Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's time for coffee and company fueled by Thornton's on
Sports Talk seven ninety. Now here's Nick coffee.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
All right, let's get it started at the four o'clock
hour here on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Coffee and company
fueled by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Keep
Thorton's in mind for a variety of reasons. I mean,
you're gonna need to put gas in your car unless
you've got an electric vehicle. And even if you don't
put fuel in your car, like you wouldn't you want to,
you know, take advantage of some good deals like four
(00:54):
Monster Energy drinks for seven bucks. I stopped in today thinking,
surely by now they've they've got it. They've had to
have seen that was a mistake because everybody's cleaning them out.
They haven't figured out yet because they're still letting you
buy four Monster Energy drinks for seven bucks. And I know,
I've really gone above and beyond to emphasize how big
of a deal that is. But it's because, like I'm
(01:14):
not gay keeping from you guys. I'm letting you know
this is a steal, not a deal. Retail average price
for one of the standard size Monster Energy Drinks is
just under four dollars. They're going to give you four
of them for seven. Do the math, crunch the numbers.
You can maybe not even know how to count, and
just hear that number and know, hey, that seems like
(01:36):
a deal. That's too good to be true. But it's not.
They're letting you do it, so take advantage. Also the
Frequency Club, meaning if you purchase certain items a certain
amount of time every now and then, you're gonna be
surprised when you check out. Once you put that phone
number in, or you scan that Refreshing Awards card boom,
it's free because get it, hence the name frequency Club.
So my kids get these fizz free slushies every so often,
(01:59):
and we get a enough of them that it's not
not that uncommon for me to scan one of them
at the You scan and see, okay, that one's free,
and look, even though I'm saving eighty nine cents, it's
not a big deal. We love free stuff, don't we
like it? You know, I'm walking out of there like
I got up on them. It's you know, simple, uh,
you know business right, it's negotiating when you and I've
(02:21):
learned this just in what we do here in radio,
because we give away a lot of prizes. And I
know Austin knows this very well because he's the guy
on a lot of the f M stations, especially AMZ
that like, people want free stuff and they got to
call in at this time. They're calling him people. It
could be anything. People love free stuff if they if
they got it and they don't even know what it is,
but they know they didn't have to pay for it,
(02:42):
and they know that there's a value on it. They
feel like they hit the lottery sometimes No, I mean
it's it's it's a special thing. So I uh, I can't.
I can't recommend him enough. Thornton's get the Refreshing Awards
membership and they can't guarantee this, and neither can I.
But I need you to trust me. You can't trust me?
Who can you trust? Your life will be better if
(03:04):
you are a Freshman Awards member. Just trust me. I mean,
why wouldn't you trust me? All Right? If you guys
want to join us on the show, you can FABO
two five seven one seventy nine hundred is the number
if you want to give us a call. You can
also text in on the LLNN Federal Credit Union text
line five O two four three eight ninety seventy three.
(03:25):
We'll get to the text line in just a moment,
but at LLENN Federal Credit Union members get more. You
can learn more and open your account today at lnfcu
dot com. So this text that comes in is it's
good timing because it's sort of in the same arena
that I wanted to start here in the four o'clock hour,
and that is these updated rankings from ESPN as far
(03:46):
as college basketball next season. But the text says Nick,
I'm with you, and trust me. There's many people who
text in that don't agree with me, and I'm happy
to read those two. But this one says, Nick, I'm
with you. I think the loss of James Scott was
a bigger deal than people realized at the time, and
I don't see anybody currently in the mix to take
that spot. Should we be concerned, I mean, I'll be
(04:07):
a straight shooter. I don't know if we should be concerned.
I think if we need because here's the thing with James.
His production, meaning the pure numbers is not something that
you should mean honestly. Case in Pryor alone could be
able to give you what James gave you as far
as just statistics. He could give you that in a
half as compared to what James gave you in a game. Now,
(04:30):
I don't say that to be little James Scott. I
say that because, like James Scott is somebody where the
statistics didn't always really tell you how valuable he was.
So I think the real I guess, the real concern
as far as like are we really going to be
missing him? It just comes down to how good Sonny
(04:53):
Frew is, because he's the mystery, he's the wild card.
And what I mean by that is, I think you
have every right to be excited to have him and
expect him to contribute, but like the level of what
he's bringing, none of us no right. Like it comes
down to how does it translate. Maybe it translates really well,
and like he goes from being the best young big
(05:15):
in the top level of the German professional basketball world
to being like an All American player, or you know,
it's an adjustment and he's a contributor, but it's at
a mild level. Now, one thing you got to keep
in mind is that he's he's he's twenty one, twenty
two years old. I believe he's played professional basketball for
(05:35):
a while, so like he's not somebody that you know,
Like he's not somebody that is, you know, gonna be
fresh out of high school that's gonna need you know,
a real uh you know, he doesn't have to mean
in fact, he's older than James Scott, Like that's it's
weird to say because he's a newcomer, that'smverer played college basketball,
but like he's he might be a couple of years
older than James. So I still think they're gonna add
(05:58):
at least two more players. I could be wrong, and
I don't and I would be willing to guess not bad,
but guess I'm gonna guess that there won't be big
names that people are like, oh wow, this guy's gonna
be a game changer for us. I think it's just
gonna be filling out spots that are available because you
need depth, you need balance, and honestly, you need you
need as many solid players as you can to put
(06:19):
together the most competitive practices that you could have. So
I think the loss of James Scott, there's a lot
of factors, right, Like what exactly fresh off the injury.
Can Ali Khalifa give you by the way sawm at Derby,
he's lost half of himself, Austin, I didn't show you
this picture. I didn't show you yet. I got a
picture of him in the I guess what used to
(06:41):
be the paddock area. He I mean, remember you told
me when we went to a game, like, look how
much way he's lost. He's lost a ton since then.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, and he's put on some muscle toop.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Oh dude, he's I mean, so you know, there's a
real question mark as far as what he's going to be, like,
what he's gonna bring Cason. Is he shaking off rust?
You know?
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Is he is?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
He gonna be maybe a little different than what we
saw last year when he was healthy because of the
different pieces that he's going to be playing alongside. So
it is a big mystery. But to me, the biggest
one is just what truly comes with Sonny Frew Because
take it for what it's worth, but the folks who
evaluate players entering college basketball technically, you know, freshman in
the twenty twenty five class, he's a top twenty five guy.
(07:21):
But he's also not just your random top twenty five
guy that hasn't played legitimate grown man competition. He's a
grown man himself at twenty one years old, and he's
played against professional athletes for the last however many years.
So like, I don't want to get anybody's hopes up
and exceed, you know, and have expectations set too high.
But the more I see about both him and mckil
(07:41):
brown is that, like, we should expect these guys to
like like I shouldn't say expect, but like, it wouldn't
be some big, huge shock if they come in right
away and they're two of our most consistent and like
best players, which I think is saying something considering who
you're bringing back with Javon Hadley in case inm Pryor
and oh, by the way, the three of the best
(08:02):
shooters that hit the portal that you brought in. But
Sonny Frew, he was named the best German young player
in the BBL League, which is again German's top professional league,
So you got to keep that in mind. I mean,
he's this isn't a This was announced yesterday and it's
presented annually to the league's most valuable player that is
(08:23):
under the age of twenty two. He's twenty one, and
he also has he's a German national. He's from Germany.
So the previous winners of this are Dennis Schroeder last
tight check. He's pretty good, an't he? Franz Wagner last
I checked. He's about to get a big payday because
the magic simply fell off when he got hurt and
(08:44):
then I don't know if you guys remember this name.
Maybe you don't know this name, but Daniel Thiss thest
I don't really know how you say it, but I reckon.
I mean, he's been in the NBA, or it was
in the NBA for a long time, and actually just
recently he was on he was on those Celtics teams
I think it was that made the Eastern Conference finals.
So again, this is a league that he's playing in,
meaning Frew that isn't you know, over time elite with
(09:08):
a bunch of eighteen year old, seventeen year old, sixteen
year olds. This is a guy who's been playing again.
He's twenty one years old himself, meaning fru. So I'm
not here to overhype it, but I really think what
he brings will will make us remember if it'll make
us think back to James Scott as somebody, man, I
wish we had that guy, or maybe we kind of
just don't think about him, which isn't because we don't.
(09:29):
We didn't, you know, like him and didn't appreciate him.
