assistant coaching jobs under 220 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:41.480 Roy Kidd at Ekau. Walt Wells once again this year. 221 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:44.679 He did it last year and Mark Stoops was his 222 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:48.720 guest speaker. This year it was Will must Champ, former 223 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:53.240 SEC head coach now on staff at Georgia, and a 224 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:57.080 guy who came to town to help raise nil funds for 225 00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:00.399 e KU And he talked about the fact and when 226 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.559 is buddy Walt Wells calls, he listens. 227 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:05.879 Don't forget about the people that helped you on the 228 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.840 way up. And I have so many people here and 229 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:12.440 Walt and but all through the college landscape that have 230 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:15.399 helped you. But Eastern Kentucky. I spent a year, my 231 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:17.720 wife and I was first year of marriage. 232 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.320 Was here, you know. 233 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:21.039 We spent it here and we had a blast. And 234 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:24.000 to be able to give back to number one to Walt, 235 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.480 but number two to Richmond in Eastern Kentucky, I don't 236 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:27.120 do anything I can. 237 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:29.759 Do to help, and so much of that, as I said, 238 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:32.399 is because much Champ has fond memories of the time 239 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:34.919 he and his wife spending Richmond working with Roy Kidd. 240 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.720 Well number one being hired by Roy Kidd. I came 241 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:41.879 on the interview Jim Tanaro was transitioning from defensive line 242 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:45.679 coach to coordinator. Don Lanholm was our linebackers coach, and 243 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.240 to be able to come up and interview in that setting, 244 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.159 Jim and I were just talking about that his first 245 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:54.960 year as coordinator and having to mix the front and 246 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.919 the back end together, but to interview for coach Kid 247 00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:59.879 was special, I mean, and to be able to work 248 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.120 him for a year a legend in our game. 249 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:06.960 God rest his soul is a wonderful man. I will 250 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.120 echo that I do not try to hide my bias 251 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.320 towards Roy Kidd and his and his great wife Sue 252 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:14.200 and his family. You know, I worked with his son Mark, 253 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:18.240 I did radio with with one of his other sons, Keith, 254 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.960 and yeah, great great people. Well, Will is obviously appreciative 255 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.200 of the fact that Mark Stoops, he worked for Mark 256 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:29.240 Stoops for a year and now Kirby Smart coming back 257 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.960 to help Well. 258 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.879 I think they understand. You know, you talk about Mark 259 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:38.320 he understands, you know, the constraints we have with raising 260 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:41.639 money sometimes. Will obviously knows that, you know, left here 261 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.679 to go to Valdosta. So you know, he cut his 262 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:47.840 teeth in small schools, our smaller schools, and and so 263 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.759 he knows what we have to do to get people 264 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:53.120 to come out. And I mean, I'm telling you that 265 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:54.759 when I called and asked him, he said, let me 266 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:57.039 look at my calendar. I thought he'd call me back 267 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:59.240 in a couple of weeks. He looked at his calendar 268 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:01.879 and told me, right then, I'm in. And you know, 269 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.120 it speaks volume the same thing Mark did to you know, 270 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.960 last year, and that just helps us so much. It 271 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:10.000 helps our players. We're not the school that's going to 272 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:12.120 pay them one hundred grand or two hundred grand or 273 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.679 three hundred and. 274 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.639 Four hundred five whatever. 275 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:16.320 You know, they know that, and so that they really 276 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:19.000 enjoy helping us because they know these kids is helping 277 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.519 them pay their rent, helping them, you know, maybe get 278 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:24.200 food for the summer or whatever they need to do. 279 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.600 And it really is. 280 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:28.639 It just speaks volumes for how much they care about 281 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.679 football and what kind of people they are. 282 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:34.279 My thanks to my old employer, WKYT for helping me 283 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.559 with that audio, Brian Mile and Steve Moss helping to 284 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.039 send it over here to the garage so I could 285 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:43.080 share it with you. Coming up next, UK baseball coach 286 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:46.320 Nick Menngione never a dull moment. He's still got kids 287 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:48.960 coming through the portal, he's got camps coming up, he's 288 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:53.200 working ahead to next year, obviously never ending on the 289 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.960 upcoming season. Plus we'll learn more about a documentary upcoming 290 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:01.159 about our broadcast brother Doug Flynn, part of the Big 291 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.879 Red Machine. He was the glue. Well always called him 292 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.440 the glue because when he left, you know, it kind 293 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.240 of fell apart. That's next on six thirty WLAP Welcome 294 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:12.079 back to the Big Blue Starter. Joining us down our 295 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:16.920 celebrity Odeline is UK baseball coach Nick Menngione coach. This 296 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.960 time last year, everybody was celebrating a trip to the 297 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.519 College World Series for the Wildcats, and it's really interesting. 298 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:27.799 So many people Nick have talked to me about that 299 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:31.559 really for the last year or so about how much 300 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.200 they enjoyed that run, and now with the College World 301 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.440 Series happening now there's more awareness for it. I know 302 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:39.160 you wanted to be there this year. Obviously you want 303 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:41.200 to be there every year. But you got the big 304 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:44.640 Blue nation thinking about Omaha more and more. That's got 305 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.839 to put a smile on your face. 306 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.200 Big one, A big one. 307 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:49.839 Good. 308 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.480 You know that it hasn't stopped. 