2025-08-05 - BBI

tonight — Last week of vaycay before footbal starts so it's the best of the Big Blue Insider. Tonight -- UK All-American Derek Abney; UK radio voice Darren Headrick; ex-Cat Sean Woods; top college hoop teams from this century and we talk donuts. Garage opens at 6 on WLAP-AM

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
He it's Dick Gabriel taking one more week of vacation
before the football season begins. So tonight it's the best
of the Big Blue Insider joining us now on the
celebrity hoighline. As a guy, I've known him since he
became a Kentucky Wildcat and we've been friends ever since.
Derek Abney, who excited Kentucky crowds not so long ago,
well a little while ago, as a receiver and a

(00:22):
kick return man, one of the best for kick returners
in history of the NCAA. And we're going to catch
up with Derek Antox and sec football. How are you
a young man?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
I'm doing fantastic love hearing the young man, and here
in celebrity, I don't get that much anymore, Dick with
my fifteen and a half year old daughter, my twelve
year old daughter. So that's good to hear.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
I thank you, sir.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
You know I remember Jamal Mashburn when he went into
the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. He said he had
to show his children video of himself playing to convince
them that he could play, and he was pretty good.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
I know you don't worry about making your kids don't
think that you're that you were pretty good, which you were,
But did do they understand that you were a pretty
substantial college football player.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well it's funny, mean, once we start talking football and
somehow the clips start coming out, I just I don't
have to look over there. I just feel the eye
rolls that come along with me just trying to have
a little you know, validation. I was somebody a celebrity,
like you said, back in the day, but but we are,

(01:34):
you know, I'm as we transitioned, you know, to parents. Yeah,
you know, uh, we're sort of the the kids are
kind of the celebrities, and we're the fans now as
you know, so we're all traveling around on the sports,
the soccers and all of that, and so, uh it's
a different type of enthusiasm and uh, like I said,

(01:55):
validation being even and all of dad.

Speaker 4 (01:58):
You know.

Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah, Well, well you've been on the show a few times,
and I've had a chance to say hi to you
down at the game when Kentucky is playing at South
Carolina a couple of times. But the reason I reached
out was because somebody on Twitter recently, for whatever reason,
put up the clip of your punt return against Mississippi State.
I think in three that sat at the time a

(02:19):
new record and you and I touch base on Twitter.
That's got to be fun now because social media, of
course wasn't around back when you were playing. But it's
got to be kind of fun when stuff like that
pops up, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's wonderful. And that was the record breaker at home
against Mississippi State and my favorite punk returns. But what
was different about this one, Dick, was I had always
kind of seen right before they kicked and then it
ended after we scored. I didn't I had never seen
this clip where they tanned to my family and they

(02:58):
talk a little bit before the punt how they haven't
kicked me yet. They've done a good job avoiding the
specialty potential touchdowns. So it was it was really fun
and neat to see that. I didn't know that my
parents would show up in the cliffs too, so I
had the comment about that and thank uh, thank him

(03:20):
for putting that up.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
That was pretty cool, as well as the fact that
you're blockers and those guys and I think with Urban
Flowers was one of them, right, and they they plowed
the way for you almost carried you into the end zone,
and I used to talk to them about what it
meant to them to be able to do that and
block for you. You guys had a great thing going, didn't

(03:42):
you for uh not just a couple of years.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, it was wonderful. And you're right, it was urban
flowers and uh the other one Kentucky boy Andrew Hope
will out of damble.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
And after that touchdown, and may even been an interview
with you, Dick right after the game. Honestly, I said,
I gave two points to Irvin too, to Andrew, two
to me, right, and one of the most wonderful feelings,
Like I said, it was definitely my favorite. It's a
record breaker is at home. It's my senior year. But

(04:18):
there was a pile of a bunch of people and
I ended up just happened to be on top of
Irvin and he was on his back and I was
on top of him, and we were faced helmet to helmet,
and I was shaking his helmet. He was just laughing
like crazy, and it was a wonderful.

Speaker 3 (04:34):
This those wonderful.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Experiences you have that he kind of earned obviously through
the hard work and and being a good player and
a good team and absolutely my favorite memory burnt into
my my brain about all of us falling into the
end zone and Irvin laughing, and uh, we just enjoyed

(04:56):
the moment.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah. And the thing too is after the year prior
where people, for whatever reason you get kicking to you.
Nobody wanted to kick to you, as they had said
on TV the following year, so you had to be
getting a little impatient. I would think, do you remember that?

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah, so some context. Right, So our junior year, me
and Jarry Lorenzen and others, we did pretty well. We
went yeah, seven and five should have been eight for
the Bluegrass miracle happens against LSU at home on that
was homecoming, and so we had had I think I

(05:38):
had six total specialty touchdowns. So the next year, right,
coach Brooks new programs, we weren't doing so hot. So you,
as opposing coaches, do you want to limit opportunities to
change the game, And that's what special teams can do.
So they didn't kick to us, and when we did

(06:00):
fly get some opportunity. In this one, we just referenced
he kicks it kind of he punts it deep, which
allows me for some rooms to the maneuver, and so
whenever I did get a few chances, I had to
make the most of it. Unfortunately, from the previous year,
the whole special teams unit believed we could score every time,

(06:22):
and that was, you know, the most important part, and
that's you know, there you go a team score into
the end zone on a flump return. So had to
maximize the opportunities. It was a rough year for my
senior year. The head coach, Guy Morris had left and
we kind of started over again. So I was good
to hang my hat on a couple more touchdowns and

(06:43):
at least higher records.

Speaker 1 (06:45):
We're talking to Derek Abney. He is a former UK
wide receiver, kick returner, two time All American, three time
All Conference performer, and a guy was you were actually
born and I had forgotten about this mine o in
North Dakota, which I believe was the same place where
Dale Brown, the LSU coach, was born. At least he
talked about mine, not a lot. But then you grew

(07:06):
up in West and Wisconsin. How did that happen? How
did you guys end up going from sure, North Dakota
to Wisconsin.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
Sure, So I guess we can start it off by saying,
my mom and dad actually met at Georgetown College. What
there's another funny little Yes, Georgetown.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
I didn't know.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
Oh, there's a great story with that on how they
met that. At some point we'll have to get into Dick,
but I'll summarize my mom hit him with the car.
So there you go. Well, we'll talk, we'll talk more
about that, and then you know he was love struck,
I guess you could say. But anyway, he eventually was

(07:49):
in the Air Force and with station in Minor Air
Force Base Minor, North Dakota, and that's where I was born.
Ended up doing uh, retiring and doing some logistics in
Central Wisconsin. Then moved there in second grade and became
All American football player State pants senior year, and wanted

(08:11):
three reasons I came to Kentucky. First, had the family, Second,
hal mummy throwing the ball everywhere on the air raid,
and then thirdly, being in the SEC, the best conference
in the country was an no brainer. So that's how
I ended up in Kentucky.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
And when you left, you were the second all time
leading receiver at Kentucky. So the air raid did pay off.
But there are a lot of guys who came to
Kentucky to play for how mummy, we're talking with Derek Abney.
We'll come back and talk more football for the former
All American wide receiver kick return man in just a
minute here on the Big Blue Insider six thirty wlap. Hey,

(08:48):
it's Dick Gabriel and you were listening to the best
of the Big Blue Insider. Welcome back. We're talking with
Derek Abney. He of course was a tremendous wide receiver
and kick returner at the University of Kentucky from two
thousand to two thousand and three. Two time All American,
three time All Conference performer, and we've talked about some
of the records he set. And as we said, people

(09:10):
kept kicking to you your junior year and I had
a player tell me, coaches can be stubborn. They look
at film even though it's video, and they say, well,
my special teams, guys, they're not going to make the
same mistakes that that team made when Abnue was But
what were the mistakes the teams made. I know you

(09:31):
were super fast, but you were able to pick them
apart somehow. How were you able to consistently do that
when they did kick to you.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
Well, I think as a unit, we all believe I
mentioned this earlier, we all believe that we could score
a touchdown anytime. And honestly, that's the biggest factor in
football and sports and life is just having the confidence
and the belief that you are going to do what
you're setting out to do. And so that was first

(10:04):
we played some coaches like you said that, Okay, we're
gonna put our best against your best to see what happened,
you know, And Jackie Cheryl was a big one in
Mississippi State. He was sort of a special team's guru,
and he did just that. And so I always enjoyed
playing against Missippi State because I knew i'd get some opportunities.

