July 30, 2025 • 49 mins
Coach Judd Wise shares his journey through 40 years in Key West sports as a teacher, coach, athletic director, broadcaster, and now historian preserving the island's rich athletic legacy. His passion for documenting Key West's sporting achievements has uncovered remarkable statistics about local athletes who reached professional levels, including six Major League Baseball players, ten NFL players, and numerous state champions.
• Started coaching in early 1980s at Mary Immaculate High School before moving to Key West High School
• Has coached nearly every sport including football, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, and wrestling
• Pioneered the fast-pitch softball program at Key West High School when the state discontinued slow-pitch
• Maintains records of the 54 former Key West athletes currently competing at collegiate level across various sports
• Documents Key West's professional athletes including Heisman Trophy runner-up George Mira and MLB All-Star Boog Powell
• Broadcasts games as part of Conch Town Live radio team for 17 years, calling approximately 700 games
• Currently assists with football program and anticipates strong offensive line for upcoming season
• Proudest accomplishment is former athletes returning to thank him for emphasizing academics over athletics
Listen to Coach Wise and Rick Lopez call Conch football games on WAVK 97.7 FM, with nine home games scheduled for this season starting August 15th with the Rand Carthan preseason classic.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Joy (00:01):
Thanks for tuning in to the Joy of Baseball podcast.
It's all about baseball, fromthe sandlots to the big leagues
and everything in between.
I'll share my joy for the gamewith you, and whether you're a
fan of baseball or goodstorytelling, you'll be
entertained and each episodewill bring a little joy to your
day.
So grab you some peanuts andCracker Jacks, let's talk
(00:21):
baseball.
Welcome to the show, baseballfans.
I'm excited to have guest CoachJudd Wise.
We're going to talk baseball,softball and anything Kong
sports that he wants to talkabout.
Welcome to the show, coach.
Judd Wise (00:36):
Well, joy, I think it's great to be on here.
This is my first ever podcastand I've been watching yours and
I'm just excited to be on withthe queen of podcasts.
Joy (00:46):
Well, let's go, let's get right to it.
Coach, I want to talk a littlebit about you because in
preparing for this interview, Irealized you've been part of the
sports community for 40 years,everything from teacher, coach,
athletic director, sportsbroadcaster and recently added
historian to the list.
So take me back to the early80s and how you started working
(01:08):
in Key West.
Judd Wise (01:10):
Well, you know, I used to come here to Lobster
when I was a kid and I fell inlove with this place and I said
you know what, I'm moving to KeyWest as soon as I graduate
college.
No ifs, ands and buts about it.
And you know, I turned down tworeally good jobs not to go back
home and so I immediately movedhere.
There was an advertisement fora job at Glenn Archer Elementary
(01:32):
School and at Mary ImmaculateHigh School and, not knowing
public school system versusprivate, the first thing I said
was well, being an athleticdirector is more prestigious.
Mrs Terry Axford, our schoolsuperintendent, was the
principal at that time.
I met with her, she interviewedme, she hired me right away and
I was there for three yearsuntil they shut down the high
(01:54):
school and had a great time atMary Macklin.
You know that class of 86 isprobably one of still my
favorite classes to ever that Iever was part of.
I'm still very, very close witha lot of those kids from that
class.
Then I got a chance to move overto Key West high school.
Tommy Roberts was the principal.
He immediately hired me andsaid you know what?
(02:17):
Here's, here's my plan, here'swho's going to be the football
coach, the baseball coach.
I'm going to put you in abasketball and we're going to go
from there.
And then, unfortunately, youknow, things changed immensely
when Tommy passed.
But we've had some greatprincipals since then and you
know it just all started wantingto be part of the programs and
(02:38):
so I was coaching everything.
You know I coach football, I'vecoached volleyball, I've
coached basketball, softball,baseball, I've done a soccer
match, I've done a wrestlingmatch.
So I've been, as I call it, ajack of all trades, but not good
at any of them.
Joy (02:55):
I was going to ask you what sports did you play when you
were a kid.
Judd Wise (02:59):
You know, I played a little golf and baseball, but
then I got tired of it and Ijust wanted to fish.
And you're still fishing, I'mstill fishing.
You know I'm loving it, butI've always been into sports.
I love sports to death.
Fishing became my true passion.
Joy (03:16):
And I'm happy that I got you, because this week is mini
lobster season, so we're like wegot to get him early, before he
gets on the boat.
Judd Wise (03:23):
That's exactly right.
It would be up there and youknow that craziness and you know
the number one concern is justsafety, whether you get a
lobster or not just be safe outthere.
Joy (03:32):
Absolutely so, Coach, you mentioned a lot of the sports
that you've coached.
What's your favorite sport thatyou've coached?
Judd Wise (03:40):
You know that's an interesting question, joy.
I don't know if I can trulyanswer that.
You know I'm still coachingfootball with Coach Hughes.
I was a longtime baseball coachand really long swimming coach
with Coach Lori Bosco and youknow I probably have to say as
much as I classroom as well asin the pool made it very nice.
You know, the only downfall toall that was Coach wanting to
(04:01):
practice at 530 in the morning.
Joy (04:17):
And then we had a state champion for swimming?
Judd Wise (04:18):
We did, you know.
Aj Smith was our very firstswimming state champion, and
hats off to Coach Lori Bosco onthe job that she does.
Joy (04:27):
I guess she had something going to get out there at 5 30
in the morning.
It's hard to argue.
Judd Wise (04:31):
No, listen, nobody puts in more hours than that
lady right there, every singleday, and you've coached both
boys and girls sports.
Joy (04:41):
What's the difference between coaching a girls team
and a boys team?
Judd Wise (04:45):
You know it's changed , all right, but I would say in
the early part of it, what Ilearned was, I think boys tend
to understand the game a littlebit better than girls.
All right, you know that it's areal special athlete who
understands the game when she'sa female and understands
everything that's been taught toher.
Now I think that happens today.
(05:07):
I think girls are more intoplaying and more understanding,
especially because they'replaying only basically one sport
.
That's where it's all changed.
The odds of seeing a kid playingtwo and three sports in high
school is slim and none.
Now.
They all want to play that onesport.
And even you know, even my owndaughter.
One of the things that Iprobably cost her the chance to
(05:27):
play division one softball, eventhough she did play at the next
level, is because I told herwe're not playing one sport.
I want you to play as manythings in high school as you can
do.
You know, and she did.
You know she swam and sheplayed ball, she played soccer
and then she played softball aswell and it was cool, and she
got a chance to go play softballat the next level and you know
she really understood what itwas all about, which was nice.
(05:51):
And in college, what was greatfor her was the fact that her
college coach said I've nevermet a young lady like you who
understands a game as much asyou do, and that was a huge
compliment, I think one of thesurges with women's sport right
now goes right back to what yousaid.
Joy (06:10):
the game's more competitive .
You know the athletes arebetter.
Women are more athletic,smarter, with the game, been
playing it longer.
We have city league programs,so the availability of programs
for girls to play and get betterand hone those skills so that
they can truly be competitive onthe field makes it fun as a fan
(06:31):
to watch.
Judd Wise (06:33):
It really does Joy and you can see.
You know the benefits of ourhigh school programs.
Who get that?
From those girls that have beenplaying sports since they were
five years old, getting into thehigh school.
Joy (06:45):
I know you have some things to talk about, but let's go
right into softball, since we'retalking with that.
You started the fast pitch.
You were the first coach forfast pitch softball at Key West
High School.
Tell me how that started andlet's talk about that softball
program that's growing sosuccessfully right now.
Judd Wise (07:02):
Well, you know, the Faheys were the head coaches of
the softball program when it wasslow pitch and then the state
decided to make that drop ofslow pitch and make it all fast
pitch, and so the Faheys didn'twant to coach it anymore.
The principal came to me andsaid would you be considered
taking over this program?
And I said, you know what, whynot?
Let's start it.
So I got coach Russ Millikenand Coach Robert James to come
(07:24):
on with me aboard.
And, joy, you know, we coachbaseball, but we had no clue
about what the softball programwas about the pitching aspect.
And Tiffany Hughes, who wasTiffany Preston, was my very
first pitcher we had to go toMiami, named Marinka Basiglia,
(07:47):
who taught us how to throw fastpitch, and I gave that to Coach
Milliken to be the fast pitchingcoach, so he understood what
was going on, until he decidedto move to West Palm Beach and
then I took over.
But what a game it was.
Because back then, joy, it wasa game that was all about
bunting right and occasionalslap hits, and then it became
about bunting and slap hits.
Today that aspect of the gameis not so much, it's all about
(08:10):
hitting for power and takingthat uppercut swing.
So back then, you know we wouldconstantly work on bunting and
we'd work on slap hitting.
And you know we went to aconference one time and they go.
You know how many times inhours did you waste on rundowns
and we were thinking, man, we'dspend 20 minutes a day doing
(08:30):
rundowns and they go.
How many times did you lose agame because your girls couldn't
make the basic throw or basiccatch and then all of a sudden,
bingo, you know it hit us.
We're like now we're going tospend time playing catch, learn
how to throw, learn how to catchand do the basics.
And so we did that and the gamereally became great excuse me,
you know playing it and stuff.
(08:51):
And then I stepped away andother coaches stepped in and
brought the game to a differentlevel.
And you know Coach Garcia hasreally brought it up to a
different level and he's donesuch a fantastic job with those
girls, getting them to two finalfours and I think they will
definitely go back.
But where the game has changedJoy, truthfully, is in the
(09:11):
pitching aspect.
You know, back when I firststarted, if you had a girl that
could throw 40, you were like inseventh heaven and that was
from 40 feet back then.
And then, you know, we facedour first girl, christy Picon,
from St Brendan.
She was the first girl with acrow hop, meaning that she could
jump off the mound.
She was the first girl to throw60 miles an hour in the state.
(09:33):
And we actually beat her in anextra inning, game two to one,
which was outstanding.
But back then you rode the horse, and what I mean by that is if
you go on and you look at ourfast pitch record and you see
the number of innings pitched bysome of our pitchers, you're
like holy cow, this is going tobe hard for somebody to catch.
Why?
(09:53):
Because we rode that girl gameafter game after game.
Whether it was a double headeror not, you're starting both
games Because our philosophythat we were told, was if you
can't throw two games in a day,don't become a pitcher and that
that's interesting.
Joy (10:08):
So I did um.
A couple weeks ago Iinterviewed the castillo sisters
.
I'm a recent fan to softball,you know, huge baseball fan, and
recently, because of thesuccess of the lady conks, I've
been going out there and tryingto learn more about the game and
one of the things thatfascinates me is how our
pitchers can go out there.
Game after game, it's like howis their arm not falling off?
(10:28):
And they explained to me it's adifferent emotion and more
natural.
Judd Wise (10:33):
Yes, the underarm throw is a natural motion versus
the overarm throw.
And you know what these girls?
They can throw, pitch afterpitch after pitch, you know.
You go all the way back toJenny Finch, when she was at
Arizona, you know, and in anextra inning game she threw 230
pitches in a game.