309 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:56.799 Yeah, I mean literally this week heard from the More 310 00:17:56.839 --> 00:18:00.279 folks about the opportunity that that team provided them and 311 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:02.759 their family. And you've heard me say that a lot. 312 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:05.640 But you know, that's one cool thing about college athletics 313 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.000 is not only do you have the opportunity to give 314 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:12.079 your student athletes experiences that they'll never forget, you get 315 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.960 to do it. They're awesome fan base. So yeah, that's good. 316 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.680 And you know what, I think some of them were 317 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:19.519 probably thankful that we didn't go two years in a 318 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.960 row because their banking accounts where I made some of 319 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.240 those hotels and all that. 320 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:24.799 I know. 321 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:27.599 So they need to be planning for next year. 322 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.119 I want them to be thinking and hoping that the 323 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:34.200 Cats are there, you know, every year. But obviously the 324 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:37.160 summer is up and rolling and feels like it never stops. 325 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:40.359 But people talking about Omahon Lessington good thing. 326 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.359 Definitely good thing. 327 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:43.880 Oh yeah. And that's the thing is, you know, for 328 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.599 so many years it seemed like just an impossibility like that, 329 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.920 that's for the other the elite schools in college baseball, 330 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.400 and now people know that it can happen for Kentucky, right. 331 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:59.880 Absolutely, And you know it's you know, I told our 332 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.319 team this, you know, when the original started, and we 333 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.480 were fortunate enough to make our third straight, as you know, 334 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:09.200 and you know, at that point, I told him, your 335 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:12.440 five wins from the college will series for five wins away, 336 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:17.119 and that's how close it is. And for us, you know, 337 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:20.000 to make another regional final and be right there. And 338 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.480 but once you get to that postseason, your five wins, 339 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:26.440 and it's closer than you think. And for some people, 340 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.319 to your point, they just feel like that's a lot 341 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.440 further than it really is. 342 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:32.440 No, because now we witnessed it, and I got to 343 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:34.240 tell you, I asked you, I kind of led you 344 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:37.599 into this, this this answer during one of your pre 345 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:41.119 tournament press conferences. But I had seen you on actually 346 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:44.119 during the SEC tournament with Paul Fenbaum, and he told 347 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:47.839 him how you would crunch the numbers and talked about 348 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.880 all the decisions, all the pitches, all the moments in 349 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:53.480 these games. And it's funny I had a similar conversation 350 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:57.480 many years ago with Gary Henderson just about you know, 351 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:01.480 games come down to a pitch or a swing or 352 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:05.680 one play and it all kind of adds up. And 353 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.559 I was fascinated by that. And then you you really 354 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:12.000 did a deep dive on the numbers and you know, 355 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:14.599 margins for error and things like that. You're people need 356 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:16.839 to understand you're a lot closer than you'd think you are. 357 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.759 Yeah, you're right, and you know, to go over those 358 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:24.319 exact numbers probably one more time. For the thing listening is, 359 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:30.039 you know, the average college team in the SEC he 360 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:33.359 throws one hundred and fifty four pitches. So if each 361 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:36.240 team averages one hundred fifty four pitches on each side, 362 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:40.319 that's about three hundred and eight moments in one baseball game, right, 363 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:42.759 And it takes us sometimes three hours to get through 364 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:48.279 those three hundred and eight moments, right. But so for us, 365 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.960 we threw a little bit more than that. But there 366 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:55.279 was five thousand, six hundred and sixty eight moments in 367 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:58.279 our college baseball season. That was how many like in 368 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:02.000 our SEC I'm sorry, thirty SEC schedule, Yeah, thirty game 369 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:05.000 STC schedule, So it's five thousand, six hundred and sixty 370 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:07.759 eight moments. So kind of like in football, there's snaps. 371 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:09.960 Those are plays, right, those are there are plays we 372 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:14.640 had an opportunity for in our league. Well, when you 373 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:19.720 boil it down, we are nine plays away from being 374 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:22.839 back to back SEC champions nine. 375 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:25.000 It's amazing, it's amazing, and I. 376 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:27.240 Can tell you all of them, but I'm sure don't 377 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:29.559 let me relive those, Okay, Dick, all right, but uh 378 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:32.960 yeah I could. But I say all that because if 379 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:35.000 we do that, we're back to back STEC champions for. 380 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.680 The first time in school history. 381 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:40.599 But we're also five plays away for winning four more 382 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:45.119 fifty series and only Texas won eight SEC series. 383 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.799 What does that mean? 384 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:48.240 That means we would have been hosting another regional YEP 385 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:50.440 for the third straight year, and we would have been 386 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:53.160 a national seed for the second straight year. And as 387 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:56.039 you know, that's the past. The Omaha the easiest pass YEP. 388 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:59.119 But it's nine plays from back to back SEC champions, 389 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:03.119 and it's five plays away from being having four more 390 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:07.680 SEC wins. Theories win, theories win, not just win series win, 391 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:11.240 and we're a national seat. So it's that close. And 392 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.880 you know, to try to teach your student athletes that 393 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:16.359 every year and to get them to understand like, no, 394 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.799 literally it could be this pitch like this one right here, 395 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:22.160 you know, to where it's like you're not putting pressure 396 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:25.440 on them. But when you're competing at the high and 397 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:29.319 you're trying to do special things, you can literally puil 398 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.240 it down to that many plays. If you have a 399 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.880 really good team, which I felt like we had last year, Yes, 400 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:37.079 but the margin of victory is super small. 401 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.519