2025-09-23 BBI

Mark Stoops on QB Cutter Boley and the upcoming road trip to South Carolina; (8:00) the Houston Rockets may be force-feeding minutes to ex-Cat Reed Sheppard; (19:00) UK All-American Kyle Macy on his book that centers on Ky basketball tradition and star players; (39:00) Michelle Knezovic of the UKSN digital channel on her upcoming sit-down interview with LeeAnne Pope; (54:00) a major award for a UK volleyball player; (59:00) Corey Price of the UK Network on his article listing the top 20 games in Rupp Arena history; (1:03:00) an ESPN analyst torches Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and what's the best way to say "whiskey?"

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Big Blue Sider. Dick Gabrielle with you
on a Tuesday edition of our program. It is game
week after the bye the Wildcats heading for South Carolina,
a game you will hear right here on six thirty
WLAP And in just a couple of moments here from
Mark Stoops talking about the game Cocks and about his
starting quarterback, Cutter Bowl. He heard some of his comments
last night on his radio show. We're a little basketball

(00:23):
heavy tonight because coming up at the bottom of the hour,
Kyle Macy joins us to talk about his book From
the Rafters of Rup. He's got a book signing coming up,
so we'll shamelessly plug that. Also in hour number two,
Michelle Kenzevich from the UK Sports Network digital channel, we'll
talk with us about her upcoming interview with Leanne Pope,

(00:43):
the first Lady of UK Basketball. She sat down with
Michelle and we'll be able to watch and listen to
that coming up in the first week of October. Also,
Corey Price from the UK Network will join us. Corey's
written a piece for the Kentucky Basketball Year but produced
by the UK Network. It's the fiftieth anniversary of the
opening of Upp Arena for college basketball as well as concerts,

(01:06):
and Corey has listed what he believes to be the
top twenty games in the history of those fifty years.
It's a really fun read. It'll be in the Kentucky
Basketball Yearbook, and we'll talk with Corey about that coming
up in our second hour. But Mark Stoops to the
media on Monday to the fans on Monday night as well,

(01:27):
talked about the fact that Cutter Bully will start as
much as anything for the way he played against Eastern Michigan,
but also because Zach Calzada, who injured his shoulder in
the lost to Ole Miss, is not yet one hundred percent.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's a combination of a lot
of things, but you know, Zach is not has not
been one hundred percent at this point.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Bully came in, played well against Eastern Michigan and we
know not an SEC team, but still he executed well.
He did what he was supposed to do, didn't make
many mistakes that we could see. I'm sure the coaches did.
But Stubs said, there's a lot to like about what
we see in the Richard freshmen.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
You know, Cutter's done some really good things. And you've
heard me talk about him many different times. We've watched
him play in other games and show flashes, and you know,
we've been very confident and cutter. And I've also told
him the whole time, you're going to get your opportunity.
It's about what you do and how you play when

(02:29):
you get that opportunity. I thought he did some very
good things in this last game. It's a lot to
build on, and he's getting more confident. He's getting more
comfortable with every rep.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
All he started last year against Louisville, things did not
go well. He had come in against Murray State played well.
He had come in against Texas played well all things considered.
But now he starts on the road against a good
team in South Carolina, which lost a tough one last
week at Miszoo. This is a brutally tough place to

(02:59):
play in Columbia South Carolina. So it's going to be
a learning experience for this young guy.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
Going on the road in the SEC's difficult. We know,
playing at South Carolina, you know, William Bryce, I mean,
that place is incredible with a great, great atmosphere. It's
always a real challenge, and you know, I think it's
about us and it's about our operation for him, you know,
to play in a hostile environment like that, we got

(03:28):
to have people play well around him, and we got
to really work it this week, you know, with the
silent count and crowd noise and all those things on.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
The other sideline. Will be the starting quarterback of course
for South Carolina. Lenoris Sellers, red shirt sophomore. He's local
from Florence. South Carolina. Was a backup last year I'm
sorry two years ago. Started last year, led the team
to a nine to three record, including a win over Clemson.
He is six three, two forty and as Jeppecorl talked

(03:59):
about last night on our state Wide show, he's a
handful and Mark Stoops says, this is just a different
kind of quarterback.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
You know, he's different. You know, he's definitely different because
he's one of those guys that if you sit back
there and you give him the time, he will dissect you.

Speaker 3 (04:15):
You know.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
So he could certainly throw the ball very accurate. So
you know, it's a little different when you're playing a
guy that is very very talented in both you know,
throwing the ball in running.

Speaker 1 (04:27):
Last year, South Carolina beat the Wildcats here in Lexion
in the second game of the year, thirty one to six. Remember,
Kentucky had shut out Southern Miss in the opener, in
the game that was ended midway through the third quarter
because of whither, So we were all kind of optimistic
right going into the South Carolina game. Well, that was
ten to six at the half, South Carolina leading, but

(04:49):
then Carolina put up three touchdowns in the second half
in Kentucky had no answers. That's because Rock Vandergriff spent
much of the night running for his life. He was
sacked four time Gavin Wimsit was sacked once. Wildcats rushed
for a net of one hundred and seventy three yards,
and I'm not counting the sack yardage that the Wildcats

(05:10):
lost was actually one hundred and seventy seven yards because
you subtract sack yardage in college football from rushing game,
which is still stupid, I think. But anyhow, Sellers himself
was sacked four times, so give the Kentucky defense credit,
but could not contain him. He only completed ten passes
out of fourteen. There was a Kentucky pick, but he

(05:33):
threw for one hundred and sixty six yards and two
touchdowns and again close game at the half, essentially a
blowout in the second half. And Sellers did a great
job of keeping plays alive by scrambling, so they will
have to try to figure out a way to contain him.

(05:54):
And let's find out together. Shalley of Kentucky has cleaned
up the problems it had in the passing game to
fasively last week against Eastern Michigan. So and this was
a quarterback Noah Kim who extended plays by scrambling, and
Sellers is going to do much the same against the Wildcats,
or at least try. But we'll have it for you
right here. Another football note, this is a big one.

(06:17):
We kind of thought we would hear about coaches being
fired mid season, basically early season, and this is one
of them. Oklahoma State has fired the winningest football coach
in school history. OSU lost at home to Tulsa nineteen
to twelve this past Saturday, two weeks removed from losing

(06:39):
to Oregon on the road sixty nine to three, the
most lopsided loss in OSU history under Mike Gundy. And
you might recall two things about Gundy. Number one, the
week leading up to that Oregon game, he was pointing
out complaining whatever about the fact that Oregon spent tons

(07:00):
of money on players coming through the portal Oklahoma State
did not, which in the rest of the college football world,
especially the rivals of OSU, had to roll their eyes
because for years and years T. Boone Pickens, the late businessman,
funded Oklahoma State University athletics like nobody else, like very

(07:21):
few in the country, and for OSU to kind of
pour mouth, that's a new one. And then again, Mike
Gundy is the guy who took up for one of
his players more than ten years ago by screaming or
yelling at a reporter to come at him, not a player,
by saying, leave him alone, he's just a young person,

(07:44):
but comeing me. I'm a man, I'm forty and boy
did that follow him and it probably always will. I
appreciated him picking up for his player, but he'd kind
of lost it a little bit in that particular moment.
But now he's out of a job. I guarantee you
he's not going to run out of money. We'll talk
more football coming up next on six thirty WLAP Welcome

(08:06):
Back coming up in just a few minutes UK all
American Kyle Macy, So we will talk some basketball. We'll
talk about his book Centers on the show from the
Rafters of Rup, and we'll talk about other things as well.
With Kyle, we do need to talk a little basketball
right now. Now we're not forgetting about football, but the
NBA college basketball it's all cranking up right now. And

(08:30):
you may have noticed, if you keep any eye at
all on the NBA, that Fred Van Fliet from the
Houston Rockets tore his ACL at a recent workout. He
will not play this year. They presume he'll be ready
by the beginning of next year. But of course this
could have a major impact and become a major opportunity

(08:51):
for Reed Shepherd, the former Wildcat. Now, even if you're
not an NBA fan, you very likely kept an eye
on Reed Shepherd, who was up and down last year
from the G League to the big team, and at
times he would explode for points, especially in the G League,
but in the Big League fifty two games he started
three average twelve and a half minutes a game, four

(09:14):
and a half points per game. He hit only thirty
five percent from the field thirty four percent from three
point land he did hit eighty one percent of his
free throws, so there are question marks about him, But
as one of the beat writers pointed out, was his
shooting off because he didn't play much or did he
not play much because of his shooting And now they're

(09:36):
probably going to have to force feed him minutes for
at least for a while until they see what he
can do, because they need, obviously kind of a team
effort to fill in for Van Vliet, who was one
of the better players in the league and is kind
of a hybrid point guard shooting guard. And that's not

(09:57):
Reed Shepherd. He is not an NBA point guard. Now.
The Rockets have a guy named Amen Thompson who is
a much better ball handler than Reid is. But they
have a chance with Shepherd to see what he can
do with real minutes in the NBA and see if

(10:18):
their investment in him with the third draft pick overall
was worth it. Here's his big chance to prove he
can be a part of that core element for the
Houston Rockets, and he's going to be surrounded by talented players.
But I saw an interview with Emmy Udoka, the head

(10:38):
coach of the Rockets, during the summer League, and they
were specifically talking to him about Reied Shepherd, who wasn't
even in the game at the time. He was doing well,
and then they pulled him. They sat him, I guess
obviously to protect him. But he of course loves what
he sees offensively from Reid Shepherd. But and I just

(10:58):
kept banging his drum when he was here at UK.
He does have a problem when it comes to defense,
on ball defending, and they don't think he has, you know,
the on ball chops yet to compensate for physical deficiencies.
He's not the biggest guy, he's not the quickest guy.