But like the same thing that happened this past year,
and I know I'm not the only one who did it.
How often during the month of January specifically, did you
forget that Louisville was missing Korn Johnson in case and
Bryor And it wasn't because they weren't any good, but
like you were playing really well without him, so or
it didn't even come to mind that you're dealing with
two guys that were probably your two of your biggest
(09:49):
editions in the portal that simply never really played for you.
All right, let's go. So the updated rankings here from
Jeff Borzello. He's Louisville at number seven, which to me
still sounds like are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Like is this real?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
And I know it's not act I mean, it is real,
but it's not. What I mean by that is like
these rankings mean nothing. We quickly forget about them once
we actually get into a season. And you see teams
for who they are, you get results. So you know,
I'm aware that these are just talking points for those
that cover college basketball in the months where the sport's
not going on, but it does give you a reference
(10:30):
point of how objective people who you know do this
cover college basketball, how they view your team. So Louisville
did fall five spots from the last ranking they fell from.
I guess were they up to number three? I guess
they were, So they fell and they're now at number
seven in which again, like I if they're somewhere, I mean, like,
(10:50):
here's what's crazy to me, Austin, there's a good chance that, like,
no matter what happens elsewhere in the portal, Louisville's going
to be a preseason top ten team next year. Isn't
that insane to say?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And I know that what you do in the preseason
does not, like preseason expectations mean nothing. You gotta go
out there and do it, like we all know that,
but just to know that there's that much life within
our program now and expectation like it still doesn't seem real.
So yeah, they, yes, they did fall, And I think
it's a mixture of mostly what other teams did to
(11:23):
get better, but also maybe the fact that they lost.
They lost James Scott, so louis was at number seven.
I'll read you the quick write up here that Burzilo
has about this Louisville team. Here's where it starts. Pack
Kelsey had as strong an offseason as any coach in
the country so far, landing impact transfers Ryan Conwell of Xavier,
Isaac McNeely of Virginia, and Adrian Wooley of Kennesaw State
(11:44):
to go up or to go with top ten recruit
mckael Brown Junior in the back court. Case In Prior
and Javon Hadley where question marks entering the offseason, but
both have since announced their returns, and despite the late
departurel I'm sorry portal departure of James Scott, there's still
depth up front behind me Prior and Hadley. The arrival
of Germany Uman Germany native Sonny Frew also had some intrigue.
(12:07):
Kelsey's first NCAA tournament win Isn't far away gets me excited?
Man gets me excited. I mean, Jeff Borzello, thank you
for you know, giving me that moment, and it was
storing the feeling. Yeah, and he's not alone. Others are
doing it too. But like I mean again, I know
I'm gonna probably embarrass myself. But we went through like
(12:30):
three to four years of off seasons like I didn't
have I mean, like I had interest because I love
college basketball, but like it would have been a pleasant
surprise if like somebody said we weren't going to be
complete ass you know what I mean. And now they're
saying we're like preseason top ten.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I want to turn around.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So, uh, Kentucky, they have fallen. I don't really know
where they were. I'm sorry. Yeah, so let's let me
reacheck here Louisville's previous ranking, I'm sorry, I had it wrong.
Louisll's previous ranking was five, Now there's seven. Kentucky's previous
ranking was ten, Now it's eleven. So here's what they
say about UK. Kentucky is absolutely loaded on the perimeter
(13:07):
next season, with the rival of transfers Jayalen Low of
pitt Cam Williams of Tulane and Denzel Aberdeen of Florida
and five star prospect Jasper Johnson and Go, along with
the potential return of leading score O Tega Oway and
reserve Colin Chandler. Mark Pope also revamped the front court
with the defense in mind, with the additions of Diabate
of Alabama, Jaden Quains of Arizona State, and then he
(13:28):
goes on to mention that Quaintans could miss time after
suffering as acl Taar and then a big step forward
for Brandon Garrison is going to be needed. So I mean,
I don't want to be heavy handed, because again none
of us know, and I've said it more than I
probably am comfortable saying it. I think Mark Pope's is
good enough coach that he's got enough to work with
the word. They'll figure it out and they're not gonna
(13:50):
like the seal. I'm sorry the flour is not that low.
But like I could see Kentucky being pretty solid, or
I could see him being like insanely average. I'm not
doing it from like a hater perspective like Jalen Lowe.
I mean, he was at Pitt and they weren't he good.
Jasper Johnson might be elite because you know he's he's
(14:11):
a really good point guard, but he's a freshman, like
the best bet on their team. As far as guys
returning is O takeaway like he's I mean, he's somebody
that it's weird to celebrate him like a big get
because you know you already have him. But what I
always say is put it in perspective. If you get
a guy back that you know that if he hits
the portal, he's a top ten player. Like and he
(14:32):
comes back to your school instead of hitting the portal,
that's humongous. But like Diabate, he left Alabama because he
couldn't crack the rotation. He averaged seven points a game.
Now he's going to be your starter. Jaden Quayton's who
knows when he's even gonna be able to play. Garrison
clearly has a lot of athleticism, but like he couldn't
(14:53):
get on the floor at times in big games last year.
So I don't know. I just I'm trying not to
view it from like the rivalry stamp, But like, I
just don't know where they got a lot. They got
better athletically, they got better probably defensively, but like things
that I would assume are really important for Mark Pope's
(15:13):
system to thrive the way he wants shooting, versatile bigs
who can pass it and shoot. They don't check those
boxes at all, like Jake and Quaintin's. I mean, he
can't make a free throw. He ain't taking jump shots.
Same with Diabate, he didn't shoot many. So maybe it's
tough to know. And let's be real, both they're bigs
(15:35):
that played a lot last year, Amari Williams and Andrew Carr.
They were facilitators at times to where like you could
throw the to them in the high post your guards
go back door, Like that's how you were able to
make up for the big gap and athleticism against the SEC.
You knew they were going to guard you hard. Get
it to one of your bigs in the high post,
free throw line area, extended boom, always going back door.
(15:58):
Lamar Butler's going back door like running and running and
also shooting. Jalen Lowe not a good shooter, Denzel Aberdeen
not a good shooter. Jasper Johnson. I have no clue
who's good shooter. Otago Away He's somebody that I wouldn't
classify as like a great shooter as far as percentages,
but like he makes big shots and like I wouldn't,
(16:19):
you can't just leave him open. So I mean again,
I know I sound like a hater, but I just
I don't like put it this way. If Otaga Away
like decided to stay in the draft, which I find
highly unlikely, Like what would they be viewed at as then,
I mean, which again I don't think that's gonna happen.
But I just think they're very much dependent upon him
(16:40):
more than anything, and that mostly speaks to the fact
that he's like really really, really good, but he nobody
wants to say it. He was your best player last year,
and maybe they will say it, but like everybody acted
like Butler and Robinson, No, we're there were really good
pieces and they did certain things that you needed, like
Robinson could go off for thirty on any night, although
soaked away and he was actually more consistent than Robinson.
(17:03):
And Butler was a really good veteran heady guard who
was a really good defender, a smart, savvy player, made
big shots at times like a good player. But like
a Takeaway was your most consistent and best player. So
last year he was your most consistent and best player.
Others around him got hurt, Like do they think Ken
Williams is better than Jackson Robinson that they think Jalen
Lowe is better than Lamont Butler or Kobe Brea, And look,
(17:28):
they might be, it's just you know, and Aberdeen absolutely
was a good role player for Florida. But he's a
role player. And by the way, now he's going to
come off the bench, were you which I guess more
than anything, that speaks to the amount of money Kentucky
was able to pay him. But again, if uck if
Florida won a national championship with him as a bench guy,
(17:50):
and you're bringing him in as a bench guy, like
I don't know if you could position him as like
the big piece. But again, I hate to say say
this because you know, I enjoy talking college basketball three
hundred and sixty five days a year, and I like
to convince myself that you all enjoy listening to college
basketball talk around the you know, around the whole year,
(18:11):
like we're doing right now. But at the end of
the day, once we get to November and games are played,
like we all kind of forget about this. So I'm
not here to say, hey, Kentucky's in for a root awakening.
They're going to be terrible. I just I just think
their roster, to me, the pieces are more of a
question mark than others. But again, I've been wrong a lot,
and you know, I'll probably be wrong a lot more
(18:32):
moving forward. Maybe I'm wrong about this. Our quick break
will come back on the other side, believe it or not.
