COMMUNITY CONNECTION - AMP HARRIS PUT A SMILE AND DANNY BRIDGES SPORTS 12042025

Tina talks with Amp Harris about his foundation and later with Danny Bridges on sports.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Action with Tina Cosby, brought to you by Child Advocates,
a champion for justice, opportunity and well being for children,
on Praise Am thirteen ten ninety five point one FM.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
And good afternoon, and welcome to Community Connection. I'm Tina Cosby.
Today is Thursday, December the fourth. Hard to believe.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
Already, you know.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
There's so many things. Things are coming at as fast
and furious. Well they are, and throw a move in
there in the middle and you're just like, huh, hair's
on fire.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
That's true.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
So yeah, but we're we're catching up and slowing it
down because we got a community connection to do today.
So two o'clock, well but two o'clock one to three o'clock,
so we're going to be here. How's your day going
so far? Eric, busy is here.

Speaker 4 (00:49):
It's been super busy. I'm in three places at once basically,
but making it happen as best I can.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, yeah, we are.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
It's busy.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
It is busy. It is busy, and again you're dealing
with the two different locations. But I'm really excited about
our new old location, our new maybe I should say
our new form old, our newly renovated former place it's
gonna be nice. It's really really nice.

Speaker 4 (01:14):
And see you.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, yeah, I'll talk to Edmond. He's I think he
said he was going to be down there this morning too,
so he did say, but they're gonna be They're working
around the clock seven days a week to get us,
get us in there, so hats off to them. Cold
weather coming Jane with us today Thursday. James is not
here today, he's not here, so the weather report will

(01:36):
be I guess you and I. But tomorrow my understanding
is single digits uh air and wind timp, so wind chill,
air timp and wind chill, so we'll see that. I know,
I know.

Speaker 3 (01:49):
It's not even winter yet. That's the thing. It's still fall.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Don't you think that they stretch this faul thing out
a little bit too long?

Speaker 4 (01:56):
I think so too. I think it's like winter should
be the beginning of December, at least first of December. Yeah,
but they say the solstice or equinox.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Or something, all those things that I did learn in school.
But look, did you ever did you ever do this?
Just learn it well enough to have it on the
test and then throw it out the window of your mind.

Speaker 5 (02:17):
I did.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
That's what I did with a lot of my book
learning is like, shoot, I know, I got it. I
know I have to know it for this, But after that,
it's like gone, now file thirteen, honey, there goes. So
I should have maintained some of it though, but but yeah,
the summer, solstice, the the winter, just a lot of
different things. Solstice. So three one seven, four eight zero

(02:38):
thirteen ten. Three one seven, four eight zero thirteen ten
is the number to the show and on the show
today back by popular demand. Haven't talked to him for
a while. Our sports guy with udid appas recorder, Danny Bridges, Uh,
he'll be with us and he's gonna have quite a
bit to talk about that. The Big Big ten Championship
football championship is in town this week and right, yes,

(03:00):
that's what I thought, a lot of excitement and really, uh,
we've got a local team, you know, the Hoosiers the championship.
They're well not that well, yeah, they're going to be
competing for a championship. Yeah against Ohio State. That has
got to be the game of the weekend for those

(03:22):
of us who live.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
In this here already said Ohio State's got it.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, and you know have you ever encountered a Buckeye fan.

Speaker 4 (03:32):
I have.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, they're Oh my goodness, they are in they're almost like, uh,
I'm trying to think, well, Steeler fans are pretty pretty
high up there on that list of folks that are
just absolutely absorbed with their team. Ohio State, the school
and that football program is its own economy, it's its

(03:55):
own city. Uh, it's got probably got its own fire
department in school system. I don't know, but it's it's
an existence that is just really really hard to understand.

Speaker 6 (04:05):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
And I had the honor and the privilege of being
able to go to uh an Ohio State football game
that was here at the stadium a couple of years ago. Yeah, yeah,
I I yeah. And I fans being a fan is

(04:28):
one thing. They're they're more than fans though, they're they're
like employers. They're like demanding employers. Does that make sense?
It does when it's it's it's something, it's something. And
uh yeah, yeah, Ohio State. Good for well. Uh fine,
young man. Uh his family invited me uh to he

(04:50):
played for Ohio State. He's playing now in the NFL,
And they said, why don't you know, why don't you
come to a game with us, you know, since we're here.
I said, yeah, Ohio State and they won, of course,
And it was just but the people there in the
stands and the ones that you encounter because I was
in Ohio State territory, you know, land, and it really

(05:12):
is different. You kind of shake your head yet to
pinch yourself because it's beyond a fan. And I keep
saying the same thing, but it maybe somebody else has
words to describe what I'm talking about, but yeah, it's
quite simply they love their team. Somebody said this morning, though.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
That the.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
Script has flipped a little bit in that this year's
Hoosiers have been battle tested a lot more with more
difficult teams and closer games than Ohio State has. Apparently,
Ohio State has not been pushed as far as competition.
We can talk to Danny about that. I didn't follow

(05:53):
Ohio State this year, but what some of the commentators
were saying was Ohio State really hasn't been in a dogfight,
not not really all year, and the Hoosiers might give
him one, so we'll see.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
I hope, So, I really hope. So I mean I
like Ohio State. I do, really always have.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
But Hoosiers would be great to see that happen.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
There's Mike Solomon. Mike, he put Brutus. He gave me
this little Brutus is their their mascot. Mike. Mike is
one of the Ohio State super fans, and Mike, if
you are listening, go Hoosiers. Okay. Oh, he's a big
Ohio State fan, Mike Solomon. But uh so there's that,

(06:32):
So I would see what would I bet Mike Man, No,
we'll leave belong. I'm not going to bet him anything
Ohio State. He talks more Ohio State stuff than I've
ever heard in a while, So I bet I've ever
heard in a long time. So in the interest of sportsmanship,
good luck, I'll say that. Good yeah, yeah, yeah, good luck.

(06:55):
So anyway, our sports guy with the recorder, Danny Bridges,
is going to join us in our second hour, and
again he'll have a lot more to say about that
and the Colts and the basers and everything else a
little later this hour, right about at the bottom of
the hour, Promoter Amp Harris. We all know who Amp.
If you if you have lived in Indianapolis two days,

(07:16):
you know who Amp Haaris is. Okay, So Amp is
going to be here with us, uh, and he's going
to explain how he and Colt's legend Reggie Wayne, planned
to put a smile on a child's face for Christmas.
So Amp Reggie Wayne stepping up for the kids this Christmas,
and they're going to tell us exactly how they're going
to do it. So that's coming up around one thirty

(07:36):
at the bottom of the hour right now. Three one
seven four eight zero thirteen ten three one seven for
eight zero thirteen ten is the number to the show.
The Lines are Open. Found some interesting reading this morning
in the You guys know, I read a Seals the
newsletter and the reason I found that this newsletter one

(07:58):
of their lead stories there one big thing more Indiana
lawmakers targeted. You know, we've been talking about that. The
lawmakers who are against redistricting and against redrawing those maps
to make them more Republican to help Donald Trump in Washington.
They've just been getting a hard time because they keep

(08:19):
saying no. And I had gotten a call on my
way into work about a state senator from out in
the Lawrence area, Kyle Walker, who says he will not
run for office again. And so it all came you
know it all came together and then when I saw
this article, this is getting ugly, this is getting pretty.

(08:40):
And here's what Axios had to say about it. More
Indiana lawmakers targeted. Over a dozen members of the Indiana
General Assembly have been the subject of swatting, attempts or
other threats over the last month, as the fight over
redrawing the state's congressional map has heated up. State House
leaders and law enforcement have denounced the presidented threats of

(09:01):
violence driving the news. Representative Ben Smaltz, the Auburn Republican
carrying the redistricting bill, said Tuesday that he received a
threat that his family would be killed in front of
him before he was killed. He's at least the thirteenth
member to say they've received some kind of threat and

(09:22):
intimidation that has reached lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
The captain of the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Captain Gore,
says threats against any lawmaker are unacceptable, full stop. Let's
be clear. Nothing I said, Oh that was he talking about?

(09:46):
I must have skipped a paragraph, but anyway is being denounced.
Let's see the threats, sweating attempts another criminal activity being
directed at our colleagues in the Senate are abhorrent and
completely unaccepted. Well House Speaker Todd Houston and Minority Leader
Phil Giaquinta said in a joint statement released last week.

(10:07):
This is no way to express political disagreement and it
must stop. The article goes on to say, yes, but
it hasn't. Driving the news again the Auburn representative about
having his family killed and killed in front of him.
But this all stops, starts at the top with the

(10:27):
reckless and irresponsible rhetoric that we know. I mean, I
I don't want to but Indiana lawmakers are. They're they're
jumping off a ship like rats off the Titanic. It
sounds like they're They're not only here in Indiana, but
I think nationwide a lot of a lot of Republicans
are not running for office again. It's yeah, they're not

(10:50):
going to rerun, so they're not going to run again.
It's just it's a shame that you have to choose
public service over your your personal health, the personal health
of your family.

Speaker 4 (11:02):
Exactly.

Speaker 2 (11:03):
It's a shame that you have to be extorted. It's
a shame that you have to be threatened written. But
this is what happens when nobody puts a check on
things that are irresponsibly said and things that are irresponsibly done.
When you let it go, this is what happens. This
is what happens. And so the Kyle Walker story, Indiana

(11:24):
State senator recently revealed threat He has received threats as well,
and he has announced that he will not seek reelection
in twenty twenty six. And the Senate, the State Senate,
is where we all know that that bill is probably
going to die. If it makes it there. It's moving
right along and in the House. But if the House
has to give it to the Senate, and if the

(11:45):
Senate continues to say no, it's going to die in
the Senate. But the senators who are saying no, they
are the ones on the firing line. They're the ones.
In a press release since Wednesday, which was yesterday, Kyle
Walker made his decision not to run next cycle. He
represents Indiana's thirty first Senate district, which encompasses parts of

(12:06):
Mariana and Hamilin County, specifically parts of Fishers and Lawrence.
He has confirmed that he plans to finish his current term,
which will expire at the end of twenty twenty six.
Also indicated that he had been weighing his decision to
run into twenty twenty six for several months. Serving the people,
okay this, but I will not seek reelection basically an honor.

(12:28):
He did not list among the reasons for not running again,
threats or what have you, but so he did say,
attempts have been made to intimidate me and threatened violence
at my home. He said, I'm grateful to local and
state law enforcement personnel for their ongoing efforts to keep
us safe. All state leaders should send the strongest message

(12:50):
possible that not only are these violent threats and intimidation
tactics against the law, they are also counter effective. Again,
he did not say directly, I don't believe I'm looking here,
I don't see anything where he directly says that it
was the threats and intimidation that went into his decision
not to run again. But you gotta believe that was

(13:13):
part of it. Wow, you gotta believe it. Thirteen thirteen
and people are doing it because nobody's telling them that
they can.