You know you're just not goingto see that.
And then came back the next dayto throw again.
So that's, you know where it'sreally changed.
Joy (10:56):
And we've had some really great pitchers.
We have one now in BriannaBrenner and recent years where
we've had so much success.
I think that that's been thekey right who we've been able to
put on the mound.
Judd Wise (11:09):
And attribute that to our little leagues, you know,
because now they're able toteach those girls how to pitch,
you know, and then when they getup there to the high school
level, they're being refined bythe Castillo sisters, you know,
who are doing a great jobteaching the pitching and
breaking it down a little bitmore.
But yes, we've had some greatpitchers in the past and I think
Amini Edwards and Brianna Kite,who were outstanding, sophia
(11:34):
Ratcliffe, which was great.
We've just had so many greatpitchers and tradition's going
to continue, there's no doubtabout it, with Ms Brenner who's
throwing right now.
She's going to be somethingelse in her next two years.
Joy (11:46):
So you have an interesting perspective with softball.
You started the program, you'renow calling in the games.
You're sitting right back therebehind home plate.
Do you see the movement on someof her pitches?
Judd Wise (12:01):
Well, there's no question about it.
You know, sometimes the catcherwill put the glove on one spot
and it moves to a different spot.
But yeah, you know these girlsnow they know how to twist their
wrist just a little bit andthat's what makes the ball spin
and move.
It's so crazy.
Joy (12:15):
So you mentioned Sophia Radcliffe and Breonna Kite.
Who has a record right now?
I think I saw Radcliffe had 40wins.
Is Rihanna Kite the strikeoutleader now?
Judd Wise (12:27):
You know she is probably close to being there.
I think she's got the mostinnings pitched.
Like you said, sophia's got themost wins and Sophia, I believe
, has the most no-hitters aswell.
You know, and it's just amazingthe things that these girls
accomplished back then.
But, like I said, we rode thehorse.
They had to pitch every game,you know, because number one was
(12:50):
very good and number two wasgood, but not exceptional to
where number one was, you know.
So you might even, you know,take number one out and start
number two, but you might end upclosing back again with number
one because of the reentry level.
So you know it's been real cooland you know when those records
get posted, you know you goback and look at them and you'll
(13:11):
see some of that stuff.
And it took me, you know,approximately about 40 days,
because all those records gotlost when they tore down the old
school and so I had to go backto the library and I tried to
research every single article Icould to come up with the best
records we can for that program.
Joy (13:35):
And you've done a heck of a job.
I appreciate you sharing thosedocuments with me.
And of all the things thatyou've done for our sports
community, I think taking onthis task as historian may be
the most important that you'rekeeping the records and the
storylines of our great programs.
How did that start?
How did you become that guy?
Judd Wise (13:54):
Well, you know, it's interesting.
I don't know how I became thatguy.
You know, Mr Glenn Archer Jr,who was the one who was the
conch historian up until hepassed in 97, I believe 96, 97.
That's when it all stopped.
Sometime in the 2000s I said,you know, we need to start
something about where are ourathletes playing, what are they
(14:15):
doing?
And people need to know this.
So I started asking differentcoaches.
Hey, you know, do you havecoaches that are kids, got kids
now that are up and playingsomewhere?
And they give me the list.
And so, you know, I startedjust keeping it and I called it.
Where are they now?
And you know, just to give youan example, we have 54 athletes
right now who are playing at thenext level 19 in baseball, 11
(14:39):
in football.
We got five who are swimming,two playing volleyball, two
playing men's soccer, oneplaying basketball, one
wrestling, five playing fastpitch softball, two women's
lacrosse and six away playingtrack.
You know, I thought, well,that's really cool, you know.
And then I said, well, there'sgot to be other things to start
adding, you know.
So then I started thinkingabout, well, who's made it to
(15:00):
the pro level?
We've had six who made it tomajor league baseball.
And when I say the pro level,we've had six who made it to
Major League Baseball.
And when I say the pro level,I'm not talking about AA and AAA
, I'm talking about they madethe roster for Major League
Baseball.
We have six who did that.
We've had 10 who made NFLrosters.
We had one who was a pro beach,a women's volleyball player,
(15:20):
one who was a pro golfer on thePGA Tour and we've had two who
were drafted into the NBA.
So for a small island like thisto have that many great
athletes unbelievable.
And we had one who was a majorleague umpire as well, you know
which is fantastic.
And then, when you think aboutit, we had an athlete who won
the Golden Spikes Award, whichis the highest award you can win
(15:44):
in college baseball.
We had one who finished uprunner-up in the Heisman Trophy.
That's all coming from ourisland.
That's four miles long and twomiles wide.
What a great opportunity.
We've had 13 state nationalchampions won by different
athletes.
We've had two who have wonWorld Series.
(16:06):
We had an umpire who umpired inthe World Series and All-Star
Games, you know.
We've had one who has a SuperBowl ring, you know.
Think about those things.
Not many cities can say thatthe history in this town is rich
.
So I started just composingthings and then I said you know
how?
About coaches?
And you think about it LoriBosco is going into her 29th
(16:29):
year, dave Perkins is going intohis 28th year, scott Paul and
Ralph Enriquez are going intotheir 22nd years, az Jimenez
into his 17th year.
We also have Johnny Hughes isgoing into his 14th year, along
with Kim Butler and ShantaeMcLeod, who's going into her
12th year.
I mean, that's a long time tocontinue coaching sports, you
(16:51):
know.
So they've been there and it'sjust been outstanding.
And then you start thinkingabout well, all right, what
about?
You know, wins and things likethat.
And I started putting ittogether and then I said well,
here we go.
Ralph Enriquez has the mostregular season and playoff wins
with 393 wins.
Dave Fedor, who was a longtimebasketball coach, two Pedro
(17:13):
Fraga 274.
Scott Paul 66.
Chaz Jimenez with 246.
And Lori Bosco with 237.
Those are just the coaches withover 200 wins.
We also have coaches who have100 wins.
So I started putting all thistogether, you know, and then I
came up with this thing calleddid you know?
(17:35):
And so get that and startseeing all these different
things that Key West people havedone.
It's become unbelievably crazy.
You know, to see.
You know who's won statechampions like Sam Bill.
You know he's won three statechampionships in baseball and
you know 56, I think 58 and 59.
That's not going to be repeatedagain.
(17:57):
Three state championships.
A kid who was on that manyteams you know.
So, excuse me, it was justoutstanding.
And then I started how aboutconks on TV?
And then I had this whole listof conks who have been on TV and
you know kids who had their ownshows, rush Maltz, steve Rogers
, who had their own fishingshows, you know.
So you look on this.
(18:20):
You know where are they now.
And did you know thing?
It became crazy.
And then I started thinkingabout, you know, whatever
happened to the rich traditionof our history.
Where are the baseball records,the football records, the
basketball records?
Well, basketball, you know, fora long time, joey, if you
remember, the old school wasalways on that giant record
board and the thing was, I don'tthink anybody ever took a
(18:44):
picture of it.
Well, as I was going through myfiles, I actually had taken a
picture of that record boardbefore they tore down the school
and I found it in my files andI said, well, let me start going
back and putting togetherbasketball history.
And then I said, wait, there'sgot to be a rich ton of baseball
history for people to read.
(19:04):
And so I started going throughMr Archer's files.
I would bring them home,starting with basketball, and I
would go and I would do my bestto try to reach each and every
article and start writing downthings.
And I did the same for footballand I did the same for baseball
.
And then, you know,unfortunately Mr Archer passed
and it got shut down and so nowI had to start going back to the
(19:27):
library and I spent more timein the library, joy, doing this
history, than I ever did inschool, and Dr Corey Malcolm was
great in helping me get allthese records.
So I've tried to compile and wehave records, hopefully now for
football, basketball, baseball,softball and swimming that I've
(19:47):
been able to compose and workwith the coaches.
And you know, can I say they'rethe official record.
They're Judd Wise's officialrecords, you know.
But you can treat them asofficial, unofficial, and, as I
always say, if you can findsomething or I'm wrong on
something, just show it to me,I'll be happy to change it and
so you know all that came aboutprobably starting 10 years ago
(20:11):
and it's just been somethingI've been keeping up with
because the tradition of sportshere is rich.
You know, when you're a onehorse town like we are in Key
West High, people want to knowabout our rich tradition and
what goes on.
Look at our facilities they'resecond to none when you go
around and play at other teams'fields and things like that.
So you know getting this andMiss Palomino's been trying to
(20:33):
put it up on the Key West Highwebsite for you to read.
Rick Lopez is trying to put itup on the 97.7 Zone Fishing Show
, and you know that, and theirwebsite for you to be able to
read.
It's just been, it's been greatand it's been something that's
given me a joy to do.
Joy (20:50):
Well, I certainly appreciate it and I admire you
because you know, when I firstretired, I said, oh, I'm going
to write a book and I'm going to.
You know, we need to tell thisstory about our rich history,
like you're talking about.
So I went to the library forabout five days and I was.
I was overwhelmed, Didn't knowwhere to start, where to stop.
(21:13):
You mentioned Corey.
He was a big help sharingarticles, but talk about go down
a rabbit hole and you have tohave a huge amount of patience.
So not anybody can do it.
Even if you have the interest,not everyone can do it.
So I'm certainly grateful thatyou're keeping the records.
Judd Wise (21:32):
Yeah, we're trying, and it's so hard because there
were actually teams in the 40sand so Ben Harrison Sr.
he and I are trying to find allthose records from baseball back
in the 40s to see what we comeup with, because some of it
we're missing and to try to readthe newspapers from back then
(21:53):
has been very difficult to doand trying to locate those
papers, you know, for that kindof history and stuff, and you
know people don't understand it.
You know, key West High startedsports back in 1927, right,
that's when we had the veryfirst basketball team, all the
way back in 27, you know, and itwent through and then we
stopped some sports in the 50sand then it came back and
basically everything startedback in 1951.
(22:16):
Excuse me, so you know we'vebeen able to try and keep that
rich history going and you knowI'm going to keep up with it as
long as I possibly can and thenI hope there's somebody in the
waiting that wants to take itover when I finish, you know,
because, like I said, it issomething that is dear to my
heart, dear to your heart, andthe people who have grown up
(22:37):
here they love seeing thathistory and going back and, you
know, I think it gives themmemories.
Joy (22:55):
Absolutely on this podcast and to try to be able to share
the stories and have anotherplatform for us to tell the
stories so that they can beappreciated for years to come.
Because one of the things thatI recognize also is we have
multiple, you know, secondgeneration, third generation
athletes.
You mentioned Sam Holland Sr,who has three state champions.
Of course his grandson wasplaying for the Conks and I was
(23:19):
pulling so hard for us to getthat championship so we could
have that tie-in.
There's so much of that wherethe dads and uncles and
grandfathers played.
We're starting to see that withthe girls' game, softball with
some of our lady conks, where wehave Bella and her mom played.
(23:40):
You mentioned Tiffany.
Preston was our first MonroeCounty player of the year, the
first fast pitch, and her son isAndrew, our athletic director
now you know.