(10:26):
And then, you know, at growing up, not getting tackled
and joking everyone was just something that I hung my
hat on sick and there was a little game we would, Honestly,
I gain I attribute a lot to this little game

(10:46):
we played in elementary school where we loved football. We
had one football and a bunch of little boys running
around and whoever had the book football, You're gonna tackle.
And honestly, I think that was a big part of
my sort of training, just on the at recess in
the yard, running around trying not to get tackled, and

(11:07):
it helped it.

Speaker 1 (11:07):
You were pretty fast, that was because you were attracted.

Speaker 2 (11:10):
That was a little bit of help.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
Yeah, I have a little bit of help. You know
what else that we need to remember is the fact
that I really believe that you guys had one of
the best special teams coaches in the country in Mark Nelson,
who I just thought had just a really interesting career.
He coached He's from Canada, played in the Canadian League,
and then found his way to American college football working

(11:35):
with Mummy down at Valdosta State, came to Kentucky, his
special teams were always terrific. Went to Baylor, Tulsa, Louisville.
Then now he's back in the Canadian League. I think
he's coaching college football up in Canada. Still, I thought
that guy should have gotten a lot more credit, don't you.

(11:56):
I do.

Speaker 2 (11:58):
And part of what made coach Nelson so good was
his dedication and commitments. He always was watching, like you said,
film video and always setting us up for success. His
commitment to preparation was unmatched, and you know, we had opportunities,

(12:22):
little bits of advantages because of Coach Nelson, and it
did materialize. And that's interesting that you attribute some of
our success to him, because it's totally true. Coach Nelson
was a big reason why we were successful in specialty.

Speaker 1 (12:39):
I wonder why he bounced around so much. I know
he's talented, but you know, you look at his resume,
as I said, and he's all over and there are
a lot of reasons for stuff like that. But you know,
and was never a head coach. But I guess what
he wanted to do was coach special teams and linebackers
and coach tight ends at Kentucky. And then you played

(13:00):
there for one under Steve Ortmeyer, who had a lot
of experience in the NFL as a special teams goach.
She kind of did things a little differently, didn't he.

Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, yeah, it was. He and Coach Brooks were pretty
close from my understanding, right, yep. And and Nelson, I
think you're writing that he was a special coach, was
very had a niche at being successful at special teams,
and so I think anyone sort of compared to coach Nelson.

Speaker 1 (13:32):
May fall short.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
But it was a little different with coach Ortmeyer still
had I think two touchdowns, you know, and so it
was still an effective year as a special teams with
coach Ortmeyer. But it just I think coach Nelson was
such a good coach it was hard to compare.

Speaker 1 (13:51):
We're talking to Derek Abney, former Kentucky All American, well
once in All American, always an All American, and now
lives in South Carolina where he's engineer. And as I said,
we have a chance to speak when we can find
each other when I'm down there with the Wildcats. Let's
talk about the SEC. You said it was the best
league in the country when you signed, and it was,

(14:12):
and now it's even stronger, it's expanded, and South Carolina
has been a problem of late for the Wildcats. What
have you said, Now that you're a fan, you can
sit back and watch and evaluate with knowledge of having
played in this league, what do you think of the
way this league has evolved? It's pretty amazing, isn't it?

Speaker 5 (14:32):
It is?

Speaker 2 (14:33):
And you know it was a football who are a
football league. It's really just expanded to dominate all sports.
And what's interesting, it's just that power on decision making
that impacts the other league. They're just sports in general,
whether that's for the n NIL situation or you know,

(14:56):
in a way free agency for the college kids. SEC
things happen or won't happen, depending on what the SEC
decides that impacts those things for all all leagues and
all teams. So it really is. I think part of
that has to do with the fan base in the South.

(15:20):
I mean sports in general, but football. It's just crazy
all around in the SEC, just fans in general, whether
it's college or high school or what have you. So
I wonder if that's a big part of why SEC
is such a strong conference, but it certainly is, and

(15:41):
it has an outside role in anything related to sports,
and you know, it's good to be a part of it.
It probably can be difficult for those that aren't right, yep,
But they always put up a good product, so I'll
tell you that. I mean, the results kind of speak
for themselves frequently, whether it's football or basketball or any

(16:04):
sport honestly, so you can it's one thing to argue
against the outside power, but also the wins and losses
favor SEC and how strong it is.

Speaker 1 (16:20):
We have watched Kentucky go down and beat South Carolina's
always good to get a win on the road. In
the sec of late as I said, South Carolina has
become a bit of a problem. It used to be
a swing game for that the Kentucky fans could almost
count on. But you know, Beamer has done a nice
job down there. What can you tell us about what
do you expect from South Carolina to share if you

(16:42):
picked up any info yet?

Speaker 2 (16:45):
Well, it is interesting, I mean, especially prior to the
last maybe four or five years, never really did a
lot of bullets and board comments. Yep, and you know
the whole glasses thing with Steamer and then Beamer just
being such a he's really been a force for South Carolina.

(17:08):
You're right for a while there. But when I was playing,
it was it was touch and go whenever we played
South Carolina. That was the one loss we kind of
kind of hurt my junior year when we were playing
well with that South Carolina. We would play Thursday nights
and we knew that, you know, we had to get
South Carolina because the others were gonna be tough. But

(17:29):
for a while there, we had dominated South Carolina, and
it's kind of swung the other way, and it's a testament.
Like you said to Beamer, it's gonna be good, I
think again this year. But we'll have to see. I'm
really hopeful Kentucky can rebound from last year. They're going
to be at South Carolina this year. I'll be there too,

(17:50):
and I will see you, Dick, for sure, and I'm
looking forward to that game the end of September.

Speaker 1 (17:56):
There's a lot of high school talent down there, isn't
Because I remember Joker Phillips pulled Raffia a little and
some other guys out of the state of South Carolina.
That is a fertile territory, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
It is, it really is. I was saying, I was
just talking about Jadavian Clowney who went to South Carolina,
and I think he was from around here too, in
South Carolina. And you're right, lots of talent, and you know, Dick,
it's been interesting we haven't really tapped into a lot
of the UK or the Kentucky talent for UK here

(18:33):
as of latest at that or Ohio, which we used
to be so strong and recruiting. Obviously, I know with
Vince Merrow moving on, that's been a little concerning just
from a recruiting perspective.

Speaker 1 (18:48):
It's been a lot of fun chatting and looking forward
to seeing you down there. My man.

Speaker 2 (18:53):
Absolutely wouldn't miss it. I will be searching you out
before the game so we can touch base. But always
a pleasure. Dick, glad to be on with it.

Speaker 1 (19:03):
You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider.
More to come here on six thirty WLAP. It's Dick Gabriel.
Welcome back to the best of the Big Blue Insider.
Of course, Kentucky football coming up thirty one days away
now from the opener against the Toledo Rockets, the team
that has been picked to win them in America Conference.
It will not be an easy opener for the Wildcats

(19:25):
to led to US four All conference preseason All Conference
players returning and a starting quarterback who threw for nearly
three thousand yards last year. But Kentucky, we'll start a
quarterback who threw for a lot of yards last year,
nearly I think there was more than thirty eight hundred
at Incarnate word, thirty five touchdowns, and of course that
is Zach Calzada. And that is the way the depth

(19:48):
chart reads today. Maybe it changes tomorrow, who knows, But
likely it will be Calzadah. Yeah, he transfers in from
A one double A school, but he has played not
just at the D one level, he has played in
the SEC and he has played well. He played at
Texas A and M for a couple of years and
he was the guy who engineered the upset in terms

(20:09):
of the quarterback position of Alabama back when Nick Saban
was still coaching at Alabama. It was a huge upset
and it was Kentucky playing in a day game. I
think may had been a noon game or something like that,
because I remember walking out and seeing the end of

(20:30):
the Alabama and M game, or maybe it was before
the Kentucky game. A friend of mine had a huge,
big screen TV out in the parking lot and I
saw the end of that upset win. And Zach Calzada
appeared on the SEC Now yesterday on the SEC networking,
somebody asked him about playing back to the kind of

(20:51):
success he had in college station.

Speaker 6 (20:53):
You know, I need to go back to and it's
something that I've been working on, but go back to
those levels of preparation. You know, that game and really
that whole season. I think I tapped into, you know,
a level of preparation that you know as preparing like
the NFL quarterback, and you know, coming back to the
speed of the game, it's going to be a lot faster,
a lot bigger guys, a lot faster, a lot stronger guys.