Speaker 4 (13:21):
Yeah, they can just do it.

Speaker 2 (13:22):
Nothing, nothing happens, nothing, And that is no way to live.
That's not right, not not right at all, but there
it is. So yeah, so there's that. So I don't
know how they may be. You know, what it sounds
like may be happening is that if they lose too
many of these seats from Republicans and they go to Democrats,

(13:47):
they may be shooting themselves in the foot. They may
they could be shooting the one whom selves in the foot?
Uh three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten three
one seven four eight zero thirteen ten. I thought that
was interesting. I also yesterday Council Majority Leader Maggie Lewis
and I were talking about an article that was in

(14:07):
Chalkbeat that's been circulating and we've got to get somebody
in here to talk about this. But anyway, the Indianapolis
Public School Board will probably this is the headline, will
probably still exist, but with less authority. The IPS's board
will likely still exist after a group charged with remaking
the city's education system is done, but it's unlikely to

(14:28):
have much power as it does now. The big picture,
the Indianapolis local Education Alliances, which and representative representative, let's see,
not representative, I'm sorry, Council Member Lewis counselor. Lewis was
talking about this very alliance because she's a member of it,
Indianapolis Local Education Alliance. They're preparing to deliver recommendations for

(14:52):
redistributing resources and authority of schools within the IPS boundaries
to the Indiana General Assembly, which is already in session
and is to use the alliance's report to draft legislation.
The alliance, which includes the mayor's, school officials, and local
education leaders, narrated its options for how to best govern
the myriad of schools IPS and charter at a contentious

(15:15):
meeting Wednesday afternoon. She was with us Tuesday. They had
the meeting yesterday. Keeping the system largely unchanged is not
one of the options. Instead, the alliance will consider governance
structures that would have IPS's elected board answering to an
overseer for things including accountability, facility management, and transportation services.

(15:37):
The friction point. Many of those who attended the meeting
for public comments supported keeping the elected IPS board in
place and in some cases expanding its authority. Elected board
members keep that in place. Charter school advocates, though, push
for independent authorities governing facilities and transportation services. Here's the thing.
And when I ask Counselor Lewis about that and about

(16:00):
all the articles that are coming out about this alliance
that she and others are a part of her her
answer was an interesting one, and that was that the
state the lawmakers are coming after. Every year they come,
they come for IPS. They're coming after I p S.
They're coming after. They want it badly, and they've got
the GOP supermajority in every year they chip away more

(16:22):
and more until they can just you know, they wanted
to take over. I forget what that what year that was.
So she is saying that this is the I guess,
the next best remedy. She said, this will keep the
lawmakers at bay. It'll it'll give them some you know,
we'll will recommend changes, but then we'll keep them at
bay in terms of just a total takeover and dismantling.

(16:45):
So she was saying, it's the lesser of two evils.
And there is daylight between what the state lawmakers want
to do to IPS and what the committee the UH,
this this, this, yeah, this committee UH wants to recommend.
So you know, it sounds like IPS is in trouble
either way you look at either way you cut it

(17:09):
and again Counselor Lewis's point was, with us in place
and with our recommendations, they're going to be far less
severe than what the lawmakers there over on Market Street
want to do, uh and have been trying to do
for years. But they want to change, and so if
we don't give them something, they're going to take it.

(17:30):
That was her answer. That was her answer. And I
don't argue with that, but I don't know. It's it's tough.
Sou and Axios reported a very contentious meeting. Let's see
what else they said here. I do not deny that
our state House leadership has made it very clear that

(17:51):
we must do something or else. IPS Superintendent Alicia Johnson said,
which is exactly what Counselor Lewis said, But that should
not change our commitment and ensuring that our community voice
is not diminished, not diminished and taking away elected board members.
Oh my goodness, so IPS, that's been on the hit list.

(18:14):
It's just been on the hit list for the longest.
So this coalition making recommendations and they don't have to
take those recommendations. They can still craft legislation, they don't
have to take the rate. They'll listen to them and
take them under consideration. I don't know.

Speaker 4 (18:34):
Wow, I'm just speechless, speechless.

Speaker 2 (18:39):
Well, I you know again. I told her, had shared
with her that some of the criticism that I had
heard about the coalition was that there was very little
daylight between what they want to do and what state
lawmakers want to do. And she said, there's a lot
of daylight because they want to just blow it up,
just take it over completely.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
And turned it into what, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (19:03):
Gas station or something. I don't know anything, but but yeah,
they've been gunning for IPS for years, for years, so
as far as maybe this coalition can can soften the
edges and maintain what they can uh before they take over.
But elections have consequences, and when there's a GOP supermajority

(19:26):
and they feel like they know better what should happen
to IPS than people who live here do, that's what happens.
That's what happens. Elections have consequences, So we'll see how
that goes. H three one, seven, four, eight, zero thirteen ten. Jeff,
go ahead, how are you.

Speaker 7 (19:45):
Hey?

Speaker 6 (19:45):
You know how you doing doing good?

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Doing good? I think how about your Well?

Speaker 7 (19:49):
I gotta say I've been Well, it was the old
gate till I picked up until your partner crawd open
the phone. Actually, if I was Aho State fans and
that was the most of the assault, that's like calling me.
I was like calling me a name that you here's
somebody says to another prison, you've been a bar somewhere.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
Have have you ever read yeah, have you ever read
the comments that these Ohio State fans online? They aren't
they That's what I was explaining to Eric. It's just
a it's a whole new it's a whole different reality,
a whole different existence.

Speaker 7 (20:27):
I mean they put the Purdue in Michigan crowd to shame.
I mean, these guys are like Ohio State is god,
excuse me, Tina, the Ohio.

Speaker 2 (20:38):
State, the Ohio State University.

Speaker 7 (20:40):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they they really getting something. You don't
put the Ohio State, you know, like whatever, Yeah, it's
it's wild. I mean you go to Columbus Ohio, it's
like it's the state capitol and the university just one
in the same exactly.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
Everything is Ohio State. And you know, and they deliver.
I mean it's winning. Is they delivered? Yeah? Losing is
not an option, no, No, oh and uh no, no.

Speaker 7 (21:12):
No, Michigan and as far as Michigan, I mean Ohio State.

Speaker 2 (21:16):
That's but there are a few there are a few
others that are like that, but they have their differences
like Alabama, Alabama, L s U, L s U, Auburn,
the big you know what, what are the power fives,
you know the But anyway, teams within that, within that
that realm are are all similar, but they're different.

Speaker 7 (21:40):
Yeah, but Ohio is a different category. I mean, I
thought Notre Dame fans were right.

Speaker 2 (21:45):
Notre Dame is a oh my goodness, Notre Dame. Do
we have Notre Dame fans here in the building or
do we? I think we do? Yeah, we definitely just what.

Speaker 7 (21:57):
The record, I went to the balls, I didn't go
to hide U. However, my siblings with IU and and
I can remember the you know, when I went to
see my brother played the Purdue fans and that's one
reason I got such an animosuard thing. That's what Purdue
was great. They would just run in the face of
the Hoosier.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
You it wasn't hard, Jeff, not in football. Come on,
we just we we we muddled through. Yeah, yeah, I
you for basketball, absolutely.

Speaker 7 (22:32):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. But I'm a Ball state guy, you know,
and you know I love Ball states, you know, don't
the way something cool about Boss Yeah, I mean it
just has his own little swag about it. But the
Ohio State they're they're like, I mean, it's like us
that they got this US against the world mentality.

Speaker 6 (22:54):
You know.

Speaker 7 (22:55):
Well, I got to ask you to have you reading
from the governor about these threats lawmakers these well, you know,
and he said, hey, is this unacceptable because he's probably responsible.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
I've not heard anything. I think the governor has denounced it.
I'm pretty sure. Uh, you know, everyone has denounced that
as as unnecessary, it's dangerous, So I you know, I
don't think he he certainly is not stoking it. And
I'm almost sure. Let me, let me look here, and
I'm pretty sure he denounced it. That that doesn't seem

(23:28):
to be in in Bronze Wheelhouse. Uh let's see. But
just about everybody Democrat and Republican down there at the
State House, in any position of leadership, has denounced uh, well,
has denounced these horrible horrible.

Speaker 7 (23:43):
Okay, I hang up after that. Republican't no more about
sleepy Joe, no more about Sleepy Joe. Have you seen
this clown lady and the meeting Tina? The guy literally
passes out during the uh uh staff me, I mean

(24:04):
the guy every time you know, it's I mean the
last one time you've been on TV, he's been falling asleep.
So uh, I guess what you expect from men that
be eighty years old in Jane in June.

Speaker 2 (24:16):
So, uh, you know, this is really very petty. But
he hasn't been combing his hair. Have you noticed that?

Speaker 7 (24:26):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (24:26):
Have you noticed that his hair has been looking pretty
a little rough? Yeah, like he just uh, you know,
just rolled out of the rack. You know, I'm like,
what's going on with that? But I and then I
look away because I don't look at too much.

Speaker 7 (24:40):
But yeah, well that that horrible hair playing wherever it is.
It looks it looked like I might shot a squirrel
put on top of his head, you know what I mean?

Speaker 2 (24:50):
So I don't know, Okay, yeah, but no, I'm pretty sure.
I'm almost positive I was looking for a quote I'm
Governor Brown denouncing this swatting and death threats and attempts
at violence. I'm almost sure I've seen him.

Speaker 4 (25:07):
There's something I found here back on the twenty first,
more supposedly he denounced threats. Yeah, yeah, he condemned the
wave of threat stating that, yeah, his family had also
been targeted.

Speaker 2 (25:18):
Yeah yeah, I'm pretty sure he did. I said that's
not his style and.

Speaker 3 (25:23):
Said they should be prosecuted and also.

Speaker 2 (25:25):
To the fullest extent of the law is what he says.

Speaker 7 (25:28):
Yeah, yeah, Well, I mean he helped way, he help,
you know, create this environment where people remember his own
party being dread. You know, I mean, like I said, Jena,
we're dealing with a cult. We're not dealing with a
political party that were Publican party is gone. They're gone.
You never see him again. They're gone. The Party of
Lincoln and Ray and and hours ago, now you got.

(25:51):
You basically had the Manson family running the show because
you're dealing with a cult. So this was, you know,
all because you guys can deal with a black man
being elected president. You allowed your races and over the
Trump you're with no pun intending you're good judgment. You
vote against your best interest because you're motivated by race.
You would roll to see black people catch hell, and

(26:14):
a lot of your family started it just so TEENA
can buy a house in a certain neighborhood. That's pretty sad, Tina,
you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, yep, it is tears and tears Jeff. But uh,
we carry on. What time is it? What time is
that game? Dani will tell us that game Saturday?

