2025-10-15 BBI

DG off for one more (and we hope final) bout with skin cancer surgery so it's the Best of the BBI: Mark Pope's conversation with Jon Rothstein; (20:00) Pope on transfer Denzel Aberdeen; (26:00) ex-Cat Merion Haskinso on the passing of teammate Larry Johnson; (39:00) DG on barely missing out on working with legendary Yankees baseball announcer Dave Sims; (47:00) Unforgettable guard Sean Woods; (55:00) ex-Cat Anthony White of Sunday Morning Sportstalk...

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabriel with you
Wednesday edition of our show. It is another best of
Big Blue Insider because just like last week, I'm having
minor surgery, but it's really not minor. It's for skin cancer.
One of three spots that the specialists that the dermatologists
discovered and are taken care of. And again they caught
it we think in time. But again I'm urging you

(00:23):
to get yourself checked out. These were discovered during routine
checkups by my dermatologists and they turned into something and
if you let it go, it turns into something obviously
a lot more serious. So I don't like to preach,
but I will preach it here. Please get yourself checked out.
So while I'm having this minor surgery done, please enjoy

(00:46):
the best of the Big Blue Insider. We're going to
talk Kentucky baseball first in this opening sequence because the
Wildcats got in. If you haven't heard yet, you probably
have if you're a Kentucky baseball fan. But Kentucky basically
slips in to the College Baseball Tournament, although you might

(01:07):
have thought the Wildcats would have been one of the
last four in but if you saw the selection show today,
that's not the case. Strength of schedule and RPI came
up big for the Wildcats. They played a tough schedule
and not that this mattered to the committee. Maybe it did,

(01:27):
but keep in mind that the Kentucky team that got
to the College World Series last year, basically the entire
starting elements moved on. Seven of the eight position regular
position players moved on the entire weekend rotation, the top
two relievers, Nick Manngione and his staff had to replace

(01:49):
all of them. And the Wildcats had their ups and
downs this year. As you know, they won twenty nine games.
They led in twenty eight of the thirty one SEC
games they played, including one SEC tournament game, and going
into that last weekend at Vanderbilt. This is what's fascinating

(02:09):
about what happened this year. That weekend turned college baseball
I won't say upside down, but had a profound effect
on what happened with this tournament draw because Kentucky could
have swept. Wildcats took leads into the last Vandy at
bat Commodore's got two walk off home runs in the

(02:32):
first two games. Wildcats led three to nothing in Game
three and blew that lead couldn't hang on down in Nashville.
So Vandy sweeps. Vandy ends up the overall number one
seed in this tournament. So imagine if Kentucky had finished
up two or three of those wins, it clearly I

(02:53):
think would have kept Vandy from being the overall number
one seed that the Doors would have gotten in. Of course,
they've gone nineteen straight years now, that's the longest current streak.
They're forty two and sixteen, and they are the overall
number one seed. They won the SEC Tournament, gave up
only three runs in the entire tournament. Now think about

(03:15):
that down and Hoover. In the SEC Tournament, in the
best league in America, Vandy gave up a total of
three runs. But in the weekend against Kentucky gave up
nearly twenty runs and the Wildcats just couldn't hold on.
But that weekend we thought might have cost Kentucky, might

(03:39):
have kept the Wildcats out of the tournament. But as
you know by now, they're going to Clemson. Clemson is
the host with forty four wins. Wildcats will take on
West Virginia, the Big twelve regular season champ. West Virginia
has played here in Lexington in an NCAA regional. This

(04:00):
is a fourth regional appearance for the Wildcats under Nick
menjeone third in a row for the Wildcats. First time
in UK history, the Wildcats have gone to three straight
NCAA Baseball tournaments. Ben Zione got him there in twenty seventeen,
his first year as the UK head coach, and then

(04:22):
of course to the last three seasons. Now. So the
Wildcats will take on West Virginia and Clemson will play
USC Upstate, and then we'll see what happens after that.
And if Kentucky plays the way it did against Oklahoma
in sweeping Ou, if Kentucky plays the way it did

(04:43):
against Tennessee in Knoxville, taking two out of three from
the volunteers, and the Wildcats could move on. If they win,
they likely would have to go back to Baton Rouge.
That's where they played a couple of years ago against
Paul Skian and Dylan Cruz against the eventual national champion.

(05:03):
But hey, they'd be okay with that, wouldn't they, Because
they're in And as Sam Newton used to say, you
can play your way out of a bad seed. He
was talking about the basketball tournament but it holds up
here as well. You can play your way out of
a bad seed, but you can't play your way into
the tournament. And the Wildcats are in. And we'll talk

(05:25):
more about it tomorrow night on the show and break
down the tournament field. But we're gonna take a break,
and coming up next we'll hear from Mark Pope here
on the Best of the Big Boo Insider, going back
to the conversation he had with John Rosstein of CBS
Sports a little bit later on maryon Haskins on the
Late and Grade, Larry Johnson, player from Sean Woods, the

(05:50):
unforgettable guard leader in the show, and former football wildcaty
Anthony White. That's all I had want to come. You're
listening to the best of the Big Newing Cider here
on six point thirty. Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider.
Dick Gabriel with you. It's the best of the Big
Blue Insider. As I'm having once again surgery to remove
some skin cancer and another plea to you get yourself

(06:10):
checked out. Now on to the best of the Big
Blue Insider.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
We got to talk about Mark Pope and John Rostein,
the podcast that Rostein produced and aired and it's on
YouTube if you want to go back and watch and
listen to the whole thing.

Speaker 1 (06:29):
If you haven't already. The internet has been swamped with
comments and clips, and we're going to share some with
you now. Rostein was on with Tom Leachs this morning.
Been trying to get him on my show. He's been
so busy that he's not been able to accommodate me.
He was able to jump on with Tom a little

(06:50):
bit first thing this morning, but he had a great
interview I thought, with Pope and Mark of course as
always so excited. And Rosstein began in his podcast by
just basically doing a monologue for about twenty minutes. But
one of the things he touched on was how, yes,

(07:12):
the NIL and the portal have kind of turned sports
upside down, there's no question, but he basically cold the
same line that most of us have. I think you
probably have too if you're a college sports fan, in
that NIL has really really jumbled college athletics. But it's

(07:34):
not necessarily a bad thing because it's only fair now
that the players get to share and the riches and yes,
some of these numbers are off the charts, and the
way the pendulum swings in sports, it'll swing back the
other way. But what is really turn this thing upside
down and inside out is the portal. And I do

(07:56):
think everybody agrees, probably with the exception of a handful
of players, that you ought to be allowed to transfer
once then after that you got to sit out of here.
The people who would disagree are perhaps coaches who are
welcoming a player they might need who's already been at
three schools, and the coach is willing to overlook whatever

(08:18):
problems the kid might have had. And of course the
players who are bouncing from school to school to school,
sometimes taking money with them without even playing, but oftentimes
usually trying to find a spot where they'll better fit
in because they're not patient at all. So that in mind,

(08:39):
one of Rostein's first questions to Mark Pope was about
being a head coach in today's climate.

Speaker 3 (08:47):
In some ways, the path forward continues to get murkier
and murkier, And so I think where we are is
I think we're getting bolder and boulder as we push forward.
You see, you see all these changes. It's just this
field that's ripe full of opportunity, and we're trying to
seize on it every single moment.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
What is it like to be a head coach in
this climate?

Speaker 3 (09:09):
It is there, it is I love it actually because
it tests you in every way. It challenges you every way.

Speaker 4 (09:17):
Uh you know, you're you're.

Speaker 3 (09:20):
Taking in data and information at such an amazing clip
and you have to model so many different possible scenarios.
You know, as we as we kind of see you're
waiting on this settlement to kind of get some verdict
on the settlement, you could see the trajectory of college
athletics and college basketball going in a dozen different directions.
You kind of got to model out all of those

(09:43):
in scenarios that fit your program in your university. And
so the challenge involved in that is is never ending.
And and it's like I said, it's full of opportunity.

Speaker 1 (09:54):
Now as head coaches go, Mark Pope is on the
younger side, of course, the same profession that has seen
guys like Jay Wright and Nick Saban, guys who have
won their championships, done their work. They've stepped away Roy Williams,
who again had had a great career and a little
bit older than Mark Pope. But Mark excited about the

(10:15):
opportunities first of all to be a Kentucky secondly, to
take advantage of information, the data he likes and build
a team. He's got a good recruiting class coming in,
he's got a good portal group coming in, and he's
got talented second year guys. You should listen to the
podcast to get the full rundown on what he has

(10:37):
to say about the guys coming back, Brandon Garrison and
take O Way, Trent Noah. But he is excited, and
it's to me it's an interesting reason he's so excited
about his second year guys.

Speaker 3 (10:51):
Well, like you said, I think it's a key to
being success and there's nothing like getting older with your
own guys.

Speaker 4 (10:58):
Right.