Judd Wise (23:54):
No, it's really cool, and I said you know that's the
thing on.
Did you know, when you lookback, like you know, coach
Robert James, not only did hewin two national championships
at Florida A&M as their startingquarterback, but he was a
teacher and coach at Key WestHigh.
Well, his daughter became backand she became the coach of the
fast pitch program, along withhis wife who was the coach.
But then, you know, you look atthe Spotswoods and Mr Bill
(24:16):
Spotswood, who won a statechampionship in baseball.
Well, his two sons each won astate championship in baseball
as well.
You know Jonathan Gates, hisdad, his granddad, who was a
fireman you know, won a statechampionship in the 50s.
Well, he won a statechampionship.
So when you look at that, didyou know all this little bit of
(24:37):
history that comes out, it'sjust outstanding when you start
seeing about, as you said,generations that have played
here.
Joy (24:42):
Kids.
Right now they don't see thatthey're making history and
they're part of history.
Ten years from now, when theyget a little bit older and go to
that first high school reunion,then they'll start wanting to
see all these records.
You mentioned the Super Bowl,george Myra I got my George Myra
hat on.
And Richie Garcia he's on mylist of people.
(25:03):
He's the umpire that youmentioned, major League umpire.
He's on my long list of peoplethat I hope to interview.
You mentioned a golfer that wehave someone on the PGA.
I don't know I missed that one.
Can we go back?
Judd Wise (25:18):
Well, no, that's way back, way back when.
Yeah, yeah, I believe his namewas George Lopez and he was on
the PGA tour back in the early30s, I believe.
Okay, and you know we also hada young lady who was a state
champion golfer back in the 60s,which was really cool.
So, you know, when you lookback at all these things that I
was able to find, you know, andthen you know what was really
(25:41):
interesting, joy, when I look atall these state championships
you know, 11 in baseball and onein basketball.
We have one in academicchallenge and people don't know
about our academic challengeteam.
Well, that was something thatJim Fant and I started in the, I
want to say, early nineties.
All right, and we you know westarted this had no idea what
this was about, but this was theBrainiacs Bowl that they met in
(26:04):
Orlando and you went up againstother teams, schools from
around the state, for a statechampionship.
Well, kerry McLean actuallytook them up there and won a
state championship with them.
So you know, academic challenge, there you go, the Brain Bowl,
we win, along with our athletics.
It was just absolutelyfantastic.
You know, going back and you sayyou know George Myra, you know
(26:25):
the Matadors we used to callthem and you know, runner up in
the Heisman, won a Super Bowlwith the Dolphins, also won a
World Football Leaguechampionship with the I think
the Birmingham Stallions as well, you know.
And then of course, there'sBoog Powell, who's got a couple
(26:46):
of World Series, and I believeCarl Taylor may also have one as
well.
So you know, think about that,that.
You know you've got a WorldSeries ring, you know, or Boog
being part of the All-Star team.
And then also the, you know,most valuable player in major
league baseball.
So you know a lot.
So much rich tradition inhistory.
Bill Butler winning a nationalchampionship in college, All
right, and getting drafted intothe NBA, probably the greatest
(27:09):
basketball player we've everseen.
And if you go into the gym,into the Bob, and you look at
that one picture where he's outjumping a seven-footer on a
tip-off, you know he was justspectacular.
His brother Julian.
The same way, you look at thoserecords that we have for
basketball, it's unbelievable.
You know how they did thatwithout the three-point shot
back then Everything was thetwo-point shot.
(27:30):
It's just spectacular.
And then Coach Lori Bosco, sheand I sat down and we did all
the swimming records, which wasreally cool to come up with.
So every year we have to waitfor the state championships to
finish to see if anything'schanged on those and what are
our school records.
And we were able to get arecord board up at the pool and
(27:51):
thank goodness for her and allthe time and effort she puts in
to get that.
Coach Jason Garcia wasinstrumental and going over to
know with the fast pitch recordsfor me, as I said, you know, to
get the baseball.
The football records werespectacular to go through and
you know when you look at rightnow the football and the
baseball, I mean they're likebooks, joy they're.
Joy (28:10):
They're almost 40 plus pages long now from the stuff
that I've added let me go back,because you just took me to my
childhood, when you were talkingabout Bill Butler being the
great basketball player that hewas.
Do you know if this is true?
And maybe I don't need to knowit's true, but when I was a kid
the legend was that he couldsnatch a quarter off the top of
(28:32):
the backboard.
Do you know if that's true?
Judd Wise (28:39):
Miss Joy, to be honest with you, that is a true
statement.
They got a ladder one time.
They put it on top of thebackboard and he took a couple
of steps and jumped up and theytell me, and he snatched that
quarter off the top.
He had unbelievable jumpingability for a guy who was only
like 6'2" maybe.
And you know, bill was he.
I said you just look at thatpicture that's in the bob and
that'll show you he had noproblems getting up in the air.
Joy (29:02):
And when you talk about Boog Powell, I attribute my love
for baseball to him because,again, I'm a little kid six,
seven years old when he'sfinishing his career.
Talk about the talk of the townthat you know.
This is a true hero, a reallybig Major League Baseball player
and Key West guy, and stillwhen I see him to this day I get
(29:24):
all starry-eyed and happy tosee him.
You talk about the success withour athletes.
What do you think the magic?
Judd Wise (29:33):
is.
I think it's the heart anddesire the kids have, the ones
that truly want to go to thatnext level, understand what it
takes to get to that next level,and through hard work,
dedication and coaching, and notonly just on the athletic field
but they're having to do it inthe classroom as well, so that
they get that chance to play atthe next level.
(29:54):
I think that you know, the kidsthat want to go to that next
level will.
If you want to play at the nextlevel, there's a place for you
to play and that's the biggestthing.
Not every kid is going to be aD1 athlete.
I can tell you that right now,if you want to play, there's a
place for you to play.
And you know and I use mydaughter as a perfect example
you know, as I said, I probablycost Trish the chance to go to
(30:16):
D1 because I made her play othersports and not concentrate just
on one sport.
But she got the opportunity togo play college softball, you
know, and she truly enjoyed it.
And you know, when she finished, you know, and the coach asked
her you know, we can now get youto a D1 school if you want to
go play she said no, coach, I'vehad a great time playing junior
(30:37):
college ball, but I'm going toconcentrate and get my degree
right now because that's what Iwant to do for my dad and that
was good.
She understood she was doneplaying and it was fantastic.
Like I said, we spent summersgoing to Texas, going to the
University of Texas summer campsfor her to play softball and
stuff and just to watch thatlevel of play at D1 is
(30:58):
unbelievable.
And if you watch the CollegeWorld Series that's tuned in,
college sports are where it's atthe excitement of watching
college sports whether it'sfootball, basketball, baseball,
softball, swimming, the trackand field, the excitement is
there.
Pros you watch for theperfection.
College you watch for theexcitement.
Joy (31:21):
I love that description, and the older I get, the less I
enjoy professional sports andthe more I enjoy college.
Even college baseball is thesame thing.
It's almost like every game hasso much riding on it.
It's just their love and theirpassion for the game.
What are your thoughts aboutthe transfer portal and NIL,
(31:44):
since we're talking aboutcollege sports?
Judd Wise (31:47):
Very interesting.
Truthfully, I understand whythe transfer portal became into
effect simply because coachescould up and leave their
contracts to go to a new school.
I don't have a problem with thetransfer portal.
I think it should only beallowed one time, though, unless
you are a graduate student.
If you graduated and got yourdegree, hey, more power to you.
(32:07):
If you got eligibility, youwant to transfer to another
school, go for it.
But I think underclassmenshould only be allowed to
transfer one time.
As far as NIL goes, I think thatis going to ruin college sports
because they're not collegeamateur athletes now, they're
professional athletes gettingpaid big bucks.
I could understand it if theywould have come in and set a cap
(32:30):
and said no player can get morethan $30,000.
I think that would have beeneasy to say a kid in college
should be able to live off$30,000 easy.
I think where the NCAA reallyhurt themselves was never
allowing these kids to go outand get a job, and that's where
the illegal payments came fromback in the day up to now.
(32:52):
But the you know the money thatyou're seeing being paid out
for some of these athletes nowupwards of $10 million.
Wow, what kind of pressure areyou putting on the coach, the
kid who's receiving that moneyand the rest of the team in that
school to become a nationalchampion.
No, I just think this money isgoing to get out of control and
(33:13):
to me it already is out ofcontrol what they're paying
these athletes, because it's notgoing to be the same thing for
every athlete.
And the kids who do the minorsports, the golf, the swimming,
you know, the track and field,that are surfing, playing beach
volleyball they're not going toget the money that that star in
baseball or football orbasketball is going to get.
So I really think the NCAA hasdug a deep hole here that they
(33:37):
can't get out of.
Joy (33:39):
I agree.
I'm afraid that they've let thehorse out of the barn, so to
speak, and now they're chasingafter it.
We'll see how it impacts.
And we talk about the collegegame being so exciting.
You wonder how long theintegrity, the innocence of that
game mattering when you have anathlete that's making two or
(33:59):
three million dollars, is hegoing to pitch, you know?
Is he going to be on a pitchcount now?
Is he going to want to playthat Tuesday game, that midweek
game, kind of thing?
So you wonder, you wonder whenyou'll start to see it affect
their performance on the field.
Judd Wise (34:15):
You're absolutely correct whether or not they're
going to dictate to the coach,because you may have a kid who's
making just as much money asthe coach, and I think that's
why you're seeing some of theseold-time coaches up and leave,
because they don't want to dealwith that NIL anymore.
They're tired of the transferportal, because not only are you
having to recruit now and keepyour own kids, but you've got so
(34:36):
many that are leaving, that aregoing to the transfer portal,
and so every year you have acompletely new roster and the
kid who's suffering through allthis joy is the high school kid,
because unless you're a legitD1 starter.
You're not going to be on a D1program.
You're going to have to go toD2 or D3.
Joy (34:52):
Maybe there's some good to that anyhow, because right now
we have everybody wants to go D1.
That's the big thing.
And then they get there andthey're not playing.
So maybe that's a saving graceto go to D3, D2, even junior
college for a year or two andthen work your way up.
So we'll see how it all playsout.
(35:13):
I asked the Castillo sistersthe other day if they think that
we'll see a day when Lady Conkwill get drafted into
professional softball, andwithout hesitation they said
soon.
What are your thoughts there?
Judd Wise (35:27):
You know I would think it was great.
You watch it Athletes UnlimitedSoftball League and they're
playing the championships now.
You know, you look at thosegreat athletes that are there,
you know, but it's going to beone of our athletes who gets to
a major D1 school and hassomething you know that can
prove that you know they'reworthy.
But yeah, oh no, there's noquestion it could happen and it
(35:48):
would be spectacular to see.
Joy (35:51):
That would be great.
Let me look at my questionshere.
What else do you have on that?
Judd Wise (35:55):
Well, you know, I said just you know, you get a
chance to peruse it and justlook at some of the things that
people have done from ourcommunity.