Speaker 3 (26:30):
Yeah, he'll love us not.

Speaker 2 (26:33):
I don't know either. Yeah, yeah, okay, Well I tell
you what. Uh, We're gonna talk Christmas. Love to talk Christmas. Yeah,
toys and kids and good feels and Paris is up
right after this.

Speaker 1 (26:49):
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(27:32):
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Speaker 2 (27:48):
And we are back with community Connection. What was that
you said, uh said Eric. If you've lived in Indian Apples,
what a week?

Speaker 6 (27:57):
You know?

Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah, you know you have to say Harris, Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah,
he's over here with app is over here. Okay, he's
over there, over here. Guess what, he's right here. He's
right here with us today.

Speaker 7 (28:11):
Amp.

Speaker 2 (28:12):
How are you doing? Welcome back? How you doing that?
Then it's true, it's true. Yeah, seriously, though there was
it was last year, a year before and I came

(28:33):
out of the studio and they were like, hey, Amp's downstairs,
and I said, he's downstairs. Yeah, he's got ahole bunch
of toys for the kids and he's doing and he's
doing so and so. And then there was another week
they said app just came through and I said, okay,
I keep missing Amp because he went over here here
yonder that woman anyway, So glad to have you with us,
and boy, uh, you're talking about putting a smile on

(28:55):
a child's face for Christmas and we love that. I
know you love it.

Speaker 8 (29:00):
Yeah, It's something that is near and dear to my heart,
something that I wanted to do that I started like
eighteen years ago, and it started off just as me
just looking myself in the mirror and reflecting on the
times when I was a child, being the youngest of
eight and growing up in a single pan home and
knowing my mother did the best she could with what

(29:23):
she had for my family during Christmas, and then being
in a position that I'm in. God blessed me to
be able to have a vision to say, hey, to
whom much is given, much is required. So eighteen years ago,
I got with several of my friends and said, I
want to adopt some kids for Christmas. Actually, my attorney,
Nathaniel Lee, and I said I want to do We're

(29:44):
going to do this program. And then from their Tina,
I said, one day I woke up in the middle
of the night and I don't know where this number
three hundred came from. I said, I'm gonna adopt three
hundred kids. And all of my friends were like, are
you crazy?

Speaker 6 (29:57):
And I'm like, well, if.

Speaker 8 (29:59):
I am, it's a part of my life. And from
that it's morphed into the annual and Paris and Friends
put a smile on a child's face. Where we're now
adopting over.

Speaker 5 (30:08):
A thousand kids?

Speaker 8 (30:09):
Oh yeah, to date, I'm at eighteen thousand.

Speaker 2 (30:13):
WHOA. So when you say adopted child, what does that entail?

Speaker 8 (30:19):
So basically what I do is I go in. I
work with the John bonersoner. I started working with Forcemen
and multi service center years ago, but now to John
bonnersenter over on the East Side. They're like my hubs.
And what I do is I go to them and say, hey,
I need you to give me the names of families
and I need the kids to range. It used to

(30:40):
be zero to fifteen, but it's hard to shop for eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen,
fifteen year old because they ask for cars.

Speaker 2 (30:47):
Now in real estate.

Speaker 8 (30:52):
So I said, okay, it's easier to do zero to ten.
So they provide all the families for me. And basically
all I ask is you give me your name. There's
a questionnaire that you have to ask for that we
asked the parents to fill out. But it's not something
where I need to know how much money you make
a year, any of that kind of stuff. It's literally

(31:14):
just send me the kids' names and we'll we'll figure
it out from there. So that's what I mean by.

Speaker 6 (31:20):
Adopt the kid.

Speaker 8 (31:21):
I take the kids on.

Speaker 5 (31:22):
I don't know.

Speaker 8 (31:23):
Them, but I shot for them and give them an experience.
And up to COVID, I used to give them a
whole entire performance or used to feed the family's team.
That would be a program for two and a half
hours wow, and yeah, it was would wrap around programs
for the parents. I had different organization come through to

(31:45):
help whether if you wanted.

Speaker 5 (31:46):
Information about education, health.

Speaker 8 (31:48):
Information, help with your assistance with your bills to be paid.
But then once COVID hit, I had to pivot and
instead of not doing the event, then I partnered up
with the Indian Apposmotor Speedway and now we do what
we call the Empires put a smile on the South
face for Christmas toy drive by And the unique side

(32:11):
of it is the families get to drive on the track.
And these are families team that you and I both
know that probably would not get a chance to see
or be ever inside of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway let
alone drive their cars on the track. So that experience
within itself is life changing, and that's what my event

(32:31):
is really all about.

Speaker 2 (32:33):
Yeah yeah, So so am beach year that that you're
able to do the event and complete it. What's what's
that like? What does that feel like?

Speaker 8 (32:43):
Oh my god, it's so gratifying because again I I
self reflect and I see myself and those kids. I see,
I see the parents and that and you see a
lot of grandparents believe it or not, that are bringing
the children. There is a gap between the parent and
the grandparents. So you got grandparents raising kids. So I see,

(33:06):
I literally see my life flashing right in front of me.
So from a gratifying standpoint, it just shows me like
being in this position, especially now, with with what our
people have to deal with and how hard it is
just to be a person of color. For me, it

(33:27):
just gives a sign of hope. So then I let
these young families and these kids get a chance to
see like Reggie Wayne from the Indianapolis Coach, you know,
Paul George from the Indiana Pacers, Miles Turner, people that
they watch and see on television, Mike at the mayor

(33:48):
comes out, your peers from video one, they come out,
and so it's really also showing families that there are
people that they look up to and idolize that they
too come from hum beginning like where those families are
coming from. So it's very gratifying for me.

Speaker 2 (34:05):
Yeah, yeah, and I was about you. You alluded to
it a little bit, but especially now in these times,
an event like this with you and Reggie Wayne hosting
an event like this has even more meaning especially now.

Speaker 8 (34:21):
Yeah, and that's something I'm very intentional because I mean,
for me, I know a lot of times seeing if
people get caught up on what I call the top
topical and happy things, and I kind of lived my
life where images control everything that we do. Unfortunately in
this day and age and back in the day again,
I was intentional because of the intent my mother put

(34:44):
forth and parents back in the day to make sure
that their kids. I knew what it was felt like
when I got a pair of sox. I knew what
it felt like when I got one game, a pair
of sox and P pencil. My mother was very intentional
to buy and do whatever she could so that her
child would have some now content is more important than intents.

(35:07):
Now our kids are being led and a led astray
if I may, by all of these fake artificial images.
Ooh yeah, So for me, a lot of what I do,
I know that the toys are what I call topics
and happiness, the issues and the joy part is what

(35:27):
AT focuses on is making sure that these families see
people out there that want to be there, because we're
out there. It could be twenty degrees outside tea, we're outside,
So I want people to see that. You know, we're
not doing this to make someone feel ashamed. We're doing

(35:47):
this because we can relate to what that person is
going through. And you never know in moments like this,
how kindness, how far it goes. And so My Parents
Foundation is really all about that. It's really showing people
that it doesn't matter where you come from. That doesn't

(36:08):
have to be your beginning or middle or your end.

Speaker 5 (36:11):
And I have a sister who.

Speaker 8 (36:13):
Was one of those parents. She was strung out on drugs,
she was lost to the streets. But now I could
tell you she's a two time author, she's a two
time college graduate, she's a business owner. So that's what
it's right all about. Showing those families you could be
a mother. And my sister is right there and she

(36:35):
prays with the people and she testifies with the people.
Let me tell you my story. So it's a very
moving kind of event. And it's really just not about
the toys that people see. It's really about love and hope.

Speaker 2 (36:50):
Any thoughts on social media, especially with the kids that
you're talking about from birth to eleven, the ones that
you focus on, you know, getting through, getting your messages
through when like you were saying, false images, false false representations,
and things of that nature. What are your thoughts on
social media as you as you work to get this

(37:11):
message of love into these kids. Because social media, well, anyway, go.

Speaker 5 (37:14):
Ahead, it's the devil.

Speaker 8 (37:16):
I'm sorry, No, I couldn't wait to answer that.

Speaker 5 (37:21):
So it's the.

Speaker 8 (37:22):
Devil thing I mean to me, you know social media
wasn't then, That's what I'm saying. Like, growing up, we
were intentional about trying to get an education. We were
intentional about doing what you do for a living, for
your job and your career. When you were on television,
you were intentional to go to journalism school. Now you don't.

(37:46):
Nobody is going to journalism school because according to social media,
you don't have to work. And that's why I'm saying.
Back in the day and the way that I live
my life, I knew intent what's priority one. Now content
is priority one and every you see what I mean.
So content now has become more important than the intent.

(38:08):
So in my world, I'm clear about social media. Social
media can be an amazing tool, but unfortunately we live
in a society now where a lie is golden telling
the truth. You're you're you're a fool. So our young

(38:30):
people need to see Tina Cosen. Our young people need
to see a Paris, they need to see Reggie Wayne's,
they need to see Nathaniel Lead. They need to see
black people that are more than just a athlete or
a rapper. So I'm that's what I'm saying, Like when
you the things that I do and the people that

(38:51):
I associate with, we have a commonality and that is
understanding the impact that we have to next generation. And
so I surround I bring young people out, their college kids.
I'm very intentional to show black men it's okay to
have to to love on your children. So I bring

(39:13):
my daughter with me everywhere I go as much as
many opportunities as I can, because we need to show
that is the other side of the black family, all
about single parents. But if you watch social media, all
they glorify is the worst of everything. If I tell
like what we're talking about now, I'll get fifty likes

(39:35):
talking about adopting a thousand kids for Christmas. But if
I showed you one child running down the street neked,
I'll get a million. Yep, you see what I mean?

Speaker 2 (39:46):
Oh yeah, I know. And it's all about likes and
follows and some subscriptions because people do do anything to
get those because that that builds them up. But that aside.
Tell us about you. You made a good point about
who you bring around the children and who the examples

(40:07):
that you like to use, including your own family, your sister,
your daughter. Tell us about Reggie Wayne.

Speaker 8 (40:13):
Reggie Waying is somebody like he's like my little brother,
and a lot of people see amp connected to a
lot of famous people. Uh huh, Well that just happens.

Speaker 5 (40:24):
To be my life.

Speaker 2 (40:25):
That's just your promoter's.

Speaker 8 (40:27):
Yeah, well it's more than just being a promoter, seenmer,
because there still has to be respect that they have.
I know a bunch of promoters, but they're like, well, man,
how do you get these.

Speaker 5 (40:39):
Celebrities to like you?

Speaker 2 (40:40):
It's about relationship building, well that, but it's also about
you being true to who you are as a person before.

Speaker 8 (40:47):
Your job title.