(21:15):
So just to be as prepared as possible and get
my team ready to play with.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
And getting prepared like that means a lot of reps
and a lot of what they call film work video work,
and I guarantee you they're already working on that right now.
Cal Zaida also talked about the fact that he could
have gone to a lot of places through the portal
and chose Kentucky. Of course, one of the reasons was
Mark Stoops. He likes the way Stoops runs the Kentucky program.

Speaker 3 (21:41):
I really like his approach.

Speaker 5 (21:43):
He leaves a lot of.

Speaker 6 (21:44):
Room for it to be a player led team, and
I think with the guys that we have, that's going
to be our strength. You know, a lot of guys
are focused. I think motivated might not be the best
word for our players, but I think it's discipline and urgency.
You know, as a team, that's that's been a big
model for us. You know, I wasn't here last year.
A lot of these guys weren't here last year, but
you know, we can see him feel the pressure that's

(22:07):
with this upcoming season, and I think just coming every
day and putting our best go forward from January to
now and as we roll in the camp is important
for us.

Speaker 1 (22:16):
That is Zach Calizada, courtesy of the SEC Network, likely
the starting quarterback for the Wildcats when they open up.
You will hear that game right here, of course. On
six thirty WLAP a while back, I played a clip
from an interview that DeMarcus Cousins did with the Run
Your Race podcast. It's a two hour interview. It is fascinating.

(22:37):
I'm coming back to it because some people have been
talking to me about it. They've drawn my attention to
different parts of it, and I have to admit that
I only heard the clips a while back, but I
did not hear the part about the fact that Boogie
Cousins missed his sophomore year at high school. I do
remember when he signed with Kentucky hearing there were some

(22:57):
discipline issues or something, and he got kicked out of
school and he got sent to a juvenile detention facility
what he called a boot camp, and you know, it
was kind of like jail, but it was a boot
camp for younger men. And he told the story and
what had happened, essentially was he got kicked off a
school bus coming back from a game that the varsity lost.

(23:20):
The JV won their tournament, varsity lost the championship. JV
guys were celebrating. Varsity guys didn't like that and took
issue with it, and a bus driver who Boogie said
had never liked him, had never liked him, told him
to get off the bus. So he packed up his stuff.
This is a six' ten. Sophomore he's got his, backpack

(23:42):
his gear, bag and he's stepping past the driver to
step down and get off the. Bus AND i think
he said the driver accused him of bumping him or,
something and the driver shoved him toward the door and
the six' ten boogie slams his head again the door
frame and took it out on. The driver police came,

(24:04):
next thing, you know boogies kicked out. Of school stuff
like that came out in. The interview it's. Really Fascinating,
BOOGIE cousins i think is a really, fascinating guy very
intelligent and talked about how when he was in, that camp,
you know he just knew he didn't. Belong there and
he also talked about growing up he was surrounded by
ignorance and people doing the wrong things and trying to

(24:27):
take him, with them and he recognized, that FACT which
i thought. Was great, so anyhow fast. Forward ahead he
becomes one of the greatest players in, the country goes
TO a uk camp Run By. Billy gillespie then he
sits in ON a uk practice and he Knew Under
billy clyde he would not be.

Speaker 7 (24:47):
A wildcat I Saw billy gillespie conduct. THE practice, i,
say no, WING hell i ever play for.

Speaker 5 (24:53):
That man this dude is.

Speaker 7 (24:55):
A lunatic, he's Crazy and i'm Gonna just i'm gonna
finish this camp and get out.

Speaker 5 (25:03):
Of here ain't a chance In hell i'm coming to.
The dug dude.

Speaker 1 (25:07):
Is nuts first thing that came to my MIND when
i heard That Was billy gillespie had the reputation of
being one of the greatest Recruiters. In america what it
turned Out At al PASO and A. And m he
excelled at bringing in junior, college transfers but he Showed.
To kentucky he was not the recruiter that, they needed

(25:28):
and he blew a chance At Signing. Boogie cousins but
in the interim he. Gets fired caliperio was going To
Sign john Wall And boogie cousins to Play, at memphis
COMES to Uk and boogie Becomes. A wildcat but he
told the story of a hard lesson he learned in
his first practice As A. Kentucky wildcat things that were

(25:51):
promised to him in terms of style. Of play you
could be a big man who plays out on the
floor and handles. The ball didn't work out that Way
Under John.

Speaker 7 (25:59):
CALIP perry i remember my first practice And and, i'm,
like man this dude lie.

Speaker 5 (26:04):
To me when when these coaches were cruising they tell.

Speaker 7 (26:07):
You everything. You, know uh he's, telling ME like, i
said he's telling me how he's going to play me in.
THE system i, TOLD you i want to Play Like.
SEAN willis i want to dribble. THE ball i don't remember.
YOU'RE dribbling I don't i don't remember you dribbling.

Speaker 5 (26:22):
The. Ball, yeah man.

Speaker 7 (26:26):
The, first, PRACTICE bro i grabbed a rebound AND decided
i wanted to go dribble the ball up the floor and.

Speaker 5 (26:34):
Didn't turn the ball, over nothing cal blew. The whistle
what the fuck are? You, DOING yeah i got my center.
Bringing up this.

Speaker 7 (26:46):
Is, j wall it's the number, one PICK and i
got my center bringing the.

Speaker 5 (26:52):
Ball Up and, i'm, like DAMN but i told you
you said you were GONNA let, i, mean like bring
THE ball i don't ever want to say you bring
the ball. Up again you better get that ball.

Speaker 4 (27:04):
To.

Speaker 5 (27:04):
Y'all wall you better get that Ball. To joe in,
That moment, I'm, like oh this. A lot i've been
financed this dude. A lot.

Speaker 1 (27:16):
I'm guessing there are a lot of players All over
america who had. Similar experiences we're gonna Talk To sean
woods about that. Coming up one More. From boogie he
talked about the Loss To. West virginia after, the game
He Said john wall, was. Sobbing uncontrollabing, boogie said that's.
Not me i'm not that kind. Of guy and HE
said i couldn't Understand why john. Was crank is he's

(27:38):
going to be the number one pick in. The draft
and tried to Talk to john about this. And that,
JOHN said i don't have time to think about stuff.
Like That But DeMarcus cousins was thinking about coming Back.
To kentucky that was, his mindset and he talked about
when he went in to Speak To, john caliperry.

Speaker 5 (27:55):
This is, Actually.

Speaker 7 (27:56):
Hot starle, I'm, like CALE like i want to come
back on The chip, like Yeah like i'm ready for.
Next year and cal, was, like man, look kid talk
to me like, this kid if you want to help,
my family you'll. Come back if you want to help,
YOUR family i won't see you. NEXT season i, was like,

(28:18):
all right so now Things are, i'm, like damn they
won't be IN.

Speaker 5 (28:24):
The nba and now they Talking about i'm a, you
know potential top. Five picks i'm out.

Speaker 7 (28:30):
To the talk.

Speaker 5 (28:32):
ABOUT that i broke his Head like. I'm out. I'm.

Speaker 1 (28:37):
Out yeah we had heard, that before hadn't We. From
caliperi he said that he, told us, the media the
public that that's what he. Told players if you want
to help me, my family come back to help your
family Go Pro And boogie cousins confirms that's what he said.
To Him otherwise boogie would have been a whilecat for a.
Second year think about that, Up Next, Darren Heddrick, Ryan

(29:00):
Sandberg the Hall of famer who passed away recently Interacted
with Darren and. DARREN'S dad i want him to tell us.
That story at the bottom of, The Hour, sean Woods The.
Unforgettable guard you're listening to the best Of The Big.
Blue insider more to come here on SIX. Thirty Wlap It's,
Dick gabriel welcome back To the best Of The Big.
Blue insider joining us down our. Celebrity Hotline darren hedrick

(29:23):
AND as i mentioned earlier on, the show with the
Passing Of, ryan sandberg many, many, people thousands probably millions
shared their thoughts and their Opinions Of, ryan sandberg much
beloved player For, the cubs First the phillies and then
in a trade where he was thrown in as a,
utility player went on to Be a Hall of Famer.

(29:44):
In Chicago, darren hedrick, of course radio voice Of The,
baseball wildcats crossed Pass With ryan Sandberg. And darren it
was more than just, saying, hey HELLO can i get?
AN autograph i mean you worked with, him basically and.
Your dad you posted a great anecdote about how your
dad was part of a practical joke played Between really

(30:07):
sandberg and another guy with the smoke he's down There.
In tennessee tell me you're recalling a recollection.