There's even more to the Belichick and his twenty four
year old girlfriend that it's not anything like some new revelation,
but just more proof that like this chick, she got
with Belichick and she's milking him for every bit she
(18:54):
can real estate properties, funding her mom's sex toy store.
Not making it up, by the way, freak out about
that's a real thing. And also, like nobody even knew
who she was at the time. People thought she was
just an extra. She forced her way into that Dunk
and Donut Super Bowl commercial from last year, twenty twenty four,
(19:17):
that's how long she's been just you know, trying to
capitalize on allegedly.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Talked about the Dunk Kings commercial.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, oh wow, remember that was two years ago. Yeah,
and she was in it and nobody knew, Like you mean,
there's a like you can see her in it, but
nobody knew she was at the time. But now we
know it was Belichick's girl, And now we know that
she wasn't supposed to be in it. She worked her
way in it. If they wanted Belichick, she had to
be in, which again just confirms that like she's running
the show for Bill Belichick entirely, which is kind of
(19:48):
sad and scary, but it's his choice. Quick break, keep
a lock right here on Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Now back to Coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on
Sports Talk seven nine day.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
That's right, coffee and Company. We got about an hour left.
We're out early today because the Louisville Bats are back
in action, and double hand this thing off to the
voice of the Bats, Nick Curran in about an hour,
but with derby now complete. I do this every now
and then just because I'm a nerd for it, and
sometimes I can bring some of the findings, some of
(20:29):
the results to the airwaves and share it with you
and hope that you find it interesting like I do.
But every now and then, if we've got like a
big event like there's like we give you an example
whenever Louisville hosted the Sweet sixteen and Elite eight some
years back, it might have been the year Kenny was hired,
meaning like that that Spring. All I know is that
(20:51):
the final in that regional ended up being Craighton and
somebody else who did Creighton San Diego State beat Creighton
here in Louisville to advance to the final four. And
you know, there was a lot of people in Louisville
because of the regional rounds being here. So I'll go
on Instagram or TikTok, mostly those two social media platforms,
(21:13):
and I'll look and see at the trending posts or
videos that come from people who checked in in Louisville.
And you know, sometimes they'll post about like just being
there to watch their team at the Young Center and
the Elite eight, or just being here at Churchill Downs
and everything that comes with the derby. Then you see
people who do both and they highlight their like they're
(21:37):
showing off that they're here in our city and they're
taking in the night life in you know, a four
Street or downtown or anywhere in the Highlands, Nulu, whatever.
And I just like to get a feel for what
people think of our city when they come here, because
you know, it's best for everybody if we become a
place that people want to come and spend. Tourism dollars
(21:57):
and you know, it's good for our economy, it's good
for every So I ended up doing that on Sunday
a little bit yesterday, just looking at people who had
checked in and had a lot of viewership on their
posts from Instagram and TikTok that they were in Louisville.
And again they weren't just posting about the derby, but like,
you know, just being here and you know it gives me,
I guess, hope and optimism that you know, we one
(22:19):
day will not have this. And I don't even know
what to call it, because I was going to say
this this stigma or this fear, but like I get it.
Like if you were somebody that lives in Louisville and
you don't want to go experience certain things in certain
areas because of fear of safety, Like who am I
to tell you that you're wrong for doing that. I mean,
I'm not in a position to tell you how to
live your life. But I just think we have a
(22:40):
lot more to offer as a city than even some
of the people that live here realize. And to see
others that come here and enjoy themselves and you know,
really like what we have to offer like, I just
wish more people that live here would do that, you know.
Wk why that's our partners, and they put this out
earlier today, and it's about a downtown Louisville downtown like
(23:03):
a hotel. I think it's a bunch of different hotels
in downtown Louisville that are hosting a hiring event, you know,
to accommodate people that come to Louisville. And we're not
just talking about the Derby. We're talking about like you know,
and I only know of this because of working here
downtown every day, Austin, you can attest to this. We
(23:23):
there could be an event that the majority of the
city doesn't even know is going on, like a trade
show or a convention, and we I don't know where
we rank, but like we seem to be a pretty
decent spot to where we get enough of those to
where sometimes we'll leave downtown and it's not a concert
at the Yum. It's just that there's a lot of
people staying downtown because they're here for a work trip
or something like that, again, like a convention or a
trade show, and you know, like if we can accommodate
(23:46):
those people, while like why not why not.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Just when you see that there is a hiring event
because a lot of these hotels need employees, it's because
people are coming to travel here and enjoy our city.
And I bring that up to tell you that that's
a good thing. And I hope I'm sharing some good
and positive news. But if anything, I hope that it
makes you realize that you know, you live here every day,
why not like once a month or once every couple
of months, like try to get out and take in
(24:12):
what might be viewed as a place that a tourist
would go to if in fact they were visiting here.
And like people are, like downtown restaurants are popping up,
Like it's not like it's not like people are scared
to open up a new nice steakhouse in downtown Louisville.
I mean, you know, and in a lot of places
I'm sure are well aware that there's gonna be certain
times of the year where the majority of their patrons
(24:33):
are going to be people that are visiting. But also
like it didn't used to be that way, Like maybe
this is just how I remember it, and I could
be incorrect, but like right before the pandemic, I feel
like downtown Louisville was in a better place than it's
ever been in my lifetime, to where it was vibrant,
it was busy, and it just kind of felt like
one of the places to be in Louisville, not thee
(24:56):
because again there's a lot of options. There's some great place,
great areas, but I just from a local perspective, I
just don't feel that really at all anymore. And maybe
it's because I'm getting older and I don't connect with
people that would ever go out and enjoy the night life.
But you know, when you see that they're hiring like
a hiring fair, not just one, but like all these
hotels downtown are essentially saying we need help. It's not
(25:17):
because they're just you know, it's not a charity. They
need help because they got people coming to stay and
people that want to experience Louisville. And again I'm not
lecturing anyone. I just I would be I wouldn't be
shocked if as I share that news with some of
you that it surprises you, because I think in your mind, oh,
nobody goes downtown Louisville. It's a boarded up war zone.
Now it's just too dangerous, and yeah, we don't really
(25:38):
help ourselves at times when it comes to, you know,
curbing the fear of people being scared to go anywhere
downtown Louisville. But it's you know, this is where it
gets tricky. This isn't a good thing. But it's just
the truth. And you can take it however you want.
And ain't just downtown Louiville. You gotta be worried about.
There's other areas that you you know, at any moment
could get robbed. I mean, I hope that doesn't happen,
(25:59):
and you know ninety nine percent of the time it
doesn't happen to people. But you know, live your life,
be mindful, you know, don don't be super you know,
unaware of your situation. But like my wife and I
next week are going to be celebrating our fourteen year anniversary.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Thank you can't believe it's been fourteen years. Here's too
many more, honey, And we're gonna we're gonna stay a
little staycation. We're gonna stay at the Moxie Hotel downtown
right near the YOUM Center. And I was asking Austin
because you know, he's marrying in to somebody that's going
to be able to tell anybody where they can get
a nice bite to eat Louisville. That's what Sydney and
Kentucky does, is that.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Our tech on Sydney and Kentuck here you go. Got it?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
So you know, get you. I've paid attention. So you know,
like I'm looking forward to a nice night and it's
like we're traveling. I mean, honestly, I'm looking forward to
just a lovely evening with my wife without our children.
But you know, I'm not thinking about I wish we
could get away, Like I know we're going to have
a good time right here in the city that we
live in and we reside in, and I don't know,
I just wish there was more like this. Had this
(27:03):
this fell through last time around because of some changes.
Actually it was the pandemic. We had a deal. I
don't think I've told you this often. We had a
deal with a hotel downtown. And I won't mention who
this because who knows, maybe it'll maybe, maybe it'll maybe
it'll come back and we can make it happen. But
we had a deal to where we were going to
have like a partnership. They were going to be a client,
(27:23):
and my messaging within the promotion was going to be
encouraged people to like do a staycation, like plan a
night one Saturday, one Friday, whenever, and you and your wife,
you and your significant other plan a night to where
you go get a room at this nice, very nice hotel,
and then you, you know, enjoy some of the night life,
maybe get a nice dinner somewhere there's plenty of options,
(27:45):
and then maybe hit up a couple of the bars
and just you know, feel like you're on a little goodaway.
But it's not. It's just right here in your hometown
because they they you know again, if you just drive
down like New Lou up, like New Lou is amazing,
and I know i'd fun. I consider New lou downtown.