You know where are they now anddid you know?
And looking at the people whohave been on television, it's
(36:17):
just, you know, just looking atthat list, and if you, if
somebody, has anything that theycan add to that list, all they
got to do is they can call youor call me or email me, you know
, at JewfishJay, at gmailcom and, and I'll try to, you know,
verify it and look it up andI'll be happy to add it to the
list.
It's just so cool, joy, whenyou see all that stuff and just
(36:42):
the people in this community,what they've accomplished or
what they've gotten done, becomepolice chief or the fire chief
or the mayor of the town.
It's just outstanding and we'veeven had some who've been on
Congress and the judgemagistrates as well, what
they've accomplished in theirlives, to think that, you know,
(37:03):
we have somebody who startedPanama Jacks.
You know, I mean, that's one ofthe largest suntan lotion
companies in the world.
So it's just outstanding.
Joy (37:12):
And the Home Shopping Network.
Right, and the Home ShoppingNetwork as well.
E-commerce is where it's atright now, and to know that
someone from Key West was partof that early adopter, that's
huge.
Judd Wise (37:25):
You know it really is Joy.
So you know, when you look atsome of these things, it's just,
it's outstanding and some ofthe accomplishments you know we
have a young lady who's got abuilding named after her up, I
think, in Yale, all right, andshe graduated with my older
daughter.
So you know I mean to thinkabout that.
You have a building named afteryou at an Ivy League school.
That's unheard of.
Joy (37:47):
Yeah, I don't think I'm getting a building named after
me.
Judd Wise (37:50):
Coach Me either, Joy, but you know what we got?
Got each other more power too.
Joy (37:55):
That's.
That's really cool.
Um, we were talking aboutplayers making it big.
Antonio knows he's in double awith the dodgers and man, it's
just a matter of time beforethey call him up.
Coach, I don't know if you'vebeen following, but he's.
He's doing it up with tul.
Judd Wise (38:13):
Yeah, he's having a great year so far and you know
the Dodgers pitching staff is alittle bit on the injury side
right now.
So you know, a lot of timesthey tend to call up players
from AA versus AAA because AAAthey're back for rehab or
they've already been up and youknow, they know what they want.
But they want that young kidfrom AA that can make a
difference.
(38:33):
So, yeah, there's a goodpossibility that he could get
called up there as well.
Joy (38:38):
That might be the next name that we hear.
Judd Wise (38:41):
And the next number, we retire.
Joy (38:43):
That sounds good to me.
A lot of people know you fromyour radio.
You and Rick Lopez call thegames, call a lot of games for
baseball, football.
How long have you been doingthe radio shows?
Judd Wise (38:59):
Well, you know, really, rick and Todd started
Conk Town Live back in 2001.
Todd started broadcasting gamesin 1984, and then he brought in
Rick in 1997.
I came in full time about 17years ago when Todd had his
accident and he stepped awayfrom the mic.
But you know, it's just beengreat to be part of that, to be
(39:22):
able to call baseball andfootball.
We've called some basketball,we've called some softball games
as well.
You know, it's a really neatthing, especially when you go
away and people go.
You guys really call games forhigh school and we go, yeah, we
call every game home and away,for baseball and football for
sure, you know.
So it's been outstanding.
(39:42):
I love it.
Working with Rick has been a joy.
Todd has been outstanding.
You know what they teach me,you know, because Rick, rick,
listen, rick could have beencalling games in the major
leagues if he would have stuckwith it.
I truly believe that, you know.
And for him to come back homeand he graduated to Conk, as he
likes to say, and you know, tobe able to bring me on and, you
(40:06):
know, allow me to be part ofConk Town Live with him and then
call those games.
And then he gave me theopportunity to start a fishing
show which will be 10 years oldas of next month.
I just love and I love beingpart of the radio and calling
the games for the people backhere who can listen to it on the
radio.
Joy (40:25):
And do you have any idea how many games you've called
between baseball and football?
Judd Wise (40:31):
Oh joy, you think about that.
You say 10 games a year infootball for 17 years is over
170 and baseball would be atleast 25 games a year, you know.
So when you think about that,so probably around six 600 games
, I would guess you know youcall and throw in some
basketball and some softball,you know, maybe it's upwards
around 700, but it's a.
(40:53):
It's a true joy.
I truly love it.
Joy (40:55):
What are some of the moments that you'll always
remember?
Judd Wise (41:00):
Well, I can tell you I think we were playing Miami
Edison and this is back whenTommy Roberts was the old
stadium and we had a massiverainstorm come through Monsoon.
Everybody has left the stands.
The game is being played.
Rick is trying to hold thewires together.
I'm trying to announce the gameand you know we're getting all
(41:23):
that squared away.
It was.
I mean, he's getting shocked.
We're calling the game in thismonsoon.
It was just just crazy, youknow.
But to be there and go and towatch state championship
baseball games have beenspectacular as well.
Basketball playoffs you know,when you get to that playoff
(41:44):
level that's a different call.
You know, regular season is onething, but when you get a
chance to call in the playoffs,it's been spectacular.
To call the softball games, youknow, at the backyard games at
the backyard, when that place ispacked with people and people
who can't make the game are homelistening to it on the radio.
To call that no-hitter up atAmerican Heritage a couple of
(42:07):
years ago was just unbelievable.
That we beat them 1-0 andallowed the girls to go back to
the Final Four.
You know there are so manymemories I can't remember them
all.
But you know, just to watchStanley Payne make a catch in
the end zone to win a game onthe final play was outstanding
as well back in the day.
(42:29):
So you know, all those memoriesare there and just you know
it's just something that's beengreat.
Joy (42:35):
That's good stuff you're.
You're such a big part of thesports community in Key West.
I think about the sports, Ithink about you.
I'm grateful to know you andcall you my friend.
I'm a big fan coach.
Judd Wise (42:47):
Well, I let's enjoy.
We've gone back a long time,you know, ever since Clay was in
school, and I truly enjoytalking to you, watching your
podcasts and everything, and I'mjust a freshwater conch that
moved down here and enjoyinglife.
This is a place I'll neverleave.
I don't plan to leave and myfamily, my wife Penny and I,
(43:09):
plan to be here till the day wedie.
And the kids come back now andthey truly appreciate all the
time that they spent growing upin Key West and you know
actually how much they trulymiss it.
But I know their lives are indifferent places around the
country and you know to hearfrom the kids and that's the
neat thing when I get texts oremails from kids, you know.
(43:31):
Or, as Frankie Ratcliffe did,one of the greatest he put up on
his softball door because he'sthe equipment manager for the
girls' fast pitch team Lookinggood, feeling good, all right,
from Coach Wise and I just youknow that just brings joys to my
eyes right there.
Joy (43:47):
You're a legend, Coach.
You're a legend and you're notdone yet You're still going.
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'mtrying.
I got to get you.
I got it.
Football season's coming up.
You say you're still part ofthe coaching staff.
Give me a little insiderinformation.
What should we expect out ofthis football?
Judd Wise (44:06):
season.
I think we're going to see anoffensive line like we haven't
seen since the early 2000s.
All right, with that offensiveline coming back, it is going to
open some major holes forWalson Morin.
You know Walson's got a chanceto be the first kid to get into
the 3000 yard club this year ifhe has a really good, successful
season as a senior.
(44:26):
But I think, with Roman VanLeeuwen calling the shots back
there at quarterback WalsonMorin running, leo Baptista
blocking for him, I think we'regoing to see, offensively, a
spectacular show this year.
Defensively, with Noah Mercerand Josh Johnson anchoring that
defensive line wow, watch out.
(44:46):
So I'm expecting big things outof this team this year and the
best part is Joy nine home games.
I was about to say we'restarting out August 15th Exactly
the Rand Cartham preseasonclassic coming up.
But you're right, as I said,nine home games.
You get a chance to watch thoseclocks and if you can't watch
(45:07):
them, you can listen to us onthe Zone WAVK 97.7 FM.
Joy (45:12):
Perfect, good lead.
All right.
So I always like to end theepisode with a little segment
that I call for the cycle.
All right, I'm going to ask youfour questions and, just as
completing the cycle, they get alittle harder as they go.
All right, you ready for it?
Judd Wise (45:29):
Yes, ma'am.
Joy (45:31):
All right, the first question what would your?
Judd Wise (45:34):
walk-up song be Dream On by Aerosmith.
Joy (45:38):
Nice, nice.
I love it.
Favorite baseball movie.
Judd Wise (45:43):
That is a great, great question.
You know you got to love theSandlot, but I also like A
League of their Own.
Joy (45:51):
Very good Coach.
Good one, yes, yes, I love it.
The sandlot seems to be one ofthe the most popular ones when I
ask that question, but leagueof their own is definitely on my
list also.
All right, they're gonna get alittle bit harder now.
All right, should pete rose bein the hall of fame?
Judd Wise (46:11):
yes good, that's not a hard one no, you know, I
understand what he did was wrong, all right, but what that man
accomplished in his career isunbelievable.
You know, unfortunately for him, uh, he, he, his social life is
what killed him yeah, he was alittle rough around the edges.
Joy (46:33):
Even as he was trying to work his way back in, he
couldn't get out of his own waysometimes, which is a good
lesson to learn, especially nowfor our athletes, who are always
under the camera.
Judd Wise (46:45):
There's the big difference.
You know, everything isvideotaped, everything.
Joy (46:50):
Our demands as fans to be connected to our athletes adds
another level of pressure that'sprobably unfair.
So here's the last one to wrapit up for the cycle.
What is one of your proudestaccomplishments in sports here
in Key West?
Judd Wise (47:07):
You know what, having kids come back to me and say,
coach, I truly understand whatyou taught me, not only in the
classroom but on the athleticfield and the fact that you kept
stressing that we're academicfirst and athletes second I was
able to go get my degree and Ithink it really comes back to
I'll be honest with you, one ofmy kickers, jair Torres, who
(47:31):
when he went away to college andsaid you know, you realize
you're going to be the littlefish in a big pond now.
All right, and he goes.
All right, and he goes well,what do you mean?
I go well, you're probably notgoing to get to play much.
You're probably not going to,definitely not going to start.
You're going to have to workyour tail off.
I said, but if you doeverything that coach asked you
to do, you're going to walk outand you're going to get your
degree.
(47:52):
And so one of the things youknow, when kids got it, I got a
chance to get a kid to go awaykicking or swimming.
You know, with Luke Knight, Ialways said you know, I'm going
to go up and see you play.
And so I went up for Jair'slast game and and as a senior,
and he said you know, coach, hegoes because of COVID.
The coach offered me the chanceto come back for one more year.
(48:13):
I told him no, because I'mgetting my degree.
And that was the biggest thingthat you told me is, if I do
everything I asked and I finallybecame a starter this year and
I could be the starter next year, he goes.
But I'm getting my degree, I'mgoing to graduate and I'm coming
home.
So you know just those kind ofcomments that come back from
kids.
(48:33):
That's what really makes itworthwhile.