Speaker 3 (30:14):
Of, That, yeah so, Of Course ryan sandberg is a.
Legendary prankster he loves, practical jokes and that was one
of the things that was fun to Learn about rhino
in two thousand and NINE when i worked with him
As the. Smokey's manager and very, quiet guy, very quiet,

(30:35):
intense guy but he had a sense of humor, about
him and so he had been giving my, broadcast partner,
My mentor Mick, gill lespie had been given him a,
hard time playing some jokes on him throughout the early
portions of. The summer and they were coming back from

(30:57):
a Series. IN alabama i think they'd been Playing The,
montgomery biscuits and they stopped for a brief moment at
this little local mom and pop gas station somewhere In,
REMOTE alabama i think it was Outside, of huntsville and
they had stumbled across this homemade jar of pickled. Quail

(31:18):
eggs and of course you Can Imagine, ryan sandberg who
had been Playing in Philadelphia and Chicago and Hall of
famer and all, this stuff he apparently had never seen anything,
like this and it was sort of giving it a,
side Eye and mick told him that he should buy

(31:39):
a jar. Of, him well that's when the idea was
hatched in mixed brain that he was going To get
ryan on. This prank and so at a, Home game
ryan always stood next to the gate to the entrance
to the field that was close to the home dugout
and he signed autograph apps for an Hour, and dick

(32:02):
it was probably thousands of people that came down this
aisle over the course of. The summer, So, anyway dad
my dad got in line with the baseball And had ryan,
sign it and, he, said hey have you signed, This
ball i'll bring you a part of pickled. Quial EGGS
and i, was, like oh this. Is, weird no he

(32:25):
didn't know my dad, at all he had never, met
him never. Met him And so mick got the jar
of pickled, quail eggs Gave. It dad they put a
label On It Ryan rhino's Pickled, quail eggs and they
had this great design on it, and Everything and dad
gave it, to him and Of course rhino when he

(32:46):
showed It to mick figured out it was. A prank
but he was proud of that jar and it followed
him And the smokies the rest of, the summer all
the way To The Southern League. Championship series they eventually
Lost the, championship series but it was what, a summer
what a memorable summer it Was, With Sandberg and i've

(33:08):
got so many great stories of working with him and
his run ins with some umpires on the.

Speaker 1 (33:13):
Field too so that jar was it like a good,
luck charm? A? Talisman yeah really.

Speaker 3 (33:20):
It was you know how some teams latch on the
objects and it carries in. The dugout We've seen kentucky
do that a few times, and so, but yeah the
jar of pickled quail eggs Helped The tennessee smokies To
A Southern league championship appearance in two thousand.

Speaker 1 (33:36):
And nine did you ever sample a pickled? Quail? Egg, No.

Speaker 3 (33:43):
No, In fact i'm not sure that jar was. Ever
OPENED and i have not personally had a pickled quail
egg or pickled pig speed or any of that stuff
that you might find in some Of those southern. GAS
stations i will TELL you i.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
Worked in a liquor store briefly right. Of college, PART
time i was working, in radio but making ends meet
and they had a jar of Those pickled they kind of,
looked like, you know sausages or, you know like, mini
belonging you Know what i'm. Talking about and curiosity got
the best of ME and i. Tried one CAN'T say

(34:17):
i would eat them. Every day it wasn't, too BAD
but i never went back, to IT and i Can
say i'm better for. The experience we're Talking To, darren
edrit the radio voice Of The baseball wildcats who Worked With,
ryan Sandberg the Hall of famer who. Recently passed ryan
was the manager Of. The smokies and what was it
like for those, Young? Players darren and you met a

(34:39):
lot of them when you were a young guy yourself
back then when you posted, that picture you actually, had
hair but you look you look. Very dapper but for
those guys, coming UP and i got, to think maybe
not all, of them but at least some of them
knew who they were dealing with as. The manager, oh.

Speaker 3 (34:57):
Yeah absolutely and you know that the, thing is those
players Absolutely adored sandberg and loved working. With him he
had that locker room from, day one and he fought for,
those GUYS as, i mentioned, you know he would defend
them and there was a GREAT story i was thinking.

(35:17):
About this so there was a Night where ryan had
turned one game where a guy had a bad night
at the play into a season long feud with this
particular umpire who ended up making the. MAJOR leagues i
don't want to name, his Name but sandberg goes out

(35:40):
one night to. Change pictures he had a guy that
was struggling with walks and that sort, of thing and
he also kind of felt like he was getting squeezed a.
Little Bit so ryan goes out to make this. Pitching
change he's got his lineup Card and i'm sitting in
the dugout because it's. Late innings i'm getting ready to
do postgame eres on, the FIELD and i noticed that

(36:04):
the exchange. Is done the change has. Been made the
new picture's, warming Up but ryan doesn't leave the sight
of the umpire and he kind of looks, at him
and in a very understated and, quiet fashion he turns
his head towards the umpire and. Says something the umpire
turns his head and Looks at samberg and, says Something

(36:25):
and ryan turns around and says something back, to him
and then he. Gets ejected whatever he said on the
second goal around with the, magic word and That's when
ryan got his. Money's worth he let this young man.
Have it the first base umpire comes over to our,
Pitching Coach dennis llewellen, and says you need to go get,
this Guy and dennis, Shouts, back hey this isn't. My

(36:48):
problem you all. Started This but dennis did eventually go
out there and diffuse, the situation but Not before ryan accidentally.
Bumped him let's put accidentally in front.

Speaker 5 (37:02):
Of that he.

Speaker 3 (37:02):
Bumped him ryan had to serve a suspension when we
went and Played The carolina Mudcats. In raleigh there's full
circle BECAUSE later i would become voice Of. The mudcats
but he set in a suite At the mudcats ballpark
and Managed. The smokies unbeknownst To The. Southern league he
Managed the smokey's from a suite At Five. COUNTY stadium i.

Speaker 1 (37:25):
Love, that yeah there's a lot of stories like that
in minor. LEAGUE baseball, i KNOW and i guess you
weren't surprised at the outpouring For of sanberg when.

Speaker 3 (37:35):
He, passed no not. At all such A beloved, cubs
figure and you can't help but appreciate the way he
played the game obviously a terrific. Offensive player really came
alive with what they've Dubbed the sandberg game when he
homered off Of suit or twice yep to Help the
cubs come back and Beat. The cards and such a

(38:00):
great defensive player at second. Base too numerous gold Gloves
And andre Dawson and dunston and those guys have just
heaped praise after praise, on him, and really in some
ways it's a Shame that sandberg and all those talented
players With the cubs only made the, playoffs twice the

(38:22):
last one in nineteen. Eighty nine, but yeah what of.
A PLAYER and i think quiet intensity is something that
they accurately.

Speaker 1 (38:31):
Describes Him, darren headrick radio voice of The, baseball cats
thank you so much. FOR sharing i.

Speaker 3 (38:36):
Appreciate, it yeah, No, problem dick thanks for. THE time i. Appreciate,
it darren of.

Speaker 1 (38:42):
Course also the radio voice of the Women's basketball wildcats
and anchors our scoreboard SEGMENTS for. Uk football he keeps
very Busy, on saturdays and that's coming up at. Us
fast you're listening to the best of The Big. New
insider our number two is next year on six thirty
w laptet.

Speaker 8 (39:20):
Tact sensat do anything. Only, don't.

Speaker 1 (40:50):
Hey It's. Stick gabriel welcome back To The Big. Blue
insider our number two taking a little, time off so
please enjoy the best Of The Big. Blue insider joining
us is the Unforgettable Guard. Sean woods he is the
head Coach At Scott County. High school his jersey hangs
in the Rafters of Rupp and sean before we talk
about your neck Of the woods and high school hoops Here.

(41:11):
In kentucky earlier on, THE show i was playing some
clips From The Run your race Podcast With boogie cousins
and other. Like me you had heard some of, the
CLIPS but i got a chance to sit down and
listen to virtually the. Entire thing it's just. Really fascinating
says a Lot. About boogie we'll come back to that in,
a MINUTE but i wanted to ask you about some
of the things he encountered growing up that it seems

(41:35):
like are kind of consistent with a lot of guys
and probably some women, as well high school recruits who
come in and, you know we all put them up
on this pedestal and they're basketball Players. At Kentucky But
boogie cousins missed his sophomore year at high school because
he was in a juvenile, detention facility which just underscored

(41:56):
the fact that he had a. Rough upbringing he had
issues in his. Life life YOU and i Talked About
khalil whitney ON your, tvt team the, point being these
folks have a lot going on in, their lives so
much more than basketball that we don't know about and
we never. Even consider and now you're seeing that back
again on the high, school level.