I don't know why people don't. I get that New
lou is like its own section of downtown and it
should be like it is its own area.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
I mean it, but it's downtown. It's on main Street
like downtown.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
I'm driving like if I am at, this is the
way I and I got. I've been in arguments about
this before, Like if I am at in the in
the heart of New lou and I just keep going
seven eight blocks up. Where am I? I'm at the bridge,
I'm in front of the Young Center. I'm if I'm
that close to downtown. You can call it New lou
(28:29):
boohoo whatever, it's downtown, Like it's not like it, you know,
but I but I.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Market Street is just literally one street away from I
mean you going down the next block, there's Louisville Slugger Field,
and then it's everything that you would say, there's Whiskey Row.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
It's downtown.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, Whiskey Row is like it it is. It should
be a bigger deal to us here locally, and I
think it is to people who travel. I think it's
cool as hell just because of the bourbon and you know,
the whole like whiskey kind of you know the concept
of all that. But that you know that I can't
I think it can't think what the streets called. But
it's it's the street that's right between you know where
(29:03):
the Troll pub is, Yes, that street that back that's
right there.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Yeah, and this.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Is right where that hotel. That's where the Moxie Hotel is.
But like that area, like if you had a couple
more restaurants on both sides, and I'm sure I think
the other sides, like businesses, but like that could be
like a block party that is cool as hell, like
and I don't mean like it's got to be some
special event, but like it's just a given that in
the spring and in the summer, you know, all four
(29:28):
or five, however, many bars are going to be there, bars, restaurants,
Like it's just outdoor dining and it's downtown, but you're
not in the hustle bustle of like getting hit by
a car because it's closed off. You know, like I
don't know here. I am acting like I've got these
grand ideas to improve downtown Louisville, but like I just
I don't know. Like I say this knowing that it
sounds corny, but it's true. Like I do enjoy coming
(29:50):
to work every day in in you know, in a
in a in a city that you know, one is
where I'm from. But also like Louisville isn't Boston, Louisville
isn't you know, La, But we got a you know,
we got a beautiful skyline, We got a lot of
cool stuff. And whenever I see like nothing makes me
happier to know that other people come here and they
enjoy it too, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Yeah, yeah, no, I know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
You have a favorite city to travel to, just like
to visit your Vegas guy, Did you like La?
Speaker 3 (30:15):
New York City's my favorite. I love New York. Yeah,
you La is cool, But nothing tops New York.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Yeah, you can't. Really Like New York can be a
lot of different things to where you can kind of
like I feel like, no matter what your personality or
really what your interest is, you can find that in
New York and it just elevates it because it's freaking
the big Apple. You know, it's New York City.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I do like Chicago.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
I've only been there once, but it's Chicago's kind of loky.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
It's like love Chicago, not really New York.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
But I would say it's a little bit nicer.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
It's it's to me, it's people are nicer. Oh yeah,
to me, it's it's And it's also this is crazy
because it's way different than like, Chicago is seemingly a
billion times faster and bigger than Louisville, because you know
it is, but Chicago and New York of the bigger
cities really in the world I think New York is
like a billion times Like Chicago doesn't scare me with
(31:07):
size and pace, New York can be a little overwhelming. Yes,
I don't. I've never driven in New York, and god knows,
I would never want to know because it would just
be like me yeah. Yeah, But like everything you see
in like movies and TV shows that like take place
in New York. When I've visited New York, like the
four or five times i've been there, like it, I
feel like it's exactly what I see, you know what
I mean, Like like I feel like I'm living in
(31:28):
a TV show or like a movie. Like I'm walking
down the I'm walking down you know, near Times Square.
Who knows, maybe Elliott Stable is about to pop out
because he's investigating a new a new crime, you know
what I mean? Like, Yeah, New York is is.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
All soking down the Brooklyn Bridge and expect to see
like I don't know, Batman.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Shoot through or so.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Have you been to Boston.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
I've never been to Boston. No, but it does seem
like a cool.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Do you know my Boston story? It's not a good one.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
No, I went think it's like not a good experience.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
So I went to Boston for two things stand out
to me about Boston. I went once knowing at the
time when I left, there's a good chance that, like
I may never go back, just because it's not a
convenient place to go. It's really far away. And I
went up for the Louisville Boston College basketball game. And
this was in January of twenty twenty, so this there
were already like people really paranoid at airports about COVID,
(32:17):
and I remember like seeing people with masks on, thinking
like this is weird as hell, Like these people are
conspiracy lunatics, like nothing's going to come of this, not
knowing that the world would shut down in like two
months after that happened. So anyways, I remember just kind
of being a little freaked out about the travel, just knowing,
like you know, like I guess this is a bigger
deal than I realized. Also, I got there on a
Monday night, and the game was on a Tuesday night,
(32:41):
so I did my show that Monday morning. I was
on morning, So I landed, got to the hotel, got
checked in, walked across the street from the hotel to
get a bite to eat, came back, went to bed,
got up to the show. It's like ten thirty, and
I showered, like getting ready to start the day because
I got a day in Boston. The games not until
even o'clock. My flight doesn't leave until Wednesday morning. Well,
(33:04):
I ended up taking a phone call from my wife
after I got of the shower, just kind of letting
her know what my plans were. And I guess because
of travel, jetlight, whatever it may be. I just laid
down on the phone with my wife and like hung
up the phone not thinking. I mean, I fell asleep
and I slept all day, woke up at four thirty
in the afternoon to where I had no time to
(33:24):
go do anything and experience Boston. So I got up,
got ready. I did end up like making my way
to a place nearby, but like I was pressed for time,
so like I got a beer and went back to
the room and got my stuff for the game, and
caught an uber to Chestnut Hills, which is a little
bit away from Boston's downtown. And I went to the game,
great experience, and then caught an uber back and by
(33:47):
the time I got back to my room, it's like
ten thirty. My flight leaves at like seven am. Like
I went to Boston technically for work, but I had
like all day to have a day and I slept
it away in a Boston hotel by myself. Like it wow,
But it's also given me like all right, I gotta
find a way to get back because like that was
because I mean, I imagine Boston would be really really cool,
you know, just to see an experience, and I didn't
(34:08):
get to do much of anything.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
So I'd imagine Boston's cool like in like the fall time.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Oh yeah, guarantee it like spooky season. Oh yeah, Halloween
season up there, but it's beautiful football season two. It's
cold early, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
But I think when Sydney and Kentucky went there, probably
like a couple of years ago. I think she stopped
in for like two days, and I think if I
remember right, I think she liked it. But she did
kind of say it was a little bit overrated for
because she went in the fall time during spooky season.
Not overrated, but she said I thought it would be
a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Like I don't really know what, like, you know, again,
maybe it's just because it's much further away than Chicago
and it's not nearly as like viewed as a tourist
place quite like New York. But like I wouldn't have
even begun to know what to do. Maybe that's why
I just laid down and like didn't have a plan.
Speaker 4 (34:51):
Yeah, if you're like an American history type of person
and you can learn it's like one of the first
colonies and stuff like, that's where everything happened. You know,
Boston tea party. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of
fun monuments you could go check there.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
My biggest memory of that trip, at least far as
something that stands out other than what I just shared,
was that when I told people, rather it be the
uber driver or the bartender or anybody I talked to,
that I was there for the Louisville Boston College basketball game,
Like none of them believe me, Like you came here
for that? And then I realized, So, yeah, Boston College
does not move the needle in the little marketing anyway. Yeah,
(35:24):
Jordan Warre put up thirty eight. It was like the
most uh oh, I remember that. I think he tied
a record for most points scored in their arena.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
So but yeah, were visibly on the TV.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
That's right. Remember that, Me and Baldwin the Eagle. He's
just sitting there depressed that I'm behind him.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Yeh, the gears are turning now.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Yeah, that was a can you believe it was?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
That was five years ago?