(11:20):
But he's a smart guy and he can make plays
defensively the way he did at Kentucky. He's not going
to be able to do that quite as much in
the NBA. But Udoka, the Rockets coach, talked at length
about the improvements that Reed Shepherd must make defensively if

(11:42):
he's going to be a factor with the Rockets in
the NBA. And those are you out there who maintain
that they don't play defense in the NBA. Forgive me
but or don't, but you're wrong. They do. I always
say this, if you want to see NBA Basketball minus
defense watch our game otherwise, Yeah, they do. It's just

(12:03):
there's so much one on one action because the players
are so good and hard to stop. At times, it
looks like there isn't a lot of defense play, but
there is, especially down the stretch. So it's an opportunity
for Reed Shepherd, but it's something that he has to
take advantage of. And I'll guarantee he's working as best

(12:26):
he can, because again he's a smart guy. You know.
By now, Bruce Pearl stepping down at Auburn as the
head coach after eleven seasons, you might think the timing
is weird forty odd days out from the beginning of
the season. No, it's not. He did that so he
could tie the hands of his school and give the
job to his son. And now his son's the head coach.

(12:48):
And now his son has just inherited a lot of
pressure because Auburn was expected to be and still is
a contender this year in the SEC, if not nationally.
But can Stephen Pearl get the Tigers across the finish line.
He's not got a five year coach contract as the
program's new head coach, and Dad's going off to Daly

(13:11):
in politics. I won't get into that. I've never been
a huge Bruce Pearl fan. He is a good coach,
but I'm not a fan of Bruce Pearl. Will leave
it at that, and I'm probably not going to be
a fan of his politics either, But again, try not
to mix sports and politics. A criss crossed in this story,
but not very often.

Speaker 4 (13:31):
Right.

Speaker 1 (13:33):
New injury timeline for Joe Burrow, the Bengals quarterback. They're
saying three months, which is not a surprise. If everything
they say goes perfectly, maybe he can play in December.
But you know what, I'll tell you, just the way
the Bengals are going now, that would be foolish because
they will not, in my opinion, be ready for the playoffs.

(13:53):
They won't make the playoffs, they won't be in a
position to be in the playoffs. So just let him rest,
let him recuperate, try to keep him healthy next year,
and hey, go out and hire some offensive linemen so
this doesn't happen again and again and again as it
has and again. I don't like to point fingers when
it comes to players, coaches. Who's responsible for this, who's

(14:18):
to blame for this?

Speaker 4 (14:19):
Of that?

Speaker 1 (14:19):
Well, Apparently the Atlanta Falcons, who got their butts kicked
by the Panthers, believe that problem number one was an
assistant coach, the receivers coach Ike Hilliard, former Giants receiver.
He's been fired by the Falcons, who lost thirty to
nothing on the road in Carolina. Passing game coordinator TJ.

(14:40):
Yeats has been promoted to assume the vacated responsibilities. So,
for whatever reason, the Atlanta Falcons believe their problems and
remember now they got rid of Kirk Cousins, or at
least benched him to play Michael Pennix, who has not
looked good. The top receiver on the Falcons right now,

(15:02):
even though they got a lot of talented receivers as
by Jon Robinson. They're a running back the fourteen catches,
but Michael Pennock has thrown for just six hundred yards
over three games, one touchdown, two picks. Falcons point the
finger at the receivers coach and cut him loose. One
other NFL note, the Chargers say naj Harris is out

(15:23):
for the year with a knee injury. Naje Harris, of
course played at Alabama. Really good player, good player in
the league. But I'll always remember him as the guy
drafted by the Steelers who took many Snell's job. Benny
hung on for another year or two, but the Steelers
made Naje Harris, They're featured back, and eventually Benny was
out of the league. Before we go to the break,

(15:44):
one personal note, if you will indulge me, I am,
of course recording this show in my garage, as I
have for many months now, really before probably a couple
of years now. My audience of one when I don't
have a guest in the garage has always been our dog,
bark Star, named of course after Bart Starr, my off
all time favorite Green Bay Packer. She is a Golden Pyrenees,

(16:09):
a mix of a Golden Retriever and a Great Pyrenees.
That's what we believe. She's not a Golden Retriever, She's
not a Pyreentees. But I should be speaking of her
now in the past tense because we had to let
her go yesterday. We had to put her down. It
was time. She had cancer, she was losing the use
of her back leg, she was suffering, and as pet owners,
if you've ever been through this, you know it's difficult

(16:32):
and yet as our vet who was great said, you're
giving the animal peace and you're giving yourselves peace. And
I really appreciate that. And I can't thank doctor Cooper
Headley enough. He's with the animal clinic at Equestrian Woods
and he came to the house and took care of

(16:54):
Star with a great deal of compassion. Came by after
clinic hour and took care of it and was a
tremendous professional and again very compassionate. He is a big
UK fan. He went to Auburn, but he's a big
UK fan and I appreciate the work he did and
helped us last night. Also Melinda who came along with

(17:19):
doctor Headley, so tip of the BBA Captain Star. We
had her for nine years. She was a rescue, got
her over at the Humane Society, and I won't go
into great detail. Everybody's got their own stories about their
own pets, but you know it's just not the same
sitting here doing the show without her stretched out either

(17:41):
buy my feet or over on the other side of
the garage or whatever. An rip Bark Star. She was
a great dog. When we come back, Kyle Macy, you're
on the big Moon Sider six point thirty wlap Welcome
back to the Big Moon. Sider joining us now is
a longtime friend and a friend of the show. He
is Kentucky, All American Kyle Macy, who is not just

(18:02):
known for basketball, but known as a television presenter, radio broadcaster,
and author, kind of a combination of all of that.
Welcome back to the show, sir. We haven't talked to
you in a while.

Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, it's been a while. It's good to talk with you.

Speaker 1 (18:17):
Yeah, you are once again shamelessly plugging, and here on
the Big Blue In Sider, we love shameless plugs. The
book that's kind of the companion piece to the TV
show from the rafters of Rupp And as you described
it before we begin on the air here, it's kind
of a coffee table book. It's really special. It's not
just something to thumb through and put on the on

(18:39):
the shelf. I mean, I know you're really proud of
this venture, aren't you. You and and our pal doctor
John Wong, who was a big assist with.

Speaker 4 (18:47):
This right, Yes, that's true, and yeah, we are very
proud of it. It's a real classy coffee table style book,
is how we do it. Describe it a lot of
great stories in there, a lot of great pictures from
personal art guys and family albums of the players themselves.
And the thing that makes it unique for us is
the fact that it's the players telling their story. It's

(19:09):
not a third party, you know, observing things and talking
about it. It's the actual player telling you how they
did this or that, or where they how they got
to the UK, their time at UK, and all those
type of things. So yeah, we're real proud of it.

Speaker 1 (19:24):
I know I've asked you this question in the past
when you first started doing a TV show and then
the book came along. But why was this project, Kyle
so important to you?

Speaker 4 (19:35):
I think one of the main reasons, Uh, there's there's
a few, but one of the main ones I think
is because Kentucky basketball history and tradition is so valuable
and so important.

Speaker 5 (19:47):
But I don't know if the.