Joy (48:36):
Thank you, coach.
Thanks for everything you dofor our kids and for the sports
community here in Key West.
Thanks for being on the show.
Your first podcast videopodcast but it won't be your
last.
Judd Wise (48:48):
Hey, let's do it again.
Thank you, joy, I'm going tohave you back for sure.
Joy (48:52):
Have a good day, Coach.
All right, Bye-bye, let's goConks.
I'm Joy Nulish and I appreciateyou tuning into my podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share and
subscribe, because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can find more joyfulcontent on YouTube, the socials
or check my website atjoynulishcom.
(49:12):
Now go surround yourself withthe things that bring joy to.
Thanks for tuning in to the Joy of Baseball podcast.
It's all about baseball, fromthe sandlots to the big leagues
and everything in between.
I'll share my joy for the gamewith you, and whether you're a
fan of baseball or goodstorytelling, you'll be
entertained and each episodewill bring a little joy to your
day.
So grab you some peanuts andCracker Jacks, let's talk
(00:21):
baseball.
Welcome to the show, baseballfans.
I'm excited to have guest CoachJudd Wise.
We're going to talk baseball,softball and anything Kong
sports that he wants to talkabout.
Welcome to the show, coach.
Judd Wise (00:36):
Well, joy, I think it's great to be on here.
This is my first ever podcastand I've been watching yours and
I'm just excited to be on withthe queen of podcasts.
Joy (00:46):
Well, let's go, let's get right to it.
Coach, I want to talk a littlebit about you because in
preparing for this interview, Irealized you've been part of the
sports community for 40 years,everything from teacher, coach,
athletic director, sportsbroadcaster and recently added
historian to the list.
So take me back to the early80s and how you started working
(01:08):
in Key West.
Judd Wise (01:10):
Well, you know, I used to come here to Lobster
when I was a kid and I fell inlove with this place and I said
you know what, I'm moving to KeyWest as soon as I graduate
college.
No ifs, ands and buts about it.
And you know, I turned down tworeally good jobs not to go back
home and so I immediately movedhere.
There was an advertisement fora job at Glenn Archer Elementary
(01:32):
School and at Mary ImmaculateHigh School and, not knowing
public school system versusprivate, the first thing I said
was well, being an athleticdirector is more prestigious.
Mrs Terry Axford, our schoolsuperintendent, was the
principal at that time.
I met with her, she interviewedme, she hired me right away and
I was there for three yearsuntil they shut down the high
(01:54):
school and had a great time atMary Macklin.
You know that class of 86 isprobably one of still my
favorite classes to ever that Iever was part of.
I'm still very, very close witha lot of those kids from that
class.
Then I got a chance to move overto Key West high school.
Tommy Roberts was the principal.
He immediately hired me andsaid you know what?
(02:17):
Here's, here's my plan, here'swho's going to be the football
coach, the baseball coach.
I'm going to put you in abasketball and we're going to go
from there.
And then, unfortunately, youknow, things changed immensely
when Tommy passed.
But we've had some greatprincipals since then and you
know it just all started wantingto be part of the programs and
(02:38):
so I was coaching everything.
You know I coach football, I'vecoached volleyball, I've
coached basketball, softball,baseball, I've done a soccer
match, I've done a wrestlingmatch.
So I've been, as I call it, ajack of all trades, but not good
at any of them.
Joy (02:55):
I was going to ask you what sports did you play when you
were a kid.
Judd Wise (02:59):
You know, I played a little golf and baseball, but
then I got tired of it and Ijust wanted to fish.
And you're still fishing, I'mstill fishing.
You know I'm loving it, butI've always been into sports.
I love sports to death.
Fishing became my true passion.
Joy (03:16):
And I'm happy that I got you, because this week is mini
lobster season, so we're like wegot to get him early, before he
gets on the boat.
Judd Wise (03:23):
That's exactly right.
It would be up there and youknow that craziness and you know
the number one concern is justsafety, whether you get a
lobster or not just be safe outthere.
Joy (03:32):
Absolutely so, Coach, you mentioned a lot of the sports
that you've coached.
What's your favorite sport thatyou've coached?
Judd Wise (03:40):
You know that's an interesting question, joy.
I don't know if I can trulyanswer that.
You know I'm still coachingfootball with Coach Hughes.
I was a longtime baseball coachand really long swimming coach
with Coach Lori Bosco and youknow I probably have to say as
much as I classroom as well asin the pool made it very nice.
You know, the only downfall toall that was Coach wanting to
(04:01):
practice at 530 in the morning.
Joy (04:17):
And then we had a state champion for swimming?
Judd Wise (04:18):
We did, you know.
Aj Smith was our very firstswimming state champion, and
hats off to Coach Lori Bosco onthe job that she does.
Joy (04:27):
I guess she had something going to get out there at 5 30
in the morning.
It's hard to argue.
Judd Wise (04:31):
No, listen, nobody puts in more hours than that
lady right there, every singleday, and you've coached both
boys and girls sports.
Joy (04:41):
What's the difference between coaching a girls team
and a boys team?
Judd Wise (04:45):
You know it's changed , all right, but I would say in
the early part of it, what Ilearned was, I think boys tend
to understand the game a littlebit better than girls.
All right, you know that it's areal special athlete who
understands the game when she'sa female and understands
everything that's been taught toher.
Now I think that happens today.
(05:07):
I think girls are more intoplaying and more understanding,
especially because they'replaying only basically one sport
.
That's where it's all changed.
The odds of seeing a kid playingtwo and three sports in high
school is slim and none.
Now.
They all want to play that onesport.
And even you know, even my owndaughter.
One of the things that Iprobably cost her the chance to
(05:27):
play division one softball, eventhough she did play at the next
level, is because I told herwe're not playing one sport.
I want you to play as manythings in high school as you can
do.
You know, and she did.
You know she swam and sheplayed ball, she played soccer
and then she played softball aswell and it was cool, and she
got a chance to go play softballat the next level and you know
she really understood what itwas all about, which was nice.
(05:51):
And in college, what was greatfor her was the fact that her
college coach said I've nevermet a young lady like you who
understands a game as much asyou do, and that was a huge
compliment, I think one of thesurges with women's sport right
now goes right back to what yousaid.
Joy (06:10):
the game's more competitive .
You know the athletes arebetter.
Women are more athletic,smarter, with the game, been
playing it longer.
We have city league programs,so the availability of programs
for girls to play and get betterand hone those skills so that
they can truly be competitive onthe field makes it fun as a fan
(06:31):
to watch.
Judd Wise (06:33):
It really does Joy and you can see.
You know the benefits of ourhigh school programs.
Who get that?
From those girls that have beenplaying sports since they were
five years old, getting into thehigh school.
Joy (06:45):
I know you have some things to talk about, but let's go
right into softball, since we'retalking with that.
You started the fast pitch.
You were the first coach forfast pitch softball at Key West
High School.
Tell me how that started andlet's talk about that softball
program that's growing sosuccessfully right now.
Judd Wise (07:02):
Well, you know, the Faheys were the head coaches of
the softball program when it wasslow pitch and then the state
decided to make that drop ofslow pitch and make it all fast
pitch, and so the Faheys didn'twant to coach it anymore.
The principal came to me andsaid would you be considered
taking over this program?
And I said, you know what, whynot?
Let's start it.
So I got coach Russ Millikenand Coach Robert James to come
(07:24):
on with me aboard.
And, joy, you know, we coachbaseball, but we had no clue
about what the softball programwas about the pitching aspect.
And Tiffany Hughes, who wasTiffany Preston, was my very
first pitcher we had to go toMiami, named Marinka Basiglia,
(07:47):
who taught us how to throw fastpitch, and I gave that to Coach
Milliken to be the fast pitchingcoach, so he understood what
was going on, until he decidedto move to West Palm Beach and
then I took over.
But what a game it was.
Because back then, joy, it wasa game that was all about
bunting right and occasionalslap hits, and then it became
about bunting and slap hits.
Today that aspect of the gameis not so much, it's all about
(08:10):
hitting for power and takingthat uppercut swing.
So back then, you know we wouldconstantly work on bunting and
we'd work on slap hitting.
And you know we went to aconference one time and they go.
You know how many times inhours did you waste on rundowns
and we were thinking, man, we'dspend 20 minutes a day doing
(08:30):
rundowns and they go.
How many times did you lose agame because your girls couldn't
make the basic throw or basiccatch and then all of a sudden,
bingo, you know it hit us.
We're like now we're going tospend time playing catch, learn
how to throw, learn how to catchand do the basics.
And so we did that and the gamereally became great excuse me,
you know playing it and stuff.
(08:51):
And then I stepped away andother coaches stepped in and
brought the game to a differentlevel.
And you know Coach Garcia hasreally brought it up to a
different level and he's donesuch a fantastic job with those
girls, getting them to two finalfours and I think they will
definitely go back.
But where the game has changedJoy, truthfully, is in the
(09:11):
pitching aspect.
You know, back when I firststarted, if you had a girl that
could throw 40, you were like inseventh heaven and that was
from 40 feet back then.
And then, you know, we facedour first girl, christy Picon,
from St Brendan.
She was the first girl with acrow hop, meaning that she could
jump off the mound.
She was the first girl to throw60 miles an hour in the state.
(09:33):
And we actually beat her in anextra inning, game two to one,
which was outstanding.
But back then you rode the horse, and what I mean by that is if
you go on and you look at ourfast pitch record and you see
the number of innings pitched bysome of our pitchers, you're
like holy cow, this is going tobe hard for somebody to catch.
Why?
(09:53):
Because we rode that girl gameafter game after game.
Whether it was a double headeror not, you're starting both
games Because our philosophythat we were told, was if you
can't throw two games in a day,don't become a pitcher and that
that's interesting.
Joy (10:08):
So I did um.
A couple weeks ago Iinterviewed the castillo sisters
.
I'm a recent fan to softball,you know, huge baseball fan, and
recently, because of thesuccess of the lady conks, I've
been going out there and tryingto learn more about the game and
one of the things thatfascinates me is how our
pitchers can go out there.
Game after game, it's like howis their arm not falling off?
(10:28):
And they explained to me it's adifferent emotion and more
natural.
Judd Wise (10:33):
Yes, the underarm throw is a natural motion versus
the overarm throw.
And you know what these girls?
They can throw, pitch afterpitch after pitch, you know.
You go all the way back toJenny Finch, when she was at
Arizona, you know, and in anextra inning game she threw 230
pitches in a game.
You know you're just not goingto see that.
And then came back the next dayto throw again.
So that's, you know where it'sreally changed.
Joy (10:56):
And we've had some really great pitchers.
We have one now in BriannaBrenner and recent years where
we've had so much success.
I think that that's been thekey right who we've been able to
put on the mound.
Judd Wise (11:09):
And attribute that to our little leagues, you know,
because now they're able toteach those girls how to pitch,
you know, and then when they getup there to the high school
level, they're being refined bythe Castillo sisters, you know,
who are doing a great jobteaching the pitching and
breaking it down a little bitmore.