Speaker 2 (35:44):
It's crazy. Are we got to get to a break? Actually,
let's just double them up here because I was bad
with clock management. We'll come back management and clock nothing. Yeah,
the l's in there, brother, trust me, and then we'll
uh we'll finish strong here with uh what we have
left in the five because again the bats are taking
over around five thirty ish, so we'll hand it off
to Nick current around them. But until then, you got
us myself, Nick Coffee. Austin Montgomery, the tribal chief, keep
(36:06):
it locked right here on Sports Talk seven ninety
It's time for coffee and company fueled by Thornton's on
Sports Talk seven ninety. Now here's Nick coffee.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
All right, let's get it started at the four o'clock
hour here on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Coffee and company
fueled by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Keep
Thorton's in mind for a variety of reasons. I mean,
you're gonna need to put gas in your car unless
you've got an electric vehicle. And even if you don't
put fuel in your car, like you wouldn't you want to,
you know, take advantage of some good deals like four
(00:54):
Monster Energy drinks for seven bucks. I stopped in today thinking,
surely by now they've they've got it. They've had to
have seen that was a mistake because everybody's cleaning them out.
They haven't figured out yet because they're still letting you
buy four Monster Energy drinks for seven bucks. And I know,
I've really gone above and beyond to emphasize how big
of a deal that is. But it's because, like I'm
(01:14):
not gay keeping from you guys. I'm letting you know
this is a steal, not a deal. Retail average price
for one of the standard size Monster Energy Drinks is
just under four dollars. They're going to give you four
of them for seven. Do the math, crunch the numbers.
You can maybe not even know how to count, and
just hear that number and know, hey, that seems like
(01:36):
a deal. That's too good to be true. But it's not.
They're letting you do it, so take advantage. Also the
Frequency Club, meaning if you purchase certain items a certain
amount of time every now and then, you're gonna be
surprised when you check out. Once you put that phone
number in, or you scan that Refreshing Awards card boom,
it's free because get it, hence the name frequency Club.
So my kids get these fizz free slushies every so often,
(01:59):
and we get a enough of them that it's not
not that uncommon for me to scan one of them
at the You scan and see, okay, that one's free,
and look, even though I'm saving eighty nine cents, it's
not a big deal. We love free stuff, don't we
like it? You know, I'm walking out of there like
I got up on them. It's you know, simple, uh,
you know business right, it's negotiating when you and I've
(02:21):
learned this just in what we do here in radio,
because we give away a lot of prizes. And I
know Austin knows this very well because he's the guy
on a lot of the f M stations, especially AMZ
that like, people want free stuff and they got to
call in at this time. They're calling him people. It
could be anything. People love free stuff if they if
they got it and they don't even know what it is,
but they know they didn't have to pay for it,
(02:42):
and they know that there's a value on it. They
feel like they hit the lottery sometimes No, I mean
it's it's it's a special thing. So I uh, I can't.
I can't recommend him enough. Thornton's get the Refreshing Awards
membership and they can't guarantee this, and neither can I.
But I need you to trust me. You can't trust me?
Who can you trust? Your life will be better if
(03:04):
you are a Freshman Awards member. Just trust me. I mean,
why wouldn't you trust me? All Right? If you guys
want to join us on the show, you can FABO
two five seven one seventy nine hundred is the number
if you want to give us a call. You can
also text in on the LLNN Federal Credit Union text
line five O two four three eight ninety seventy three.
(03:25):
We'll get to the text line in just a moment,
but at LLENN Federal Credit Union members get more. You
can learn more and open your account today at lnfcu
dot com. So this text that comes in is it's
good timing because it's sort of in the same arena
that I wanted to start here in the four o'clock hour,
and that is these updated rankings from ESPN as far
(03:46):
as college basketball next season. But the text says Nick,
I'm with you, and trust me. There's many people who
text in that don't agree with me, and I'm happy
to read those two. But this one says, Nick, I'm
with you. I think the loss of James Scott was
a bigger deal than people realized at the time, and
I don't see anybody currently in the mix to take
that spot. Should we be concerned, I mean, I'll be
(04:07):
a straight shooter. I don't know if we should be concerned.
I think if we need because here's the thing with James.
His production, meaning the pure numbers is not something that
you should mean honestly. Case in Pryor alone could be
able to give you what James gave you as far
as just statistics. He could give you that in a
half as compared to what James gave you in a game. Now,
(04:30):
I don't say that to be little James Scott. I
say that because, like James Scott is somebody where the
statistics didn't always really tell you how valuable he was.
So I think the real I guess, the real concern
as far as like are we really going to be
missing him? It just comes down to how good Sonny
(04:53):
Frew is, because he's the mystery, he's the wild card.
And what I mean by that is, I think you
have every right to be excited to have him and
expect him to contribute, but like the level of what
he's bringing, none of us no right. Like it comes
down to how does it translate. Maybe it translates really well,
and like he goes from being the best young big
(05:15):
in the top level of the German professional basketball world
to being like an All American player, or you know,
it's an adjustment and he's a contributor, but it's at
a mild level. Now, one thing you got to keep
in mind is that he's he's he's twenty one, twenty
two years old. I believe he's played professional basketball for
(05:35):
a while, so like he's not somebody that you know,
Like he's not somebody that is, you know, gonna be
fresh out of high school that's gonna need you know,
a real uh you know, he doesn't have to mean
in fact, he's older than James Scott, Like that's it's
weird to say because he's a newcomer, that'smverer played college basketball,
but like he's he might be a couple of years
older than James. So I still think they're gonna add
(05:58):
at least two more players. I could be wrong, and
I don't and I would be willing to guess not bad,
but guess I'm gonna guess that there won't be big
names that people are like, oh wow, this guy's gonna
be a game changer for us. I think it's just
gonna be filling out spots that are available because you
need depth, you need balance, and honestly, you need you
need as many solid players as you can to put
(06:19):
together the most competitive practices that you could have. So
I think the loss of James Scott, there's a lot
of factors, right, Like what exactly fresh off the injury.
Can Ali Khalifa give you by the way sawm at Derby,
he's lost half of himself, Austin, I didn't show you
this picture. I didn't show you yet. I got a
picture of him in the I guess what used to
(06:41):
be the paddock area. He I mean, remember you told
me when we went to a game, like, look how
much way he's lost. He's lost a ton since then.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, and he's put on some muscle toop.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Oh dude, he's I mean, so you know, there's a
real question mark as far as what he's going to be, like,
what he's gonna bring Cason. Is he shaking off rust?
You know?
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Is he is?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
He gonna be maybe a little different than what we
saw last year when he was healthy because of the
different pieces that he's going to be playing alongside. So
it is a big mystery. But to me, the biggest
one is just what truly comes with Sonny Frew Because
take it for what it's worth, but the folks who
evaluate players entering college basketball technically, you know, freshman in
the twenty twenty five class, he's a top twenty five guy.
(07:21):
But he's also not just your random top twenty five
guy that hasn't played legitimate grown man competition. He's a
grown man himself at twenty one years old, and he's
played against professional athletes for the last however many years.
So like, I don't want to get anybody's hopes up
and exceed, you know, and have expectations set too high.
But the more I see about both him and mckil
(07:41):
brown is that, like, we should expect these guys to
like like I shouldn't say expect, but like, it wouldn't
be some big, huge shock if they come in right
away and they're two of our most consistent and like
best players, which I think is saying something considering who
you're bringing back with Javon Hadley in case inm Pryor
and oh, by the way, the three of the best
(08:02):
shooters that hit the portal that you brought in. But
Sonny Frew, he was named the best German young player
in the BBL League, which is again German's top professional league,
So you got to keep that in mind. I mean,
he's this isn't a This was announced yesterday and it's
presented annually to the league's most valuable player that is
(08:23):
under the age of twenty two. He's twenty one, and
he also has he's a German national. He's from Germany.
So the previous winners of this are Dennis Schroeder last
tight check. He's pretty good, an't he? Franz Wagner last
I checked. He's about to get a big payday because
the magic simply fell off when he got hurt and
(08:44):
then I don't know if you guys remember this name.
Maybe you don't know this name, but Daniel Thiss thest
I don't really know how you say it, but I reckon.
I mean, he's been in the NBA, or it was
in the NBA for a long time, and actually just
recently he was on he was on those Celtics teams
I think it was that made the Eastern Conference finals.
So again, this is a league that he's playing in,
meaning Frew that isn't you know, over time elite with
(09:08):
a bunch of eighteen year old, seventeen year old, sixteen
year olds. This is a guy who's been playing again.
He's twenty one years old himself, meaning fru. So I'm
not here to overhype it, but I really think what
he brings will will make us remember if it'll make
us think back to James Scott as somebody, man, I
wish we had that guy, or maybe we kind of
just don't think about him, which isn't because we don't.
(09:29):
We didn't, you know, like him and didn't appreciate him.