Speaker 3 (10:58):
And the second thing is, my guys traditionally, my guy's
second year take a massive leap because you know, we're
such a rebased offense and in parts defense, where our
guys are the deciders on the floor, they're not looking
over at me. We coach them to be capable of
making decisions on the court, so they spend very little

(11:21):
time looking over me. We coach them to coach each
other and communicate with each other. And so with a
year under your belt, now now you're coming in not
to learn the game or do the game, but you
come in actually starting to play the game and trick
up the game and like use all these actions and
manipulate them in creative ways, and that's where the game

(11:44):
gets incredibly fun. So these second year guys are going
to be really key.

Speaker 1 (11:48):
For us, especially if he gets oh way back. I
suspect he will, and as Mark said, will take away.
There's a pretty good chance he'll be the preseason s
Player of the Year coming back. But he's going to
find out from the league at the very least what
he needs to do to improve his game, get himself

(12:08):
ready for the draft. And again, look at Antonio Reeves.
Look what it did for him. He came back almost
like a different player, building on what he could do
well and then getting better. Improved his handle, improved his defense,
improved his ability to drive and score instead of just
standing out there shooting three pointers. Oh he could do

(12:29):
the same thing. Ross team basically had Mark go down
the entire roster, and Pope was not shy about saying that, yeah,
this Kentucky team will be capable if things break right,
of winning a national championship.

Speaker 4 (12:49):
We can get it done.

Speaker 3 (12:49):
Now, there's a lot of teams that can get it done.
But if we do this right with the right guys,
you know, we can get this done. And that's our job.
That's what we're supposed to do. That's the standard here
and nothing like this is acceptable.

Speaker 5 (13:01):
But in terms of the rotation, how many guys do
you think you're gonna be able to play this?

Speaker 4 (13:03):
I'd like to play them all.

Speaker 3 (13:05):
Okay, so I have twelve guys right now, So I
have twelve guys that come help us. We're actually gonna
try and round out this roster. I'm actually scouring the
planet right now for guys that would fit in as
maybe a red shirt guy that would kill it in practice,
or maybe a last year of your career guy that
wants to come here and put on this one of

(13:26):
one jersey and be a part of this. So we
need to add a couple more pieces. But right now
we have our roster that that's gonna own the minace
on this floor, and we have all the pieces.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
I hope people set up and took notice when he
said I'd like to play them all, and you know
you can't do that, but you can to a degree.
But it was interesting to me how people got really
I don't know antsy about the way Pope subbed, and
there were times when he made mistakes and admitted to it,

(14:01):
but for the most part, we've talked about it here
on the show. He will not sub the way a
a lot of people expected him to and b the
way a lot of other coaches do, because as he
pointed out, and he got really specific, because more people
were actually calling and gently criticizing on his show the

(14:25):
way he subbed. But as he pointed out, we try
to keep people fresh. I'm paraphrasing, but he said, we
work so hard offensively, not just on defense, but offensively.
We don't want people tiring and breaking down at the

(14:45):
worst times. So they might say, you know what, this
is my comment, they might sub a little earlier than
they might want. Pope might not. They Pope does it
and risk, you know, missing a minute or t two
of productivity, so you've got people later in the game,
and he's going to keep doing that. So you will

(15:08):
not see him do what Caliperi and a lot of
other coaches do, and that's whittle it down to eight.
And again Calipari did that because John Wooden suggested it.
But Mark Pope coaches a different style than wouldn't and
caliperi than a lot of guys. So don't expect to

(15:31):
see a quote unquote substitution pattern beyond the very basics
for Mark quote people need to lose that terminology substitution pattern.
Why do you want that? Because if you can recognize
the pattern, so can the other guys. I say, you
sub the way the game demands, the way opposing personnel demands.

(15:58):
That's how you want to guy a sub. And if
you can't figure it out, that's because you haven't been
at practice. You haven't taken apart the game plan, you
haven't done the scout. We can all sit back and
see how it works. But if you're trying to coach,
you along and say to yourself, man, I put this
guy in right now. Remember Mark Pope is all about data.

(16:21):
I don't have it. You don't have it, and he's
collecting data while the game's going on. So just be
patient and if it doesn't work, well, ask him about
it after the game and he'll describe why. Wat to come.
You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider
here on six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the best

(16:41):
of the Big Blue insider Dick Gabriel with you off
having surgery to remove some skin cancer, third time in
six months. I'll discovered through routine checkups. Please have yourself checked.
And now I'm more of the best of the big
Blue Insiders. Here's part of a show we take on
the Monday after the Kentucky Derby, our horses and more

(17:02):
from head coach Mark Pope. I will tell you I
came out ahead slightly on the weekend. I did not
hit any of the big tickets I had bet on
the Derby because I took journalism and by ASA they
ran two three. I had sovereignty on my ticket, just
not in the right place and kicking myself, of course,

(17:23):
as I do every year that I don't win, when
I feel like maybe I missed something, and in this
situation it was this sovereignty. Had run on the Derby track,
on Churchill Down's track, and ordinarily that's one of my
favorite handicapping tools, but I was scared away by the
fact that it was a sloppy track. And right now
we don't know yet as we speak, as we record,

(17:47):
is Bill Mott and are the handlers the connections going
to run the horse into Preakness, and they always say
the same thing. We'll see how they come back, We'll
see what the horse tells us. Blah blah blah, which
is smart because I got to be healthy. But Mott
made the reference to the business side of things, and

(18:08):
it's all a business. I get that. But here's the
guy who's been in the game forever and is based
here Lexington, Louisville, and he is looking down the road
at races, down the road, at breeding things like that.
So there are too many horses that rush their way
through the Triple Crown races and it affects them for

(18:30):
the rest of their career, which means it affects their
breeding value. So I'm not going to be stunned if
Bill Mott doesn't run the horse and the Preakness, and
the owners don't run the horse and the Preakness. But
it's going to be unfortunate if they don't, because look,
I'm a racing fan. We need interest, we need fans,

(18:53):
we need eyeballs. It helps you got a young influencer,
perhaps bringing people to the sport. But there's nothing better
than a cold going for the Triple Crown. Go back
and look at the attendance figures at the Belmont. When
you got a horse going for the third leg compared

(19:14):
to one of the year that you don't, they'll get
a decent crowd. You got a triple crown potential. It's awesome.
So we'll keep track on that for you and if
you're a racing fan, you will too. And one of
the people working the Derby I didn't get a chance
to had a slight injury that prevented me from being there.

(19:36):
But a guy who've played a role that I have
played several times through the years for radio coverage is
our man, Billy Rutledge. And if you follow Billy, you
saw he posted an interview he called it my interview
with Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado. Well a full disclosure,

(19:58):
this happened during the day prior to the race, but
that's part of the job as the paddock reporter for
radio coverage key by whas and carried on WLAP and
again I've done it several times. Your job is to
go interview the writers right after a race that perhaps
they won or in which they participated, but if they

(20:22):
didn't win in their derby, jock, you get a chance
to talk to him a little bit about strategy, and
Billy had a chance early in the day to catch
up with Junior Ralvarado and ask him a little bit
about what he expected from W one fifty one.

Speaker 6 (20:37):
You know, I'm very confident with him, you know, I
think we're expecting a very good race out of him.
You know, he's been training very well here. I think,
you know, we never had to do too much with
him before, so I think coming into the derby, that
was our goal, you know, kind of like make sure
we have enough course going into the derby. And I think,
you know, we just did that, and hopefully, you know,

(20:58):
he shows me who escaped. I think he's going to
be very tough to give it.

Speaker 1 (21:02):
And he was right, Junior Alvarado talking to Billy Rutledge
a couple of and he was right, Junior Ralvarado talking
to Billy rutleds two or three hours prior to the
Kentucky Derby that Alverado won with a great ride on sovereignty.
So that was the biggest news over the weekend. If
you're a racing fan, casual or otherwise, if you're simply

(21:24):
not interested in and that's all well and good. There
is news about Mark Pope's roster. Rhys Potter, seven to
one centers, spent the last couple of years at Miami
of Ohio has decided to come through the portal and
join the Wildcats. Played in fifty six games over the
last couple of seasons for the RedHawks. Came off the
bench six and a half points, three and a half rebounds.