But yes, we've had some greatpitchers in the past and I think
Amini Edwards and Brianna Kite,who were outstanding, sophia
(11:34):
Ratcliffe, which was great.
We've just had so many greatpitchers and tradition's going
to continue, there's no doubtabout it, with Ms Brenner who's
throwing right now.
She's going to be somethingelse in her next two years.
Joy (11:46):
So you have an interesting perspective with softball.
You started the program, you'renow calling in the games.
You're sitting right back therebehind home plate.
Do you see the movement on someof her pitches?
Judd Wise (12:01):
Well, there's no question about it.
You know, sometimes the catcherwill put the glove on one spot
and it moves to a different spot.
But yeah, you know these girlsnow they know how to twist their
wrist just a little bit andthat's what makes the ball spin
and move.
It's so crazy.
Joy (12:15):
So you mentioned Sophia Radcliffe and Breonna Kite.
Who has a record right now?
I think I saw Radcliffe had 40wins.
Is Rihanna Kite the strikeoutleader now?
Judd Wise (12:27):
You know she is probably close to being there.
I think she's got the mostinnings pitched.
Like you said, sophia's got themost wins and Sophia, I believe
, has the most no-hitters aswell.
You know, and it's just amazingthe things that these girls
accomplished back then.
But, like I said, we rode thehorse.
They had to pitch every game,you know, because number one was
(12:50):
very good and number two wasgood, but not exceptional to
where number one was, you know.
So you might even, you know,take number one out and start
number two, but you might end upclosing back again with number
one because of the reentry level.
So you know it's been real cooland you know when those records
get posted, you know you goback and look at them and you'll
(13:11):
see some of that stuff.
And it took me, you know,approximately about 40 days,
because all those records gotlost when they tore down the old
school and so I had to go backto the library and I tried to
research every single article Icould to come up with the best
records we can for that program.
Joy (13:35):
And you've done a heck of a job.
I appreciate you sharing thosedocuments with me.
And of all the things thatyou've done for our sports
community, I think taking onthis task as historian may be
the most important that you'rekeeping the records and the
storylines of our great programs.
How did that start?
How did you become that guy?
Judd Wise (13:54):
Well, you know, it's interesting.
I don't know how I became thatguy.
You know, Mr Glenn Archer Jr,who was the one who was the
conch historian up until hepassed in 97, I believe 96, 97.
That's when it all stopped.
Sometime in the 2000s I said,you know, we need to start
something about where are ourathletes playing, what are they
(14:15):
doing?
And people need to know this.
So I started asking differentcoaches.
Hey, you know, do you havecoaches that are kids, got kids
now that are up and playingsomewhere?
And they give me the list.
And so, you know, I startedjust keeping it and I called it.
Where are they now?
And you know, just to give youan example, we have 54 athletes
right now who are playing at thenext level 19 in baseball, 11
(14:39):
in football.
We got five who are swimming,two playing volleyball, two
playing men's soccer, oneplaying basketball, one
wrestling, five playing fastpitch softball, two women's
lacrosse and six away playingtrack.
You know, I thought, well,that's really cool, you know.
And then I said, well, there'sgot to be other things to start
adding, you know.
So then I started thinkingabout, well, who's made it to
(15:00):
the pro level?
We've had six who made it tomajor league baseball.
And when I say the pro level,we've had six who made it to
Major League Baseball.
And when I say the pro level,I'm not talking about AA and AAA
, I'm talking about they madethe roster for Major League
Baseball.
We have six who did that.
We've had 10 who made NFLrosters.
We had one who was a pro beach,a women's volleyball player,
(15:20):
one who was a pro golfer on thePGA Tour and we've had two who
were drafted into the NBA.
So for a small island like thisto have that many great
athletes unbelievable.
And we had one who was a majorleague umpire as well, you know
which is fantastic.
And then, when you think aboutit, we had an athlete who won
the Golden Spikes Award, whichis the highest award you can win
(15:44):
in college baseball.
We had one who finished uprunner-up in the Heisman Trophy.
That's all coming from ourisland.
That's four miles long and twomiles wide.
What a great opportunity.
We've had 13 state nationalchampions won by different
athletes.
We've had two who have wonWorld Series.
(16:06):
We had an umpire who umpired inthe World Series and All-Star
Games, you know.
We've had one who has a SuperBowl ring, you know.
Think about those things.
Not many cities can say thatthe history in this town is rich
.
So I started just composingthings and then I said you know
how?
About coaches?
And you think about it LoriBosco is going into her 29th
(16:29):
year, dave Perkins is going intohis 28th year, scott Paul and
Ralph Enriquez are going intotheir 22nd years, az Jimenez
into his 17th year.
We also have Johnny Hughes isgoing into his 14th year, along
with Kim Butler and ShantaeMcLeod, who's going into her
12th year.
I mean, that's a long time tocontinue coaching sports, you
(16:51):
know.
So they've been there and it'sjust been outstanding.
And then you start thinkingabout well, all right, what
about?
You know, wins and things likethat.
And I started putting ittogether and then I said well,
here we go.
Ralph Enriquez has the mostregular season and playoff wins
with 393 wins.
Dave Fedor, who was a longtimebasketball coach, two Pedro
(17:13):
Fraga 274.
Scott Paul 66.
Chaz Jimenez with 246.
And Lori Bosco with 237.
Those are just the coaches withover 200 wins.
We also have coaches who have100 wins.
So I started putting all thistogether, you know, and then I
came up with this thing calleddid you know?
(17:35):
And so get that and startseeing all these different
things that Key West people havedone.
It's become unbelievably crazy.
You know, to see.
You know who's won statechampions like Sam Bill.
You know he's won three statechampionships in baseball and
you know 56, I think 58 and 59.
That's not going to be repeatedagain.
(17:57):
Three state championships.
A kid who was on that manyteams you know.
So, excuse me, it was justoutstanding.
And then I started how aboutconks on TV?
And then I had this whole listof conks who have been on TV and
you know kids who had their ownshows, rush Maltz, steve Rogers
, who had their own fishingshows, you know.
So you look on this.
(18:20):
You know where are they now.
And did you know thing?
It became crazy.
And then I started thinkingabout, you know, whatever
happened to the rich traditionof our history.
Where are the baseball records,the football records, the
basketball records?
Well, basketball, you know, fora long time, joey, if you
remember, the old school wasalways on that giant record
board and the thing was, I don'tthink anybody ever took a
(18:44):
picture of it.
Well, as I was going through myfiles, I actually had taken a
picture of that record boardbefore they tore down the school
and I found it in my files andI said, well, let me start going
back and putting togetherbasketball history.
And then I said, wait, there'sgot to be a rich ton of baseball
history for people to read.
(19:04):
And so I started going throughMr Archer's files.
I would bring them home,starting with basketball, and I
would go and I would do my bestto try to reach each and every
article and start writing downthings.
And I did the same for footballand I did the same for baseball
.
And then, you know,unfortunately Mr Archer passed
and it got shut down and so nowI had to start going back to the
(19:27):
library and I spent more timein the library, joy, doing this
history, than I ever did inschool, and Dr Corey Malcolm was
great in helping me get allthese records.
So I've tried to compile and wehave records, hopefully now for
football, basketball, baseball,softball and swimming that I've
(19:47):
been able to compose and workwith the coaches.
And you know, can I say they'rethe official record.
They're Judd Wise's officialrecords, you know.
But you can treat them asofficial, unofficial, and, as I
always say, if you can findsomething or I'm wrong on
something, just show it to me,I'll be happy to change it and
so you know all that came aboutprobably starting 10 years ago
(20:11):
and it's just been somethingI've been keeping up with
because the tradition of sportshere is rich.
You know, when you're a onehorse town like we are in Key
West High, people want to knowabout our rich tradition and
what goes on.
Look at our facilities they'resecond to none when you go
around and play at other teams'fields and things like that.
So you know getting this andMiss Palomino's been trying to
(20:33):
put it up on the Key West Highwebsite for you to read.
Rick Lopez is trying to put itup on the 97.7 Zone Fishing Show
, and you know that, and theirwebsite for you to be able to
read.
It's just been, it's been greatand it's been something that's
given me a joy to do.
Joy (20:50):
Well, I certainly appreciate it and I admire you
because you know, when I firstretired, I said, oh, I'm going
to write a book and I'm going to.
You know, we need to tell thisstory about our rich history,
like you're talking about.
So I went to the library forabout five days and I was.
I was overwhelmed, Didn't knowwhere to start, where to stop.
(21:13):
You mentioned Corey.
He was a big help sharingarticles, but talk about go down
a rabbit hole and you have tohave a huge amount of patience.
So not anybody can do it.
Even if you have the interest,not everyone can do it.
So I'm certainly grateful thatyou're keeping the records.
Judd Wise (21:32):
Yeah, we're trying, and it's so hard because there
were actually teams in the 40sand so Ben Harrison Sr.
he and I are trying to find allthose records from baseball back
in the 40s to see what we comeup with, because some of it
we're missing and to try to readthe newspapers from back then
(21:53):
has been very difficult to doand trying to locate those
papers, you know, for that kindof history and stuff, and you
know people don't understand it.
You know, key West High startedsports back in 1927, right,
that's when we had the veryfirst basketball team, all the
way back in 27, you know, and itwent through and then we
stopped some sports in the 50sand then it came back and
basically everything startedback in 1951.
(22:16):
Excuse me, so you know we'vebeen able to try and keep that
rich history going and you knowI'm going to keep up with it as
long as I possibly can and thenI hope there's somebody in the
waiting that wants to take itover when I finish, you know,
because, like I said, it issomething that is dear to my
heart, dear to your heart, andthe people who have grown up
(22:37):
here they love seeing thathistory and going back and, you
know, I think it gives themmemories.
Joy (22:55):
Absolutely on this podcast and to try to be able to share
the stories and have anotherplatform for us to tell the
stories so that they can beappreciated for years to come.
Because one of the things thatI recognize also is we have
multiple, you know, secondgeneration, third generation
athletes.
You mentioned Sam Holland Sr,who has three state champions.
Of course his grandson wasplaying for the Conks and I was
(23:19):
pulling so hard for us to getthat championship so we could
have that tie-in.
There's so much of that wherethe dads and uncles and
grandfathers played.
We're starting to see that withthe girls' game, softball with
some of our lady conks, where wehave Bella and her mom played.
(23:40):
You mentioned Tiffany.
Preston was our first MonroeCounty player of the year, the
first fast pitch, and her son isAndrew, our athletic director
now you know.
Judd Wise (23:54):
No, it's really cool, and I said you know that's the
thing on.
Did you know, when you lookback, like you know, coach
Robert James, not only did hewin two national championships
at Florida A&M as their startingquarterback, but he was a
teacher and coach at Key WestHigh.
Well, his daughter became backand she became the coach of the
fast pitch program, along withhis wife who was the coach.
But then, you know, you look atthe Spotswoods and Mr Bill
(24:16):
Spotswood, who won a statechampionship in baseball.
Well, his two sons each won astate championship in baseball
as well.