Speaker 3 (42:16):
Aren't, you oh no doubt. About it and, you know
everybody comes from. Different places, you know all you see
is what's on the surface in, your eyes but you
have no idea what's going on in. Their homes, you know,
their parents if they, have parents so on and. So
forth so that then you wonder why they have some
issues with male coaches or authority or constructive criticism because

(42:43):
they're so sensitive and they have a problem with trust because,
some people some kids come from places where trust was.
Never there they've always been, let down you Know what,
i'm saying people taking advantage. Of them they may had
op situations with, their mom, you know not being a
strong mother having to do what she's got to do
just to put food on. The table you, never know

(43:03):
you KNOW what. I Mean but god gives kids and
young people gifts to get them out of, those situations
and especially to get an education with, your talent and,
You Know boogie boogie and several others are no exception.

Speaker 1 (43:18):
To that it's interesting you bring up the. Word trust
you don't, remember this probably or maybe. You Do we
YOU and i have talked a lot over the last
couple of years on, this show but when you Got
The scott, county job one of the words you used
multiple times was trust because you talked about building the
relationships with these. Young Players and i'm thinking and listening

(43:41):
to your comments and listening. To cousins you can't, shortcut that.
CAN you, i mean just asking someone. Trust me the
more somebody says, trust me you're not going to, trust, Them, right.

Speaker 3 (43:52):
No no doubt. About it and from a, coach standpoint
it's got to be trust all the way across. The board,
you know you got to have trust with. Your assistants
you got to have trust and be able to trust.
Your administration you got to be able to trust the
people you're. Working with, you know if there's no trust
there's no way you can. Be successful and it can't be.
Any jealousy it can't be this. Or that it has
to be, you know sometimes a dictatorship because of, you

(44:18):
know when a head coach is being a head coach
or a d or superintendent or anything. Like that, you
know but it can't be. Any animosity and anytime you,
sense it if you sense disloyalty, and, distrust wow it's
just think, about yourself you Know what. I'm saying you're
gonna look at. People different you're not gonna respond to.

(44:38):
Them different you don't think that they have your best interest.
At heart you think they have, a knife, you know
stuck in. Your back you know they may, be pissing,
you know kissing you like that, old saying that old,
old saying as old. People say, you know they may
be kissing you on, the cheek the peeing down, your
leg you KNOW what. I mean so, you know kids
have that, same deal have that same. Trust issue you
know if they, you know you don't know what they what.

(45:00):
Schools like, you know if they HAD add adhd, you know,
you know kids coup you know several backgrounds and You
know boogie was six eleven and he was getting. In
trouble so, everybody's, like man you just got to get
out of this deal because you have an opportunity to
make a lot. Of Money and i'm sure he was
told that millions. Of times just just get out. Of that,

(45:21):
you can't, you know six to eleven stand in, our
neighborhood blah blah. Blah blah you got to get out
to get a. Better Life and i'm sure he. Was
pushed i'm sure it took, a lot, and uh, you
know that's where he. Is now but he could have
been a casually just like a lot of them that's
in the streets, right now.

Speaker 1 (45:36):
No question and he talked about how he was so
bitter when he was kicked out of school and had
to go to this camp and basically had washed his hands,
of basketball. Couldn't play uh, you know here's a guy
who was on the front page of the local newspaper as,
a ballplayer but heading off to. This camp and he
talked about a guy that he met in. The camp
it was five, foot four, he said and. Love basketball, He,

(46:00):
SAID man I wish i had your skill in, Your
size and this guy made him understand exactly what you
just said that he had gifts that he could take
advantage of and from that, point on once he got
out of, the camp you know his life did. Pick
up but you talked about Backgrounds and boogie was basically,
he said, you know grew up with that, a father
and that happens with a lot, of kids no matter

(46:21):
what's your. WALK life i did you know my dad
died young and left five. Kids behind that's just the
way things. Happen sometimes but now as, A coach sean
and you came from a, strong family you've talked. About
that that again IS something i know that you embrace
when it comes to dealing with. Your players but you
can't force that Either can you can't sit there And

(46:42):
say i'm going to be like a second dad. To
you you got to let, that happen.

Speaker 3 (46:46):
Don't you oh no doubt, About it and it starts with.
Your actions. You know you can, be stern, you know
but you they got to know that you got their
back and you're not lying to them even when you get.

Speaker 5 (46:58):
On them it's like.

Speaker 3 (46:59):
A parent, you know you're telling them the truth when
you're getting, on them that they're doing wrong to either
hurt themselves or someone else or image. Or whatever you
KNOW what. I, mean so, you know sometimes kids don't
get that and it takes, a while and it. Takes growth,
YOU know i got kids, that coach and, you know
there's not too many Coaches in america that has one
hundred percent. GRADUATION rate i do as a sixteen year.

(47:21):
Head coach but when you're on those kids and you
making them go to class and you're checking class every
day and they can't. Stand it you're always, On this you're,
Always this you're. Always That but i'm making.

Speaker 5 (47:31):
Sure that they.

Speaker 3 (47:32):
Don't fail i'm doing my best while they're with me
because their parents or whoever entrusted them with me to
MAKE sure i do right. By them but sometimes doing
right by a kid not it's making, them uncomfortable not
letting them and not being the point of point at.
Least resistance, you know you got to be the make,
you know to make sure a guy that because when they.

(47:52):
Leave YOU when i was, in college they're. An Adult
now i'm in. High school now they get to go
to college and another guy or woman gets to you
Know what, i'm saying make sure that when they leave
them after twenty two years old or whatever and they're
out in the. Real WORLD but i have to do.
My part and that's one of the REASONS why i,
like coaching IS because i can make a difference. Through
basketball and you know a lot of. People don't, you

(48:17):
know a lot of coaches just, use them, you know
let them, do this let them. Do that just make
sure that they do just enough in the classroom and
try to have some of their, discipline actions, disciplinary actions
just so they can win. Basketball games and then when the, kid,
leaves no he's no better of a person leaving.

Speaker 5 (48:36):
Than he was.

Speaker 3 (48:37):
Coming in and that's the case when you have, those
cases and that coach is. No good he may won
a lot of games with, this guy but look at.
The aftermath.

Speaker 1 (48:45):
You know i've been doing this for a, long time as.
You know and one of the things that really annoys
me about my brethren it within, the media is the
people who mock the notion of. Student athletes and that's
simply because all they ever, think about, care about, right
about talk about are the guys at the, very end

(49:06):
gals at the very, very top who go on to,
play professionally and they assume, that well, YOU know i
guarantee these kids didn't do any class work. Or whatever
whereas when you've GOT an apr report that's trying to hold.
You accountable that's, One thing but you also have coaches
who know that ninety eight percent of the athletes on

(49:28):
their campus will not go pro and feel the same way.
You do you, Know what that just bothers the crap out,
of Me and i'm sure it does coaches across.

Speaker 3 (49:36):
The country well, it does you KNOW what, I mean
because you're a, user now you Know what. I'm saying
and to be honest, with you there are a lot
of guys out there in this profession that are, Like that,
oh yeah and you know you got, now well you
know you can't coach the. Old way, you know you
can't stay on. These guys you can't get you know
ALL that i beg to differ because it's not that

(50:01):
you're getting. On them you're disciplining them to make sure
that they do right that don't hurt you in a
game off, the court even in their. Personal life that's not.
Being bad that's not a. Bad person that's just certain
kids that can't take the language that you're, giving them
or the tone and the excitement and enthusiasm that's coming
out of your body when you're, saying things but the message,

(50:23):
is clear and some people who don't want to. Hear
it and you got parents out there that don't want
their kids. Being told, you Know what i'm saying is,
the truth and all they want to be told is
how good, they are what can you do? For them
so on and, so forth and then they use that. Against you,
you know he's verbally, Abusing him, he's this. He's, that
no we're not you Know what. I'm saying we're just being.

(50:44):
Brutally honest and, Guess what basketball. Is easy life, is
hard and you much rather tell you the truth about
life through basketball then you do a person lying and
you're telling you how good. You are then when basketball is,
over with you can't find, a job nobody knows who,
you are and you out on the streets, doing nothing
and you have nothing to show for four years of

(51:05):
being in a higher institute of higher learning and having
all the experiences of traveling and so on and. So
forth that's all For not and that's not how this
is supposed, to be especially.

Speaker 5 (51:17):
His experience He Is.