(21:46):
Pope kind of talked about this when he talked to
John Rostein. Plus, it's official now about the big man
coming in from Croatia. We've known about it for a
little while, but UK couldn't say anything about it until
he signed. And now. Andrea Yeleovich, one of the top
prospects coming out of Europe, is a Kentucky Wildcat. He

(22:07):
signed earlier today, or at least they got his paperwork.
Six' eleven eleven points a, game seven and a half
rebounds in The Adriatic league For mega Super, bet and
they also list him as one and a half a
sis per. Game he's gonna have to go something to
be a passer as effective As Amari, williams, who by the,

(22:30):
way was invited to THE G league. Camp So mari's
got a chance to play for pay in this. Country
he could play overseas right, now but he's better off
getting a shot at THE G, league maybe working a
two way with AN nba team Like sheboeh, has Although
i'm still amazed posting the numbers he has posted That

(22:53):
Oscar shebey has not yet locked down a full time
job in the. League maybe he, will but, Anyhow yellovich
will be a key From, Zagreb. Croatia it's spent the
last two years in The Adriatic league And pope obviously
high on. Him but as he Told John rostein last,

(23:15):
week he's hired a lot of. Guys and the comment
that intrigued me the most was When rostein Asked pope
About Denzel. Aberdeen and this is one of the transfers
that piqued my, interest maybe more than Any here's a
guy who was playing good minutes At florida ever nearly

(23:36):
eight points a, game and you'd think was going to
play more this coming, year and they just won a national.
Title yet he's transferred To. Kentucky And rostein Asked pope
about studying and evaluating video prior to their zoom, conversation.

Speaker 4 (23:57):
That there was no.

Speaker 3 (23:57):
Evaluation evaluation came in the two weeks that we were
trying to do like Background prepp and then prep for
our game Against, florida which was it was the first
game of THE sec, season and SO i had some
familiar with their. Team but AS i dug more and
more to the, Film i'm, like this cat coming off
the bench is terrifying to, me and he's certainly proved

(24:20):
it throughout the course of the. Season he is, just you,
know the fun part of the research for us was
actually getting to know him as a. Person he's, special, special.

Speaker 5 (24:30):
Special.

Speaker 3 (24:31):
Uh you, know he's got a great joy about. Him
he's got a passion and. Commitment he is determined to
continue his journey towards becoming a great basketball. Player he's
proven with what he did in this four guard rotation
At florida that he is a team first guy and

(24:52):
he's gonna have a you, know it's hard to have
a breakout season after you just won a national, championship
but he's gonna have a big time breakout.

Speaker 1 (24:59):
Season and it could be a matter of the fit
In Mark pope's. Offense. Whatever clearly the kid has studied
The kentucky roster and sees a better opportunity In. Lexingon,
so LIKE i, SAID i think yellowch is gonna be.
FASCINATING i Think aberdeen is as. Well while we're talking
To kentucky, roster you know by, Now Travis perry has

(25:22):
a new. Home he's playing an old Miss that surprises
me a little. BIT i don't know anything about their
roster and what they need right, now but just thinking
back to the way they played last year and, again
if it's a new roster and a new style of,
play maybe if it's perfectly For Chris. Beard but that's another.

(25:44):
Key he'll be playing for a, really really good coach
In Chris, beard so good luck to, him good. Opportunity
one other basketball, Notes michail MacLean you know now has
signed a contract. Extension Ben roberts reported over the weekend
is one year deal was worth one hundred and fifty

(26:05):
grand plus performance. Bonuses now to your extension worth four
hundred grand this coming year and four to twenty five next.
Year nice work if you can get. It But Mark
pope believes this guy is a star in the. Making
one other roster, note this one about. FOOTBALL U case

(26:25):
picked up another tight, End Elijah, brown technically comes FROM
Ucf Central, florida never played, there entered the portal In,
december signed In, january but now is A Kentucky. Wildcat
this is the best of The Big Blooming, sider coming
up next to Former wildcat talks about the Late Larry,

(26:48):
Johnson kentucky point guard who passed away a few weeks.
Ago here on The Big Blooming sider six THIRTY, Wlap welcome.
Back it is the best of The Big Blue insider
here on six THIRTY, wlap joined now by Former wildcat
well once a, While kat always a Wildcad Maryon, haskins
who played Alongside Larry johnson for a few years At,

(27:08):
kentucky a Fellow Western kentucky And marion AND i know
you hated to lose your, teammate didn't.

Speaker 4 (27:14):
YOU i really hated to lose my, teammate you know
when all this was. Happening you, KNOW i try to
be there as much AS i. Could larry AND i
we first met In, Sharon pennsylvania at The, Sharon Pennsylvania
High school tournaments there in nineteen the spring of nineteen seventy.

(27:37):
Three so from, There larry AND i we played at
That All Star game and we played in The Dayton
classic there In, Dayton, ohio and we became really good
friends just those two, tournaments and then it was time
for being recruited and we were just comparing our notes and,
whatnot and we ended up being ju To kentucky as

(28:02):
as our favorite.

Speaker 1 (28:03):
School when, so when you guys were in The All Star,
games you hadn't CHOSEN uk.

Speaker 4 (28:08):
Yet, no we had. Not, wow we had not told.
You we both was unsigned at that.

Speaker 1 (28:15):
Time so when you, talked what did you talk? About
not JUST uk but other schools that were probably looking
at both of? You but what what was that like
when you sat down and, Chatted.

Speaker 4 (28:27):
Well we was it was mostly about the, coaches it
appears to me and my, memory it was about the,
coaches the head coach and the assistant, coaches and it
was mostly about about those kinds of. Things, yeah you,
know we didn't know a lot because you, know back
then it was No. Internet there was not a lot
of information about the. Teams you. Know back, THEN i

(28:51):
remember In kentucky were only play of the layed cast
at eleven o'clock at, night and they was fortunate to
have bad and because at that Time Notice day was
the only SHOOT i remember that had a live. Game
so that was important to be able to see those.
Games but didn't know a lot about the teams and
stuff you, know just get unless you watch. Them you

(29:15):
just didn't know if it makes you was not. There
SO i, knew and we knew that we were pretty
baggone good, players you, know from playing in The All
star against comparag a lot of these. Kids they had
a whole lot of, credentials prep All americans and all this.
Stuff AND i mean we played right with him and

(29:35):
even played a little bit. BETTER i, thought, yeah oh.

Speaker 1 (29:39):
Yeah and when you Saw larry, play was it pretty
evident right away that you? KNOW i, mean it's such
a great defender and ball. HANDLER i guess that was
pretty evident when he was a high school.

Speaker 4 (29:50):
Senior let me tell, YOU i grew up on a small,
farm bill cows through hey cut, tobacco And larry probably
did some of the similar the. Things we were farm
strong young. Men and WHEN i met this guy AND
i tried to guard this guy AND i tried to
push him, AROUND i, said my, GOD i, said he

(30:12):
was not from, downtown some big. City this guy is
strong as than. OFF i, mean he was just as
tough As i've ever played, Again so, MAN i knew.
THEN i, said, man just to be a great.

Speaker 1 (30:26):
Teammate, well and because you were both like what football
coaches like to call country strong or farm. Strong, yes and,
yes so what you played? Basketball Joe hall appreciated, that no,
end didn't he.

Speaker 4 (30:41):
Exactly he, appreciated you, know we were mentally. Tough SO
i didn't weigh be one hundred and ninety two or three,
pounds then learned any weigh it was about one hundred
about the. Same but, man let me tell, you we
were strong and did not back down from. Nobody and
he was the same boy he. Was that's the stuff
of the other world and just a great.

Speaker 7 (31:02):
Person oh, yeah oh, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (31:06):
Well he had that million watch, smile didn't.

Speaker 4 (31:08):
He, yeah that's. Smile always was a happy. GUY i
never saw him in a sad, moment and even in
his last few, days you, know he was still. Happy
and so he couldn't do much, talking BUT i would
say some things that that happened in the, past and
he'd made them. Alive, man he make them. Alive.

Speaker 1 (31:30):
Yeah people don't realize how great a Player larry. Was
first of all in, college, right and then when he
went on To, japan played a year in THE, nba
but went on To, japan and he was almost a
legend over, there wasn't.

Speaker 4 (31:44):
He oh, YEAH i See lane played there at LEAST
i want to think fifteen. Years, yeah about fifteen. YEARS i.
THINK i think they're In japan and you, know you've
done a great job there and well not because you
know when he got. Drafted uh he played for a,

(32:05):
season a few seasons in THE. Nba, yeah, yeah oh,
yeah and uh we still were made, friends you, KNOW
i mean was talking about going overseas to, play and
that was an interesting. Conversation did you ever go? Overseas,
NO i didn't. Go larry got invited to go To
italy And larry did a packing seal says that IF i,

(32:29):
GO i got a Brain. Marinhattan, yeah and they said
he can, come but we're not gonna pay its way
until they make the. Team, well you know in nineteen seventy,
seven you, know seven Eight earlin until it was a
lot of, money, Buddy and IF i got, THERE i Feel.
LARRY i SUPPOSE i same my ankle the first. Day,

(32:51):
yeah you, know SO i didn't have to, go you,
know but it was it was a lot of.

Speaker 1 (32:58):
Fun oh, yeah you, KNOW i tell people, this and
again not a knock On Kyle macy or anybody, else
but that's seventy. Seventeam But, larry at the, point that
team just destroyed. People seventy eight. TEAM i always taking
a toy with teams before they put them away because
they knew how good they. Were, man that seventy seven,

(33:20):
TEAM i always say it was like a kid with
a new toy and just absolutely shredded. Teams and you,
know just some tough luck is why it ended up
in The East regional and not playing at home in
Rep arena in The. Midiast Otherwise joe b has another, title, Right.