Speaker 4 (19:47):
Younger generation really understands how it got to where it
is today. And there's a reason that it has that
that all by outsiders looking in and everything. So it's
not only I mean, every school has great players, but
then you tie that in with the fan base, and
I think that's really what stands out and makes Kentucky
basketball different, and.

Speaker 1 (20:07):
It all is because of the success. Of course, as
you said, every program has alumni, every program has fans,
but the rabid nature of Kentucky fans of course comes
because Kentucky's been so successful. Have you talked to anybody
who has, you know, gotten the book or watched the

(20:27):
show and how it's been received by the fans.

Speaker 4 (20:31):
Everyone that's approached me about the book or the show
have had nothing but praise. They love it, can't get
enough of it. So, you know the thing, I think
that kind of when I initially got the idea. And
you may remember this because you were right there when
I first started trying to pitch it to people. Oh yeah, yeah.

(20:51):
Antoine Walker was doing a postgame interview. He was playing
back then, so those early nineties, and I was doing
the job that Jack Givens do now, and the postcame
player of the game, and so we run a break
and I was going through scores and I saw that
the Bulls had won their game that night. So I
told Antoine, who was from Chicago, that I'm thinking he

(21:11):
might be interested that the Bulls one tonight. And he says,
oh yeah, he says, okay, he said, have you ever
been to Chicago? And so just you know, players nowadays
just kind of sometimes they get in that world and
don't really understand how things happen or how they get there.
And so I just kind of got in my mind

(21:31):
thinking and then also wanted to continue my interview skills
one on one of the people. And I think I
may have enjoyed it more than the players talking about themselves,
which every players to do. But you know, I learned
some things and I was able to ask certain players
about certain things I'd heard about, whether there's a conditioning
program that they had gone through or whatever. So it

(21:54):
was a lot of fun putting together.

Speaker 1 (21:56):
I've got to think the players were I don't know
if the word more comfortable or just more forthcoming talking
to you. Because even even a guy like Antoine Walker
he knew you played, didn't know you played for the
Bulls at one point with Michael Jordan, but you know,
players that know that other guys have played, they might

(22:17):
be a little bit I guess more honest with you.
Maybe did you get that impression?

Speaker 4 (22:22):
Well, I think yeah, I think they're more open just
because we have that common bond that we've gone through
a lot of similar things and experience that you go
through as a Kentucky basketball player. So yeah, I think
they may be a little bit more willing to actually
do the interview, and then once you get in there,
you know, get them talking. And because I did my
research like I should have, and so I knew, you know,

(22:43):
what to ask him, I've felt like and I received
quite a few comments afterwards like wow, you really covered
so I was proud of that too.

Speaker 1 (22:52):
One of my favorite parts of the interviews that you've
done on the show, and I'm sure in the book
because you just talked about it, was when play spoke
about how they got the UK. And of course as
many players as there are, that's how many stories there are,
there are similarities. You know, they were nice players in
high school, they were recruited, but that to me is fascinating.

(23:14):
Did you find that the same way very much?

Speaker 4 (23:17):
So, yeah, And you're right, every player has their unique story,
but within those stories you can also find some similarities.
And I think all those tying in to where they
get to Kentucky and then have their career they have. Yeah,
it just makes it amazing. And you know, like I said,
I learned some things too, For instance, I didn't realize
until I talked with Cliff Hagen that he only played

(23:39):
two and a half years at the UK because he
came halfway through his sophomore season, didn't really start until
the end of the year towards the tournament time when
they put him in the started lineup. So to put
up the numbers he put up in that short period
of time, it was pretty amazing.

Speaker 1 (23:52):
I didn't realize he started in the middle of his
sophomore I knew his career was kurtailed here. Why did
he start only as a mid semester sophomore.

Speaker 4 (24:01):
I don't know if he was trying to finish up
graduating from high school at mid semester or what. But yeah,
so you've learned something new every day.

Speaker 1 (24:09):
Yeah, you're talking to Kyle Macy UK all American guard
national champion back in nineteen seventy eight and now is repromoting.
It's been out there for a while, but we're kind
of putting it back out there in front of fans.
The book that goes along with the TV series that
Kyle produced and hosted from the Rafters of RUP basically

(24:31):
stories anecdotes about every player whose jersey hangs in the
rafters are up and then some some players who aren't
up there yet some may or may not be, but
still a lot of great players who have come through
the University of Kentucky. And now, of course, Kyle, as
you know, it's a new era, new age with the
NIL with a portal, You've got so many people coming

(24:53):
through schools playing just for a year. I don't know
if you pay much attention out of UK basketball anymore
because it's not quite the same. However, in the experience
I had last year speaking with the players, Mark Pope
brought in a brand new roster and I hosted the
pro day telecast and did interviews with people, and almost

(25:15):
to a man, Kyle, they were in awe of being
here and wearing that jersey, which I think has as
much to do with Mark Pope picking and choosing guys
like that. I know it's got to be tough for
the veterans like you to see guys come in and
out after one year, but at least that's got to
give you a little bit of hope, doesn't it that

(25:37):
they do appreciate what they've got.

Speaker 4 (25:40):
Well, I think Mark's doing a real good job of
trying to get the players to understand that, and it
seems like they are, like I said, from their comments
and the things. Let me back up real quickly before
I get to that as well. Yeah, how the game
has changed. But one of the reasons we're doing this
push during the month of September this book tour is

(26:01):
because John and I we're real happy that the exposure
of the book was getting. The publishers kind of felt
like we let us down a little bit and not
getting things set up and out there. For instance, even
the TV show. To go back even further, I had
the show airing on seven different stations across the state
from Evansville, which I know is not in Kentucky, but

(26:22):
a lot of people in Kentucky get that station, Paducah,
Bowling Green, Louisville, Lexington, Hazard, all the way over to
Hunt Points, Virginia. But when I go out and speak
and I ask so many people had seen the show,
the percentage is so low. It's amazing because I realized
they were just putting the show on at different times

(26:43):
and so they never promoted it, you know, to be
sure to watch from the rafters or up Saturday at
two or whatever. So unless you're just surfing the only
way you'd really find the show. And so that's one
of the reasons we put the book together to get
it in the hands of the people, and now making
this big because we kind of feel like the publish
kind of let us down a little bit on the

(27:03):
distribution of the book.

Speaker 1 (27:04):
So understood.

Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, okay, so there's that. Now to get back to
the question, the game has really changed. I mean, not
only the way it's played, but obviously you know, they
try to say you that it's not pay for play,
but come on, it is making money. Yeah, so we've
lost amateur sports. But yeah, I think one of the
good things about the Mark Pope higher is the fact

(27:28):
that he played here. He knew what he was getting into,
and he loves the university and had a great experience
here as a champion, and so he's trying to instill
that in his players. And the fact that some of
the things he learned out of the player. If you're
willing to make some sacrifices for the good thing the team,
a lot of great things can happen.

Speaker 1 (27:47):
Yeah. Yeah, And like I said, I was pleasantly surprised.
And you know, these are guys who knew about Kentucky tradition.
And part of this, Kyle, was because then you played
again guys like this. I'm sure you might have played
with guys in the NBA who dreamt of playing for
Kentucky and never got the chance, weren't recruited by Kentucky,

(28:09):
you know, and finally Mark Pope comes calling and they're like, heck, yeah,
I want to wear that jersey. So there are guys
like that out there, aren't there?

Speaker 4 (28:20):
Oh yeah, yeah, I mean there's a tradition all a
little bit because they hear so much about it, and
they watched it on TV because you know, Cats are
on pretty much every game some channel, and so to
actually get a chance to be recruited and play for
the Wildcats obviously is a big thrill. And so I
think that's one thing that the Koche staff seems like,
I don't go with much practice, but it seems like

(28:42):
they really make sure the guys understand the opportunity and
not to let's slip through their thinkers.

Speaker 1 (28:47):
He is Kyle. He is Kyle Macy uk all American.
He is the author, along with doctor John Wong, of
the book From the Rafters of Rupp We'll come back
and talk more about the book and Kentucky basketball in
just a minute here on the Big Blue Side, six
thirty WLAP Welcome back. My guest is Kyle Mason, UK,
all American who helped lead the Wildcats to the nineteen
seventy eight National championship and of course is the co

(29:10):
author and the producer and host of the TV show
From the Rafters of Rupp and now the book Recirculating
that is a companion piece. It's a coffee table book.
It's a great piece of work. And we mentioned doctor
John Wong, who's a pal and he's been here to
the garage to be on the show and has co
written or written several books. He wrote one with his dad,

(29:33):
he's written with you. Tell me about that process, Kyle,
you guys got together and how that worked, because you
haven't met a bigger UK fan than the doc and
he and I were in school at the same time.
Didn't know each other, but many of our memories are
the same, including watching you play.

