5.16: The News H3

kind of tell you where we've been today. We have talked you know, sports, like we typically do. But I will once again just reiterate something that I've mentioned at the start of each hour so far today and it's some personal news, I guess also you know, news guarding us in the station and I hear at Louisville. But as of let's see, let me make sure to get my dates right. I should probably get these dates correct

before I, you know, start yapping. But two weeks from today will be my last show here on Sports Talk seven ninety I'm still saying it out loud makes it, I guess, seem more real, but also like, wait a second, really that that happened. But I've been given an opportunity to step in and take over for Tony Cruz on news Radio eight forty WHAS and host Kentucky Anda's morning news and join that incredible station that is, you know, legendary.

So many legends have have been a part of it, some still are and I mean again, I just can't believe that it's happening, but it is, and I'm so excited.

like he has been for a long long time. He's he's the sports anchor and will also be a part of the show in other ways as well. And then a name you guys, I hope you remember, but John Alden, the company man, who really he was? I mean, he just got taken away from us, but he did leave us for you know, an earlier wake up call, but clearly a good move for him and a well deserved opportunity.

He's been on the mornings at has for probably I guess about six months or so, so he and I will be reunited, and he's done a great job at adjusting to eight forty whas. And then of course John Shannon is our news anchor, which you will have you He'll have you updated with your news every thirty minutes.

And I hate to, you know, make it all about me today, but if there is a day to do it, it's not so much so because I'm trying to be self serving, but you know, I want people to know one that let's make the most of these last couple of weeks here Coffee and Company on Sports Talk seven ninety fueled by Thornton's of course, but also you know, I want to be I'd be foolish not to use the platform here to tell everybody how thankful I am for them listening to me for you know, however long

they've been doing it, maybe you're listening for the first time. If so, thank you, Glad to have you. But you know, being able to do this as long as I have, and it's not like I've been here thirty years, but to be able to say at any point that I had an opportunity to host a sports show on this station Sports Talk seven ninety still doesn't seem real at times,

but it is. And I've been here for you know, I guess February of twenty twenty six would be a would be ten years for me as as a member of the iHeart Louisville team, So you know, it'll be under ten years, but not far from it when it's all said and done.

it did. And what I mean by that is that I do think I cherished every every moment I've had and I'm going to continue to do that over these last couple of weeks because just to have the opportunity on this station at any point, again I'm grateful for, but to be the host of three different time slots here on this station, the station that introduced me to what sports talk radio is as far as the format, you know, I remember hearing them talk about sports on the radio when I was in the car with my

father and my mother at times when I was a kid, and it was probably Tony Cruz on Sports Talk eight forty or Lachlan maclain, and I just that was the first introduction for me that, oh wow, they talk about my cards on the radio.

You know, I guess legend or I mean, I wish I knew the party Venetti in those days, because it sounds like it was a lot of fun, but I was I was too young at that time, so a lot of people at that time. When I started listening to Tony on the afternoon Underdogs with Adam Neft, and that's the show that really hooked me.

in rock radio, But like, I never knew that. I just listened to him do sports and I loved it, So you know, I was hooked Joe By and Denny show that was different than obviously the Underdogs, But I mean hearing stories from Joe B and Denny and then that was when I really got introduced to Dave Jennings and also Tony Cruz, who not only was hosting, I mean he was doing mornings on has I Believe, and then he made the move to doing, you know, basically

being the host and kind of quarterbacking the Joeby and Denny Show. And I mean I could listen to those stories for forever.

School many many, many years ago. And I got to meet Joeby Hall when I was younger, and I just you know, I remember hearing him tell stories the one time I met him, and then listening to him on the radio, I get you know, I could listen to those guys tell stories all day, and then I would listen to Jim Rome and that really made me think, Okay, this is you know, for those who know what the Jim Rome Show is, I was a clone. I would say that I still am, but I don't listen as

much anymore. And he's actually on at the same time.

that decision. But you know, I just it never ever became. It never in my mind in any point early on was something I'd be able to do and it would be my job, my career. It's how I provide for my family. And then to have that opportunity and it be at this station that introduced me to it that I care so much about is as I sit here today, May sixteenth, twenty twenty five, like it still doesn't seem real, but it was real and it was awesome, and I'm so grateful to have non plus years on this station.

And I don't know if I if I left it in better hands than it was than before I arrived, but it was an honor and and.

am with that opportunity. And you know, again I've said it many times throughout the show today, it kind of doesn't seem real, but it is, and I'm happy that

it is in fact real. And I'm so thankful for everybody along the way that has been a part of this in some form of fashion, but also thankful to those who made this decision right meeting, those who have influence that you know, have a role in deciding what are we going to do when Tony Cruz rides off into the sunset to retire, and they decided that I was going to be a part of it, and that is something that I'm forever grateful for and I will do everything I can to make it work and you know,

make it work and keep it successful like it has been for generations or die trying doing so. So thank you to Gus Allen, my boss, who's been a big part of this process for me certainly and really been instrumental in the whole thing here. But also others here at iHeart, some that are no longer with the companies, some that are still here, Christy Beebe, Michael Jordan, Nathan Nelson, Josh Everett, Kelly Carls.