Speaker 2 (40:48):
Okay, and AMP.

Speaker 8 (40:50):
Doesn't waiver because because I'm not defined by that in
the moment you define me by or you're a promoter
or you know you know this person, then you don't
even see.

Speaker 9 (41:01):
Me at all.

Speaker 8 (41:02):
So a lot of the people that you see that
I'm able to establish these kind of relationships. And it's
not just with athletes, it's with politicians. One of my
big brothers and my best friend is Jeffrey Johnson.

Speaker 5 (41:14):
He's a pastor.

Speaker 8 (41:16):
But then you know, I got other friends that you
know that work at normal day to day jobs. So
the one commonality, Tina, that I would like to say
about me is I'm not a conformist, and when you
are around me, I know my spirit affects in secure
people's demons. So everybody doesn't like AMP, but they don't

(41:39):
know why because they can't define AMPS. So it's like
again your intro. If you've been in Indianapolis, you know AMP,
but you can't really define, well, what does he do?
I just left an event volunteering with a young lady.
You may know, Vicki Peterson, and she does. She has
a nonprofit that works with senior citizens. And it's really
when I go to places like that, I feel like

(42:01):
that my work is being done and who I am
and my integrity speaks out. Because when an eighty five
year old woman says to me, I'm so proud of you.
This just happened an hour ago. I'm so proud of
you because I see the work that you're doing.

Speaker 5 (42:19):
I know who you are. You a Paris.

Speaker 8 (42:24):
That was it for me because that's the impact that
I'm talking about. So the Reggie Waynees of the world,
they are my friends. These aren't people that I know.
We started off through entertainment and sports, but now these
are people that I can pick up the phone and say, hey, Resting.

(42:46):
I mean, I give you another example. Rest in peace,
mister jim Irsay. I never played for the Colt, but
he was somebody that had a lot of respect for
amps for the work that I've done that he's noted.
So the celebrity side of it, I don't like to
really talk about because if we get caught up into that,

(43:08):
that goes back into that content arena. And my friends
are people that I know.

Speaker 1 (43:16):
Their kids.

Speaker 8 (43:17):
I raised, Reggie Wayne's kids, Edrin James kids, George Hill
born and raised in Indianapolis is considered like my little brother.
So there are real relationships. Where I'm going with this
team is beyond just that. So that's why we can
get a Reggie Wayne to put his name and lend
his name, a Mikees to lend his name and his

(43:39):
voice to doing things in the community with am paris.

Speaker 2 (43:43):
Yes, deep respect, much respect, indeed, I'm sure. So tell
us what it is that you and Reggie and the
rest of the volunteers are going to be doing. When where?
How give us all the details. This is exciting. I
love hearing about it. But you know, this is fun
to talk about on the show, about how the community
is helping and reaching out and helping each other, especially

(44:05):
this time of the year. So yeah, give us all
the deeds. We need the details.

Speaker 8 (44:11):
So basically this year, it's December the twentieth. The families
are pre selected because we can't just have a free
fall coming into the motor Speedway. It's a billion dollars
over there. Then we got to have some rules and regulations.

Speaker 2 (44:29):
Okay, As Jimmy McMillan, is he a part of it too,
is he help out with Oh.

Speaker 8 (44:33):
Yeah, Jimmy, that's my guy. Absolutely, So I have an
amazing relationship with you know, Jimmy is my guy. But
my relationship is with the president and oh of well,
Mark Miles, Mark Miles and LinkedIn. Okay, so those are
the kind of relationships again that I was speaking of,
all of my various relationships.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (44:54):
And so when I started this again, this was during COVID,
and I basically said that I need the facility, so
I MS basically gives me the facility for like two
weeks because that's how long it takes for us to
prep all this together. So we start December the ten,
loading in breaking down the toys because we already have

(45:18):
the kids. And then I have to go shop for
the kids.

Speaker 9 (45:22):
Literally.

Speaker 8 (45:23):
Yeah, I literally go to the shop. And it's a
huge undertaking. If you came out, Tina, you'll be like, am,
there's no way, so this is not you know again,
you're talking a thousand kids and each kid, Tina gets
an average between four to five toys per person.

Speaker 5 (45:40):
Wow.

Speaker 8 (45:40):
Yeah. And then we also are fortunate enough that I
have Pacer tickets that we give to the parents. I
have coach tickets that I give out to the parents.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Jimmy McMillan, We we give away
tickets to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So the toy again,
the toys is once and then I partner with different

(46:04):
schools around the city and what I do with them
we give information to parents who may need assistance to
try to get their kids into a school. So December
the twentieth, what we do between now and then is
we ask for donations. Because I used to literally pay

(46:25):
for everything out of my pocket. I am parents were
just because I didn't depend on nobody. So now what
I'm doing these interviews that I do pre the event
is anybody want to make a donation, go They can
go to my website, which is am Parisfoundation dot org,
or they can find me on social media at a

(46:45):
Paris and they can make any kind of donation they want.
If they have toys that they want to donate, we
can figure out a way to get them.

Speaker 5 (46:53):
But it's really just.

Speaker 10 (46:54):
I like to expose us because where else in America
do you see and I'm and I'm gonna say this,
a young black boy like Amps can go into a
facility like.

Speaker 8 (47:06):
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and they open up the doors
the way that they do to receive us and welcome us.
So I don't take for granted any of these opportunities
and privileges that I have, Tina, But I also take
those privileges that ampath and I spread them back to
my community absolutely. So you see what I'm looking for?

Speaker 2 (47:29):
OK, go ahead, No, go ahead, Please go ahead.

Speaker 8 (47:31):
So what I'm looking for, So when you ask that
question is really about if the community people want to
find a way to contribute and be a part of something.
It don't it don't require a lot, and it don't
have You don't have to donate the Empires Foundation either.
You could do your own. I just want to be
a vessel to show the more we touch people, the
more of us out here giving back.

Speaker 5 (47:52):
I think it makes for a better.

Speaker 8 (47:56):
Universe for for for especially to combat all of this
negativity as they try to dismantle our black history.

Speaker 2 (48:04):
It's also a welcome and needed, much needed reminder of
our humanity. You know, sometimes we have to be reminded,
uh that we aren't in a little two by five
screen that we that we're real where people we exist
and we uh, you know, we feel, and we we love,
we we help, and so I just think again, a

(48:25):
nice reminder of our own humanity is uh, it's so
very welcomed. It's so very welcomed.

Speaker 8 (48:33):
Yeah, because humanity is being struck down, stricken down.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
Yes, yes, that's what.

Speaker 8 (48:40):
That's what I'm saying, like content is more important than
intent because most of the content you see every day
when you open up your television, the leading stories is
something negative. That the President said, the leading story is
somebody getting shot or something bad at So now we've
now glorified that, and that whole negative aspect has become

(49:03):
so polarizing that the average person. That's why I said,
our people feel hopeless because they feed our people nothing
but the worst. So when I think about myself, I
don't mind being the sacrificial lamb to go back because
I've lived an amazing life. I mean, you know, Tina,
true story part of who I am started at thirteen

(49:26):
when I watched my brother get shot in the head
by my stepfather.

Speaker 5 (49:30):
Oh and he died right there deck.

Speaker 8 (49:33):
Technically in front of me. But not only did I
see it, my mother was standing there. Why my best friend,
and I say, she's the strongest person that I know.
So in that one moment, my mother lost her son,
her husband, and they thought she was going to lose
her baby child, which is me. So there is a

(49:53):
lot of intent why I stand on principle, why I
don't conform, Why I I know that I'm a minority
when it comes to trying to stand on what is
right and being able to share what God has blessed
me with. Rather f, it's a relationship with Reggie Wayne.

(50:14):
Rather F, it's a relationship with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
the Pacers, the Coat and I use those organizations because
I know that's what brings people together.

Speaker 2 (50:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (50:23):
So there's a method to Amp's madness, Tina, that most
people don't sit down and ask these kind of questions.
They just see Amp. Like you said at the beginning,
he's everywhere. But I'm everywhere for an intentional purpose, not
to be glorified, to say, oh my God, you're this,
You're that I can care less about that.

Speaker 2 (50:43):
Well, we care a lot about you, and don't slow
down and you keep it. I mean because We love
having you all around the city, all around our young people,
and keep doing what you're doing because we need it.
We desperately need more Amparisons out there. So once again,
this is coming up Saturday, December twentieth, put a smile
on a child's face for Christmas at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,

(51:05):
hosted by Reggie Wayne Colt's Legend and the Emold, the
the the the Incredible am Paris. You know, I'm not
gonna I'm not gonna put a title on just the
incredible ampare amp. Your heart is as big as the
city and we love you for it, and we thank you.
And again you want to remind folks if they would

(51:26):
like to donate to help make Christmas brighter for young
people that you continue to do year after year, how
can they do that?

Speaker 8 (51:35):
They can again, they can go to my foundation which
is am Paris and Parisfoundation dot org. Or if you're
on social media under AMP A M P A k
R R I S and you can find me there
DM me and I can give you all the information.
And I gotta say this thinge I gotta I will
be remissed if I didn't shout out radio one for
coming alongside of me as one of those organizations that

(51:58):
open up their doors to me, that allow me to
be able to spread my word like having this conversation
with you. So shout out to my partners over there.
My family are ready a one.

Speaker 2 (52:09):
I appreciate, We appreciate you, and you come. You know
you're welcome anytime. Doors always open, so I'm sure we'll
be seeing you during sometime during the season. So thank
you again, Thank you so much for all you do.
We thank you. Indeed, we'll be back with more community connection.

Speaker 1 (52:24):
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(52:47):
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(53:09):
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Speaker 2 (53:27):
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Speaker 1 (53:42):
Com, WTOCAM, W two three six CR Indianapolis, discussing the
issues that matter to you and keeping you informed with
what's happening in and around Indy. It's Community Connection with
Tina Cosby, brought to you by Child Advocates, a champion
for justice, opportunity and well being for children on Praise

(54:04):
AM thirteen ten ninety five point what FM.

Speaker 2 (54:08):
And we're back with Community Connection heading into our second hour,
Still ahead sports with Danny Bridges from the Indianapolis Recorder.
And you know this time of the year, AMP made
a good point, it's a good time to remember our
humanity and to help and there are a number of
folks out there doing just that. Amp of course, is

(54:30):
going to have his big put a smile on a
child's face at Christmas with him and Reggie Wayne out
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Also want to remind you he
was on earlier this week, Reverend Richard Hunter. If you
are someone you know needs help this holiday season, you
can contact Reverend Hunter and his Christmas Help Program. You

(54:51):
have to call though, before December tenth. Before December tenth,
that is the deadline to get your call in. All
you have to do is call, leave your name, phone number,
and family size, and you do so at this number.
I'm gonna say it slowly, The Richard Hunters. The Reverend
Richard Hunters Christmas Health Program three one seven, three four

(55:13):
seven one six nine zero three one seven, three four
seven one six nine zero. The Reverend Richard Hunter Ministries,
in partnership with Martin University, will present Central Indiana's thirty
first annual Christmas Health Program. The goal is to serve
as many families as possible for with helping at Christmas.