Speaker 4 (33:37):
Hey we should have had the YEARS i played three
out of four? Years, yeah easily? Easily COULD i have
had three out of? Four you know that? TEAM i
mean even the guys on the seventy eighteen they would
say the same thing the seventy, seventeen what's much? Deeper?
Deeper and well we had a you, know we had

(34:00):
a start, there a chartered, There Joe biden and we
were just Like bury the. Team But i'll tell you
something That john was after he retired that, year he
came back and he watched us practice there in, Uh,
PENNSYLVANIA i think it was, there and, uh he came
over to us and were sitting down on the bench
and AND i remember he lived At Joe. Hall he, Said,

(34:23):
JOE i want to tell you something. Here he, said
you got a great. Team he, said but my best
team never won THE ncaa. Championship, no wait a, minute
where's the?

Speaker 8 (34:34):
Guy nine?

Speaker 4 (34:35):
Championships nine of? Me? RIGHT i had? Ten okay, Either
and he, said my best team never won the. Time
now that's. Deep that's really. Deep which?

Speaker 1 (34:50):
One which? One did he? Think was it seventy?

Speaker 4 (34:53):
Fourteen he never, Said, YEAH i was we. UNDERSTAND i was. Listening, yeah, yeah, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (35:04):
I've never heard that. Story. MAN i WISH i could Ask.

Speaker 4 (35:06):
JOE b that question that he was talking. There he
talked to the team about your winning and tradition and
stuff like. That and on silver sidebar. Conversation now he
was done with. Us he was kind of saying there
kit chatting With JOE.

Speaker 5 (35:20):
B and.

Speaker 4 (35:21):
Uh and of, course you, KNOW i was always kind
of comforted By Joe halt, anyway AND i hear him say,
that AND i was, like oh my. God, yeah and you,
know at that time it didn't mean a lot to,
Me but NOW i got a much more mature person
that was really, strong really, deep you, know and NOW
i think he could What goo should have been that

(35:42):
didn't win. It, now you, Know i'm sure he had
a lot of things that went into the, team not
just you, know win losses and stuff like. That. Problem but,
yeah it was. Great, yeah talking To mary And.

Speaker 1 (35:54):
Askins he was a basketball wildcat back in the seventies
and a teammate Of Larry. Johnson we lost this, week
And larry was a great, leader great. Defender we were
Talking Tom leach AND i were talking about that N I.
T larry had a great NI t when you guys
wanted up In New york in seventy, six and Course
reggie AND i talked About larry taking the ball and

(36:17):
going the length to the floor for a layup that
beat the buzzer Against. Providence what do you remember about?

Speaker 4 (36:24):
THAT i was just so. ELATED i don't remember all
of the. Details, yeah the, Day but that was a great.
TOURNAMENT i, mean the N I t that year was.
Fantastic we had some great, Wins we had some things to,
prove you, know to our hands that you, know we

(36:46):
had a tough, season but we can't have to you,
know fifty fifty that year or something like. That, Yeah
And Joe's hall looked at. Us he, Said i'm not
going to be a losing, coach and we're not. Team
and we made sure that we didn't do.

Speaker 1 (36:59):
That you were and ten at one, point and you
won five straight and you got the N I t
bid and then in the last you played in the
last regular season game In Memorial coliseum and, y'all damn it,
lusted but somehow got it into overtime and. Won The
Missisippi state kids run a radio, saying, hey, mom we Beat.

Speaker 4 (37:21):
Kentucky, man that history is unbelievable in.

Speaker 8 (37:27):
It i'm telling, HERE i thought we couldn't lose this.

Speaker 4 (37:30):
Game, here it's no. Way but, MAN i tell you we.
Didn't we didn't play. Well, no we game some kind of.

Speaker 1 (37:38):
Way, Yeah jack got hot down the. Stretch, YEAH i, Know.
Jack that happened a lot, though didn't. It jack get?
Hot that was also a period of. Time it WAS
i think The vanderbilt game And Reggie warfare was throwing
the ball in bounds and actually threw it into the
opposite basket didn't count as a, bucket but it was

(37:59):
quite a. Highlight uh.

Speaker 4 (38:01):
Highlight, yeah and you remember what With JOE b did at?
Halftime who started the second half instay? Game no debanded?

Speaker 1 (38:12):
Game oh, NO i don't.

Speaker 7 (38:13):
REMEMBER i think you look at the.

Speaker 4 (38:15):
RECORD i think it was all. Reserved. Guys, wow it
started the game AS i.

Speaker 1 (38:22):
Recall, Wow, marion it's always great talking to. You i'm
sorry we had to do it under such a sad,
conditions BUT i was glad to see you at the
reunion weekend earlier this. Year hope to see you again,
soon my. Friend thank you so.

Speaker 4 (38:36):
Much all, Right, DICK i frei you give me a.

Speaker 1 (38:39):
Call that'll do it for our number one coming, up
our number, two the best with The Big Blue insider
around six thirty W.

Speaker 4 (38:45):
I t.

Speaker 9 (39:15):
Tacking, Doing can anything? Anything Sat stack anything?

Speaker 1 (39:59):
Back welcome. BACK i remember two of the best of

(40:31):
The Big Blue, Sider Dick gabriel with. You i'm off
having surgery to remove skin cancer the third time in six,
months and all discovered through just routine. Checkups so AGAIN
i urge you have yourself checked and get it taken care.
Of here it is the best Of The Big. Insider
But i'm going to take you back now to a

(40:51):
story we told just a couple of days after The Kentucky,
derby when there was a little bit of what an
interesting twist to THE nba we see sports. Coverage they
had to make a late substitution to the guy who
was leading the, broadcast and it reminded me of a
moment in my, career such as it is that almost

(41:12):
led me to a great opportunity to work with one
of my all time favorite. Broadcasters it just didn't, happen
but that was running through my mind WHILE i was
watching NBC's Kentucky derby. Coverage here it is on the
best of The Big Blue. INSIDER i saw, this of
Course i'm Watching derby, coverage and if you were, too
you noticed, it or you may have not noticed, it

(41:34):
but it just kind of. Happened Mike turrico opened the
broadcast ON. Nbc it started off ON Usa network and
it was anchored by a Medfar, reid who's really, good
and then they turned it over TO. Nbc they basically,
said a, right our coverage is gonna shift over TO
nbc and you, know more coming. Up blah, blah. Blah

(41:56):
so There's tarico and they had just got started WHEN
i looked up and THERE'S i met Far red and
he was doing a little stand up piece FOR. Nbc
but then the next thing you, know he's. Back at
the anchor desk Was Randy moss And Jerry. BAILEY i
think are. Terrific they do a tremendous job covering the

(42:18):
derby those two, guys and so does For, reed And
tarico's done a nice. JOB i sure Wish Tom hammond
was still on the, broadcast But torico does a nice.
Job but the next thing you, know he's, gone and
For reed had taken, over and eventually he got the
opportunity to, Say mike's not feeling, well So i'll be

(42:39):
here for a little. While and in fact he finished the,
day AS i, recall and he spent four straight hours
handling the coverage and did a great. Job and he
talked about it later on to a media. Outlet he
said he got done with the coverage ON usa at

(43:01):
two point, thirty took off his, mic took out his ear.
Piece he says he was leaving the little studio there he,
SAID i bumped Into mike And tariico stopped him and
he could tell that something was wrong Forar reid could he,
said he didn't look quite the. Same he, SAID i
think his eyes were watering a little, bit and he

(43:23):
And tariko said to, Him i'm not feeling. Great you
might have to take over for, me And farid, said
that's a, shock Because mike is a. Machine So farid
said to, Himself, okay he's not feeling, well but there's
no Way mike's not going to be able to power through,
this which he tried for thirty to forty five, minutes

(43:47):
but Apparently tariico just took kiptaking turns for the worse and,
worse and at one point A freid at his ear
piece back in and about forty five minutes later they
got in his ear and said you got to come
back and host the, show which he did and was.
Terrific and that happens every once in a great, while

(44:10):
somebody has to step in for. Somebody AND i almost
had a situation like, that AND i bring it up
only because it's one of my great. REGRETS i was
working the twenty SEVEN ncaa. TOURNAMENT i think the baseball
team was out of town that weekend and by, NOW

(44:31):
i had wrapped up the YEARS i had worked for
THE Nca radio. Network But i'm In, Rapperina and that
was the tournament Where Billy GILLESPIE'S a AND m team
emerged and Beat, louisville and people mistakenly thought That Mitch
barnard was courtside Watching billy Beat. Louisville that's when he
decided to hire. Him, No mitch was In chicago With.