Speaker 4 (29:52):
Yeah. So he also did a book with Dennis Emery,
the former tennis coach the UK and I play a
lot of tennis, obviously, and I think Dennis kind of
recommended that we should look into that, and that's kind
of how it got started. So yeah, the way the
book works too, is for each player that has their
jersey retired hanging from the rafters, I wrote an introduction

(30:16):
to that player some kind of connection, like we talked
about earlier, about that as a former player that we
have in common or some something the relationship I have
with that player personally, and that kind of leads you
into them their story and going from there. And John
did a good job of kind of piece and think
because of his experience with his other books of how

(30:37):
you put a book together, and then I did a
real good job. I kind of, as I look back,
I'm going to pat myself on the back, did a
good job of getting on the player, not getting on them,
but reminding them before the interview, during the interview, and
after the calling up to keep sending us pictures, and
a lot of the pictures come from their own personal
albums and stuff, so that makes it kind of special too.

Speaker 1 (31:00):
Well. As you know, I've produced a few documentaries in
my day. These are like many documentaries, and man, video
visuals are so vital and if you can that's a
great source that I didn't start using until in the
later stages of my career, such as it is, you know,
to ask people, have you got any clippings, have you
got any pictures? Does your family have anything? It's a

(31:22):
treasure trove, isn't it.

Speaker 4 (31:23):
Sometimes Yes, if they're willing to let you use them,
and then we always promised them and did get back
to them all the pictures.

Speaker 1 (31:30):
That's right.

Speaker 4 (31:30):
But yeah, it's amazing because you know, family albums are
completely different than what the public happens. So a lot
of pictures maybe the people haven't even seen before.

Speaker 1 (31:39):
Forgive me if I've brought this up to you before,
but let me drop a name on you. A guy
name you know, because you know basketball, Oscar Robertson. I
think most people know. Many many years ago, I was
interviewing him. He was seamlessly plugging a book and he
which is great. I'm all about the shameless plugs and
all about Oscar Robertson, but it was great because use

(32:01):
at one point he got into this these kids today
kind of situation and he was really talking more about
young players in the NBA and he believed and I
think he was right. You probably do too, that a
lot of the guys coming into the NBA have absolutely
no idea about the players who preceded them, And he said,

(32:21):
I think players should be made to take a test
on the history of the NBA before they start playing,
Not that it would preclude them from playing, but just
to make them sit down and take a look at
what happened, you know, back in the day, the guys
who led up to them being in the league. You
know what, I would love if UK players sat down

(32:44):
with your book, you know, almost like in a classroom situation.
I think that would be great. What do you think
of that idea?

Speaker 4 (32:51):
Yeah, I think that's a great idea. In fact, to
go a step further. At the end of last year
or Christmas time whatever, I park text saying Hey, I
got a great idea pushing the tradition to take you basketball.
Great way for your players to learn and understand about
it is. You need to buy his book, boy.

Speaker 1 (33:13):
Afford it. I'm guessing it. Did? Did it go unanswered?

Speaker 4 (33:18):
I didn't get a feedback. Yeah, that's too bad.

Speaker 1 (33:23):
Well, if I ever have much an opportunity on your behalf,
I will say something to him.

Speaker 4 (33:27):
But let me tell you this gape on the September
twenty eighth, which is a Sunday afternoon church like twelve
to two. We're going to be over at the mcclouds
on Southland Drive. So if you are looking for a
copy of your book, come over and we'll be selling him.

Speaker 1 (33:40):
There, Clouds on Southland Drive.

Speaker 4 (33:44):
Clouds Coffee Shop.

Speaker 1 (33:45):
Gotcha, gotcha? Okay, we will shamelessly plug that again later
in the week for you. Hey, before I'll let you go. Uh,
And I'm going to talk about it. I already did
talk about it on the on the show Read Shepherd
with the Rockets, And I know you don't watch a
whole lot of NBA ball now, but Reid's going to

(34:05):
get more opportunities now because one of the Rockets, but
probably their best guard, Freed van Vliet, went down with
an ACL And the greatest concern the Rockets have for Reed,
of course, is his defense. You know, he didn't shoot
the ball terribly well last year, but he was up
and down and in and out so much that was
kind of understandable. But could you explain to people listening that, yes,

(34:31):
they do play defense in the NBA, but you know,
you got to learn how to cut corners. Maybe not
cut corners, but how to play the corners. I guess
I should because I remember after your rookie year you
told me about all the things you had to learn
about playing defense in the NBA. But you know the
kinds of things that Reid's going to have to pick

(34:51):
up on really quickly to survive.

Speaker 4 (34:54):
Yeah, well, let me say first, I think it's going
to be an exciting year for him in he really
didn't get the opportunity to show what he could do
last year because they were guard heavy, and then they
made the trade for Kevin Durant got rid of one
of the guards, so obviously he was going to get
more minutes, and out they had that injury, his minutes
are really jump So it's going to got to be

(35:15):
real exciting for him knowing that he's going to get
an opportunity to show what he can do. And when
he did get that opportunity, it seems like he always performed.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
Well.

Speaker 4 (35:23):
He may not be your lockdown guard, where he's got
a guy that's just that's his thing. It's play defense,
because he can do so many other things, not just
saying he can't. He's got great anticipation skills, he's got
good hands. We saw, you know, he let the team steals.
I think it's last year here, Yeah, and so you know,

(35:44):
it's it's just learning the game from the NBA game
is a little different the college game obviously, but knowing
scatty porch, what players like to do, which way they
like to go, try to take them away from those
spots and make them It's like anything, you know, you
want to play to your strengths and play away from
weaknesses and make them play this to their weaknesses. So defensively,
it's about being in position. A lot of the times,

(36:06):
it's just the right spot. There are a lot of
great athletes, great players, so you may be in perfect
position to have a hand in their face almost black
the ball and they step will still make the shot.
But just you know, every every time, being ready to
go and do the best you can. But getting the
minutes is huge because then you get the opportunity to
show what you can do and then go to that

(36:28):
next contract. Hope point.

Speaker 1 (36:29):
Yeah, that's the important contract. I mentioned that you played
with Michael for a year. I believe it was you
and he combined for seventy points one night. I recall
he had sixty three but how many cys did you
have in that game? Did you feed him all night?
I assume you.

Speaker 4 (36:45):
Did, Yes, Yes, I did. I don't know what the
number one is. I'm probably close to a double double.
Made another three point right at ten point.

Speaker 1 (36:57):
My question is when when you played were the Suns
or the paces whatever did you ever have to guard Michael.

Speaker 4 (37:05):
Probably got switched off on him his rookie year. He
came through through Phoenix. Yeah, but I don't I don't
really remember, you know, he didn't. I mean, he was
obviously a real good player from the start. Sure, he
really kind of turned it up a notch after about
his fifth or six.

Speaker 1 (37:20):
Years when they put their team around him. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (37:23):
Yeah, and then he started The main thing I think
is when he started trusting the teammates, oh and being
willing to Yeah. No, because if you even go back
and look at that game, you're talking about where we
can find for seventy late in the game, the double
was the double overtime game. But he never gave it
up the double overtime. Now, yeah, he's saying, well he's
got sixty three, he's gonna score. He didn't. I mean,

(37:44):
he was wearing down and there was guys watch standing
in the wide open with their hands up, like, you know,
make a pass, and heavy passed that we might have
won that game. So but I think he learned that
as you know, Phil Jackson got more with him. I
guess sure worked with him and then just trusting your
teammates and may probably hadn't better town around him as well,
though he had one guy that was really pretty good

(38:04):
with him.

Speaker 1 (38:05):
Not too bad. Mister wasn't too shabby. Kyle Macy all
American author, producer. Find him on Sunday this Sunday at
Mcloud's coffee shop in Southland Drive. It's right up the
way from Winchells. So just head for Winchells you'll find
McCloud's and at two o'clock twelve till two twelve to two. Okay, yeah,

(38:27):
don't be there too, you'll be late. Will doctor Wong
be there with you?

Speaker 4 (38:32):
I don't think so. I think he's still going to
be in California.

Speaker 1 (38:35):
He's out. Yeah, sure, he's been racking up the sky
in myles Hey pro So glad to talk to you again,
and I'm going to try to get over and see
you this Sunday.

Speaker 4 (38:45):
I look forward to it. Thanks for having me go
get love.