(55:38):
They don't want any family or the individual to go hungry.
They provide a week's worth of groceries and a turkey.
So if you call this number, you have to call though,
and you have to call before midnight December tenth. You
have to call this number and leave your name, your
phone number, and your family size. The number is three
one seven, three, four, seven, six nine zero three one seven,

(56:02):
three four seven one six nine zero. Now with that,
you have to be able to pick up your week's
worth of groceries on Friday, December the twelfth. The deadline
to get your reservation in is the tenth. You have
to be able to pick it up December twelfth, twenty
one eighty six Sherman Drive. That's Martin University between the

(56:24):
hours of ten am and two pm, between the hours
of ten am and two pm. And again that's the
Reverend Richard Hunter Ministries. He was on earlier, and I
do believe that we are going to get him on
again one last time prior to the deadline. Is this
is as impressive as it gets. All of these folks,

(56:46):
you know, Amp Reverend Hunter and the like, everybody is
out there really just doing an incredible job of seeing
to it that everybody has served at least during this
Christmas season, including us, including us right here the Indianapol
stations of Radio one. We want to make sure and

(57:07):
remind you of our Black Santa Christmas Toy Drive now underway.
We're collecting toys both here and at our Monument Circle
studios and at area participating McDonald's restaurants courtesy of the
James Poor Family. The Poor family steps up with us
every year to make our toy drives and distributions a

(57:28):
success again. You can bring your new unwrapped toy for
a child, new and unwrapped, either to our studios down
here on Monument Circle. We're going to be here a
few more days Monument Circle or at any participating McDonald's.
And I am trusting that. Eric, you have the names
and oh good, good, good, good good. Yes, you you

(57:51):
are too good. You're too good.

Speaker 3 (57:52):
I'm okay, get to your standard.

Speaker 4 (57:55):
Oh let's see, it's McDonald's thirty four to thirty five.
What's sixteenth Street here in Indiana. That's just west of
White River on sixteenth fifty six seventeen Michigan Road right
there at fifty six in Kessler and forty eight oh
two west fifty seventh that's fifty six in Georgetown and
one final location also sixty to fifty six West seventy

(58:16):
first three right off of four sixty five on the
northwest side.

Speaker 2 (58:19):
Yeah yeah, and so yeah, please help us continue. We
serve thousands. We have thousands and thousands of toys every
year for our Black Santa Christmas Toy Drive. Same for
our Hispanic speaking community, which is the Papa Noel And
so they're both on December thirteenth. They're both on Saturday,

(58:42):
December thirteenth. Ours the Black Santa will be December thirteenth,
ten am to one pm at the Madam Walker Legacy Center,
six seventeen Indiana Avenue, right praise AM thirteen ninety five
point one FMWTLC FN one O six point seven. All
will be there in attendance, and we are all going
to be participating in our Black Santa Toy Drive community Compass.

(59:06):
We haven't mentioned that for a while. That's a digital
tool is basically an app, eric website and smartphone app,
i should say, and it connects people with food resources
including food pantries, meal sites, snap and wick retailers with
clinics and food related events. Because everybody's not going to
be you know, as numerous as they are and as

(59:27):
generous as they are, people are going to need these
services beyond the dates of these special events, and so
if you're going to need services beyond that and people will,
the Community Compass is a great, great tool to use
that will direct you to where you need to be. Again,
it's a digital tool. You can use it on it's

(59:47):
on your website or you can use it on your smartphone.
It's an app that you can download to your smartphone
and it will connect you with people in food resources
out there twenty four hours a day, seven days a week,
so it doesn't have to be just around Christmas. Yeah. Again,
food pantries, meal sites, snap and Wick, retailers, clinics, food

(01:00:08):
related events that we may not have mentioned here, maybe
we didn't know about.

Speaker 4 (01:00:14):
So I downloaded that app because there's something that I
know who can use that help and to direct them
where to go. And Community Compass is great and it
gives you all the locations everything.

Speaker 2 (01:00:24):
Yeah, yeah, everything. Yeah. And we understand that food banks
and others around the country are gearing up to provide
assistance to people the county, the county to people in need,
the city, United Way, Lily and others are pulling together
to pull their resources to help keep our food banks
stopped and ready to assist in these trying times. They

(01:00:48):
can be very trying, indeed. And so Eric, did you
hear about that raccoon? Yes, oh you did?

Speaker 3 (01:00:58):
Did you want?

Speaker 4 (01:01:00):
It went on a ram page, But it broke into
a liquor store and that was in Virginia and started smashing.

Speaker 3 (01:01:08):
Bottles of alcohol. And I was drunk, passed out drunk.

Speaker 2 (01:01:12):
Yeah, that's how they caught it.

Speaker 4 (01:01:13):
They caught it drunk.

Speaker 3 (01:01:14):
It was next to a toilet.

Speaker 2 (01:01:18):
I think it was getting ready to to to earl
as they say, and.

Speaker 3 (01:01:23):
It's like it was. It's hilarious, It's like and it's yeah.
They apprehended it and.

Speaker 4 (01:01:31):
The charges filed I don't know, you know, for damaging and.

Speaker 2 (01:01:35):
Well it had it had to go to jail kind
of sort of because I think what they do ended
up taking it to a shelter, not to a shelter,
to it to a Hyeah to animal shelter.

Speaker 3 (01:01:47):
Animal shelter. Then I think I read they released it
back into the wild.

Speaker 2 (01:01:50):
They did, But my thought was that was sober.

Speaker 4 (01:01:54):
That's what I was wondering.

Speaker 3 (01:01:55):
Well, they gave it a chance to get sober. That's sober.
But that's a true story, and the story.

Speaker 4 (01:02:02):
I wonder they released it back into the wild, would
it come back and do the same thing again later?

Speaker 3 (01:02:07):
What if it enjoyed the alcohol, you know, the liquor.

Speaker 2 (01:02:12):
I don't know, but you know what, I have always
heard that they can be destructive as all get out.
I have to And a friend of mine, one of
her friends, was saying that her family was just terrorized
by a coon that got up in the attic and
there was like five or six thousand dollars worth of
damage that their insurance company had to pay for. And

(01:02:32):
when you look at the video, because I don't know
how many people have sent me that video or the
the article because everybody thought it was funny, the drunk
the drunken coon. But when you look at that that video,
it looks like more than it looks like a whole
bunch of folks went in there and did the day.
It seemed like a little four legged critter could do

(01:02:52):
that much damage, did all that.

Speaker 1 (01:02:54):
No, it didn't.

Speaker 4 (01:02:55):
It's like had some assistance, yeah, because supposed it was
all by himself or itself.

Speaker 2 (01:03:00):
But I wonder when it started drinking.

Speaker 4 (01:03:01):
I wonder, it's like and then because it said they
said it was passed out in the splute position.

Speaker 3 (01:03:08):
Yeah, you know, that's just out.

Speaker 2 (01:03:11):
Yeah, as as people who have too much to drink
often do, they don't know where they are, Like, oh well, those.

Speaker 3 (01:03:23):
Things they get into your house, you don't want to
mess with.

Speaker 2 (01:03:26):
No, no, that I hear they are can be pretty
pretty ugly. Well, let's go ahead and take a break.
Will shift gears here from from the drunken coon to
Dandy Bridges. I know Daddy's gonna like that transmission. We'll
be right back.

Speaker 1 (01:03:42):
He's made his list, he chected twice, and he's headed
to Andy. The kids in Indy have been good all year,
and Black Santa is headed to the Madame Walker Legacy
Center on Saturday, December thirteenth. Black Santa is coming to

(01:04:03):
town and he's bringing his slave filled with toys to
meet all the boys and girls of Indy. Come get
your picture taken with Black Santa and enjoy the holidays
with this holiday tradition. Saturday, December thirteenth, beginning at ten
am the Madam Walker Legacy Center, six seventeen Indiana Avenue.
Tata says, we help brighten the Christmas morning of many
children in Indianapolis enjoy the holidays with Black Santa and

(01:04:26):
Praise AM thirteen, ten ninety five point one FM, Indy's
inspiration station. Let's get back to the conversation. It's Community
Connection with Tina Cosby, brought to you by Child Advocates,
a champion for justice, opportunity and well being for children
on Praise AM thirteen, ten ninety five point one FM.

Speaker 2 (01:04:48):
And we're back with Community Connection. Our good friend from
the Indianapolis Recorder, Danny Bridges, is back with this. Danny,
how are you doing?

Speaker 5 (01:04:59):
Hey, I can't plays.

Speaker 2 (01:05:00):
The sun is shining, it is is it not? Yeah? Well,
I tell you what. Eric and I were in here
right before and during the break, chuckling a little bit
about did you hear I'm sure you heard the story
about the the coon that broke into the liquor store
and passed out drunk.

Speaker 5 (01:05:19):
I did that once in college myself, so yes, I've
heard about it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:26):
Oh my goodness. We both kept laughing. It's like, how
in the world and all of the damage that little
four legged creature did inside the liquor store, and then
we don't know, I mean, nobody knows how much it
drank what a drank or whatever, because I would have
thought that any kind of liquor would kill an animal
like that if they drank or you know, consume too
much of it. But maybe he passed out before he

(01:05:47):
could get any more in his body. I don't know.

Speaker 5 (01:05:50):
Well, all I can say is it didn't kill me,
So that's oneif raccoon.

Speaker 2 (01:05:57):
Yes, and deity, and hopefully he's back in the back
of the Did they put him back in the while?

Speaker 3 (01:06:02):
They released him back into the wild after he was sober?
Sober up?

Speaker 5 (01:06:07):
Yeah, I got released about seventy two hours later after
I forvailed. But yeah, that's a cool story. And you
know what, hopefully, uh the owner will set some uh
suitable food outdoors so that so the guy won't come
any further than the door next time.

Speaker 2 (01:06:27):
Yeah, yeah, we're gonna have to do that because they.

Speaker 5 (01:06:29):
Can do something I would do.

Speaker 2 (01:06:30):
Yeah, okay, okay, they can do some damage. So Danny,
haven't talked to you for a couple of weeks. How
was your Thanksgiving holiday?

Speaker 5 (01:06:39):
It was uh, high calorie, very relaxing, A very relaxing.
I watched enough football to last me for quite a
few days after that, and then I watched some college
football as the weekend and folded, and then a little
bit more football on on Sunday for good measures. So food, football, relaxation.

(01:07:05):
Very satisfy, very satisfied. Hopefully yours as well.