(44:54):
Kentucky but that win and that weekend For Billy gillespie
cemented him him as the hottest coach In. America BUT i.
Digress across the way is a guy Named Dave simms
who's now the radio voice of The New York. Yankees
for many many, years he was the voice of The Seattle.
Mariners lives In New, york commuted To. Seattle you, know

(45:18):
he had a place out there and he. Stay he
is one of my all time favorite. BROADCASTERS i have
never met the, man but he's. TREMENDOUS i just love his.
Work so he's over there and he's working radio In
Say radio With Dave. Gavitt And i'd worked With dave
as a producer for En Say. Radio but the next
THING i, Know gavitt's, gone AND i come to find

(45:41):
out That, gavitt Like, turrico had been under the, weather
the Former providence, coach the former head of The Big.
East he had had to, Leave he had had to
go and get medical, help and he ended up being
really sick after that. WEEKEND i don't know if he
ever worked again for THE Ncaa radio.

Speaker 7 (45:59):
Network but.

Speaker 1 (46:01):
Little DID i know that one of the producers for
the Nca radio network who also worked with us on
THE uk, Network Mike, dodson he was up In New,
york but he had a feeling THAT i was going
to be In. Rupperena so he starts calling me or
trying to call, me to tell me to walk across
the court and sit down and do the games With Dave,

(46:25):
gavitt at least doing them that, day BECAUSE i mean
it was literally last. Minute, WELL i had a cell
phone back, then company. PHONE i was working AT. Img
i'm not going to say the, brand but it's not
What i've got, now and it was a piece of,
junk and he might kept trying to call me and

(46:47):
could not get through to. ME i had my phone
right in front of, me could not get Into. Rupperena
so many, people so many people on their phones In,
rupperena couldn't text, me couldn't get anything through to, me
and tell me to walk across and sit down and
work with a GUY i had idolized for so. LONG

(47:10):
i get somebody else to do. IT i think the
next day they Had Kyle macy come in and work With.
Dave but that's the first THING i thought of WHEN
i heard and sell the rest of the story on
NBC's coverage that Far reid had sat down and spent
so much time subbing From Mike tariko and did a terrific.

(47:31):
Job of, course he already had complete command of the.
MATERIAL i would have been flying by the seat of
my pants broadcasting two, games doing the color for crying out.
Loud but REALLY i just would have been filling, in
trying to stay out of the way of the Great Dave.
Simms and now he is the radio. Voice it's a
job he's always, wanted he, said being the radio voice

(47:53):
of The New York. Yankees So aaron gershad can enjoy
him if he pulls him up, online And i'm Sure
i've Got i've got to look around and see there
are other stories like that where people step in at
the last. Minute And i'm not SAYING i would have
done a great, job but it would have been a
thrill for. ME i can tell you. That AND i
wouldn't tell them, this BUT i would have done it for.

(48:15):
Free what to. Come you're listening to the best of
The Big Blu insider here on six THIRTY. Wlap welcome
back to The big Bluon. Sider Dick gabriel with. You
it's the best of The Big Blue. Insider As i'm
having once again surgery to remove some skin cancer and
another clee to you get yourself checked. Out now on
to the best of The big Blo insider joining us

(48:37):
says he does Every wednesday on our celebrity hotline is
The Unforgettable. Guard Sean, woods now the head coach At Scott.
County but now another, dude he added to the, resume
and you were part Of La familia last Year sean
as an assistant. Coach now you're the head. COACH i
guess this has got to be another exciting, assignment AM i?

Speaker 5 (48:57):
Right, well no doubt about. It any time you can
coach you, know, ANYONE i don't care if It's Pee Wee,
League Junior, Pro junior high or.

Speaker 4 (49:05):
Whatever.

Speaker 5 (49:07):
Uh you get an opportunity to coach young men and
and and and try to you, know achieve a common
goal and that's, excellent and trying to win as many
games or a championship as you possibly.

Speaker 1 (49:17):
Can bottom line is. Winning but this is an entirely
different type of, coaching.

Speaker 7 (49:22):
Isn't, it no?

Speaker 5 (49:24):
Doubt you, KNOW i had an opportunity to be the
head coach last year AND i didn't know IF i.
Could SO i told, twenty you, know try to get someone,
else and he got a good one in And Tyler,
ulis who did a great. Job AND i was there with,
him AND i realized.

Speaker 4 (49:38):
THAT i can't coach.

Speaker 5 (49:39):
Pros you, Know i've never coached pros, before but it's
coach in the same, way you, know especially guys that
know how to. Play you, know it's easier coaching pros
because you, know all you got to do is give
him an assignment and they'll go out and do. It
and the good thing about this situation coaching THE tvt
deal and with lot famil is these, guys we made
it a pride.

Speaker 8 (49:59):
Deal, yeah you, know anytime you put on.

Speaker 5 (50:01):
That jersey that Says kentucky or Represent. Kentucky you, know
it just moves through your soul and it creates another
type of. Competitor and that's the reason why we have.
Success you, know If Nate sestina don't leave. Us you,
KNOW i loved our chances on winning that.

Speaker 1 (50:17):
Deal, YEAH i remember that you guys were rolling and
then you lost eight and you were just kind of
a different team when you call it, again everybody on
this roster either played in THE nba or overseas or.
Both AND i got to think, too whatever the, level
if you are a good, athlete in this case a basketball,

(50:38):
player and you want to, excel you will accept, coaching won't,
you no matter how high a level you've, Reached.

Speaker 4 (50:45):
No doubt about.

Speaker 5 (50:46):
It and the good thing about coaching these pros is
they know it. Already they've been coached at the highest,
level you, know and as long as they coming in
with the right frame of, mind the coaching is easy
because all we're doing is trying to strategize ways to
simplify and create ways for us to be successful on
the offensive end and then do, things you, know from
a defensive end, standpoint to give us a great chance to.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
Win, well you mentioned frame of, mind AND i remember
when twenty spoke to the media and he said when
he put out the message looking for players trying to
see he was willing to play and of course coach
like you. Guys you, know he basically, said in a,
paraphrasing this is not just something to get together and
break a sweat and have. FUN i, mean you, guys,
really as you, said you sort of rededicated, yourselves didn't.

Speaker 5 (51:31):
You we, did you, know we had to kind of,
come had to come To jesus meeting last. Year you,
know they kind of had that attitude at. First then
after about the second, day you, know we just told, him,
listen you, know you still Represent kentucky and you know
people still want to beat, us and you, know we
we're asking these fans to come out and support, us

(51:52):
and we got, to you, know put on a great
show because when we PLAYING rup or wherever we're playing,
at no matter what if you've been here five, years
been gone for six, years these the people here in
the state Of kentucky still expect you to. Win and
this is still you, know and we're playing for. Something
we're playing for a million, Dollars so that was the other.

Speaker 1 (52:10):
Character, Also it's more than the, money, though isn't.

Speaker 5 (52:14):
It, oh no doubt about it is the, pride you,
know still having That kentucky on your chest a little,
bit even though we call a lie for, me but
everyone knows we're the product OF uk.

Speaker 4 (52:24):
BASKETBALL i was really.

Speaker 1 (52:26):
PLEASED i GUESS i shouldn't have been. Surprised you probably
weren't that a lot of these guys were really moved
and touched by the fan. Response and as you, said
a lot of these guys have been gone far far,
AWAY i, mean out of, sight out of mind for several.
Years but when they came, back it's like they'd never been,
gone you. Know AND i guess you kind of saw that.

(52:47):
Coming BUT i got a kick out of.

Speaker 5 (52:49):
That, well what we had to do was and it
was you, know everything happens for a. Reason and you,
know as an assistant, coach not only DID i help with,
coach and you, KNOW i really had, to you, know
teach these guys how significant they are To. Kentucky you,
know most of those, guys and these guys that are
playing for us had only spent eight months in The

(53:12):
commonwealth because they were they were one and done for
the most, part so they didn't appreciate and know how
significant they were as far as the autograph, session you,
know they couldn't believe that so many people would come
back and want their. Autographs so after the, yeah it
was it was amazing because how can you get used
to anything when you're only here to play, basketball you

(53:34):
know What i'm, Saying and then you go into THE.
Nba this was just like a feeder system for, them
AND i had to really, emphasize you, know like after
the first, GAME i made everyone after the game go
back out out in the in the arena area and
sign every autograph to the last person.

Speaker 4 (53:50):
Left. Wow interesting because they, didn't.

Speaker 5 (53:54):
You, Know AND i told, THEM i, said, listen you're
not going to be more significant than any in any
other place in the. World, HERE i, said you, Know,
tyler you Is willie calistein you, Know taling The Phoenix.
Suns they never forgot about you, already you, Know Willi,
Klerstein Sacramento kings that forgot about you, already you, know
But kentucky never forgets.

Speaker 4 (54:14):
You that's, Right that's, right you. Know and even though
if you.

Speaker 5 (54:17):
Played six, months four years or, whatever you still wore that,
uniform and there's still a great appreciation for you in this,
place unlike any other place that you will live or
be at in your. Life and that was my that
was my call in last, year and.