Speaker 1 (38:48):
Talking to Kyle Macy. He and I were in school together,
kind of overlapped. I got out in seventy eight. He
graduated a couple of years later. We got to cover
his career and it was a real treat. And now
he's a good friend and we'll come back in just
a minute on the Big One Saturdays six thirty. Got
the girl a.

Speaker 6 (39:04):
Pee, then.

Speaker 7 (40:02):
Think anything, then change tact that I think back, don't.

Speaker 1 (41:01):
Welcome back joining us on our Celebrity hotline for the
first time on our show, although we have worked together
for a couple of years now. Michelle Kenesevik, who is
part of the digital creative team for the UK Sports
Network and she is working on a project that will
premiere really in just a few days next month technically.
But Michelle, you got to sit down with Leanne Pope,

(41:25):
the first Lady of UK Basketball. First of all, welcome
to the show.

Speaker 3 (41:28):
By the way, yes, thank you. I'm excited my first
celebrity appearance.

Speaker 4 (41:32):
This is a big deal. There you go.

Speaker 1 (41:34):
You've done a lot of work since coming to election
and going to work for the UK Network, but I
think this one is going to attract a lot of
ears and a lot of eyes, simply because it usually
does when the quote unquote first Lady of Kentucky basketball
sits down for the first time with somebody, and it's
kind of been traditional through the years. Some are more

(41:55):
forthcoming than others. We don't want to give away the store.
We want people to tune in and watch.

Speaker 3 (42:00):
But what was it like, Well, I mean, she is
just all class and grace. It was such an amazing
opportunity that we had to speak with LeAnn Pope, And
as you mentioned it, it'll be out October second, before
the Hoops and Heels event on October third, that she
is working with coach Mark Pope on the revamped women's

(42:21):
clinic that they will them and their family will all
be a part of. But you know, really a really
cool opportunity because I'm not sure how many people know,
but as Kentucky fans, we know they do their research,
so I'm sure a lot of them do know about
her background and how she grew up as a coach's daughter,
and her relationship with her dad, and what it was
like growing up and the untraditional ways that you grow

(42:44):
up in a coach's household, whether that be staying up
till midnight to wait for your dad to come home,
or going on a recruiting trip, and what it's now
been like to be a coach's wife. In coach Mark
Pope's journey these last couple of years, when we decided
to quit medical school and head on the coaching path,
it's kind of ironic. We talked about it, right, He's

(43:06):
going to be this doctor after playing in the NBA,
and then it's like, nope, I'm going to be a coach.
And she's very familiar with that lifestyle because she grew
up in it. But the first time that she did
an on camera interview with us in the year to
talk about what it's all been like, Dick, I mean,
you know, we think about it from the basketball perspective

(43:26):
and it's like, wow, new head coach, new era. The
team was so successful, What a year. But I think
we got to talk about so many different layers that
haven't been discussed, and that's what was it like with
your family and what was it like kind of inside
the home and not only what we saw on the
TV screens of the wins and losses, but how does

(43:48):
their family deal with wins and losses? What are some
things that you do with your family to create a
normal life when you have such a crazy schedule as
coaching the Kentucky men's basketball team. Then we got to
learn more about Liamne and some things that she done.
You know, not only I talked about her being a mom,
a coach's wife, a coach's daughter, but her interest in

(44:09):
philanthropy and her business woman had I just I talked
about it as so many hats, so many hats that
she wears that nobody's really gotten to see all of
those yet, But a really incredible interview. And like I said,
it'll be available on uk sn all Access on October second.
So I know we've gotten a lot of traction on

(44:30):
the little teaser video that we put out there because
we kept this one under wraps, but we knew biglu
Nation would be very excited to see that we got
to that we got to speak to her. So really
excited for that one to come out.

Speaker 4 (44:43):
To me.

Speaker 1 (44:43):
One of the most fascinating elements of this entire story,
the new coach, Mark Pope, wife kids all coming here,
is because the guy that Kentucky was wooing, Scott Drew,
the head coach at Baylor sent his wife and kids
ahead to check things out, and I've been told by

(45:04):
somebody who works down there that she is famously very
closed off, very guarded, very shy, protective of the family,
but not a public person at all. And evidently that's
one reason that he decided not to take the job,
because he knew and she learned what the spotlight would

(45:24):
be like on the family, not just the coach, and
she realized she would not be comfortable with that at all.
Whereas Leanne Pope already, you know what, eight years into
being the wife of a head coach, in addition to
a guy who was an assistant coach, bouncing around the country.
And I loved it when Pope was introduced to you

(45:47):
were there when you at the press conference talking about
how supportive his wife and his daughters were. It wasn't like,
oh my gosh, dad, I'm about to graduate, which is real,
but it was all like, go, big Blue, let's go.
I thought that was incredible.

Speaker 3 (46:03):
I think that's a really interesting point that you bring
up there, because you know, not only is it an
insane career jump, right, you're following a Hall of Fame
coach here at Kentucky it's not only the spotlight on you,
it's the spotlight on your entire family and everything you do.
And you know, one thing we did dive into is
that her daughters are older and what that conversation was

(46:25):
like when they all came over here. But I think
that family is not shy to note that it's a
family event. And I think that over this last year
and seeing him take that head coaching position, that the
family has been so involved, whether it be Big Blue menness.
The first time I got to interview Leanne was on
the Big Blue carpet and they walked the carpet together
and all of their daughters followed and they sat front row.

(46:47):
And every single home game, you know, she's right behind
the bench and she's she's supporting the program. You know,
all of the guys on the team, you can see
them interact with her. You can see her interact with
all of the players' families. That was one of my
favorite things with postgame. When we would do a Wildcat
wrap up show with Tom Leech coach Mark Pope on
the court, fans would stay. You know, she would always

(47:09):
stay too, and their family would always stay with all
of the players' families you can truly see that it
has been this family atmosphere, not only with the team
and the players, but their families and all of them
getting along. I thought that was such an interesting dynamic
to see all of them get along so well and
really experience this year one together well.

Speaker 1 (47:28):
As you know, I've seen several Kentucky football and basketball
coaches come through Lexing and through these lots of coaches
in general, and it's especially with basketball because it's such
a small number of players on the roster is more intimate.
But the players who have come through and bonded with
the wife of the coach has always been interesting to me.

(47:50):
And Billy Gispi of course was single. But you know,
the players who adopted Ellen Caliperi as a second mom.
People like that. I think that's really hotant to a program,
or it can be, you know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (48:03):
Yeah, And I think the Ellen connection is one to
bring up, especially recently as Karl Anthony Founds got inducted
into the Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame. You know, they
were here supporting him, like you can tell that that
connection is still so strong and they knew Carl before
he came to Kentucky when he was on the Dominican
Republic national team, so they had maybe a connection before Kentucky,

(48:23):
but in his short time here, you can see that
those connections they last a lifetime. And you know, it's
kind of the basketball world, it's the sports world that
there are so many connections all over, but you know
that family aspect and being able to make a difference
on these young athletes lives, you can tell it's very
important to them.

Speaker 1 (48:42):
Talking to Michelle Kenezevik, she works for the UK Sports Networks,
the Digital Channel, and she is very proud of the
work she did and should be on the interview that
she did with Leanne Pope. It will be released on
October the second, the day before the Hoops and Heels
event on the U Okay campus, via the UK Sports
Network app. Did anything come out of that conversation, and again,

(49:05):
we don't want you to give away the store, just
tune in, but anything that kind of surprised you that
you weren't expecting.

Speaker 3 (49:13):
I don't know if surprised is the correct word, but
I think just being able to listen to a different
perspective I think was really interesting for me because you know,
we hear from coach Mark Pope talk about you know,
all the players and every press conference and win and loss,
and it was just a different perspective, and it was
almost like tearing the onion, like a layer of the

(49:35):
onion to see a different perspective and what maybe some
things were like off of the court for them. I think,
as you mentioned, their entire family is in the spotlight,
with all their daughters, just everything. Kentucky fans want to
know everything about them, So I think that's all I

(49:57):
will give you for now, but just a differ perspective,
and I think it's one that a lot of people
would like to hear.

Speaker 1 (50:03):
Yeah, I agree, and that's the price of fame, I know.
But it seems like from the beginning this isn't something
again that they suddenly were dropped into. They were kind of,
if eased is the right world, kind of eased into
it because he was a head coach at Utah Valley
State and at BYU, and they love their sports out there.

(50:24):
Now Kentucky's a different animal, we know. But I really
like the fact that one of his daughters, when they
were considering the move, that they didn't even consider it
started channing Who's in the House tonight, which to me
was one of the greatest parts of that press conference,
and told me everything I needed to know about the
way those kids were raised. You know, they were raised

(50:46):
Wildcat fans, weren't they.