You know Jonathan Gates, hisdad, his granddad, who was a
fireman you know, won a statechampionship in the 50s.
Well, he won a statechampionship.
So when you look at that, didyou know all this little bit of
(24:37):
history that comes out, it'sjust outstanding when you start
seeing about, as you said,generations that have played
here.
Joy (24:42):
Kids.
Right now they don't see thatthey're making history and
they're part of history.
Ten years from now, when theyget a little bit older and go to
that first high school reunion,then they'll start wanting to
see all these records.
You mentioned the Super Bowl,george Myra I got my George Myra
hat on.
And Richie Garcia he's on mylist of people.
(25:03):
He's the umpire that youmentioned, major League umpire.
He's on my long list of peoplethat I hope to interview.
You mentioned a golfer that wehave someone on the PGA.
I don't know I missed that one.
Can we go back?
Judd Wise (25:18):
Well, no, that's way back, way back when.
Yeah, yeah, I believe his namewas George Lopez and he was on
the PGA tour back in the early30s, I believe.
Okay, and you know we also hada young lady who was a state
champion golfer back in the 60s,which was really cool.
So, you know, when you lookback at all these things that I
was able to find, you know, andthen you know what was really
(25:41):
interesting, joy, when I look atall these state championships
you know, 11 in baseball and onein basketball.
We have one in academicchallenge and people don't know
about our academic challengeteam.
Well, that was something thatJim Fant and I started in the, I
want to say, early nineties.
All right, and we you know westarted this had no idea what
this was about, but this was theBrainiacs Bowl that they met in
(26:04):
Orlando and you went up againstother teams, schools from
around the state, for a statechampionship.
Well, kerry McLean actuallytook them up there and won a
state championship with them.
So you know, academic challenge, there you go, the Brain Bowl,
we win, along with our athletics.
It was just absolutelyfantastic.
You know, going back and you sayyou know George Myra, you know
(26:25):
the Matadors we used to callthem and you know, runner up in
the Heisman, won a Super Bowlwith the Dolphins, also won a
World Football Leaguechampionship with the I think
the Birmingham Stallions as well, you know.
And then of course, there'sBoog Powell, who's got a couple
(26:46):
of World Series, and I believeCarl Taylor may also have one as
well.
So you know, think about that,that.
You know you've got a WorldSeries ring, you know, or Boog
being part of the All-Star team.
And then also the, you know,most valuable player in major
league baseball.
So you know a lot.
So much rich tradition inhistory.
Bill Butler winning a nationalchampionship in college, All
right, and getting drafted intothe NBA, probably the greatest
(27:09):
basketball player we've everseen.
And if you go into the gym,into the Bob, and you look at
that one picture where he's outjumping a seven-footer on a
tip-off, you know he was justspectacular.
His brother Julian.
The same way, you look at thoserecords that we have for
basketball, it's unbelievable.
You know how they did thatwithout the three-point shot
back then Everything was thetwo-point shot.
(27:30):
It's just spectacular.
And then Coach Lori Bosco, sheand I sat down and we did all
the swimming records, which wasreally cool to come up with.
So every year we have to waitfor the state championships to
finish to see if anything'schanged on those and what are
our school records.
And we were able to get arecord board up at the pool and
(27:51):
thank goodness for her and allthe time and effort she puts in
to get that.
Coach Jason Garcia wasinstrumental and going over to
know with the fast pitch recordsfor me, as I said, you know, to
get the baseball.
The football records werespectacular to go through and
you know when you look at rightnow the football and the
baseball, I mean they're likebooks, joy they're.
Joy (28:10):
They're almost 40 plus pages long now from the stuff
that I've added let me go back,because you just took me to my
childhood, when you were talkingabout Bill Butler being the
great basketball player that hewas.
Do you know if this is true?
And maybe I don't need to knowit's true, but when I was a kid
the legend was that he couldsnatch a quarter off the top of
(28:32):
the backboard.
Do you know if that's true?
Judd Wise (28:39):
Miss Joy, to be honest with you, that is a true
statement.
They got a ladder one time.
They put it on top of thebackboard and he took a couple
of steps and jumped up and theytell me, and he snatched that
quarter off the top.
He had unbelievable jumpingability for a guy who was only
like 6'2" maybe.
And you know, bill was he.
I said you just look at thatpicture that's in the bob and
that'll show you he had noproblems getting up in the air.
Joy (29:02):
And when you talk about Boog Powell, I attribute my love
for baseball to him because,again, I'm a little kid six,
seven years old when he'sfinishing his career.
Talk about the talk of the townthat you know.
This is a true hero, a reallybig Major League Baseball player
and Key West guy, and stillwhen I see him to this day I get
(29:24):
all starry-eyed and happy tosee him.
You talk about the success withour athletes.
What do you think the magic?
Judd Wise (29:33):
is.
I think it's the heart anddesire the kids have, the ones
that truly want to go to thatnext level, understand what it
takes to get to that next level,and through hard work,
dedication and coaching, and notonly just on the athletic field
but they're having to do it inthe classroom as well, so that
they get that chance to play atthe next level.
(29:54):
I think that you know, the kidsthat want to go to that next
level will.
If you want to play at the nextlevel, there's a place for you
to play and that's the biggestthing.
Not every kid is going to be aD1 athlete.
I can tell you that right now,if you want to play, there's a
place for you to play.
And you know and I use mydaughter as a perfect example
you know, as I said, I probablycost Trish the chance to go to
(30:16):
D1 because I made her play othersports and not concentrate just
on one sport.
But she got the opportunity togo play college softball, you
know, and she truly enjoyed it.
And you know, when she finished, you know, and the coach asked
her you know, we can now get youto a D1 school if you want to
go play she said no, coach, I'vehad a great time playing junior
(30:37):
college ball, but I'm going toconcentrate and get my degree
right now because that's what Iwant to do for my dad and that
was good.
She understood she was doneplaying and it was fantastic.
Like I said, we spent summersgoing to Texas, going to the
University of Texas summer campsfor her to play softball and
stuff and just to watch thatlevel of play at D1 is
(30:58):
unbelievable.
And if you watch the CollegeWorld Series that's tuned in,
college sports are where it's atthe excitement of watching
college sports whether it'sfootball, basketball, baseball,
softball, swimming, the trackand field, the excitement is
there.
Pros you watch for theperfection.
College you watch for theexcitement.
Joy (31:21):
I love that description, and the older I get, the less I
enjoy professional sports andthe more I enjoy college.
Even college baseball is thesame thing.
It's almost like every game hasso much riding on it.
It's just their love and theirpassion for the game.
What are your thoughts aboutthe transfer portal and NIL,
(31:44):
since we're talking aboutcollege sports?
Judd Wise (31:47):
Very interesting.
Truthfully, I understand whythe transfer portal became into
effect simply because coachescould up and leave their
contracts to go to a new school.
I don't have a problem with thetransfer portal.
I think it should only beallowed one time, though, unless
you are a graduate student.
If you graduated and got yourdegree, hey, more power to you.
(32:07):
If you got eligibility, youwant to transfer to another
school, go for it.
But I think underclassmenshould only be allowed to
transfer one time.
As far as NIL goes, I think thatis going to ruin college sports
because they're not collegeamateur athletes now, they're
professional athletes gettingpaid big bucks.
I could understand it if theywould have come in and set a cap
(32:30):
and said no player can get morethan $30,000.
I think that would have beeneasy to say a kid in college
should be able to live off$30,000 easy.
I think where the NCAA reallyhurt themselves was never
allowing these kids to go outand get a job, and that's where
the illegal payments came fromback in the day up to now.
(32:52):
But the you know the money thatyou're seeing being paid out
for some of these athletes nowupwards of $10 million.
Wow, what kind of pressure areyou putting on the coach, the
kid who's receiving that moneyand the rest of the team in that
school to become a nationalchampion.
No, I just think this money isgoing to get out of control and
(33:13):
to me it already is out ofcontrol what they're paying
these athletes, because it's notgoing to be the same thing for
every athlete.
And the kids who do the minorsports, the golf, the swimming,
you know, the track and field,that are surfing, playing beach
volleyball they're not going toget the money that that star in
baseball or football orbasketball is going to get.
So I really think the NCAA hasdug a deep hole here that they
(33:37):
can't get out of.
Joy (33:39):
I agree.
I'm afraid that they've let thehorse out of the barn, so to
speak, and now they're chasingafter it.
We'll see how it impacts.
And we talk about the collegegame being so exciting.
You wonder how long theintegrity, the innocence of that
game mattering when you have anathlete that's making two or
(33:59):
three million dollars, is hegoing to pitch, you know?
Is he going to be on a pitchcount now?
Is he going to want to playthat Tuesday game, that midweek
game, kind of thing?
So you wonder, you wonder whenyou'll start to see it affect
their performance on the field.
Judd Wise (34:15):
You're absolutely correct whether or not they're
going to dictate to the coach,because you may have a kid who's
making just as much money asthe coach, and I think that's
why you're seeing some of theseold-time coaches up and leave,
because they don't want to dealwith that NIL anymore.
They're tired of the transferportal, because not only are you
having to recruit now and keepyour own kids, but you've got so
(34:36):
many that are leaving, that aregoing to the transfer portal,
and so every year you have acompletely new roster and the
kid who's suffering through allthis joy is the high school kid,
because unless you're a legitD1 starter.
You're not going to be on a D1program.
You're going to have to go toD2 or D3.
Joy (34:52):
Maybe there's some good to that anyhow, because right now
we have everybody wants to go D1.
That's the big thing.
And then they get there andthey're not playing.
So maybe that's a saving graceto go to D3, D2, even junior
college for a year or two andthen work your way up.
So we'll see how it all playsout.
(35:13):
I asked the Castillo sistersthe other day if they think that
we'll see a day when Lady Conkwill get drafted into
professional softball, andwithout hesitation they said
soon.
What are your thoughts there?
Judd Wise (35:27):
You know I would think it was great.
You watch it Athletes UnlimitedSoftball League and they're
playing the championships now.
You know, you look at thosegreat athletes that are there,
you know, but it's going to beone of our athletes who gets to
a major D1 school and hassomething you know that can
prove that you know they'reworthy.
But yeah, oh no, there's noquestion it could happen and it
(35:48):
would be spectacular to see.
Joy (35:51):
That would be great.
Let me look at my questionshere.
What else do you have on that?
Judd Wise (35:55):
Well, you know, I said just you know, you get a
chance to peruse it and justlook at some of the things that
people have done from ourcommunity.
You know where are they now anddid you know?
And looking at the people whohave been on television, it's
(36:17):
just, you know, just looking atthat list, and if you, if
somebody, has anything that theycan add to that list, all they
got to do is they can call youor call me or email me, you know
, at JewfishJay, at gmailcom and, and I'll try to, you know,
verify it and look it up andI'll be happy to add it to the
list.
It's just so cool, joy, whenyou see all that stuff and just
(36:42):
the people in this community,what they've accomplished or
what they've gotten done, becomepolice chief or the fire chief
or the mayor of the town.