Speaker 4 (54:32):
It's going to be my call in this year.

Speaker 1 (54:34):
Too that's a great, point, you, mate because in the
pros you're a. Commodity you know that some, people you,
know rise above. That but but ninety eight percent of the,
time you, know and people sign up for that right
as a pro you could. Stay if you stayed one
franchise for thirteen or fourteen, years that might be. Different
that doesn't happen, anymore does it?

Speaker 5 (54:56):
Now as you can see, that you, know the trade
is just like anything. Else you, know nobody's staying in one.

Speaker 4 (55:02):
Place and look at. It it's in college, now that's.

Speaker 1 (55:06):
True that's. True, Hey speaking of WHICH i know you
Noticed Boogie fland Leaves, caliperi dips his toe in THE nba,
waters then goes To. Florida and it can't be a
money thing because we know there's a bottomless pit of
chicken money and more In. Arkansas but he leaves the

(55:27):
guy he said no thanks To kentucky and Followed caliperry To,
arkansas got, hurt but came. Back they had a good.
Run but then he leaves For. Florida what do you
make of? That?

Speaker 5 (55:38):
Typical?

Speaker 4 (55:39):
Typical you, know.

Speaker 5 (55:42):
There's just no loyalty in college athletics, anymore you. Know
and you could, tell just like anywhere, else he didn't
care About, arkassos That arkassos in his.

Speaker 4 (55:52):
Chest no one. Does, yeah you.

Speaker 5 (55:55):
Know and last, year because it was the first, year you,
know no one can leave, after you, know because they all.
Stayed but you're gonna see something leaving already. Here you,
know you had a freshman already, Leave you had a
in State kentucky kid already. Leaves it's gonna. Be it's gonna,
be you know What i'm. Saying and you can't not,
coaches you can't not anything that is the layer of

(56:17):
the land. Now and that's the way these kids and
their parents. Think they're always looking for the next. Fix
they don't want the. Truth they want people to tell
them how good they. Are and they're thinking that the
grass is green on the other, side where there's money, playing,
coaching so on and so. Forth you, know there's just
no stay power, anywhere And that's a prime example because

(56:38):
cal actually we everyone, thought if you're a basketball, person
That arkansas didn't hit their stride Until Bulley flynn actually got.

Speaker 1 (56:45):
Hurt exactly want to. Come you're listening to the best
of The Big Blue sider here on six THIRTY Wlap welcome.
Back it is the best of The Big Blue insider
here on six thirty W. Lap welcome back to The
Big Blue. Side did you? Honest? Now on our celebrity
highline is the guy we have chatted with many. Times
you hear him On Sunday Morning Sports, Talk Anthony, white

(57:07):
the FORMER uk running back who was one of the
co host alone With Larry vott In cast of. Hundreds
it seems On Sunday Morning sports, like how are you.

Speaker 8 (57:15):
And B i'm doing pretty, good doing really.

Speaker 1 (57:18):
Good let's talk a little bit about uh for, well
first of, all The Kentucky, derby did you have the?

Speaker 7 (57:24):
WINNER i did not have the?

Speaker 8 (57:27):
WINNER i.

Speaker 4 (57:27):
WAS i guess is kind OF i guess this kind
of Controversy now That Bob baffert's, BACK i was looking
at some of his, horses And Larry vaught's close friend
of mine was going with with.

Speaker 8 (57:39):
Journalism SO i saw that we had a chance, there
but mine was.

Speaker 7 (57:45):
The one who was a gold chunk of, Gold, yeah
chunk of, gold didn't have didn't didn't stand the chance,
Man but that WAS i just saw the name sounded,
Prey SO i went With dad at. Work Uh, NO
i didn't do, good BUT i do know AND i do.
NOT i think it's always tough to depict A derby.
Horse my birthday Is may, first is Always derby. Weekend

(58:06):
uh WHENEVER i celebrated is Usually.

Speaker 4 (58:09):
Derby it's always every. Weekend. Yeah, well when it rains
the whole day and then it typically clears up right
right before the.

Speaker 1 (58:15):
Race. Yep i've covered so Many derbys AND i can
remember that. Happening it seems like it could pour all
day and then for some reate well we know why
the racing gods allowed things to clear. Up but, uh,
YEAH i had. Journalism he was one of my two key.
Horses the horses are in two. Three for the, HORSES
i keeped all my exotics on for the most. Part

(58:37):
had a couple of savers that hit the. Board but,
YEAH i mean, sovereignty you. Know HE i said earlier
he liked the track he had won on the track.
Before but the fact that it was an off track
is sloppy track and it scared me. Off but, uh,
MAN i love the, derby so you, KNOW i NEVER
i never really. Complained and of course the derby always

(58:57):
comes not long after spring. Practice, Rap so did you
enjoy spring practice when you were? Playing?

Speaker 4 (59:05):
Uh, well you KNOW i had two different, coaches SO
i can give you two different. Answers all, Right Under Bill,
curry you know The Bill curry, man we were, Full
we were full.

Speaker 8 (59:15):
Pass we were rocking.

Speaker 4 (59:16):
Every Day monday Through, Thursday, friday do a little prep
and then you, know then.

Speaker 8 (59:23):
The game was like a real.

Speaker 5 (59:24):
Game.

Speaker 4 (59:24):
Man we're rocking and. Socking the only person that couldn't
get hit is Probably Billy Jack hapkins my time there
And Tim, couch he was only there in one. Year
Under curry will have, mommy, man it was so, fun.
Man you, know throughout the week we were in shorts
and and, stuff and we knew we were gonna put
up put up a show for the, fans put up
forty or fifty points because our office was was pretty.

(59:46):
Unique so und to have money was fun because it
was an opportunity for the fans to see us fly
around and do great. Things but, nah but in my first, years,
man under that speed option Under Bill, Curry, man it, was, man.

Speaker 7 (01:00:00):
It was it was like a game every, day even in.

Speaker 4 (01:00:03):
Practice and the game was a.

Speaker 8 (01:00:04):
Game, yes, yeah during the season during.

Speaker 1 (01:00:07):
The you, KNOW i get. THAT i get. That and
the during the season we were allowed to come to
practice back, THEN i get. That And mummy, went like
you said, that it was almost past skelly and and
thud when it came to defense and all that.

Speaker 4 (01:00:20):
Stuff, yeah, no and and the so so if we,
went if we went full to the ground in the record,
season spring was exact same. Thing they wanted to know
who was gonna be ready in the. Fall and, yeah,
man we we. Banged, yeah we banged around the whole. Frame.

Speaker 1 (01:00:36):
Man, well it was probably just as well then that
you went from the heavy hitting Under curry to the
lighter stuff Under. Mummy imagine if you'd flipped the script
and you've been doing The mummy stuff and then you
went to the heavy, hitting it would have been tougher to.

Speaker 4 (01:00:51):
Take. Right if you ever talked to Uh Tony franklin
who was running. Back, yeah remember he just got he
just signed somewhere last. Year he was the one who
said when he got, there him and how money them came.

Speaker 8 (01:01:04):
In he, SAID i was.

Speaker 4 (01:01:05):
Kind of small, MAN i was about one hundred and
eighty five. Pounds and he was, like, MAN i never
understood how they beat you all up on all throughout
the week and expect you to perform On. Saturday and that's,
why you, know on the mommy and especially as a running,
Back Tony franklin was, like, MAN i want you to
be fresh ON i want you to be fresh as
possible On. Saturday long as you know your. Assignment you,
KNOW i got faith and you're gonna do what you're gonna.
Do but there ain't no sense in beating you up

(01:01:26):
flitz sticks up OF u nine on, seven which is
inside drill like it's a tough running and all. That
just now just run, around be fresh man with thuds
you here and there and make sure you know what you're.
Doing but now just being Fresh and that really made
me feel like that's why when you asked me, THAT
i got a different answer because going to the, season,
hey this. Hurts that hurts as opposed to going in there, like, shoot,

(01:01:50):
MAN i ain't been hit. YET i wanna see how
LONG i can go through the season without being. HIT
i hear. That.

Speaker 1 (01:01:56):
Well on the one, hand coaches you like to say
old school coaches like to, say you, know you play
the way you. Practice but then you know what's interesting
Is mummy was was criticized after he, left or really
during his last season because the defense was so. Bad
and we've talked about that. Before that Was Mike. Major,
honestly just what he was doing nobody could figure, out

(01:02:18):
and you end up getting fired or resigning under. Pressure
but people criticize the fact that you guys use THE thud,
policy which is hip it don't take to the. Ground
and When guimo took, over who was kind of the
Anti mummy in a lot of, ways he IMMEDIATELY i
think you might have been gone by. Then he immediately

(01:02:40):
said or had his team go to thud because he, Said,
anthony if we take people to the, ground injuries will
pile up and we're going to run out of. Players
so it made, sense didn't.