Speaker 1 (51:18):
Sean woods he is the head Coach At Scott Counny,
high school and of course the unforgettable guard whose jersey
hangs in the raptors. Of rupp you're listening to the
best Of The Big. Blue insider more to come here
on six THIRTY. W Lap It's. Dick gabriel welcome back
to the best Of The Big. Blue insider. Welcome back
we're Talking With. Sean WOOD and i had mentioned EARLIER
that i had been listening to longer segments Of The boogey.

(51:42):
Cousins podcast It's The Run Your, race Podcast and boogie
was a guest from Down In puerto rico where he's playing,
pro ball and he TALKED about i had to smile
at this one his first Practice at kentucky when he
tried to bring the ball up, the floor pulled off,
a rebound brought it up, the floor said he didn't,
it Over But cali perry lit, into him, you know

(52:04):
and you got to get the Ball To. John wall
he's going to be the number one. Draft Pick and
boogie said, to himself this guy lied to me when he.
Recruited me HE said i could play out on the
floor and dribble the ball and all. That stuff welcome
to the, real, WORLD right, i mean Tell me sean
about that recruiting process and what happens between then and
the first day. Of PRACTICE and i know if all coaches,

(52:24):
are different but there are. SOME similarities i.

Speaker 3 (52:26):
Would, think well, For, ME dick i took pride in
not lying to a kid in a.

Speaker 5 (52:32):
Careering.

Speaker 3 (52:33):
Process yeah, you KNOW if i had a Kid Like
boogy cousins and he had, That ability i'm going to
let him, do that show that because it's only going
to enhance, my team you Know what. I'm saying but
we're going to work on it every day and skill development.
Individual workout so, you know to tell, a, Kid yeah
i'm gonna let you, do this and let you, do
that and then when you, get here it's all. For
nothing now you're how can that kid? Trust you how

(52:54):
can you maximize that kid at him helping you win
when he's always looking at you, cross right, well crossways
saying you came to my house and you lied to
me and my mother so and so and, so on
so just to get me to. COME here i don't.
BUY that i, Really DON'T and i took pride. In
that and, you KNOW because i can't coach a kid

(53:15):
HARD as i want to coach him if He thinks
i'm lying.

Speaker 1 (53:17):
To, him, yeah well apparently he got. OVER me i understand,
that clearly and he had a nice one Year. At
kentucky and he also said he wanted to. Come back,
HE assumed, i mean Walked into calipari's office for the
postseason meeting set on. Coming back He Knew john waller's roommate.
Was leaving but That's, when calipari, you know used, the

(53:39):
line if you want to, help me come back and
went up, your family. You go and not many coaches have,
That opportunity sean as, you know to tell a kid
like that to. Go on But, cali peri the at
least at, that point was true to his word about
trying to help the.

Speaker 3 (53:58):
Kid's family and that's What made, john good you KNOW what,
I mean that's what make cal good is he gets
guys to the. Next level you Know what. I'm saying
he enhanced their their living and he's a saint. FOR
that i really do. Believe that, and also you know
how many people take young men from, the, hood okay
or Being a kentucky guy you have proven a din

(54:19):
and so on and, so forth and you take him
to places to where they're homeless people and you wash their.
Nasty feet but that's In. The Bible so cal does
have some goodness. ABOUT him i got to give it.

Speaker 5 (54:31):
To him you Know what.

Speaker 3 (54:31):
I'm saying that takes a lot of courage and a
lot of nerve to make a, seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty,
twenty one twenty two year old kid watch a person
who's hygiene's bad living on the street's Feet.

Speaker 1 (54:43):
In haiti, as.

Speaker 3 (54:44):
Well exactly but the fact that he, did it that's
in the you Know what, i'm saying that's that's that's
that's that's big time and things like that go Unnice.
With cal but at the end of, the day can't
nobody say that he enhanced people's? Lives financially you Know
what i'm, saying that, you know and that's what college is.
All about you got coaches now who and EVEN when,

(55:06):
i played you know who won't won't. Help you, you
know once, you're done. You're done they won't even return your.
Phone call you have guys out there. LIKE that i,
believe it, You know and and and it's a travesty because,
guess what when you came to, recruit me you, needed
me and that's why you recruited me hard because you
THOUGHT that i can help. You win and when, you
win that's putting food on your table and your, family's

(55:29):
table helping you win because Of what i'm doing collectively
with the other thirteen fourteen guys their. Own team and
THEN when I when, i'm done and no matter what our,
RELATIONSHIP was i need you in the time of in
the time, of need and you can't. Help, me now
now THAT'S where i. Go wrong that's THAT'S why i
have a problem with some of these guys, with that

(55:51):
and it's. Not right and, YOU know i tell kids all,
the time this relationship is not a four. Year relationship
it's a life. Long relationship you know, my wife you know,
my kids you. Know EVERYTHING then i. Know yours you,
GETTING married i need to. Be there you have, A
baby i need, to know, you know so on and.
So forth and if you, need me, you KNOW if
i can't, HELP you i will find a way to

(56:13):
help you get a job so to get going with.
Your life but that's what this. Thing is. It's continuing it's,
life long and coaches don't think. That way and that's.

Speaker 1 (56:21):
A shame by, the way the anecdote better Of, the washington.
THE feed i can attest. To That sam dick Went
through haiti along with my Sports Videographer, steve Moss and
sam told me, about that and, he said when, it happened,
he said the first time He said caliperry was off to,
the side off in. A corner it wasn't a. Media
op it, wasn't, hey folks we're gonna start. Washing feed

(56:43):
bring that camera. Over here he very quietly went over
and began, doing that so it wasn't like he was
craving attention to. Do It so i'm glad you brought.
THAT up a couple of minutes Left With. Sean woods
YOU and i have talked before about how you played
In The rick patino and you people forget you Signed Under,
eddie sutton who Was, like betina a different style, of
coach different kind, of person but the one thing they had,

(57:05):
in common the core value was discipline on, the court
and he had his demons off. The court we know
this So, The RICK but i bring it up because
now that you're coaching at the high, school level helping
prepare these kids. For college you hear, people SAY and
i think you can attest. To this, the kids especially at,
your level. Crave discipline they might not even know, it

(57:27):
right but they know they, need it they know they.

Speaker 3 (57:30):
Want it they do they and and and when they're craving,
for attention that's what. They're doing they're acting out to get.
Your attention and, YOU know i had this deal and
IT'S called i do. Have favorites and what that is
is is that as, A coach i pay attention to
the people who are. VERY attentive i give more attention

(57:51):
to the people who, work harder who always, ask questions
who wants to get better more SO than i do
the kid. That doesn't because if iut paying more attention
to the kid that. It doesn't and it's always a
nuisance and getting in trouble and what type of WHAT
am i telling? Everybody else in order to get? My
attention you got to, act out same with. A parent so,
you know kids, want that they just don't know how to.

(58:12):
Get it everybody wants to, Be wanted everybody wants to.
Be praised everybody wants to say to somebody to say
good things. About them they just don't know how to go.
About it and you know that's that's one of our
jobs as a coach is to.

Speaker 1 (58:25):
Tease, that yeah and they don't always respond immediately, to
it do?

Speaker 3 (58:31):
They know? They DON'T sometimes i get phone the most
gratifying PHONE call i ever get it from a kid
kept telling me. THE coach i, get, IT man i
appreciate you being, you know. BEING hard i mean when
you were so on and. So forth that's. The best
that is the best phone call a coach.

Speaker 5 (58:47):
Can.