Speaker 2 (01:07:08):
Yeah, it was, it was. I'm not sure how much
football I got to watch some I guess I don't know.
I don't know, I don't know what I did. Oh,
we came downtown and watched the lighting of the Christmas
tree circle, circle of lights, did that. I had family
in for Thanksgiving, and then had family in for Thanksgiving,

(01:07:29):
and then when they left, we went came downtown and
then uh, because they ended up going a little earlier
because of the snowstorm that was coming that was coming Saturday.
But good, yeah, just good time off, just just good, good,
good time off. So where do you want to start today? Oh,
there's a lot of stuff going on. There's a whole
lot of stuff.

Speaker 5 (01:07:50):
I think. Uh, everybody is looking at Saturday night from
a college football perspective. I got it. I got in.
I s at the Pacer Game of the night and
someone said, hey, first time ever, two best teams in
the country you're playing. I said, well, how about we
go with number one and number two rated or ranked

(01:08:12):
teams rather than that set off a storm of sorts,
but I was able to say, I was able to
explain it to them, and uh, I think we're back
on speaking terms at least hopefully. But that's okay. I
just uh, I look at this thing in a couple
different ways. I mean, obviously there's a lot at stake here.
People say, hey, both these teams are subtly in the

(01:08:34):
playoff picture. Indiana needs to win more than Ohio State
in my opinion, for one specific reason, maybe a couple
other ancillary reasons. If they lose that game, they could
fall to number five. That's possible. I don't know how
the committee will treat it, but that's a possibility. If

(01:08:54):
they do, they lose the first round. By situation, now,
they still play a home game, but they'd like to
have that bye week for a couple of reasons. One
to get healed up from any nagging injuries they may
have and hopefully there'll be no serious injuries on Saturday
night for either team, and to plan and prepare for
their first round opponent at home. So it's big for

(01:09:16):
both teams. But I think it might be a little
bit more important Indiana. As far as the playoff is
concern that will follow the Big Ten championship game. I
have said for a long time that championship games for
the conference really are fluff. It's a money making thing.
It really doesn't have a lot of bearing as far
as I'm concerned. I mean, both these teams have proven

(01:09:38):
what they have got in the conference. They don't need
this extra game. Maybe it's bragging rights, maybe they sell
some merchandise that says conference champion on their name, but
beyond that, I don't have much use for these conference
championship games out There are some in some other conferences
that could propel a team into the playoffs, so that
makes it important. But well, these two teams having no

(01:10:01):
doubt about their playoffs landing other than the where they're
going to rate it at, I don't I don't see
the need for one. But don't tell that to the
Indianapolis Sports Corporation or Lucas Oil Stadium, or the Ursa
family or all the IU and Ohio State fans. They
don't want to hear that.

Speaker 2 (01:10:21):
Yeah, well, who's the favorite.

Speaker 5 (01:10:26):
Ohio State's favorite? I think you know less than a touchdown,
which I'm not sure that matters either in terms of
you know, people who love to gamble. But I look
at this thing. I look at the quarterbacks, Souse. Everybody
likes to focus on offense and quarterbacks, and you know,
all I hear is that the Mendoza gentlemen from Indiana

(01:10:50):
is that a fine season is the Heisman favorite. I
don't put much wait into the Heisman Award anymore. I don't.
I don't think it carries the weight that it once did,
say fifteen t years ago. It certainly doesn't mean anything.
And how you're drafted and and they don't hand out
a big check and just give you a trophy. So
what's the big deal now again? Heisman lovers, you know

(01:11:11):
how to read me my numbers on everything and everything
I write. My phone numbers are still call me sometimes seriously. Though,
the two quarterbacks I think are relatively even if you
look at their statistical analysis as far as really number
of Yeah, I mean Mendoza's so maybe what two or
three more touchdown passes? They have simiver amounts of yards.

(01:11:32):
I think one of the two quarterback ratings a couple
of points higher. They're very evenly matched statistically keyword. I
am interesting to see if Indiana can get to him early.
If they can, they're going to have some success. I
believe the same thing applies for Ohio State's defense, which

(01:11:55):
I thought against Michigan was exceptional. I don't watch a
lot of games in their entirety. I'll watch some. If
it gets out of hand, maybe I'll walk away from
the TV or do something else. I didn't watch all
that game this past weekend, and I thought Ohio State's
defense was exceptional. That is a problem for any team
that includes Indiana. Indiana does some things well, especially in

(01:12:20):
the air. I think they have to get the ball
out of Mendoze's hands. Maybe just a tad bit quicker
against this defense. Maybe that's some short passing. It would
maybe equate to what the rushing game normally. You know
quates too. But I think this is a close matchup.
I really do I have a selection for you here today.
I know you're gonna ask me that, but I do

(01:12:43):
believe that this game should be entertaining. I hope that
it doesn't get out of hand because that's no good
for anybody, especially those watching in person who paid a
lot of money to sit there. But no, I am
I think Indiana.

Speaker 2 (01:12:58):
No, I was just gonna say I heard the cheapest
ticket is about five hundred dollars to get in the door,
and that's why, Well that's.

Speaker 5 (01:13:03):
What people are asking for tickets. If you want to
go to this game, go down to h I mean,
everything's transferable now through ticket mester online. So go down
to the game and find yourself somewhere to hang out,
and you know, before the game, and there's gonna be
people outside selling tickets. The closer it gets to the
start of the game, the less the ticket is worth.

(01:13:25):
So for those asking five hundred versus those who might
pay that, I think there's a variance. But I sure
hope there's nobody silly enough to pay five hundred dollars
for a seat that's way up high, because you do
much better watching it on to be, whether that be
at your favorite pub or in the privacy of your home.

Speaker 2 (01:13:45):
Of course, there's going to be someone silly enough to
do that.

Speaker 5 (01:13:47):
You know that, well, I guess yes, if you have
money to burn, maybe that's one thing. But the problem
is you're sitting up so high you're basically watching the
game on the giant screen.

Speaker 2 (01:13:58):
Yeah, but you're in there. That's what a lot of
people there. I was there. I was there, you know,
That's that's the thing.

Speaker 6 (01:14:05):
Was there.

Speaker 5 (01:14:06):
I never imagine a spoint event where I came in
said I was there and I'm spoiled. We've talked about that.

Speaker 2 (01:14:13):
Oh yes, yes, yes so.

Speaker 5 (01:14:15):
But on the other hand, if I had a child
that was playing, or I had a uh son or
a daughter in the marching vand that would be a
little bit different. I'll go that route. But I sure
hope that nobody gets gouged tomorrow night, whether excuse me,
Saturday night, whether it's.

Speaker 2 (01:14:31):
We did the same thing, we did the same thing. Yeah, yeah,
Before we go any further, Joe has a question for you. Danny,
can you take a question from Joe.

Speaker 5 (01:14:42):
I would love to meet Joe on the phone.

Speaker 2 (01:14:44):
Okay, Joe, go ahead. How are you?

Speaker 5 (01:14:47):
Joe?

Speaker 11 (01:14:50):
Thank you.

Speaker 9 (01:14:51):
I've got a couple of things. Not really a question,
it's a comment to Danny. Okay, this is my This
is my take on the game. Thirty one is seventeen
Indiana University, and I think that the quarterbasket gonna go crazy.
And when they get finished knocking at Ohio State, quarterback

(01:15:12):
around it's gonna be a different story. Thirty one is seventeen.
That's what I'm calling.

Speaker 2 (01:15:18):
Okay, okay, And then.

Speaker 9 (01:15:22):
After we beat Ohio State, Danny, We're going to march
all the way to the national championship and take that trophy.
Two yo, did you attend Indiana?

Speaker 5 (01:15:33):
I ask you? Are you an Indiana A LUMWARER?

Speaker 9 (01:15:36):
No, I'm an Indiana. I'm a Long Beach State University
of California, Long Beach State, Alum.

Speaker 5 (01:15:43):
Well, that's a great school.

Speaker 9 (01:15:45):
It's a great school. We had a great team back
when Jerry Tartania was our coach back in the early seventies.

Speaker 5 (01:15:53):
That's quite correct. He coached there before he went to UNLV.
It's also a beautiful part of the country.

Speaker 9 (01:16:00):
It is, it is, But here's the fame. When I
moved back to Indianapolis, I fell in love with Indiana University,
and my brother and a group of us got an
opportunity to meet Bob Knight and we became friends with him.
He provided us tickets to the games. We got to
meet Isaiah Thomas's family, we got to go into the

(01:16:22):
locker room and take pictures with Bob Knight. And I've
been an Indiana fan every since.

Speaker 5 (01:16:28):
Wow, well that's a great story. But I will say
there is some difference in basketball and football down there. However,
you have to give you credit these past two years
for what they've done. I would agree with you that
Indiana has a chance to win. I do not believe
they'll win by two touchdowns, and I certainly don't believe

(01:16:48):
they're a candidate to win the National championship. But I
will say this, it's fun to talk to people who
are enthused about their team, and you obviously are one
of those. And I wish Indiana the best. On your
behalf Saturday night.

Speaker 9 (01:17:03):
Well, I'll tell you what. Get your popcorn, Danny, because
it's going to be on.

Speaker 5 (01:17:09):
Well you know what I got. I'll need something better
than popcorn. I'll need a sandwich or a pizza or
something like that. But look, I want to I want
to make it perfectly clear when I don't when I
say I don't believe they can be the National championship Chrits,
Signetti has done something very well down there, and that
is as follows. He has taken this program and put

(01:17:30):
it at a point where they no longer are you know,
the fan base is it's no longer worried about them
losing to a Northwestern or a Michigan State or a
team that have, you know, a lesser stature team, where
IU in the past has had difficulty winning games in
their own conference. So that's a big plus. I look

(01:17:51):
at the head to head record with really good teams
the past two years, He's about five hundred there, and
I'm throwing Penn State in there to make it too
and two. So I just think this is a huge
game for a lot of different reasons. But we don't
share the same opinion about the outcome being fourteen points.
I just want to leave that with you.

Speaker 9 (01:18:11):
Well, okay, and I understand that, But I'm like what
Pinus said earlier, most people consider themselves the Ohio straight Well,
guess what, we're the Hoosiers and we're gonna take back
Buffalo and run out all over them.

Speaker 2 (01:18:28):
Okay, all right, all right, Josh, all right. I love it.
I love it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it is too
bad he's not more enthews about it. I'm telling you,
you can't tell, can't you.

Speaker 5 (01:18:42):
Now He's worked out, and you know what, there'll be
a lot of people who are going to take doc
in that same think about where this program has been
a historical they were in that now in terms of
the more question is can they sustain it moving forward
after this season? And that will be interesting as well.
But if you have suffered for a long time as
a season ticket holder or just an IU alum as

(01:19:04):
far as their football program, it's a big deal now.
And I understand that, I really do. I'm just handicapping.
I'm not a I'm not I'm an I U p
U I guy. Okay, So I don't have a dog
in a fight. But I'll say this, if they end
up putting that game, Indiana will be on cloud nine

(01:19:27):
and then the next step will be a bigger one
even such. But I do like Ohio State to win
a close ball game on Saturday night.