But like the same thing that happened this past year,
and I know I'm not the only one who did it.
How often during the month of January specifically, did you
forget that Louisville was missing Korn Johnson in case and
Bryor And it wasn't because they weren't any good, but
like you were playing really well without him, so or
it didn't even come to mind that you're dealing with
two guys that were probably your two of your biggest
(09:49):
editions in the portal that simply never really played for you.
All right, let's go. So the updated rankings here from
Jeff Borzello. He's Louisville at number seven, which to me
still sounds like are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Like is this real?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
And I know it's not act I mean, it is real,
but it's not. What I mean by that is like
these rankings mean nothing. We quickly forget about them once
we actually get into a season. And you see teams
for who they are, you get results. So you know,
I'm aware that these are just talking points for those
that cover college basketball in the months where the sport's
not going on, but it does give you a reference
(10:30):
point of how objective people who you know do this
cover college basketball, how they view your team. So Louisville
did fall five spots from the last ranking they fell from.
I guess were they up to number three? I guess
they were, So they fell and they're now at number
seven in which again, like I if they're somewhere, I mean, like,
(10:50):
here's what's crazy to me, Austin, there's a good chance that, like,
no matter what happens elsewhere in the portal, Louisville's going
to be a preseason top ten team next year. Isn't
that insane to say?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And I know that what you do in the preseason
does not, like preseason expectations mean nothing. You gotta go
out there and do it, like we all know that,
but just to know that there's that much life within
our program now and expectation like it still doesn't seem real.
So yeah, they, yes, they did fall, And I think
it's a mixture of mostly what other teams did to
(11:23):
get better, but also maybe the fact that they lost.
They lost James Scott, so louis was at number seven.
I'll read you the quick write up here that Burzilo
has about this Louisville team. Here's where it starts. Pack
Kelsey had as strong an offseason as any coach in
the country so far, landing impact transfers Ryan Conwell of Xavier,
Isaac McNeely of Virginia, and Adrian Wooley of Kennesaw State
(11:44):
to go up or to go with top ten recruit
mckael Brown Junior in the back court. Case In Prior
and Javon Hadley where question marks entering the offseason, but
both have since announced their returns, and despite the late
departurel I'm sorry portal departure of James Scott, there's still
depth up front behind me Prior and Hadley. The arrival
of Germany Uman Germany native Sonny Frew also had some intrigue.
(12:07):
Kelsey's first NCAA tournament win Isn't far away gets me excited?
Man gets me excited. I mean, Jeff Borzello, thank you
for you know, giving me that moment, and it was
storing the feeling. Yeah, and he's not alone. Others are
doing it too. But like I mean again, I know
I'm gonna probably embarrass myself. But we went through like
(12:30):
three to four years of off seasons like I didn't
have I mean, like I had interest because I love
college basketball, but like it would have been a pleasant
surprise if like somebody said we weren't going to be
complete ass you know what I mean. And now they're
saying we're like preseason top ten.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I want to turn around.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So, uh, Kentucky, they have fallen. I don't really know
where they were. I'm sorry. Yeah, so let's let me
reacheck here Louisville's previous ranking, I'm sorry, I had it wrong.
Louisll's previous ranking was five, Now there's seven. Kentucky's previous
ranking was ten, Now it's eleven. So here's what they
say about UK. Kentucky is absolutely loaded on the perimeter
(13:07):
next season, with the rival of transfers Jayalen Low of
pitt Cam Williams of Tulane and Denzel Aberdeen of Florida
and five star prospect Jasper Johnson and Go, along with
the potential return of leading score O Tega Oway and
reserve Colin Chandler. Mark Pope also revamped the front court
with the defense in mind, with the additions of Diabate
of Alabama, Jaden Quains of Arizona State, and then he
(13:28):
goes on to mention that Quaintans could miss time after
suffering as acl Taar and then a big step forward
for Brandon Garrison is going to be needed. So I mean,
I don't want to be heavy handed, because again none
of us know, and I've said it more than I
probably am comfortable saying it. I think Mark Pope's is
good enough coach that he's got enough to work with
the word. They'll figure it out and they're not gonna
(13:50):
like the seal. I'm sorry the flour is not that low.
But like I could see Kentucky being pretty solid, or
I could see him being like insanely average. I'm not
doing it from like a hater perspective like Jalen Lowe.
I mean, he was at Pitt and they weren't he good.
Jasper Johnson might be elite because you know he's he's
(14:11):
a really good point guard, but he's a freshman, like
the best bet on their team. As far as guys
returning is O takeaway like he's I mean, he's somebody
that it's weird to celebrate him like a big get
because you know you already have him. But what I
always say is put it in perspective. If you get
a guy back that you know that if he hits
the portal, he's a top ten player. Like and he
(14:32):
comes back to your school instead of hitting the portal,
that's humongous. But like Diabate, he left Alabama because he
couldn't crack the rotation. He averaged seven points a game.
Now he's going to be your starter. Jaden Quayton's who
knows when he's even gonna be able to play. Garrison
clearly has a lot of athleticism, but like he couldn't
(14:53):
get on the floor at times in big games last year.
So I don't know. I just I'm trying not to
view it from like the rivalry stamp, But like, I
just don't know where they got a lot. They got
better athletically, they got better probably defensively, but like things
that I would assume are really important for Mark Pope's
(15:13):
system to thrive the way he wants shooting, versatile bigs
who can pass it and shoot. They don't check those
boxes at all, like Jake and Quaintin's. I mean, he
can't make a free throw. He ain't taking jump shots.
Same with Diabate, he didn't shoot many. So maybe it's
tough to know. And let's be real, both they're bigs
(15:35):
that played a lot last year, Amari Williams and Andrew Carr.
They were facilitators at times to where like you could
throw the to them in the high post your guards
go back door, Like that's how you were able to
make up for the big gap and athleticism against the SEC.
You knew they were going to guard you hard. Get
it to one of your bigs in the high post,
free throw line area, extended boom, always going back door.
(15:58):
Lamar Butler's going back door like running and running and
also shooting. Jalen Lowe not a good shooter, Denzel Aberdeen
not a good shooter. Jasper Johnson. I have no clue
who's good shooter. Otago Away He's somebody that I wouldn't
classify as like a great shooter as far as percentages,
but like he makes big shots and like I wouldn't,
(16:19):
you can't just leave him open. So I mean again,
I know I sound like a hater, but I just
I don't like put it this way. If Otaga Away
like decided to stay in the draft, which I find
highly unlikely, Like what would they be viewed at as then,
I mean, which again I don't think that's gonna happen.
But I just think they're very much dependent upon him
(16:40):
more than anything, and that mostly speaks to the fact
that he's like really really, really good, but he nobody
wants to say it. He was your best player last year,
and maybe they will say it, but like everybody acted
like Butler and Robinson, No, we're there were really good
pieces and they did certain things that you needed, like
Robinson could go off for thirty on any night, although
soaked away and he was actually more consistent than Robinson.
(17:03):
And Butler was a really good veteran heady guard who
was a really good defender, a smart, savvy player, made
big shots at times like a good player. But like
a Takeaway was your most consistent and best player. So
last year he was your most consistent and best player.
Others around him got hurt, Like do they think Ken
Williams is better than Jackson Robinson that they think Jalen
Lowe is better than Lamont Butler or Kobe Brea, And look,
(17:28):
they might be, it's just you know, and Aberdeen absolutely
was a good role player for Florida. But he's a
role player. And by the way, now he's going to
come off the bench, were you which I guess more
than anything, that speaks to the amount of money Kentucky
was able to pay him. But again, if uck if
Florida won a national championship with him as a bench guy,
(17:50):
and you're bringing him in as a bench guy, like
I don't know if you could position him as like
the big piece. But again, I hate to say say
this because you know, I enjoy talking college basketball three
hundred and sixty five days a year, and I like
to convince myself that you all enjoy listening to college
basketball talk around the you know, around the whole year,
(18:11):
like we're doing right now. But at the end of
the day, once we get to November and games are played,
like we all kind of forget about this. So I'm
not here to say, hey, Kentucky's in for a root awakening.
They're going to be terrible. I just I just think
their roster, to me, the pieces are more of a
question mark than others. But again, I've been wrong a lot,
and you know, I'll probably be wrong a lot more
(18:32):
moving forward. Maybe I'm wrong about this. Our quick break
will come back on the other side, believe it or not.