Speaker 1 (58:47):
Get excellent you're listening to the best Of The Big.
Blue insider more to come here on six thirty W L. A,
p Hey It's dick gabriel and you're listening to the
best Of The Big. BLUE insider i did want. To,
share yeah this is some basketball stuff, with you but
some football stuff. As well, and again this is the,
off season the, talking season, the internet the bottomless pit

(59:08):
that we have. TO fill i will start with the.
Football stuff nil valuations done via on three. Dot com
they basically broke down the values how much these kids
are making The top i'll go over the top ten.
With you nine of them. Are quarterbacks there's one basketball

(59:28):
player and if you sat down he knew anything, about
recruiting you could probably figure out who. It is i'll
give you a clue that player has yet to play
a Game in division one. College basketball but let us
start at. The Top, arch manning the junior Quarterback at Texas.
The wildcats you fans and players will see him, this

(59:49):
year assuming he. Stays healthy jeff MCOR and i were
talking about this on the way down To. Media days
fascinating Situation. At texas. Last Year arch manning wasn't even,
a starter and yet he is now just, you know
the highest paid player in TERMS, of niol which is

(01:00:09):
all well, and good but has yet to claim the.
Starting job he will be the Starter, for texas but
couldn't win the starting job. Last year and even now
some people think he'll be the, top quarterback the number
one pick in, the draft and he didn't Start at texas.
Last year you figure. It out but six point eight
millions nil valuation six point eight million For. Arch manning,

(01:00:35):
Number Two carson beck who Transferred to miami four point.
Three Million, jeremiah smith Quarterback At, ohio state four point,
two million and he's. Number three next is the, basketball
player And That's. Aj debantsa he was the top recruit in.
The country Signed With brigham young four point. One Million

(01:01:00):
GARRETT nussmeyer lsu red shirt senior quarterback three point. Eight million.
He's Fifth leonora sellers is. Number six he's the Kid At.
South carolina really. Good player you'll see him this year
three point. Seven million you'll also see the, NEXT Guy,
Dj lagway florida three point. Seven million number Eight Is,

(01:01:22):
cad klubnik the Quarterback at clemson three point. Four million
And Then brigham young's got another one in the, top
ten The Quarterback drew aller three point. One million and
number Ten Is. Sam levitt he Is The arizona state
quarterback three point. One, million now in case, you're, wondering

(01:01:46):
yes there Is a wildcat on this list the top.
Twenty five actually he's. Twenty six you might not be
able to guess. This one it is a, Basketball Player
jaden quaintin's, that's right five star guy six' ten sitting
out right now with a bum. Knee at surgery but
at number twenty six one, point nine Million just Behind Auburn.

(01:02:10):
Quarterback jackson arnold he's got a two million dollar price.
Tag on him so that's another quarterback you will see
this year squaring Off. Against the wildcats this is via on.
Three dot com so if you want to check out,
the entire list that's. Where you go but, as we've

(01:02:31):
mentioned these, are the rankings the kinds of stories that
really take up our time and space in, the off
season as well as, comments from Coaches Including. One john
caliperi he Spoke To The Little rock rotary club the
other day and it's a message that. You have heard

(01:02:54):
he was saying this when. He was here he's been
saying it. For a while but he was talking about
transfers to, answer A rule and i l the money
and the fact that many of you have talk to. Me,
about this kids you transfer and transfer and. Transfer and
transfer then what because when's the last time you heard
about a kid who transferred three and four times and

(01:03:15):
went on to a. Great pro career doesn't seem. Like
that's happening you got to hope they're, saving their money
and you know taxes are reading up a. Lot of
that but what happens when they get? Out Of school
and calipari was talking about that and other things the
other day to The Rotary.

Speaker 4 (01:03:31):
IN little rock i, say to you if a kid,
transfers four times.

Speaker 5 (01:03:38):
Is he going to graduate? From that school it's no way.

Speaker 4 (01:03:43):
You can't graduate so now you're going to be done
playing without. A college degree you have no ties to
the last school you went to where they feel That.
You're from arkansas, you played.

Speaker 5 (01:03:55):
Here we're here you're going.

Speaker 4 (01:03:57):
To have. Opportunity that's done.

Speaker 5 (01:04:00):
You're offered fifty.

Speaker 4 (01:04:01):
Five thousand dollars in your first job, and you go
what fifty FIVE thousand do i have?

Speaker 5 (01:04:08):
To show up are they going? To you got you got?

Speaker 4 (01:04:13):
Me?

Speaker 5 (01:04:13):
An apartment right?

Speaker 4 (01:04:14):
OR a car I mean they i'm worried, about mental.
Health Mental, Health that look, i've been poor and you
know it's worse, than being poor coming across some money
and then. Being poor again. That's the worst THAT'S probably

(01:04:38):
why i Am cheap because i'm not. Going back there
but so, my Thing is and i've, been pushing this
you can transfer once without penalty because you picked, the
wrong school the coach. Lied to you there was another
player that came that you didn't know, about one time
and after that you got to sit because what do

(01:05:00):
you think? They're transferring for somebody?

Speaker 5 (01:05:03):
Helped me here why?

Speaker 1 (01:05:04):
They say?

Speaker 4 (01:05:05):
It that's it it isn't because they're mad at THIS
or that i can extort you and if you don't give.

Speaker 5 (01:05:11):
It to me i'm.

Speaker 4 (01:05:12):
Going over here.

Speaker 5 (01:05:14):
If, We cure that i've been saying it. For five
years no one.

Speaker 4 (01:05:17):
Listens to ME my dog, i called me runs. The
other way my wife doesn't. Listen to me. No one
listens if we cure, the transfer rule seventy percent of our.
Problems go away we can deal with all.

Speaker 8 (01:05:31):
The.

Speaker 1 (01:05:31):
Other stuff now i'm sure some of you listening may have.
Rolled your eyes maybe a. Lot of you why are
You Listening. To john keliperi he's not here, anymore THAT message,
as i said he was sharing that with us when.
He was, here and really that could be Any coach in.
America saying that and none of these coaches begrudge these

(01:05:53):
kids the. Money they're making. It's The transferring and i'll
promise you Every coach in America agrees with caliperry when it,
comes to that. The one transfer of course they, do
some coaches many coaches have benefited. From The transfers but
i've got to think they would prefer the one transfer

(01:06:13):
rule and they would. Adjust. To that now this comment
Was Retweeted by DAN Walkin of usa today and kind
of made. A snarky, comment he said the problem is
nobody wants to Hear, that FROM caliperi which i. DIDN'T quite,
understand i mean it's if there's a personal, dislike in,
Disregard THAT'S fine but i was trying to think back

(01:06:38):
on why would someone Say that about calipery as it
relates to. His track record he's not a guy. Who
jumped around He went From massachusetts To memphis to kentucky for.
A LONG time and i think we'll all agree he
didn't necessarily, want to leave but knew. He Probably should
and Isa. Is, AT arkansas yes i know he makes a,

(01:07:01):
ton of money and he was fond of saying it's
not about the money whenever somebody says that it's always.
About the money but there weren't that many times, when,
We heard well caliberry might leave, because of money. THINGS
like that i just think there's an inherent dislike from
some media people when it. COMES to him i got.
Along with him, we weren't close, we weren't boys we didn't,

(01:07:23):
we never, talked you know away from, an interview situation.
BUT that's okay i didn't want to. BE his pal
i wanted to cover HIS teams, and I did but
i did think his, comments WERE interesting and i think.
They were RELEVANT and, as i said any other college
coach could, have said that we'd all sit up, straight,
and say yeah that guy's got. A great point but,

(01:07:45):
For whatever reason walkin took his. SWIPE at him i
offer the comments without comment EXCEPT to say i, agree with,
him you know and maybe. Things will. Change who knows
other stuff, from THE interweb which. I Find fascinating the
Athletic Via The new york times has ranked the best
college basketball teams of the, twenty first century the top

(01:08:08):
twenty five best college basketball teams of the, twenty first
century And of course kentucky's national championship team is, on
this list as it will. It should be what's Fascinating
is the wisconsin team THAT beat the uk undefeated team
is only ranked twenty second. In this poll thought it.
Might Be higher, caliperi's memphis team Which lost to kansas

(01:08:32):
should have won but, lost in overtime was. Ranked Number
twenty the duke team That beat that wisconsin team in
twenty fifteen. Is Ranked nineteen and i'm going to go
over the top, ten WITH you but i will tell
you coming, into Number Fourteen As Patinos louisville ball club from,
twenty twelve thirteen the national championship Team that beat michigan,

(01:08:53):
just before That last year's florida team. Ranked number thirteen
but looking at the Top ten team virginia team remember
that team won it the year after being knocked out in.
The first round Then the, seven florida team the second
of the back to back Championship Teams, For, Billy Donovan,
horford Noah Brewer. And torren Green number eight baylor which

(01:09:16):
only lost two games in, Twenty twenty one villanova in,
twenty seven eight. Twenty Seventeen eighteen the kansas team that
won it in twenty Oh Eight, with mario chalmers the Team,
to beat memphis. Was ranked sixth Twenty Oh Nine North.
Carolina Tyler hansbros team. Was ranked fifth the fifty To

(01:09:37):
twenty fifteen kentucky team that won thirty Eight To One
carl anthony towns. Team ranked fourth in the twenty first
CENTURY and maybe i think it's number one if. They
win it yukon from twenty twenty four. Was Ranked Third
The john I'm Sorry, The anthony davis kentucky team that
won the, title ranked second and the number one team

(01:10:01):
According to the athletic in the twenty first CENTURY was
The O one Team Duke, WITH Shane, Battier J, williams
Mike Dunleavy. Junior carlos boozer that Team Won every march
madness game. By double digits it's hard to Argue with.
That duke team also Considered Was the john Wall twenty.