Speaker 3 (50:48):
Oh? Yes, And you know it's funny. I had never
heard of that chance and now it's like my favorite
chant ever, got the best little tune to it. And
to your point, Dick, I remember interviewing coach Mark Pope
and Leanne on the blue carpet at Big Blue Manus
just about a year ago, and a video had resurfaced
of their family at their Midnight Madness at Utah Valley

(51:11):
when the daughters were super young, and they told me
this great story of Shay was super young at the
time and they had to like wake her up to
go to the Madness or the midnight Madness event at
midnight for Utah Valley, and they all performed this dance
routine and it was so funny. They talked about having
to really build the basketball culture there and get people excited.

(51:32):
It was at midnight. And then, however, many years later
now they were walking the carpet at Big Blue Madness
where Coach Cope had been a player, but it was
their family's first time at Big Blue Madness and I
like to say the unofficial start to college basketball season.
But they've been in these settings that are similar but

(51:53):
not quite to the level of Kentucky. So I thought
that was a unique story that I just remembered about
their time Utah Valley.

Speaker 1 (52:01):
What can you tell us about the philanthropy that Leanne
Pope is involved with.

Speaker 3 (52:08):
Well, I think the Hoops and Heels event is a
great one. The proceeds for that are going to the
Markete Cancer Foundation, So that is something that I know
the family is very passionate about. And that event, the
first one was last year, and I know a new
edition this year was that the proceeds will go towards that.
And then there also is the Year one Kentucky Men's

(52:31):
basketball book that came out. I'm not sure if you
saw that, but it is a book like a picture book,
a yearbook. It's it's like a it's like a yearbook
you would get in high school or something like that,
and you open it and it's it's pictures from every
single game. So it's like a yearbook where you can

(52:52):
look back at year one and all the proceeds from
those books will also go towards the Marque Cancer Foundation.

Speaker 1 (52:59):
Was that produced through the UK network, not the.

Speaker 3 (53:04):
Book was not produced through the UK Network, That was
UK Athletics on their side of things. But we shared,
we shared the posts on our social media's and on
athletic social media where people can go and find it
to purchase them if they want one.

Speaker 1 (53:18):
That's a great idea.

Speaker 3 (53:20):
It's an awesome it's an awesome book. I have one
and I leave it on my coffee table and I
love looking back at all of the all of the
photos from the years. Got every single score graphic throughout
every single game all the way until their last game
against Tennessee in Indianapolis, so you you forget some moments.
But since the photography staff chat White and his team

(53:41):
at UK Athletics, I mean, some of the photos that
they take are just I mean, they're just so incredible.
They capture so many amazing moments. And then to have
a book where you can just look through all of them,
it's pretty incredible.

Speaker 1 (53:53):
Yeah, And that's that's almost worth a book or or
at least a video piece alone. The work those folks do.
Chad and his team and the setup they go through
and all that. I mean, if you get there early enough,
as you do, you can see them. But the work
they do, not to mention the word Greg gorm and
his video people do over there, and that has expanded
and grown through the years. It's really impressive. I just

(54:17):
got about a minute and a half left. But it's
enjoyable when you can talk to somebody who's pleasant to
talk to. I know, did you have to I don't
want to say, beg and plead, but convinced leannd Pope
to sit down and do this interview. I got to
think she saw this as an opportunity to expand on

(54:37):
the philanthropy side, on the business side, as well as
just getting people to know her and her family.

Speaker 3 (54:43):
No, no, I don't think it was a vacant tweet scenario.
I think it was, like you said, an opportunity, an
opportunity after the family has maybe settled a little bit
into Lexington, like you said, tell her story.

Speaker 1 (54:58):
Yeah, well I can't wait to see it. And congrats
on landing the interview, and I appreciate the hard work
and we will see you at the next ballgame.

Speaker 3 (55:06):
Yes, she has do this. Thanks much.

Speaker 1 (55:09):
That is Michelle Knezevic from the UK Sports Network digital
channel and again coming up in October second the release
of her interview at the UK Sports Network app, the
interview she did with Leanne Pope, the first Lady of
UK Basketball, speaking of UK oops, I know we're basketball
heavy tonight, but there's more football coming up this week,

(55:32):
but coming up next or in a few minutes, I
should say, at the bottom of the hour. Corey Price
of the UK Network. He as our statistician and he
wrote a piece for the UK Basketball yearbook about the
top games in the history of rupp Arena, which is
celebrating a fifty eeth anniversary this year. He has listed
in his opinion or the top twenty games in those

(55:55):
fifty years. It was a tall order, but he was
up to it and he had a lot of fun
putting that list together and we will talk with him
about that on the other side of the break. So
stay with us here on the Big Blue Insider six
thirty WLAP. Welcome back, Thanks again to Michelle for joining us,
and be sure you catch her interview with Leanne Pope

(56:16):
coming up very shortly coming up next month through the
UK Sports Network. A couple of notes for you before
we talk with Corey Price of the UK Sports Network.
He's going to talk with us about what he believes
to be the top twenty games in the history of
Rupperna over the last twenty five years. This is going
to be really interesting. He has written a piece for

(56:39):
the Kentucky Basketball Yearbook, produced by the UK Sports Network,
so we'll get his thoughts on that. With a couple
of notes before we hit the break. Eva Hudson volleyball
senior named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Of course,
she was at a record setting week for UK average
five point six y three kills per set over two

(57:02):
matches that the Wildcats won. They won in four at
Louisville and no, I'm sorry, they won in five at
Louisville and then swept Washington and against the Huskies twenty
eight kills in a three set match set in the
UK record, Brokeley Edmunds record, and then also it was

(57:23):
the first time a player in NCA volleyball history had
that many kills twenty eight in a three set match,
since Jordan Thompson did it for Cincinnati back in twenty nineteen.
That's according to ESPN. Leah's record was twenty two kills
and a three set went over Missouri on the road,
so she broke that record by six kills, hit for

(57:46):
eighty one. Washington had no answers for her only three
errors on fifty two swings. Now, Louisville made it really
tough on her last Thursday, block after block, but she
kept at it, wound up with seventeen kills, got real
hot at the end when the Wildcats needed it the most,
and while she was struggling on offense thanks to Ul's defense,

(58:10):
she provided defense with twenty one digs in those five sets.
In the fifth set, though we were tied to a piece,
right could have gone either way. UK, which had dominated
in the fourth, kip Right ongoing and it was behind Hudson.
She had four kills in the fifth set. She hit
eight fifty. Again, if you don't know volleyball, the hitting percentage,

(58:33):
it's like batting average. You're around three hundred, you're doing great.
Eight point fifty is insane. She's from Fort Wayne, Indiana,
same as Jim Master, the former basketball Cat, and had
an amazing week. Two home matches this week for the
Wildcats South Carolina Tomorrow night that's on ESPN. The Mothership

(58:55):
at seven o'clock Friday night, Georgia. In memorial Collis him.
Go to ucathletics dot com backslash for ticket information. One
note on the NFL game last night when the Lions
went to Baltimore and upset the Ravens. Just on a
personal note, your boy here got himself a fantasy football win.

(59:17):
And I had gone to bet, I had shut it off.
I knew that the Lions were gonna win, but I thought,
all I'm gonna get beaten because going into the game,
I was ahead. But my opponent had players that were
gonna make it tough on me. I had a player
or two available. One of them was David Montgomery, the
running back or the Lions. Well, my opponent had Dereck Henry,

(59:39):
who and you know what he can do if you
know football at all. And Montgomery's not bad at all.
He's a good fantasy player because he catches passes. Henry
is capable of being a one man wrecking crew. But
the Lions did such a great job on him and
laid in the game, forced a fumble that helped turn
the game around the real game the Lions, so that

(01:00:01):
helped me. Meanwhile, Montgomery just slowly kept racking up yards
and then in the closing seconds he broke loose for
a long touchdown run and that put me over the top.
I didn't know till the next morning my son texted
me about my amazing come from behind win. But I'll
take it. I wasn't watching, but I'll take it up.

(01:00:24):
Next Corey Price to talk about great UK basketball games
here on six thirty WLAP Welcome back to the big
mouin side of joining us now on our celebrity house
line as a guy who crunches numbers for us on
the UK Radio network, Corey Price, he is our statistician,
crack statistician that is, and something of a sports historian

(01:00:44):
when it comes to UK sports. Do you like you
got to love that role because you're so quick with
all this stuff.