Speaker 2 (01:19:36):
You sure called the Colts Kansas City game a couple
of weeks ago. You called that right now. I think
it was exactly the number of points in a case
he wins. So you had that.

Speaker 5 (01:19:48):
Well, occasionally I get one, right, don't I?

Speaker 2 (01:19:50):
Yeah? You do, Yeah you do? I have to, how
about it? How about it? Speaking of which the Colts,
what are you what are you thinking?

Speaker 5 (01:20:00):
Well, it's uh, if they've had some unfortunate circumstances. It
looks like Gardner is going to be I would say
probably a couple of games. They're not going to put
them on IR because they don't want to close the
book on the season, or at least for four straight games.
And that's that's encouraging, and I guess they feel like
you'll be able to come back before long. But I've

(01:20:21):
said this a couple of times with your listeners that
I often thought that the obvious ticket to the playoffs
for the Cold So the obvious half is winning your division.
You still got a game left with Houston, You've got
two games left with Jacksonville. Oh, by the way, you
got to play the forty nine ers as well as
this Seattle Seahawks. So nothing is going to be easy

(01:20:42):
on this playoff run. The rest of the way, there's
still in a good position.

Speaker 11 (01:20:48):
You know.

Speaker 5 (01:20:49):
I'm concerned about their kicking game. Obviously. People say, Hey,
it's not that big of a deal. You score tondowns
more than you do. It certainly is because you don't
want to come up empty drive. You'd rather have seven,
but three is better than zero. And uh, I just
hope this young man can uh, get his mojo back.
He had some didn't again, he had some problems in

(01:21:12):
New Orleans, and you know, kicking is a tough business.
But uh, we'll see what happens.

Speaker 2 (01:21:16):
We just don't know until he's cut.

Speaker 5 (01:21:21):
Well, yeah, he had some he had some problem adually
did get cut. But the man they brought in from
New Orleans, who's a notre dame.

Speaker 2 (01:21:28):
Oh okay, I see what you're saying. Yeah, yeah, so a.

Speaker 5 (01:21:33):
New guy in town is under the gun, and it's uh,
you move forward. I mean, in an ideal situation, all
he would get was attempts after touchdowns. You wouldn't need
him on field goals. But the reality is in the NFL,
you have to have a dependable kicker and you have
to be able to kick field goals wait in the
game if you need them. And that is uh, that's

(01:21:55):
something We're going to see how that turns out. But uh,
it's hard to replace a kick maker this far into
the season. You know, I will say this, well, I
have the utmost respect for the Colt's organization. I was
disappointed they brought Justin Tucker in for a tryout because
what he just came off of suspension wise, is a

(01:22:16):
very serious matter that hasn't been settled in court as
far as any civil suits or concerned. And I think
any time that a woman makes a serious accusation against
the man, they have to be heard and that has
to work its way through the court system. But because
of the volume of the number of women that followed

(01:22:36):
those complaints, I just thought that that was somebody that
I wouldn't want in my organization. And they didn't sign him,
that they did try him out, and the fact that
they considered it was a bit disappointing to me as
a personal opinion. And again I have a high regard
for the organization. Obviously they were turning every stone overlooking
for a kicker, but I thought that was when they
should have left alone. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:22:58):
Interesting, Ster Willoughby has a question for you, Danny. Another
caller U Pastor Willoughby, go ahead, how are you?

Speaker 11 (01:23:06):
H Yes? Thank you? Tina Uh, Danny. I know you
probably gonna say something about it. But they showed it
several times on TV. One the field goal was not good,
and two the clock ran out to zero and they
didn't call it and then called a past interference at it.
On top I think the coach would have won that game.

(01:23:28):
It ought to be something they could do about it.
Is it anything they can do as far as protesting
and making NFL do something. I mean, they looked at
the thing. The field goal was not good and their
clockett ran out. Well, first of all, pastors say a
prayer for me, because I sometimes people will say I'm

(01:23:50):
a lost soul when it comes to andicapping sports. But
I will say this, that extra.

Speaker 5 (01:23:55):
Point did look like it was no good and there
certainly was issue with the clock expiring, and then again
of course pass interference, and I will I do think
the Colt's got a break when that pass interference call
on Pierce led to the next play a touchdown for
Tyler Warren. But to your point officiating is we're talking

(01:24:18):
about human beings and we're talking about split decisions. Yes,
they have the backup of instant replay, but there's no
question that officiating has had a hand in more games
this year than it should have. And certainly the Colts
that's a game that might have went their way had
they not have had to deal with that. It's how
do you fix it? That's a that's a million dollar question.

(01:24:40):
I don't know if if you're not going to review
every play and have that available at have a second
or third set of eyes behind the referees. I don't
know what the answer is, but that's a tough sport
to officiate. Those men are quick, they're huge, and things
move awfully fast as far as the floor of the game.
So you could argue that a guy standing right in

(01:25:03):
front of a past interference call should never miss one.
But again, it's subjective to opinion, and it's very difficult.
But that's an excellent question. How do you fix it totally?
And how do you keep people from losing game could
be leading to a playoff spot or for that matter,
a mistake in a playoff game.

Speaker 11 (01:25:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I mean I was really living.
I'm just saying when the clock went to zero, I mean,
just call it fair. The past inference came after the
clock went to zero, and that wouldn't have happened. But anyway,
you're it's game.

Speaker 5 (01:25:40):
But I hope it just.

Speaker 11 (01:25:43):
In the future, you know, the fans.

Speaker 5 (01:25:45):
I'm just a fan.

Speaker 2 (01:25:46):
So yeah, yeah, all right, Well, thank you, pastor, you
appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, So there's a there's that.
How do you fix it? What do you do well.

Speaker 5 (01:25:59):
Two things. I don't know that you can. You hope
that it doesn't impact playoff situation football, but then again,
a regular season game could certainly attribute to that. But
I would simply say this that the home team is
never happy, and the road underdog, or the road team
for that matter, the opposition is always looking to kind

(01:26:20):
of talent as quick as they can. So I don't
envy what the what the officials have to go through.
And I feel the same way about basketball officials, I
really do. It's it's it's a it's a thankless job,
and it's a difficult job, and if they could get
it right every time, they'd certainly be earning a lot
more money than their.

Speaker 2 (01:26:41):
Another collar question for you, Reverend Phillips, go ahead, Do
you have a question for Danny?

Speaker 11 (01:26:46):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:26:46):
Yeah, you thank you and I need it, sir, thank you.

Speaker 9 (01:26:57):
They got a chance.

Speaker 2 (01:26:59):
Now they are have a chance because they're on the field.
That's about as far as it goes. He have a chance.
Uh But anyway, this question is for Danny, not me.
Go ahead, Rymond Philips, I'm sorry. What happened to Richardson? Okay?
Is that? Did you hear that?

Speaker 6 (01:27:16):
Danny?

Speaker 11 (01:27:16):
Well?

Speaker 5 (01:27:17):
He has. He has a broken orbital bone. He's still
sensitive to light. He wore sunglasses on the field this
past weekend because that's what those lights are very bright
on the field. For the record, they really are. So
he's got uh, he's not ready yet to be in
a contact situation. I still think you could see him

(01:27:40):
play in an emergency role yet this season if needed.
I don't believe his career is over. I don't. I
don't have a lot of hope for him continuing his
career in Indianapolis. But I don't think that a man
that young and that athletic is through in the NFL.
But his orbital bone is not healed, and he's not

(01:28:03):
in a situation physically because of that to participate in
a practice or for that matter, in a game.

Speaker 2 (01:28:11):
Yeah, yeah, all right, thank you, Reverend Phillips. I appreciate that. Yeah,
Danny Day, I think everybody missed you a lot of
calls today.

Speaker 5 (01:28:20):
Well, I don't know if anybody missed me. But when I
asked the good clergy of Indianapolis for me, I'm serious,
because you wouldn't believe some of the emails I've had
since the last time we spoke about whether it be
the Colts or my thoughts about Indiana University football. And
I want to say this that everyone has been civil,

(01:28:41):
even though they have questioned my sanity and my competency.
But that's fair game by not at all, I will
say this though, it's good to see enthusiasm. It's good
to see. It's good to see excitement back in the
fold for both Indianapolis Colts as well as in the
university football. So you know, hopefully that will continue. And

(01:29:04):
whatever happens, whether it be this Saturday night or beyond
in a playoff or for that matter, with the Colts
the conclusion of the regular season and can they win
the division and get into the playoffs, whatever happens happens.
But it's it's refreshing and it's a bit exciting to
see people so pumped up to get to a game
or to get in front of a TV and watch

(01:29:26):
a game. And that has to feel good for the
fan base.

Speaker 2 (01:29:28):
Yeah, indeed, indeed, so speaking of the fan base, our
Pacers are still trying to get up to speed. You know,
in the winning, winning college.

Speaker 5 (01:29:39):
I tell you you have to have a scorecard to
keep up with the guys that all the different guys
that they either brought up from JI League or have
signed a ten day contracts. I think Rick Carlisle has
done a heck of a job. And here's why. When
you've got that much devastation to your roster from injury
that you can't do anything about, you can't you let

(01:30:00):
people any quicker than it takes through medical science and
through rehabit all. So when you've got that working against you,
and you know, the Pacers' schedule has been a competitive one,
and they haven't had the lesser teams solely. They've they've
had to play the Detroits, they've had to play Oklahoma City,

(01:30:20):
they had, they played Denver last night, they played Cleveland
this past Monday night. So they're seeing some of the
best teams in the NBA at Plus they've had a
couple of games they could have won that they didn't,
which was encouraging. I think they're four up and eighteen
down right now, if I'm not mistaken something like that,
So that that's difficulty record, Yeah, I think it's I

(01:30:44):
think it's four and eighteen or roughly.

Speaker 2 (01:30:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:30:45):
OK, But I would say this the games that I've
been to and the games i've watched on TV at
road games. I have not seen them quit. I have
not seen anybody mail it in. I have not seen
anybody out hustled. Sure, I've seen some guys get out played,
but there's a lot of talent in the NBA. There
were some times last year they got out played. They
didn't start offully quick last year either, granted they had

(01:31:08):
a full roster that. I'm not comparing the two teams now,
but you know, I'll give them credit that. You know,
it's got to be difficult to come to practice. It's
got to be difficult, you know, to hit the road
on a game and think about where they're at and
you know where they've been and you know where they
want to get back to. But I don't know when

(01:31:29):
Topping returns how quickly. I don't think they're going to
get him back before the trade deadline. And they want
to be really careful with that. That's a foot injury.
You just don't want to mess around with that, You
really really don't, And you know they're going to have
to make a decision, I believe it the trading deadline.
As far as ben Anick Mathern is concerned, are you

(01:31:50):
going to extend his contract or are you going to
trade him? You can't let him walk away at the
end of the season to another team without compensation. You
can't take that either you extending or trading by the
trading deadline. There's no two ways about it. You've got
to do one or the other. And I'm not really
sure if they're willing to pay him what he'll draw

(01:32:11):
on the open market, and that could be the impetus
for a trade right there.