(01:10:26):
TEN kentucky team i, think that's underrated but they didn't make.
The final four, if they, DO of course i think
they cracked this. TOP twenty five i think maybe their
top ten if they crack. The final four but we
all know What Happened. With west virginia but That Team,
Of Patterson, Cousins, JOHN wall bledsoe i think deserved to

(01:10:47):
be in this. Top twenty five you're listening to the
Best Of The. Big blue insider more to come here ON.
Six Thirty Wlap. It's dick gabriel welcome Back to the
Best Of The. BIG blue insider i will tell. You
this though on. The lighter Side It Is. National, donut day.
Yeah that's right this Goes Back To. World, war one
actually it began in nineteen thirty eight as a day

(01:11:11):
to honor And recognize red cross volunteers who distributed donuts
To Soldiers In, world war one and so they Began
To Recognize national donut day in. NINETEEN thirty eight i did.
NOT know that i know There Was A. NATIONAL donut
day i couldn't have told. YOU to date i didn't

(01:11:31):
know there are. Other Donut Holidays National Jelly filled Donut day.
Is June. Eighth that's sunday Sometimes It, says june Night but.
Usually june. Eighth that's me i'm a jelly filled donut.
Kind of guy and if you listen to the show
earlier This Week, with cameron mills we talked about donuts At,

(01:11:53):
length because cameron when he got, out of school had
some barnstorming money. In his, pocket, he thought hey we
Don't Have a krispy creme donut Shop, here in lexington
and so he tried to. Alleviate that situation we're going
to share more about that with you if you missed
it later. In The Show National Cream filled donut day

(01:12:14):
Is celebrated. On september fourteenth that's a day. BEFORE my
birthday i am not a cream, filled donut. Guy No
Thanks National Boston cream Pie day is october twenty third
you Can get A boston. Cream pie donut there are
free donuts out there. For the Taking Go to DUNKIN

(01:12:38):
donuts and i guess it's still. On this evening if you,
buy a drink you get. A free Donut Go, to
krispy kreme you can get. A free donut and you
can get a dozen of the originals the original glaze.
For two dollars if you buy one dozen at, the
usual price she'll end up with, two dozen donuts which

(01:13:01):
is far better. Than one Dozen So Happy national donut,
day to you and a TIP of the bbi cap,
to veterans everywhere especially the remaining few Who Served In,
world war two and a, nod To everybody including Yankees Legendary,
catcher yogi bera who served AND Fought on D. Day

(01:13:25):
at normandy he was a machine gunner and he was
in a small watercraft that fired machine guns and Rockets
at the german encampments trying to protect the soldiers. On
the beaches and there are all kinds of stories out
there about athletes who served Not Just In, world war
TWO But, ON d day nba. Playoffs last night if he,

(01:13:49):
didn't see it. Pull it up even if YOU'RE not.
An nba fan bad News For Former Wildcatch Shay gildess
alexander He And his oklahoma thunder. Teammates blew it they
led for, the entire game right up until they were point.
Three seconds Left That's, when tyrese Halliburton With Former wildcat

(01:14:11):
cason wallace, in his face pulled up and hit a
twenty one foot jumper, and rattled home erasing A fifteen
point thunder lead And giving the pacers a one to
eleven one Ten Win. In, oklahoma City yeah that thunder
got got off a lob play, out of Bounce but

(01:14:31):
the pacers knocked it away with point. Three seconds left
and we were talking earlier this week about The Fact
that mark pope likes the rule where if you call
time out in, the closing seconds you get the ball,
In mid court And had the thunder, completed at play
it would have made his point that you had the
opportunity with the situation like that for an incredible play

(01:14:54):
at the end, of the game point three seconds left
and you gotta go to the link. Of the court
you got virtually no shot because of course it was. The,
final moments okay see, calls time out they get the ball.
In mid court the only recourse they had was to
lob the ball. At the basket everybody knew that you
can't get a shot off, in Point three but pacers.
Knocked it. Away game over but when we discussed this earlier,

(01:15:17):
IN the week i also shared A SoundBite from Sporting
news Is mike de corsi about how much he hates
That rule and i'm not. CRAZY about It i, see
pope's point he would like to see it in. THE
college game i kind Of side With mike de, corsi
on it AND that's what i was thinking about last
Night watching the thunder try to. Lob one in but if,

(01:15:39):
YOU didn't watch. I get it not A lot of nba,
Fans around here but here's what. IT sounded like i.
Love this stuff, first of all Here's The way mike
breen CALLED it ON. Espn on abc breen is renowned
as one of the. All time greats, BUT to me
i just DON'T think a tv guy needs to call

(01:15:59):
each in every move of every play like a. Radio
guy does that's, what he does uh in this in.
Insistence it works it was one ten to one on
Nine when the thunder, had the ball they came down
and worked for A Shot, from gildas alexander and he
got off, a decent shot but. He missed it So.
Here comes indiana.

Speaker 5 (01:16:20):
PACER's a little chance. To win, it final seconds so.

Speaker 9 (01:16:23):
Fouls to, Do haliburton, Looking halibton driving puss howk jump,
shot that's gone put three tons of a second? Rabating,
time Out Okay see tyrens halliburton.

Speaker 5 (01:16:35):
Does it again they're the first lead.

Speaker 4 (01:16:40):
Up the game.

Speaker 1 (01:16:43):
So That Was how mike brain CALLED. It on abc
now here is what it sounded Like On The pacers
radio network with Playbook Play. Man Mike boyle.

Speaker 10 (01:16:53):
Gildas alexander has it nine to shoot the. Defender his
nimark here comes the Left, hand bounce benetrate The arc
dem art cuts him off and he missed off the back.

Speaker 8 (01:17:03):
Of The.

Speaker 10 (01:17:03):
Rim rebound indiana eight. Seconds To go the pacers are
not going to call. The time out paddleburton has it
with three driving with two pulling.

Speaker 1 (01:17:12):
Up head heading with three tenths of a.

Speaker 10 (01:17:16):
Second to go how many more times can this?

Speaker 5 (01:17:21):
Team do that soweets.

Speaker 1 (01:17:26):
Baby one of the big story well one of the
sidebars that came out of, Last NIGHT'S game AND i
can i can laugh, about this, now because well it didn't.
Happen to me A Station, In, fort wayne indiana which
is the second biggest market in The, state of INDIANA second.
Biggest tv market in, the final seconds they CUT into

(01:17:49):
the nba coverage accidentally and dropped in. A, news tease.

Speaker 9 (01:17:54):
Thunder clinging to his THREE point leads sga to drive
it saw, a shut block come.

Speaker 4 (01:18:00):
Drives it back.

Speaker 9 (01:18:04):
Next On Twenty, one alive news the man who was
Brutally Beaten at pike's pub last.

Speaker 1 (01:18:09):
Week has coming forward here what he wants to.

Speaker 9 (01:18:11):
Have, happened now also tonight a Big night for Pacer
fans as indiana IS In.

Speaker 3 (01:18:16):
The nba finals we'll show you a local business who.

Speaker 7 (01:18:19):
Has seen a Boost from, the yes sirs.

Speaker 9 (01:18:22):
He because see A little fog overnight's night will have
the very latest forecast coming.

Speaker 5 (01:18:26):
Up to you the thanks for staying.

Speaker 9 (01:18:27):
Up with us I'm Am Ra boss fort wayne's most
WATCHED news start Sga garter by new.

Speaker 1 (01:18:32):
Marg THAT'S from W Pta. AND fort wayne i. CHECKED
their website i record the show earlier, in THE day
and i checked the website. In the morning there, was
no apology there was no mention of the ts but
there was not even a Mention of. The pacers win
so somebody at that station needs to be severely ADMONISHED discipline.

(01:18:53):
WHATEVER i mean i WORKED in local tv news for,
thirty five years and so much of it in the
latter stages Was about the internet and updating. The station's
website and here's a station website right there in The
Heart of. Indiana pacers country, if you will no mention.

(01:19:13):
Of the game what a mistake, on two fronts but
especially and that had to be an automated deal like.
It was programmed the computer was programmed to run the
news teas at. A certain point i can't imagine that
whoever was working at that station in the area where
they make these Moves Is. Called master Control Nobody at
master control is going to have that game up and be, watching,

(01:19:36):
and thinking huh this would be a good time to
drop in. A news teas now it had to be,
Automated computer whatever but. What a mistake that'll do. It
for now thanks for joining us for this special edition
the Best Of The. Big blue. Insider that's it good
night from The. Garage in lexington