Speaker 6 (01:02:51):
It?

Speaker 8 (01:02:52):
Oh absolutely.

Speaker 4 (01:02:53):
NO i wasn't there Under more's BUT i can pretty
much assure that you, know he ran THE nfl type,
practice not by THE. Nfa get your spots really, quick make,
contact so we know that you can get a good
fit and that was and that was. It BUT i
will tell you this, though if you talk to you,
know Justin nettecker and some of those, guys maybe Not marlon,
McCree they did feel like not getting all that that

(01:03:16):
tackling and all that hurt them On saturdays because when
they got a position that, thud that did not assimulate
a game time.

Speaker 8 (01:03:24):
SITUATION i think they felt.

Speaker 4 (01:03:26):
Like you, know not not having that. OPPORTUNITY i could see.

Speaker 1 (01:03:29):
That but here's the other, Thing, anthony is it under
Major how often were they in the right place at
the right.

Speaker 7 (01:03:36):
Time it was so.

Speaker 8 (01:03:37):
Rare, yeah they call we call that.

Speaker 4 (01:03:41):
Defense they called that defense ninety nine point. Nine so
if they if they blitched ninety nine point nine percent
of the. Time and so if you get, there which
is tough to do a lot of, times you may
with which you leave everybody on the island one on.
One and at this, level nobody's tackling anybody one on.
ONE i, MEAN i don't care how good of a
tackle you. ARE i don't think you're gonna tackle me

(01:04:01):
one on. One and if you, DO i don't deserve
to be a skilled player in this. Conference but, yeah
that WAS i think, he like you, said he put
people in terrible position we wanted were in.

Speaker 1 (01:04:10):
Position, well fortunately those days are. Gone coming out of the.
Spring what were some of the reports you? GOT i
don't know if you've got a chance to get over
there at. All you are a working, Man but how
do you feel about the way things are going right?
Now as you know?

Speaker 4 (01:04:26):
It, WELL i don't really want, to, MAN i ain't
really want to have this. CONVERSATION i tell you. That,
yeah you kind of always questioned me off air on
air about you, know THE i guess the CONFIDENCE i
had in our.

Speaker 8 (01:04:40):
SQUAD i tell you this, game it ain't there this.

Speaker 4 (01:04:43):
Year, okay it ain't there this year for me AND.
I but the one THING i do feel is that
we're back to Old Mark stoops. Football we're back to blue.
Collars we don't HAVE i don't think we got the
players running the asylum. ANYMORE i don't think players are
calling the. Shots so you, know you hear a lot
of new names around on our squad now and that

(01:05:04):
doesn't sit either way with. Me that's WHY i really
don't have an answer for. YOU i, mean they have
an all new offensive. Line these guys haven't jailed. YET
i think the running back, room which probably for the
past six or seven years has been pretty. Strong we
can plug and. Play their quarterback position for, again for
about the four out of the last five years is

(01:05:24):
a question on you know who we have a, quarterback
brand new. Guy you, know they're, talented there have a
lot of experience at that. Position, so LIKE i said
With Kyle, zada but everything starts WITH i was talking
to AN espn reporter and they thought that the question
With kentucky is what's going on up? Front so the

(01:05:46):
quarterback may look, average may look extremely average because out
of may look extremely average if he doesn't have any
blocking up, front and that's where the team is gonna.
Go the receiving room is gonna suffer from that running.
Back they probably to do decent if the running but
but that offensive line, jails THEN i you, KNOW i
think we got a lot of. Excitement so, uh and

(01:06:09):
that's where all the questions were last. Year the quarterback
roll now in the office line, room AND i think
THEY'RE i think they're still there right.

Speaker 1 (01:06:15):
Now so it's fair to say it's too soon to.
Tell what do you? Think because you're you're you're a
lot more skeptic having played this. Game you're a lot
more skeptical than the average, fan aren't.

Speaker 4 (01:06:25):
You oh, Yeah i'm absolutely. Skeptical LIKE i, said even
for at the quarterback. POSITION i thought a lot of
things were going. ON i know our defensive front will be.
Well our defensive, BACKFIELD i think they'll they'll be able
to hold their own lineback and. Cores we got a
lot of new faces. There we had a lot of,
attrition you, know due to The transform, portal uh and

(01:06:47):
stuff like, this and And i'm Mad white is great
to hide this. Weaknesses so if we do have weaknesses on,
DEFENSE i Think Brad white can hide. Them, well you,
know we can play in this. Conference but, yeah But
I'm i'm. RESERVED i got my. Position that's. Fine if
lots of you what those guys can do up, FRONT.

Speaker 1 (01:07:02):
I don't blame. You we're talking With Anthony, white Former
kentucky running. Back he as a co host Of Sunday
Morning Sports Talk what To. Come you're listening to the
best of The big Blueing sider here on six THIRTY
Wlap welcome. Back it is the best of The Big
Blue insider here on six THIRTY. Wlap welcome back With
chatting With Anthony. White he is the co host Of

(01:07:23):
Sunday Morning Sports talk here right here on six THIRTY,
Wlap and just before the, BREAK. A b was telling
us about how skeptically he is right, now and you
have earned that right obviously because of the way things
have gone over the last few. YEARS i want to
talk to you though about the old line because looking
back on how things have been going to last three,
seasons AND i think we've all tried to see things

(01:07:47):
that weren't, there at least some of us. HAVE i
don't put you in that, group because you're a harder
sell on a lot of this, stuff having played both
here and at the pro. Level BUT i think we
were all expecting too much from that offensive. Line maybe,
not you, know the year After Will levis, left BUT
i think we were overly. Optimistic AND i think when

(01:08:09):
you get right down to a lot of the problems
this team has had, now not pointing fingers that any
one person in, particular it just wasn't the right. MIX
i did talk To, fyi one of the staffers during spring,
break and he was not THE o line, coach but
he was. Impressed anthony with the athleticism on this. Group
and to your point you talked about kind of getting

(01:08:32):
back to That Mark stoop's style of. Play this guy
said he believes that the old line could start looking
again like A john Schlarman o, line you know WHAT i, Mean.

Speaker 4 (01:08:42):
And that would be and that would be the best
thing that can happen for. Us and when we line
up Against, toledo IF i could see that or just
a finless of AND i know That toledo shouldn't put
up as much of a fight as THE sec is
gonna put, up but IF i could see, that that will.

Speaker 8 (01:08:55):
HELP i was talking To Big. Dog we talked To Big.

Speaker 4 (01:08:58):
Dog On sunday morning AND i asked him about. UH
i asked him about sorry offense line and the center
just just got draft.

Speaker 8 (01:09:11):
Firs they got got.

Speaker 4 (01:09:12):
Signed to The, texans and he said that wo, Yeah
Eli Eli cox being signed and he thought That, yenser you,
know knew What eli had had to take a risk on.
Him elis doing a good job The, TEXAS i. ASKED
i asked him this completely, honest and he's always been

(01:09:34):
honest with. ME i, Said so we got rid Of,
genser who was at The Houston, texans who's the better
who ended up better on the. Deal so we Fired
genser and we brought back the old offensive line And
wolford that was At. Alabama and besides the panel that
was On sunday, morning they thought that maybe The texans

(01:09:55):
got the better end of the. Deal so that really
didn't make any sense to. Me that really didn't make
any sense to. Me so when you ask me, WHO i,
uh you asked me about WHO i think the office
line is GONNA i think if he gets back to,
resembling if he gets that the Resemblance, SLARMAN i think
you have a chance Because slarmer would play eight or

(01:10:17):
nine office. Lineans every year you have two or three
linemen who have some, experience and then every year you
just got continuity on the office. Line this year we
have all transferred. Lineman we GOT i Mean burton is
the only one that hasn't transferred. There we Got farmers
transfer in Bron, Pete, washchlager those, guys and all those
guys have never played. Before Maybe burton And farmer just
a tab. It and if they don't, jail we don't

(01:10:40):
know we're gonna get now they could completely. Jail they
could completely jail And wolford can have those guys rotating
in in the slarm and fashion where everybody's staying, continuity
nobody's getting, tired everybody has fresh, legs AND i think
that things can go. Well BUT i think you hit
the nail on the. HEAD i do think we got
to get back to the Old slarman. Way. Man we're
keeping these games, fresh you, know you, know having some

(01:11:01):
younger guys getting in their mixes up so the older
guy can be. Pressured, also it helps the continuity in the.
Future going to the portal every year to get off
his linean is not the way. Gave IF i tell,
you if a, team, well there's money involved, now but
if a team lets a good left tackle or a
great offense lineman, go you may not have been their

(01:11:21):
best offensive, lineman which means you could come here and
be our. Best but that means that we probably had
problems from the. Beginning SO i don't think it's a
bad thing that we hit the portal to get a
lot of players this, year BUT i think it leaves
a lot of. Uncertainty And i've been optimistic in the
past just BECAUSE i know How stukes is And stukes
will admit to you that he may have lost vision

(01:11:43):
a little. Bit let the, guys you, know run the
locker room a little, bit not be where they were
supposed to, be not put in the work they were
supposed to off off the. Field So i'm gonna. RESERVE
i really, Internally i'm probably more optimistic now BECAUSE i
know you've got guys who wants to, play who's gonna,
listen who's gonna be there to prove they want to
they want to wear the blue and.