There's even more to the Belichick and his twenty four
year old girlfriend that it's not anything like some new revelation,
but just more proof that like this chick, she got
with Belichick and she's milking him for every bit she
(18:54):
can real estate properties, funding her mom's sex toy store.
Not making it up, by the way, freak out about
that's a real thing. And also, like nobody even knew
who she was at the time. People thought she was
just an extra. She forced her way into that Dunk
and Donut Super Bowl commercial from last year, twenty twenty four,
(19:17):
that's how long she's been just you know, trying to
capitalize on allegedly.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Talked about the Dunk Kings commercial.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, oh wow, remember that was two years ago. Yeah,
and she was in it and nobody knew, Like you mean,
there's a like you can see her in it, but
nobody knew she was at the time. But now we
know it was Belichick's girl, And now we know that
she wasn't supposed to be in it. She worked her
way in it. If they wanted Belichick, she had to
be in, which again just confirms that like she's running
the show for Bill Belichick entirely, which is kind of
(19:48):
sad and scary, but it's his choice. Quick break, keep
a lock right here on Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Now back to Coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on
Sports Talk seven nine day.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
That's right, coffee and Company. We got about an hour left.
We're out early today because the Louisville Bats are back
in action, and double hand this thing off to the
voice of the Bats, Nick Curran in about an hour,
but with derby now complete. I do this every now
and then just because I'm a nerd for it, and
sometimes I can bring some of the findings, some of
(20:29):
the results to the airwaves and share it with you
and hope that you find it interesting like I do.
But every now and then, if we've got like a
big event like there's like we give you an example
whenever Louisville hosted the Sweet sixteen and Elite eight some
years back, it might have been the year Kenny was hired,
meaning like that that Spring. All I know is that
(20:51):
the final in that regional ended up being Craighton and
somebody else who did Creighton San Diego State beat Creighton
here in Louisville to advance to the final four. And
you know, there was a lot of people in Louisville
because of the regional rounds being here. So I'll go
on Instagram or TikTok, mostly those two social media platforms,
(21:13):
and I'll look and see at the trending posts or
videos that come from people who checked in in Louisville.
And you know, sometimes they'll post about like just being
there to watch their team at the Young Center and
the Elite eight, or just being here at Churchill Downs
and everything that comes with the derby. Then you see
people who do both and they highlight their like they're
(21:37):
showing off that they're here in our city and they're
taking in the night life in you know, a four
Street or downtown or anywhere in the Highlands, Nulu, whatever.
And I just like to get a feel for what
people think of our city when they come here, because
you know, it's best for everybody if we become a
place that people want to come and spend. Tourism dollars
(21:57):
and you know, it's good for our economy, it's good
for every So I ended up doing that on Sunday
a little bit yesterday, just looking at people who had
checked in and had a lot of viewership on their
posts from Instagram and TikTok that they were in Louisville.
And again they weren't just posting about the derby, but like,
you know, just being here and you know it gives me,
I guess, hope and optimism that you know, we one
(22:19):
day will not have this. And I don't even know
what to call it, because I was going to say
this this stigma or this fear, but like I get it.
Like if you were somebody that lives in Louisville and
you don't want to go experience certain things in certain
areas because of fear of safety, Like who am I
to tell you that you're wrong for doing that. I mean,
I'm not in a position to tell you how to
live your life. But I just think we have a
(22:40):
lot more to offer as a city than even some
of the people that live here realize. And to see
others that come here and enjoy themselves and you know,
really like what we have to offer like, I just
wish more people that live here would do that, you know.
Wk why that's our partners, and they put this out
earlier today, and it's about a downtown Louisville downtown like
(23:03):
a hotel. I think it's a bunch of different hotels
in downtown Louisville that are hosting a hiring event, you know,
to accommodate people that come to Louisville. And we're not
just talking about the Derby. We're talking about like you know,
and I only know of this because of working here
downtown every day, Austin, you can attest to this. We
(23:23):
there could be an event that the majority of the
city doesn't even know is going on, like a trade
show or a convention, and we I don't know where
we rank, but like we seem to be a pretty
decent spot to where we get enough of those to
where sometimes we'll leave downtown and it's not a concert
at the Yum. It's just that there's a lot of
people staying downtown because they're here for a work trip
or something like that, again, like a convention or a
trade show, and you know, like if we can accommodate
(23:46):
those people, while like why not why not.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Just when you see that there is a hiring event
because a lot of these hotels need employees, it's because
people are coming to travel here and enjoy our city.
And I bring that up to tell you that that's
a good thing. And I hope I'm sharing some good
and positive news. But if anything, I hope that it
makes you realize that you know, you live here every day,
why not like once a month or once every couple
of months, like try to get out and take in
(24:12):
what might be viewed as a place that a tourist
would go to if in fact they were visiting here.
And like people are, like downtown restaurants are popping up,
Like it's not like it's not like people are scared
to open up a new nice steakhouse in downtown Louisville.
I mean, you know, and in a lot of places
I'm sure are well aware that there's gonna be certain
times of the year where the majority of their patrons
(24:33):
are going to be people that are visiting. But also
like it didn't used to be that way, Like maybe
this is just how I remember it, and I could
be incorrect, but like right before the pandemic, I feel
like downtown Louisville was in a better place than it's
ever been in my lifetime, to where it was vibrant,
it was busy, and it just kind of felt like
one of the places to be in Louisville, not thee
(24:56):
because again there's a lot of options. There's some great place,
great areas, but I just from a local perspective, I
just don't feel that really at all anymore. And maybe
it's because I'm getting older and I don't connect with
people that would ever go out and enjoy the night life.
But you know, when you see that they're hiring like
a hiring fair, not just one, but like all these
hotels downtown are essentially saying we need help. It's not
(25:17):
because they're just you know, it's not a charity. They
need help because they got people coming to stay and
people that want to experience Louisville. And again I'm not
lecturing anyone. I just I would be I wouldn't be
shocked if as I share that news with some of
you that it surprises you, because I think in your mind, oh,
nobody goes downtown Louisville. It's a boarded up war zone.
Now it's just too dangerous, and yeah, we don't really
(25:38):
help ourselves at times when it comes to, you know,
curbing the fear of people being scared to go anywhere
downtown Louisville. But it's you know, this is where it
gets tricky. This isn't a good thing. But it's just
the truth. And you can take it however you want.
And ain't just downtown Louiville. You gotta be worried about.
There's other areas that you you know, at any moment
could get robbed. I mean, I hope that doesn't happen,
(25:59):
and you know ninety nine percent of the time it
doesn't happen to people. But you know, live your life,
be mindful, you know, don don't be super you know,
unaware of your situation. But like my wife and I
next week are going to be celebrating our fourteen year anniversary.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Thank you can't believe it's been fourteen years. Here's too
many more, honey, And we're gonna we're gonna stay a
little staycation. We're gonna stay at the Moxie Hotel downtown
right near the YOUM Center. And I was asking Austin
because you know, he's marrying in to somebody that's going
to be able to tell anybody where they can get
a nice bite to eat Louisville. That's what Sydney and
Kentucky does, is that.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Our tech on Sydney and Kentuck here you go. Got it?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
So you know, get you. I've paid attention. So you know,
like I'm looking forward to a nice night and it's
like we're traveling. I mean, honestly, I'm looking forward to
just a lovely evening with my wife without our children.
But you know, I'm not thinking about I wish we
could get away, Like I know we're going to have
a good time right here in the city that we
live in and we reside in, and I don't know,
I just wish there was more like this. Had this
(27:03):
this fell through last time around because of some changes.
Actually it was the pandemic. We had a deal. I
don't think I've told you this often. We had a
deal with a hotel downtown. And I won't mention who
this because who knows, maybe it'll maybe, maybe it'll maybe
it'll come back and we can make it happen. But
we had a deal to where we were going to
have like a partnership. They were going to be a client,
(27:23):
and my messaging within the promotion was going to be
encouraged people to like do a staycation, like plan a
night one Saturday, one Friday, whenever, and you and your wife,
you and your significant other plan a night to where
you go get a room at this nice, very nice hotel,
and then you, you know, enjoy some of the night life,
maybe get a nice dinner somewhere there's plenty of options,
(27:45):
and then maybe hit up a couple of the bars
and just you know, feel like you're on a little goodaway.
But it's not. It's just right here in your hometown
because they they you know again, if you just drive
down like New Lou up, like New Lou is amazing,
and I know i'd fun. I consider New lou downtown.