Speaker 5 (01:00:52):
I do love it. It's probably the two things I
love most on SIERS is sports and history back distan
pervoctally and there no no Sporter team that I love
more than than than Kentucky.

Speaker 4 (01:01:07):
So there you go.

Speaker 1 (01:01:08):
It's it all works out.

Speaker 8 (01:01:13):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:01:13):
The reason we're talking with Corey is on the air.
We talked to him every week at the games, but
he's at it again for the Kentucky Basketball Yearbook, produced
and edited and published by jam I. Corey has written
a piece, it's kind of a companion piece for the
football yearbook. He wrote about great games in Commonwealth Stadium
at Croker Field. Now he's got a piece entitled Remarkable

(01:01:36):
Wins at Rupp Arena. And you did this chronologically. You're
not risking them or listing them as sure, you're not
listing them as your favorites or as the most important
or whatever. But man, you had a lot to sift through,
didn't you.

Speaker 5 (01:01:52):
I did so this this opinion season would be the
fiftieth for Kentucky at Reperen and Neil say, those are
saying that was a program that the schools.

Speaker 4 (01:02:04):
Had for so long.

Speaker 5 (01:02:05):
They've had their fair share of of quality opponents come
through rough so they had more than a fair share
of great wins. So kind of like my football piece,
it was pretty hard to narrow less down to just twenty,
but I think it's pretty good. Of the twenty I listed,

(01:02:27):
fourteen of the twenty were top ten matchups for both
teams areun from top ten, so I felt those were
pretty easy to include on any days.

Speaker 1 (01:02:40):
So in your mind, which is all. It's important on
this particular project. How did a game make the list?
Were there a certain criteria or you just kind of
wait them as you went along. Oh, you already mentioned
top ten matchup? That helps?

Speaker 5 (01:02:56):
Yeah, yeah, that, I mean, I'll say that that way
for heavily, and obviously there's just more weight to a
top ten matchup. There's a few of these where UK
was unranked and they beat like a top five team,
which you know on paper a pretty big upset, which
obviously means it means a lot. And then there are

(01:03:18):
a couple where UK beat the the eventual national champion,
which I thought carried a lot of ways as well.
So it was a probably my top three yes points
for a tough and matchup if there's a big upset
or if they beat the eventual champion.

Speaker 1 (01:03:38):
I don't want to spoil it for people. You need
to read this. It's a lot of fun. But in
going through it, of course, having worked here forever but
left for a couple of years when I was living
in Dallas, you know watch for instance, I wasn't here
for the achem Elijah on UK Houston going, but I
did watch it on TV Man when I was living
down there in Texas. But I got to tell you

(01:03:58):
it was so much fun because I've seen I think
all but three of these games in person, and I
was delighted. And again it was a top five matchups,
so it was kind of a no brainer. But the
Kentucky Villanova game nineteen eighty two, December fourth, Cats were
ranked third. Well there's two Wildcats, Kentucky third, Villanova fourth.

(01:04:19):
That was and still is Corey one of my top
at least top five, if not top three crowds because
Villanova was so great and this is before there were
so many games stacked on top of one another, and
you know, this was just two of the best teams
in America. And it was one of those games where

(01:04:42):
there was such literally electricity in the crowd. You know,
that kind of electricity at a sporting event where if
you rub your fingers together you can almost feel it.
That's what that game was like. And Kentucky beat them
by what fourteen? Yeah? Yeah, but you did some research
on that one, didn't you.

Speaker 5 (01:05:03):
Yeah, of course.

Speaker 4 (01:05:05):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (01:05:06):
And Nova was going to win the title on RUP's
court two seasons later, So it's kind of a nice
you bring up Houston, Uh, I think it would be
great for cass basketball if they would hype up a
lot of at least one like market matchup on Super

(01:05:28):
Bowl Sunday. Might have have it played early obviously before
the actual damn football. But I mean there's because optually
there's a lot of people watching TV, and I say,
well why not?

Speaker 1 (01:05:43):
Yeah, yeah, and uh, you can get a marquee matchup
like that with two players who played forever in the NBA.
Eventually that would be really or something. You know, U
of L pops up a few times. But you've got
Kentucky ten to see. In twenty oh one, when Tennessee
came in highly rated, Kentucky was not, and the Wildcats

(01:06:07):
spanked him. That game where Florida came in ranked number
one was a twenty oh three.

Speaker 5 (01:06:14):
Yes, yes, there it was.

Speaker 1 (01:06:15):
Wasn't that the first time Florida had ever been ranked
number one in basketball?

Speaker 5 (01:06:20):
It was the pole came out I believe on Monday
and the games con Tuesday, and so they were number
one for about twenty four hours. And yeah, we didn't
treat them well being with umber one, that's for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:06:34):
Yeah, that was a Matt Walsh Florida team, and he's
a guy, the Kentucky fans love to hate, and it
paid off on more than one occasion. Obviously, the Kentucky
Florida rivalry as amped up as Florida's been good at basketball.
And you got last year's UK Florida game on the list.

(01:06:58):
Why was that? Why did that make getting Again? It
was a top ten matchup, But I have a feeling
I know why you put that one on there. That
might have been the most entertaining D one regular season
game of the year.

Speaker 5 (01:07:10):
Right, Yes, a lots of reasons, Like you said, the
top to matchup A mentioned before. Four there was the
eventual national champion, probably one of the more efficient games
I think I've ever seen it Rupp. Both teams shot
at least fifty five percent from from the field and

(01:07:30):
then made a combined twenty six threes. As this, I mean,
if you love if you love high powered offense, uh,
you know, it's hard not to love this game.

Speaker 4 (01:07:41):
Yeah, And.

Speaker 5 (01:07:43):
It was kind of a weird start. Time started early,
which was a bit unusual, but the crowd brought it
for even for an early start time. Boatings brought it.
This a lot of high level basketball, and you know,
obviously we came on top which match most.

Speaker 1 (01:08:03):
Back in twenty nineteen, Tennessee comes to town ranked number one,
first time ever Tennessee came in here rank number one,
and honestly, Corey, going into that game, I thought, man,
this could get ugly. Tennessee could really because Kentucky was
still trying to find itself at the time, and Kentucky
spanked the balls that night. I got to think that

(01:08:25):
that was an easy one making your list. Altho Kentucky
was ranked fifth to Tennessee's number one, But I didn't
expect an outcome like that.

Speaker 7 (01:08:32):
You know.

Speaker 5 (01:08:34):
I didn't either, And of course, I mean, you know,
I'm this isn't a mystery. But I think every time
we can beat Tennessee, it's a great day. But the UK,
I mean they scored sixteen straight points at the end
of the first half, started the second half to be
lead to twenty points. I think, toss me it's twenty four,

(01:08:56):
which you just don't see that against toppering team, which
you kind of crazy. We did that twice. We did
Support in three, I think twenty nine and Tennessee in
twenty nineteen. Groupe as minis twenty four, so we've had
our fair share of beatdowns of the top ring teams.

Speaker 1 (01:09:16):
Yeah, the Kentucky team that won the national title in
New Calipari made it. Of course, that went over North
Carolina and it ended, of course with the block shot
by Anthony Davis. And I remember Corey hearing the tickets
lower arena tickets, good ones were going for you know,
four or five thousand dollars for that game. And it

(01:09:37):
lived up to it, didn't it.

Speaker 5 (01:09:40):
Yeah, Prep, I don't know. It's hard to think of
the game that's play had more pregam hype at rupp
for the era than that game. And I said, I
mean it was back and forth, and you know that
block by Davis's I'm probably the most famous block in

(01:10:02):
school history probably that same.

Speaker 1 (01:10:04):
Yeah, yeah, I would think so. And you and I
texted back and forth on this one. I was a
little surprised that Tayshawn's five to three pointer game didn't
make it on her it went over North Carolina And
you made a credible argument about that one. Share that
with our listeners.

Speaker 4 (01:10:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:10:24):
If I had made a list of the top twenty
moments at Referena, there's no doubt that would probably be
Aunestie top three. But as just a win in a
game overall North Carolina. I mean, this wasn't really a
great team of year, so you know it's on paper
just it wasn't really a great win. But I mean,

(01:10:46):
no doubt that the Princess Princess Factories. I mean, honestly,
it might be the top of the rup. I mean,
that will never be top.