Speaker 8 (01:12:02):
White But, Uh i'm confident teaser to put to put my,
Words so put my.

Speaker 1 (01:12:09):
WORDS i don't blame you because the proof's not been
in the pudding over the last few. Years we're talking
To Anthony, white Former kentucky running back down the coast
Of Sunday morning Sports. Talk. Uh you talked about how
bringing in old linemen consistently through the portal is not
necessarily a great recipe for, success and clearly you need
to develop that chemistry that that comes with a great old.

(01:12:33):
Line harder to do these days the way players are moving.
Around BUT i also have a, Question, anthony do you
Think kentucky is ever going to be? Able maybe they
can do this With Cutter. Bowley if not this, year next,
year can they break the cycle of having to go
to the portal almost every year every other year for
a starting, quarterback not just A, qb but a starter

(01:12:55):
because this cycle began When Drew barker went down injured
during the YEAR i think it was during the twenty sixteen,
season you, know crying at allat that was eight years.
Ago And Stephen johnson did a remarkable. Job Terry wilson came,
in he held a job for a, while longer than.
Most but when can they just start developing their own qbs,

(01:13:15):
again you know WHAT i?

Speaker 8 (01:13:15):
Mean AND i think you're absolutely right on that as.

Speaker 4 (01:13:19):
WELL i don't think you. Can for you to make
and this is not a knock On stoops at. All
to make nine almost ten million dollars a, year the
coach a football team and the head of the snake
is uncertain every. Year nobody hires a NEW ceo every.
Year nobody hires a general manager every year at a successful.
Business so the fact that you know you're not developing these,

(01:13:40):
guys bringing them through the, rank and then have somebody
you know in the corridor, waiting you, know to take
over the next. Year are you ever barring injury or
just you, know something happens in an off, season which
happens a couple of, times like right before the season
starts in the, summer somebody goes.

Speaker 7 (01:13:56):
Down you maybe it hit the.

Speaker 4 (01:13:58):
Portal but living in the, Portal, man that got to
be a scary. Thing it ain't scary for me or
you because that's a little MONEY i. Made, man they
can find Another Anthony White.

Speaker 7 (01:14:06):
Indy they to do my.

Speaker 4 (01:14:07):
Job but if you're a ten million dollar coach, man
you have to you have to be biting your fingernails
Like Lebron james knowing, That, MAN i got a new.
GUY i don't know how he's gonna jail with the.
SYSTEM i don't know how he's gonna jail with the
players the locker. Room and you do that every.

Speaker 8 (01:14:20):
Year that's.

Speaker 4 (01:14:21):
Scary now if you bring a you bring A Tim
couch in as a, freshman you get him beat up
in the. Swamp But Tim couch is still a dude to.
Practice he still can deliver the. Throws you bring how
money in now you sophomore year or are we doing
great junior? Year A heisman candidate because you knew what
you had the system. Fit he developing the, system got
better at the. System and when he, leaves what happens?

(01:14:42):
Next you Got Dusty. Bonner Dusty bonner knows the. System
he sat behind. Him here we go and you, so,
UH i think you have to know on the head
you might need To you don't need to be talking to.
Me you need to be sitting down talking To stoops
and you.

Speaker 8 (01:14:56):
Get him understand that and you.

Speaker 4 (01:14:57):
Develop you a sophomore, man you got three years to
be comfortable at, least, uh you, know be comfortable with
your paycheck coming in for another three.

Speaker 1 (01:15:05):
YEARS i know That stoopids would obviously much rather have
a quarterback who is. Well, again they thought they had
it And Drew. Barker he was going to be the.
Guy you, know he's say he's sad as a, freshman
played a little bit but got. Hurt but he was
supposed to be the guy for the next three, years
which enabled them to recruit in theory and develop depth

(01:15:28):
at that, position which as you, know is not easy
at THE qb.

Speaker 8 (01:15:31):
Spot, YEAH i.

Speaker 4 (01:15:35):
Don't want to throw anybody under the bus or you,
know throw, anyway because it's tough at that. Level, man
it is, tough and quarterback is probably the toughest position
because you have to know where everybody's. At you got
to process a lot of. Things you can't dictate whether
the heat is coming. From you can't dictate a lot of.
Things but you rely on Every you rely on ten
other people and cannot dictate what the other eleven people
are doing. It you got to process and stuff. Quickly

(01:15:57):
BUT i DON'T i don't think we really had any out.
Here maybe uh uh maybe uh, oh why skipping my?
NAME i was skipping me the guy that left here
to go to The, Rams liam going the officer Of,
court And Liam cohen if he maybe he maybe he Developed,
will but he already had a relationship With Will, levis

(01:16:19):
so possibly. Limb BUT i don't think he's really done
a great job of finding someone here to develop our,
quarterbacks the young. Ones and we just happened to land
On will Because will can throw the ball dawn there
ninety yards and you Have Yandiale. Robinson so, YEAH i
think the first thing he may do And, bush maybe That,
bush maybe that guy that can develop the. Quarterback we

(01:16:41):
haven't really seen that, yet but maybe that's our next.
Focus bringing in the top tier quarterback.

Speaker 7 (01:16:46):
COACH i think the tough part is doing go ahead just.

Speaker 1 (01:16:49):
Because said but you know what that circle says right
back to the first thing we talked About, anthony and
that was an old. LINE i, mean Will ravis's second,
year those guys have protected. Him the year, before four
of them were IN nfl. Camps he had handed off
to AN nfl back In benny as you, said he'd
been throwing to AN nfl wide out or split it
a slot. Back And Wandale. Robinson now he's got a

(01:17:12):
NEW oc and won't let him, scramble and and, uh
an old line under. Construction he's, running, well he couldn't
run for his life because it wouldn't let. Him so
he ended up getting killed back there and ended up
injured most of the. Years SO i don't. Know it's
a vicious. Circle but, uh they've just got to power through,
it don't.

Speaker 4 (01:17:28):
They, Yeah AND i AND i got faith in. Them
LIKE i, SAID i think we got a lot hungrier.
Guys and we talked about this for probably the past
three or four. Years, man with the with the implementation
of the transport portal in N i l you, know
it's tough to re recruit, guys have guys stay committed
when guys are making more now that they're gonna make
it the next. Level just like the, women the women's

(01:17:49):
basketball game is going on to the top tier women
UH W nba girls are making lesson they were uh in.
College so you know when they when they're making more
than the, coaches it's tough to. Mode it is tough
for them to stay. Motivated BUT i Think stups kind
of really understands holding these guys. Accountable and the biggest
thing is which you, know one of the coaches friend of,
Mine i'm friends with big dogs as, well that they

(01:18:12):
have to know that WHEN i line up next to
the other ten players, offense, defense special, teams that you
got to do your. Job someone can get, hurt you
know if you're. Not so everybody want to be out
there for account of. Cause but when someone's making say
eight hundred thousand dollars a year and next to somebody
who's making one hundred or fifty thousand dollars and they
feel they're more, ENTITLED i don't. Know things are real

(01:18:33):
things that are going on, game AND i think we
got rid of a lot of. THAT i think itself
in the. Mirror made a lot of the players look
their stuff in the. Mirror and that's why when the
fans get upsets and so and so lest so and so. Less, yeah,
well they weren't buying into What stups and the staff
are trying to.

Speaker 8 (01:18:47):
DO i feel more that's.

Speaker 4 (01:18:49):
Why a lot of them. Less So i'm really as
to see when we get back to just having blue
collar guys going out there committed to The blue and.
White i'm just kind of curious to see what the
products is gonna.

Speaker 1 (01:18:59):
Be sounds like a guy From cleveland who wore the
blue and. White and we will find out more about
What Anthony white has to say as the season gets
closer and as it gets. Underway and that'll do it for.
Now coming up, tomorrow we'll be back to our regular
routine TALKING uk, football, basketball whatever else comes. Up BUT
i appreciate you staying with us here with the best

(01:19:20):
of The Big boon cider as we get a little
bit the skin cancer taken care, of and Again i'll
urge you get yourself check.

Speaker 7 (01:19:27):
Out that'll do.

Speaker 1 (01:19:28):
It thanks good night from the garage In, Lexington.

Speaker 9 (01:20:01):
Donning then don't. Sing can they think? Anything?

Speaker 5 (01:20:15):
Then don't.

Speaker 9 (01:20:27):
Take.

Speaker 4 (01:20:33):
THAT i Think

Speaker 9 (01:20:40):
Donata don't then Don't thestoro COLD Fn Pleston sto