I don't know why people don't. I get that New
lou is like its own section of downtown and it
should be like it is its own area.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
I mean it, but it's downtown. It's on main Street
like downtown.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
I'm driving like if I am at, this is the
way I and I got. I've been in arguments about
this before, Like if I am at in the in
the heart of New lou and I just keep going
seven eight blocks up. Where am I? I'm at the bridge,
I'm in front of the Young Center. I'm if I'm
that close to downtown. You can call it New lou
(28:29):
boohoo whatever, it's downtown, Like it's not like it, you know,
but I but I.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Market Street is just literally one street away from I
mean you going down the next block, there's Louisville Slugger Field,
and then it's everything that you would say, there's Whiskey Row.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
It's downtown.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, Whiskey Row is like it it is. It should
be a bigger deal to us here locally, and I
think it is to people who travel. I think it's
cool as hell just because of the bourbon and you know,
the whole like whiskey kind of you know the concept
of all that. But that you know that I can't
I think it can't think what the streets called. But
it's it's the street that's right between you know where
(29:03):
the Troll pub is, Yes, that street that back that's
right there.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Yeah, and this.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Is right where that hotel. That's where the Moxie Hotel is.
But like that area, like if you had a couple
more restaurants on both sides, and I'm sure I think
the other sides, like businesses, but like that could be
like a block party that is cool as hell, like
and I don't mean like it's got to be some
special event, but like it's just a given that in
the spring and in the summer, you know, all four
(29:28):
or five, however, many bars are going to be there, bars, restaurants,
Like it's just outdoor dining and it's downtown, but you're
not in the hustle bustle of like getting hit by
a car because it's closed off. You know, like I
don't know here. I am acting like I've got these
grand ideas to improve downtown Louisville, but like I just
I don't know. Like I say this knowing that it
sounds corny, but it's true. Like I do enjoy coming
(29:50):
to work every day in in you know, in a
in a in a city that you know, one is
where I'm from. But also like Louisville isn't Boston, Louisville
isn't you know, La, But we got a you know,
we got a beautiful skyline, We got a lot of
cool stuff. And whenever I see like nothing makes me
happier to know that other people come here and they
enjoy it too, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Yeah, yeah, no, I know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
You have a favorite city to travel to, just like
to visit your Vegas guy, Did you like La?
Speaker 3 (30:15):
New York City's my favorite. I love New York. Yeah,
you La is cool, But nothing tops New York.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Yeah, you can't. Really Like New York can be a
lot of different things to where you can kind of
like I feel like, no matter what your personality or
really what your interest is, you can find that in
New York and it just elevates it because it's freaking
the big Apple. You know, it's New York City.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I do like Chicago.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
I've only been there once, but it's Chicago's kind of loky.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
It's like love Chicago, not really New York.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
But I would say it's a little bit nicer.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
It's it's to me, it's people are nicer. Oh yeah,
to me, it's it's And it's also this is crazy
because it's way different than like, Chicago is seemingly a
billion times faster and bigger than Louisville, because you know
it is, but Chicago and New York of the bigger
cities really in the world I think New York is
like a billion times Like Chicago doesn't scare me with
(31:07):
size and pace, New York can be a little overwhelming. Yes,
I don't. I've never driven in New York, and god knows,
I would never want to know because it would just
be like me yeah. Yeah, But like everything you see
in like movies and TV shows that like take place
in New York. When I've visited New York, like the
four or five times i've been there, like it, I
feel like it's exactly what I see, you know what
I mean, Like like I feel like I'm living in
(31:28):
a TV show or like a movie. Like I'm walking
down the I'm walking down you know, near Times Square.
Who knows, maybe Elliott Stable is about to pop out
because he's investigating a new a new crime, you know
what I mean? Like, Yeah, New York is is.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
All soking down the Brooklyn Bridge and expect to see
like I don't know, Batman.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Shoot through or so.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Have you been to Boston.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
I've never been to Boston. No, but it does seem
like a cool.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Do you know my Boston story? It's not a good one.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
No, I went think it's like not a good experience.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
So I went to Boston for two things stand out
to me about Boston. I went once knowing at the
time when I left, there's a good chance that, like
I may never go back, just because it's not a
convenient place to go. It's really far away. And I
went up for the Louisville Boston College basketball game. And
this was in January of twenty twenty, so this there
were already like people really paranoid at airports about COVID,
(32:17):
and I remember like seeing people with masks on, thinking
like this is weird as hell, Like these people are
conspiracy lunatics, like nothing's going to come of this, not
knowing that the world would shut down in like two
months after that happened. So anyways, I remember just kind
of being a little freaked out about the travel, just knowing,
like you know, like I guess this is a bigger
deal than I realized. Also, I got there on a
Monday night, and the game was on a Tuesday night,
(32:41):
so I did my show that Monday morning. I was
on morning, So I landed, got to the hotel, got
checked in, walked across the street from the hotel to
get a bite to eat, came back, went to bed,
got up to the show. It's like ten thirty, and
I showered, like getting ready to start the day because
I got a day in Boston. The games not until
even o'clock. My flight doesn't leave until Wednesday morning. Well,
(33:04):
I ended up taking a phone call from my wife
after I got of the shower, just kind of letting
her know what my plans were. And I guess because
of travel, jetlight, whatever it may be. I just laid
down on the phone with my wife and like hung
up the phone not thinking. I mean, I fell asleep
and I slept all day, woke up at four thirty
in the afternoon to where I had no time to
(33:24):
go do anything and experience Boston. So I got up,
got ready. I did end up like making my way
to a place nearby, but like I was pressed for time,
so like I got a beer and went back to
the room and got my stuff for the game, and
caught an uber to Chestnut Hills, which is a little
bit away from Boston's downtown. And I went to the game,
great experience, and then caught an uber back and by
(33:47):
the time I got back to my room, it's like
ten thirty. My flight leaves at like seven am. Like
I went to Boston technically for work, but I had
like all day to have a day and I slept
it away in a Boston hotel by myself. Like it wow,
But it's also given me like all right, I gotta
find a way to get back because like that was
because I mean, I imagine Boston would be really really cool,
you know, just to see an experience, and I didn't
(34:08):
get to do much of anything.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
So I'd imagine Boston's cool like in like the fall time.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Oh yeah, guarantee it like spooky season. Oh yeah, Halloween
season up there, but it's beautiful football season two. It's
cold early, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
But I think when Sydney and Kentucky went there, probably
like a couple of years ago. I think she stopped
in for like two days, and I think if I
remember right, I think she liked it. But she did
kind of say it was a little bit overrated for
because she went in the fall time during spooky season.
Not overrated, but she said I thought it would be
a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Like I don't really know what, like, you know, again,
maybe it's just because it's much further away than Chicago
and it's not nearly as like viewed as a tourist
place quite like New York. But like I wouldn't have
even begun to know what to do. Maybe that's why
I just laid down and like didn't have a plan.
Speaker 4 (34:51):
Yeah, if you're like an American history type of person
and you can learn it's like one of the first
colonies and stuff like, that's where everything happened. You know,
Boston tea party. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of
fun monuments you could go check there.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
My biggest memory of that trip, at least far as
something that stands out other than what I just shared,
was that when I told people, rather it be the
uber driver or the bartender or anybody I talked to,
that I was there for the Louisville Boston College basketball game,
Like none of them believe me, Like you came here
for that? And then I realized, So, yeah, Boston College
does not move the needle in the little marketing anyway. Yeah,
(35:24):
Jordan Warre put up thirty eight. It was like the
most uh oh, I remember that. I think he tied
a record for most points scored in their arena.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
So but yeah, were visibly on the TV.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
That's right. Remember that, Me and Baldwin the Eagle. He's
just sitting there depressed that I'm behind him.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Yeh, the gears are turning now.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Yeah, that was a can you believe it was?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
That was five years ago?
Speaker 2 (35:44):
It's crazy. Are we got to get to a break? Actually,
let's just double them up here because I was bad
with clock management. We'll come back management and clock nothing. Yeah,
the l's in there, brother, trust me, and then we'll
uh we'll finish strong here with uh what we have
left in the five because again the bats are taking
over around five thirty ish, so we'll hand it off
to Nick current around them. But until then, you got
us myself, Nick Coffee. Austin Montgomery, the tribal chief, keep
(36:06):
it locked right here on Sports Talk seven ninety
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!