Speaker 2 (01:32:16):
What do you think he's going to fetch as as
much as.

Speaker 5 (01:32:20):
A that's a fair question, and that the Pacers have
to look at it two ways. You know, what is
that number and how does it fit into our cap?
Keep in mind next year they'll have uh, nearly I'm
gonna be the quick math, nearly ninety five million dollars
collectively to Halliburton and Siakam. Those those are two guys

(01:32:44):
right there. I would say he's going to knock down,
He's probably he's probably going to get an offer, you know,
twenty to twenty five million dollars a year. That's my
that's my take. That's my take because the NBA in
free A you can see you always overpay and I
just look at what the Salvaries were this last round

(01:33:05):
in terms of free agency. So I think he's gonna
be able to There's going to be a team out
there who's probably going to say, hey, we're going to
take this writer on this guy. We think he's worth
X now if he doesn't get that much money, or
if the Pacers can kind of deal with him for less. Pllelujah.
I like the guy. I think he's got talent. He

(01:33:25):
had a tough NBA Finals because it was so up
and down and then down the stretch. He really had
some difficulties. But he's athletic, he's physical, he can shoot
the basketball, he can rebound a bit, he can handle
the ball some. I think he's an interesting player. I
think they want to retain him. But what remains to
be seen is what's it going to cost us?

Speaker 2 (01:33:46):
Yeah, that's the thing. Speaking you talked about Halliburton, How
have you heard anything about how he's doing, how he's progressed.
I mean, I know he's out for the season, but I.

Speaker 5 (01:33:58):
Just you see him walking around without a boot on,
and you know whether it be street Yeah, so you
see him walking around in street clothes or street shoes
versus tennis shoes whichever he may have on, and he's
getting around them. I do believe he's traveled with the team.
So there are some positive signs. But just as I

(01:34:21):
was talking about Top, and don't rush this process and
make sure he is checking all the boxes in terms
of what you still can't do yet. And I'm sure
he's anxious and wants to do more than perhaps what
his body will allow him. But it's so important for
him to recover in a positive way. The same way

(01:34:45):
with Top. And these are serious injuries, and you know
there's a timeline. There's a reason that doctors determined you
can't play next year because they know what it takes
to recover. He'll have the advantage of the of top
medical care, top rehabilitative care. You just have to be
patient with it. Bottle the process, listen to doctors and

(01:35:06):
listen to therapists in terms of physical therapy and training
is concerned. So you know, if we had a crystal
ball that would tell us how well these guys are
going to recover, how well they're going to play, we
definitely have something, wouldn't.

Speaker 2 (01:35:20):
We Yeah, we will, we really would. Hey, did you
cover any of the high school football sectionals, I mean finals,
not sectionals. There's finals over Thanksgiving.

Speaker 7 (01:35:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:35:31):
Well, Westfield was an interest. No, Westfield was an interesting
story because they went up in class and still repeated.
I mean they had back to back championships. They had
a championship I think in four and then they were
moved up to five and won a championship there as well.

Speaker 5 (01:35:46):
So well, Brownsburg, Brownsburg and Westfield were the stories as
far as you know, Metropolitan Indianapolis was concerned. You know,
I have to say I didn't follow it closely.

Speaker 6 (01:36:00):
I don't.

Speaker 5 (01:36:00):
I'm not gonna I'm not going to say that I
paid attention to it when it got to the final rounds. Yeah, listen,
watch some of it on tea, listen to some of
it on the radio. I was actually driving on Friday
and listen to a little bit of it. But two
things stick out. And the late Gimmers they made sure
the state finals could be played there initially when they

(01:36:23):
started playing football there. And and that's a great, great thing.
Number two, what a thrill for these young men and
their families.

Speaker 11 (01:36:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:36:31):
Uh, to be able to play win or lose in
an environment of that nature. I saw the wrong colligue
game went down somewhat to the wire, but I just
can't help it. Even when you when you lose, at
that point, you played on the nicest stadium in the
state of Indiana. You're on the big stage. You made

(01:36:51):
a memory you'll never forget even if you lost the game.

Speaker 2 (01:36:53):
So so many.

Speaker 5 (01:36:54):
Positive, so many positive things about high school championship football
being played Lucas Oil Stadium and chip of the cap
to the late Jim Mersay. He made sure that happened.
And I also believe he made sure that in a
way that it cost him some money to make sure
that it did and so I think kudos have to
go out to him. It's been going on for a while,

(01:37:17):
but the inception of that was a Jim Rsay decision,
and he made the right one.

Speaker 7 (01:37:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:37:23):
Yeah, I remember when my son was in high school.
They were in the final game, championship game, and they
didn't win, came up just a little bit short, but
it sure was fun. The whole family came and stayed.
It was and he got a ring, you know, he
got a run rep ring.

Speaker 5 (01:37:39):
So it was well, again, how do you how do
you put a price on that memory? You just can't. Yeah,
And as I talked earlier about you know, we were
talking earlier about sitting way up high and paying a
lot of money for this game Saturday night. If you
have a child participating or in the marching band, I
can understand that it's unfortunate you will have to do that.
But hopefully those with players and band parents will be

(01:38:04):
able to get tickets through a house stata at a
face value situation.

Speaker 2 (01:38:08):
Yeah, indeed, so indeed, indeed, indeed, so what, let's see
anything we missed or there. I'm sure there's always something
we miss.

Speaker 5 (01:38:18):
When I talked about Haliburton and top the seriousness of
those injuries, I want to switch gears and talk a
little bit about Sauce Gardner.

Speaker 11 (01:38:27):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (01:38:27):
They're saying this is a past injury.

Speaker 2 (01:38:30):
Well that's the correct that that's what leads to potentially.

Speaker 5 (01:38:38):
I'm not an orthopedic surgeon, but you know paths, ankles, achilles,
you know those types of soft skin tissue injuries happen,
and they happen. They can't happen in stages by virtue
of Okay, first, this was injured that led to this.
You know, I don't want to sound like a doctor.

(01:38:58):
I I'm a few credit hours short of my medical degree. However,
you only have to be careful with this gentleman. And
you know I didn't. I had never seen him in
street clothes until he got injured early last Sunday. Then
he came back out and walked to do and uh,

(01:39:19):
you know this isn't going to sound like I was.
I was just checking him out as far as you know,
his physical stature was concerned. And you know, I think
he's about a buck ninety as far as his weight,
that isn't huge. But he's a gifted athlete. He can
run the field, He's got skills. I just don't want

(01:39:40):
to see those legs get injured. If I'm running the Colts,
you know, and I'm the general manager, I'm the coach.
You just can't afford an injury. So they've got to
be really careful with him. And if you have to
sit this young man out for the balance of the
season to ensure that he comes back, yeah, yeah, you

(01:40:02):
just you you just do it. You bite the bullet.
They don't want to do it now. They're not closing
the book on this season. I don't know how how
serious that that calf is, but I know what it
can lead to and if someone is stupid like me
can figure that out. I'm sure the Colts doctors, the
Colts trainers, the Colts brass are talking about it, and

(01:40:23):
I just have to trust if they'll make the right
decision in concert with the player himself.

Speaker 2 (01:40:29):
And I might remind you you said the exact same
thing leading up to Halliburton's injury as well, so well
to bring that up, Yeah, well no, no, bring that,
but that's exactly what you said prior to him take
you know, him just losing it, you know, in the
in the final game. So yeah, that's it's there's that
there's validity to what you're saying, a lot of validity

(01:40:50):
to it. Mister, mister Russell has a very very quick
mister Russell, we got less than a minute, go ahead.

Speaker 6 (01:40:56):
Yeah, I just wanted to mention what you covered earlier
about the raccoon story. Uh uh. There have been several
stories lately about raccoons and particularly getting high and having
problems uh when for a minute, uh fruit and in

(01:41:17):
some of the dumpsters or whatever. But I think that
there is seriously a problem, uh in this community about raccoons,
And for years I've tried to call attention to the
fact and the Health Department is for some reason they
don't want to deal with them.

Speaker 5 (01:41:38):
But uh, there there are.

Speaker 6 (01:41:40):
Now there are numerous stories of neighbors and whatnot having
problems with raccoons, and I think it would be a
good service if maybe you could have a segment about
raccoon stories that some of the listeners have have had.
I think that would be a good segment sometimes.

Speaker 2 (01:41:58):
I'll noodle on that, mister Russell, I sure do. Thank
you for your comments on So, Danny, who are you picking?
Sunday coltson Jacksonville Jaguars? Who do you like?

Speaker 5 (01:42:09):
I like the I like the Jaguars in the close
ball game. But I want to real quickly dovetail on
what this gentleman just said. My late wife was an
animal lover, and he not only fed the raccoons at
the house. She said, well, they knew when to come around,
they knew what was going to be served. I can

(01:42:32):
recall the time when the back of the sliding glass
door on the back porch was open and there was
a raccoon in the house. That's the gospel truth.

Speaker 11 (01:42:42):
But he was he was game.

Speaker 5 (01:42:44):
He looked at me like you got anything to eat,
and I said no, and I walked and I watched
ward him slowly, and he retreated right out the back door,
and I shut it and I asked her, I said, honey,
why did you leave that door? Ups as well? It
makes it easier when I feed them, I thought, no,
you can just put the food on the floor.

Speaker 2 (01:43:01):
Yes, and yeah, yeah I had.

Speaker 5 (01:43:03):
I couldn't win the battle, but we shouldn't be feeding them,
so I said, at least we're gonna feed them outdoors.

Speaker 2 (01:43:09):
Oh indeed, thank you for that, Danny and mister Russell,
and uh, like I said, I will seriously consider that
as a segment. Danny, we'll talk to you again next time.

Speaker 5 (01:43:18):
Have a great week all looking forward to it. Everybody,
have a good weekend, Be safe downtown as far as
the game is concerned, and I wish the best for
the Hoosier fans.

Speaker 6 (01:43:28):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (01:43:28):
I hope I'm wrong about my prediction.

Speaker 2 (01:43:30):
Okay, all right, then getting better than that, so you too,
you too, and we'll be back tomorrow. That's all the
time we have for right now. Little more. Junior on
the radio is up next. Have a good evening, everybody,