It's just outstanding and we'veeven had some who've been on
Congress and the judgemagistrates as well, what
they've accomplished in theirlives, to think that, you know,
(37:03):
we have somebody who startedPanama Jacks.
You know, I mean, that's one ofthe largest suntan lotion
companies in the world.
So it's just outstanding.
Joy (37:12):
And the Home Shopping Network.
Right, and the Home ShoppingNetwork as well.
E-commerce is where it's atright now, and to know that
someone from Key West was partof that early adopter, that's
huge.
Judd Wise (37:25):
You know it really is Joy.
So you know, when you look atsome of these things, it's just,
it's outstanding and some ofthe accomplishments you know we
have a young lady who's got abuilding named after her up, I
think, in Yale, all right, andshe graduated with my older
daughter.
So you know I mean to thinkabout that.
You have a building named afteryou at an Ivy League school.
That's unheard of.
Joy (37:47):
Yeah, I don't think I'm getting a building named after
me.
Judd Wise (37:50):
Coach Me either, Joy, but you know what we got?
Got each other more power too.
Joy (37:55):
That's.
That's really cool.
Um, we were talking aboutplayers making it big.
Antonio knows he's in double awith the dodgers and man, it's
just a matter of time beforethey call him up.
Coach, I don't know if you'vebeen following, but he's.
He's doing it up with tul.
Judd Wise (38:13):
Yeah, he's having a great year so far and you know
the Dodgers pitching staff is alittle bit on the injury side
right now.
So you know, a lot of timesthey tend to call up players
from AA versus AAA because AAAthey're back for rehab or
they've already been up and youknow, they know what they want.
But they want that young kidfrom AA that can make a
difference.
(38:33):
So, yeah, there's a goodpossibility that he could get
called up there as well.
Joy (38:38):
That might be the next name that we hear.
Judd Wise (38:41):
And the next number, we retire.
Joy (38:43):
That sounds good to me.
A lot of people know you fromyour radio.
You and Rick Lopez call thegames, call a lot of games for
baseball, football.
How long have you been doingthe radio shows?
Judd Wise (38:59):
Well, you know, really, rick and Todd started
Conk Town Live back in 2001.
Todd started broadcasting gamesin 1984, and then he brought in
Rick in 1997.
I came in full time about 17years ago when Todd had his
accident and he stepped awayfrom the mic.
But you know, it's just beengreat to be part of that, to be
(39:22):
able to call baseball andfootball.
We've called some basketball,we've called some softball games
as well.
You know, it's a really neatthing, especially when you go
away and people go.
You guys really call games forhigh school and we go, yeah, we
call every game home and away,for baseball and football for
sure, you know.
So it's been outstanding.
(39:42):
I love it.
Working with Rick has been a joy.
Todd has been outstanding.
You know what they teach me,you know, because Rick, rick,
listen, rick could have beencalling games in the major
leagues if he would have stuckwith it.
I truly believe that, you know.
And for him to come back homeand he graduated to Conk, as he
likes to say, and you know, tobe able to bring me on and, you
(40:06):
know, allow me to be part ofConk Town Live with him and then
call those games.
And then he gave me theopportunity to start a fishing
show which will be 10 years oldas of next month.
I just love and I love beingpart of the radio and calling
the games for the people backhere who can listen to it on the
radio.
Joy (40:25):
And do you have any idea how many games you've called
between baseball and football?
Judd Wise (40:31):
Oh joy, you think about that.
You say 10 games a year infootball for 17 years is over
170 and baseball would be atleast 25 games a year, you know.
So when you think about that,so probably around six 600 games
, I would guess you know youcall and throw in some
basketball and some softball,you know, maybe it's upwards
around 700, but it's a.
(40:53):
It's a true joy.
I truly love it.
Joy (40:55):
What are some of the moments that you'll always
remember?
Judd Wise (41:00):
Well, I can tell you I think we were playing Miami
Edison and this is back whenTommy Roberts was the old
stadium and we had a massiverainstorm come through Monsoon.
Everybody has left the stands.
The game is being played.
Rick is trying to hold thewires together.
I'm trying to announce the gameand you know we're getting all
(41:23):
that squared away.
It was.
I mean, he's getting shocked.
We're calling the game in thismonsoon.
It was just just crazy, youknow.
But to be there and go and towatch state championship
baseball games have beenspectacular as well.
Basketball playoffs you know,when you get to that playoff
(41:44):
level that's a different call.
You know, regular season is onething, but when you get a
chance to call in the playoffs,it's been spectacular.
To call the softball games, youknow, at the backyard games at
the backyard, when that place ispacked with people and people
who can't make the game are homelistening to it on the radio.
To call that no-hitter up atAmerican Heritage a couple of
(42:07):
years ago was just unbelievable.
That we beat them 1-0 andallowed the girls to go back to
the Final Four.
You know there are so manymemories I can't remember them
all.
But you know, just to watchStanley Payne make a catch in
the end zone to win a game onthe final play was outstanding
as well back in the day.
(42:29):
So you know, all those memoriesare there and just you know
it's just something that's beengreat.
Joy (42:35):
That's good stuff you're.
You're such a big part of thesports community in Key West.
I think about the sports, Ithink about you.
I'm grateful to know you andcall you my friend.
I'm a big fan coach.
Judd Wise (42:47):
Well, I let's enjoy.
We've gone back a long time,you know, ever since Clay was in
school, and I truly enjoytalking to you, watching your
podcasts and everything, and I'mjust a freshwater conch that
moved down here and enjoyinglife.
This is a place I'll neverleave.
I don't plan to leave and myfamily, my wife Penny and I,
(43:09):
plan to be here till the day wedie.
And the kids come back now andthey truly appreciate all the
time that they spent growing upin Key West and you know
actually how much they trulymiss it.
But I know their lives are indifferent places around the
country and you know to hearfrom the kids and that's the
neat thing when I get texts oremails from kids, you know.
(43:31):
Or, as Frankie Ratcliffe did,one of the greatest he put up on
his softball door because he'sthe equipment manager for the
girls' fast pitch team Lookinggood, feeling good, all right,
from Coach Wise and I just youknow that just brings joys to my
eyes right there.
Joy (43:47):
You're a legend, Coach.
You're a legend and you're notdone yet You're still going.
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'mtrying.
I got to get you.
I got it.
Football season's coming up.
You say you're still part ofthe coaching staff.
Give me a little insiderinformation.
What should we expect out ofthis football?
Judd Wise (44:06):
season.
I think we're going to see anoffensive line like we haven't
seen since the early 2000s.
All right, with that offensiveline coming back, it is going to
open some major holes forWalson Morin.
You know Walson's got a chanceto be the first kid to get into
the 3000 yard club this year ifhe has a really good, successful
season as a senior.
(44:26):
But I think, with Roman VanLeeuwen calling the shots back
there at quarterback WalsonMorin running, leo Baptista
blocking for him, I think we'regoing to see, offensively, a
spectacular show this year.
Defensively, with Noah Mercerand Josh Johnson anchoring that
defensive line wow, watch out.
(44:46):
So I'm expecting big things outof this team this year and the
best part is Joy nine home games.
I was about to say we'restarting out August 15th Exactly
the Rand Cartham preseasonclassic coming up.
But you're right, as I said,nine home games.
You get a chance to watch thoseclocks and if you can't watch
(45:07):
them, you can listen to us onthe Zone WAVK 97.7 FM.
Joy (45:12):
Perfect, good lead.
All right.
So I always like to end theepisode with a little segment
that I call for the cycle.
All right, I'm going to ask youfour questions and, just as
completing the cycle, they get alittle harder as they go.
All right, you ready for it?
Judd Wise (45:29):
Yes, ma'am.
Joy (45:31):
All right, the first question what would your?
Judd Wise (45:34):
walk-up song be Dream On by Aerosmith.
Joy (45:38):
Nice, nice.
I love it.
Favorite baseball movie.
Judd Wise (45:43):
That is a great, great question.
You know you got to love theSandlot, but I also like A
League of their Own.
Joy (45:51):
Very good Coach.
Good one, yes, yes, I love it.
The sandlot seems to be one ofthe the most popular ones when I
ask that question, but leagueof their own is definitely on my
list also.
All right, they're gonna get alittle bit harder now.
All right, should pete rose bein the hall of fame?
Judd Wise (46:11):
yes good, that's not a hard one no, you know, I
understand what he did was wrong, all right, but what that man
accomplished in his career isunbelievable.
You know, unfortunately for him, uh, he, he, his social life is
what killed him yeah, he was alittle rough around the edges.
Joy (46:33):
Even as he was trying to work his way back in, he
couldn't get out of his own waysometimes, which is a good
lesson to learn, especially nowfor our athletes, who are always
under the camera.
Judd Wise (46:45):
There's the big difference.
You know, everything isvideotaped, everything.
Joy (46:50):
Our demands as fans to be connected to our athletes adds
another level of pressure that'sprobably unfair.
So here's the last one to wrapit up for the cycle.
What is one of your proudestaccomplishments in sports here
in Key West?
Judd Wise (47:07):
You know what, having kids come back to me and say,
coach, I truly understand whatyou taught me, not only in the
classroom but on the athleticfield and the fact that you kept
stressing that we're academicfirst and athletes second I was
able to go get my degree and Ithink it really comes back to
I'll be honest with you, one ofmy kickers, jair Torres, who
(47:31):
when he went away to college andsaid you know, you realize
you're going to be the littlefish in a big pond now.
All right, and he goes.
All right, and he goes well,what do you mean?
I go well, you're probably notgoing to get to play much.
You're probably not going to,definitely not going to start.
You're going to have to workyour tail off.
I said, but if you doeverything that coach asked you
to do, you're going to walk outand you're going to get your
degree.
(47:52):
And so one of the things youknow, when kids got it, I got a
chance to get a kid to go awaykicking or swimming.
You know, with Luke Knight, Ialways said you know, I'm going
to go up and see you play.
And so I went up for Jair'slast game and and as a senior,
and he said you know, coach, hegoes because of COVID.
The coach offered me the chanceto come back for one more year.
(48:13):
I told him no, because I'mgetting my degree.
And that was the biggest thingthat you told me is, if I do
everything I asked and I finallybecame a starter this year and
I could be the starter next year, he goes.
But I'm getting my degree, I'mgoing to graduate and I'm coming
home.
So you know just those kind ofcomments that come back from
kids.
(48:33):
That's what really makes itworthwhile.
Joy (48:36):
Thank you, coach.
Thanks for everything you dofor our kids and for the sports
community here in Key West.
Thanks for being on the show.
Your first podcast videopodcast but it won't be your
last.
Judd Wise (48:48):
Hey, let's do it again.
Thank you, joy, I'm going tohave you back for sure.
Joy (48:52):
Have a good day, Coach.
All right, Bye-bye, let's goConks.
I'm Joy Nulish and I appreciateyou tuning into my podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share and
subscribe, because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can find more joyfulcontent on YouTube, the socials
or check my website atjoynulishcom.
(49:12):
Now go surround yourself withthe things that bring joy to.
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