Speaker 1 (01:10:55):
I have to agree with you. We're talking with Corey
Price of the UK Sports Network. He has written a
piece for the upcoming Kentucky basketball yearbook published by JMI,
looking at remarkable wins at Rupp Arena. They're listed chronologically,
not his favorite. He didn't rank him just chronological, because
how do you rank something like that. But I was

(01:11:16):
delighted to see as well that you went back to
the nineteen seventy eight game in December. This was not
the team that won a national title. And what's interesting
is having covered that team that year, there really weren't
any remarkable wins that kind of stacked up to the
ones you listed. I mean, there were some great wins,

(01:11:39):
including went over UNLV at the end of the regular
season that year, but the following year, when the you know,
the core that championship team and graduated and UK came
back to beat Kansas in overtime, and that game appeared
to be over, didn't it.

Speaker 5 (01:11:55):
Yeah, they're down six with I believe thirty one seconds left.
Ye UK went on the score I think seven points,
I think in nineteen seconds, which back then there was
no shot clock, there was no three point line. So
the score of seven points in nineteen seconds, it's pretty incredible,
which just goes to show the magic that they could

(01:12:18):
have to erupt.

Speaker 1 (01:12:19):
Dwight Anderson played a huge role in that game. Kyle
Macy hit the game winning shot. And what was funny
about this, and I don't know if it was any
of the research you were able to pull up on
that game, but fans were leaving. A lot of fans
left Rupp Arena before that last thirty seconds, mind you.
And then we found out later they were trying to

(01:12:42):
get back in the building and they weren't allowed back
in and so a lot of people who were at
the game missed the incredible comeback. It was one of
the greatest comebacks of all time in UK history. And
again this was a top ten matchup, but Kansas was
ranked number five. This is back when and Kansas this
is under Bill self has had great teams back then.

(01:13:03):
Kansas was a real power. So this was a great
traditional rivalry, wasn't it.

Speaker 5 (01:13:09):
Yes, And the fans broke the number one rule, and
that is you never leave early because you never know
what will happen. And that game is the prime example
of anything can happen.

Speaker 4 (01:13:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:13:21):
Yeah, when Kentucky beat Indiana that year in seventy nine,
I think I think they had yeah Isaiah Thomas, didn't
they when you a freshman? Yes, yeah, that was a
great one. Indiana was number one, Kentucky number five. Man,
those were the days and you can relive them if
you pick up a copy of the Kentucky basketball yearbook,

(01:13:42):
as Corey Price from our own Corey Price, our statistician
on the network, loves to dive into history and UK sports,
and he lists the top twenty wins at Rupp Arena
to on the fiftieth season of Rupp and you can
you can check it out yourself. A gre Er disagree,
but it's a lot of fun. Corey. Thank you so much,
and we'll see you at the next.

Speaker 5 (01:14:03):
Ball game, Yes, sir, thank you, Nick, appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (01:14:07):
Up Next in NFL, analyst takes a big, big swipe
at Jerry Jones. Back in a minute on The Big
bloon Sider six thirty wlap Welcome back to the Big
Bloon Sider, final segment of our program. Wanted to talk
a little bit about finger pointing and sports because it
happens all the time, usually fans pointing at coaches, not

(01:14:29):
often at players, but in the National Football League when
it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, we all have a
tendency to point the finger at Jerry Jones. I'm not
a big finger pointer when it comes to sports because
I get tired of people instantly and I don't know
why I take up for him, but blaming coaches for
the failures of players. I had a conversation with a

(01:14:49):
guy the other day about the fact that John Caliperry
and I've talked about this before, John Caller Perry's record,
his resume would be incredible if it weren't for miss
free throws. And you know this if you're a Kentucky fan,
But you also know this if you're a Memphis fan.
If not for miss free throws, John Caliperry would definitely
have one more national championship on his resume, maybe two

(01:15:12):
or even three more if his players could just hit
him when they at the normal rate, at their normal percentage.
And talking to a friend of mine, he said, well,
you know, you got to blame the coach. But I
said why. They said, well, who else do you win?
I said, I blame the guys who missed the free throws. Well,
the coach should have been teaching them or coaching them
with no not. When it comes to free throws, they've
been doing it all their lives, you know, they've been

(01:15:34):
hitting them all their lives. And if they don't work
on it, that's something players have to work on on
their own. But when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys,
and again huge disclaimer, it's the team I loathe the
most in all of sports. There's no logic to it.
That's just the way we are in sports, right. I
love the Green Bay Packers, I hate the Dallas Cowboys. Okay,

(01:15:55):
that's said. And I lived in Dallas for a couple
of years, so I grew to like individual players. And
the play by play guy for the Cowboys is a
buddy of mine. I've worked with him on several occasions
through the years, Brad Sham, and he's great, but the
Cowboys are just falling way short, as they do every year.

(01:16:16):
Have him into the super Bowl in forever, and it's
because of Jerry Jones. And he's gone through coaches, he's
gone through players, he's gone through media people. He's fired.
He fired Brad Sham for a little while because Brad
was critical of his team. But I don't mind pointing
the finger at him because he will not hire a

(01:16:38):
general manager. He's the general manager. He thinks he's the
smartest guy in the room because he's built a fortune,
and he has. He's been a great businessman, and he's
been a great businessman within the NFL. Remember he signed
Dak Prescott to the huge contract Prescott has and we
all thought this is nuts. But Jerry Jones was on
the committee that signed a deal with Amazon, so he

(01:17:00):
knew the NFL and every team was about to get
a huge chunk of money. So he knew ahead of
time he could afford it, so he locked down Dak Prescott.
That's a great move by a businessman. It's bad business
the way he's running his team, though, And that is
to say, by not hiring a competent general manager to
put the best team out on the field. He's got
some great components, but the Bears spanked him. And Jerry

(01:17:25):
Jones will not give in a lick when it comes
to bringing somebody in who can actually put a complete
team together. He had done it back in the day.
But one of the reasons was he hired Jimmy Johnson,
his college teammate at Arkansas, and eventually it ran him
off because they clashed. You know, Jimmy won a couple

(01:17:46):
of Super Bowls, went to live on his boat.

Speaker 2 (01:17:49):
Well.

Speaker 1 (01:17:49):
Last night, Ryan Clark on Sports Center talking to Michael
Leaves WKYT, former anchor from the anchor desk, asking Clark
who was talking to them after last night's game when
the Ravens beat the Lions and it was so late
that the guys with the blowers were behind him, you know,

(01:18:09):
blowing the old discarded chunks to turf off the field,
and Clark unloaded on Jerry Jones. And I can't say
I disagree.

Speaker 7 (01:18:19):
If you're in this Cowboys locker room as a player, RC,
what is going through your mind right now?

Speaker 8 (01:18:25):
We weren't trying to win no way.

Speaker 3 (01:18:27):
What do you mean, Michael, Like like.

Speaker 8 (01:18:29):
This CD lomb being injured, our defense not being able.

Speaker 1 (01:18:32):
To stop a nosebleed.

Speaker 8 (01:18:34):
None of those things changed how I felt when I
saw the way that Jerry Jones was moving in training camp.

Speaker 1 (01:18:40):
Jerry Jones isn't running this team to win a Super Bowl.

Speaker 8 (01:18:43):
He's running running this team to have it be talked about,
running this team, to have it in the tabloids, Running
this team to have it be a reality show in
a soap opera, not to be an actual contender. To
watch Caleb Williams, who has been sacked more than anybody
in the last year in three games, not be touched
when playing this team. Russell Wilson, who we are talking

(01:19:03):
about now this week, being replaced through for four hundred
and fifty four doors. This isn't a competitive football team.
This is a team with the quarterback that's playing his
heart out, with an offense that is trying to make plays,
and with the defense that does not have the people
to even put pressure on the quarterback, much less stop them.

(01:19:25):
They could go and get somebody that's out here blowing
these leaves the same way these folks are and played
better than they played on Sunday.

Speaker 1 (01:19:33):
That's Ryan Clark. Curtesy ESPN. I've become a bit of
a fan of Ryan Clark, not always with everything he says,
but sometimes he goes off and I find it enjoyable.

Speaker 4 (01:19:41):
That's gonna do it.

Speaker 1 (01:19:42):
Thanks to my guest, Thanks to Michelle and Tory and
Kyle Macy. That's a good night from the garage and Lexiga.

Speaker 7 (01:19:49):
Where do you get off?

Speaker 1 (01:19:51):
I just don't get what you're saying it that way?
Why I'm saying what? What way? Forget it? I will?

Speaker 5 (01:19:56):
I will forgetnis.

Speaker 7 (01:20:02):
Such set, such such tact that sat Sing can do anything,

(01:20:52):
then such change tacks. I think back from Taunt the