And again, I don't have any clue what they're gonna do. I don't have any say so, you don't have any influence, but I will certainly keep you guys up to the date as best I can because I'm gonna care like I'm gonna you know, I'm gonna I mean, I don't have any I'm not entitled to anything by any means, but like it's hard for me to not like want to know and because it's part of me, and that's that's what really has kind of hit me in the

last few days. As I knew we were gonna start in this public and talking about it and we were getting it finalized.

that's something that is a substantial amount of time. And of all the things that I've done in my life other than be married to my wife and of course you know exist, being a sports talk radio host on this station is the longest thing I've ever done, and that makes me so fulfilled and grateful. So anyways, we've been all over the place today outside of that, but I do you know today was going to be the

day where it gets mentioned a lot. And I'm sure if you listen to this show, hopefully for extended amount of time, like you know, you're thinking, shut the hell up, Nick, We get it, you told us. But you know, I'm coach to understand. The audience turns over every hour, so I'm sure each hour there have been folks that have been informed. And now you know, so going back to something that we did start with, that is the NBA

draft decisions for a lot of players. And I don't I could be wrong, but I feel like like the players that you see that have and I guess maybe because the combine is wrapping up and you're going to get feedback after the fact, you're going to know, you know, did you really take advantage of being able to play in the NBA Draft combine by improving your stock or maybe did you get the realization that you're not quite ready?

But all the lists that are out there, when it comes to players that are you know, still have still yet to decide. I mean, I feel like most of them know they're coming back. They're just you know, they're not in a rush because they've already hit the portal, meaning they have clearance to decide where they want to go. But we'll know soon enough as far as but you know what's going to happen. I mean guys like I mean, guys like r. J.

I mean, it was never it never made sense for the NCAA to limit these guys from being able to truly see what their draft stock is. Now you can hire an agent, Now you can go through this entire process and then make a decision. But now whenever they cover guys like o take away for Kentucky, I mean they're acknowledging that the opportunity that he's going to have in the league will be there for him probably next year,

and that he might get drafted. But he'd be passing up on not just way more money to come back to college and play for Kentucky, he would be passing up on what could potentially be the biggest payday he will ever get as a basketball player. And that is not a knock on him in any way. Maybe he gets a max deal in the NBA or something like that, but if he's going to get what is reported, and I don't really believe any of the numbers as far as what they actually are, and this not a UK thing,

it's just in general. When I hear three point something million for a guy like JT. Toppin who's came back to Texas Tech. Maybe he is getting that money. And I'm just a hater and I refuse to believe that somebody in college is getting that amount, But I just I think it makes sense to exaggerate the number. And more than anything it may, it makes sense to never be fully transparent unless you have to, because you can control your own narrative. Oh we got big money. These

guys are making big money because we've got it. But like you never really know. And I think the narrative that's out there that oh wow, they got big bags of money and they're giving them out that helps the school be more appealing to said player or recruit. And I guess if you're a player, even if you're not getting three million, but you're getting one point five, maybe people thinking you're getting three million could benefit you because

it'll just look like you got all the value. Or it could also make people think, like three million, that's what they paid for this guy when he has a bad game. So anyways, my point is this, I don't think many of these guys will even be tempted to go to the NBA because the safe and secure payday is.

at like eighteen or lottery whatever. Maybe and I don't think that's realistic, but like that would probably be something that would make him say, yeah, I can't turn away this.

alongside good players him and Jalen Lowe. It's a really good backcourt for Mark Pope next year. But also, like I was thinking to myself as an outsider, you know, I watched Kentucky basketball quite a bit, but I'm not a fan, But there was all this talk about Lamon Butler and Jackson Robbinson. Now look, those guys were good players, and they were always talked about because one they were good, but also their injury situation was always up in the air.

But like I'm thinking, okayeah, those guys are good and you're better with them. But like the dude that you need to worry about more than anything potentially losing, Like if he gets heard would be o take away. He was mister consistent. He was one of the best players in the SEC. And he'll probably come back to Kentucky all by you know ball accounts. That's what he's gonna do, and he'll probably be one of the best players in the country, which again last I checked, that's a pretty good thing.

of the NBA. But once those guys make the decision, that is likely meaning they're coming back then it's going to turn up to where there's a whole new, real wave of portal pursuing, right, like really good pieces that have made it official. They're not going pro. And I'm sure there's many schools out there. They got some money left, they got a scholarship left, they're going to be trying to get some big pieces that could change the outlook for their upcoming season.

I'm sure there's still some players available. However, I did see I think it might have been Brett McMurphy who said a coach told him that when it comes to players that are in the portal, like there's no good value left, and like all these guys that are in the portal for football, you know, they're kind of still

there for a reason. But anyways, there's all kinds of different rankings out there, ESPN, CBS, on three, the Athletic, you know, all kinds of different college football outlets that put together these post spring summer rankings, and the industry composite takes all those into consideration and bonds an average, and Louisville comes in at number twenty. So, I mean, we'll see if that ends up being the AP coaches Paul,

whatever it may be. And we all know that it really didn't matter with the college football playoff rankings being something that comes later in the year, and also it being you know, clearly what matters, the only thing that matters.

We still will pay attention to where you're ranked in the AP, and we'll certainly get excited if there's that number next to your team's name, but you know, it's really doesn't mean a whole lot of anything, but you know, it is some level of a reference point to where objectively people view your team, and you know, to know that you're heading into year three and Jeff Bram I believe as clearly kept some met him going since he arrived. And now you're preseason top twenty in the eyes of

those who cover the sport. That's a good place to be and football season will be here before you know. All right, it's coffee and company. Phil about Thorton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Thanks for hanging with us. We will be out a little early today. In fact, this is going to be our last segment, so I'm trying to put a little rapid fire together here to get to as much of what I wanted to get to.

I did, as you could expect, not keep up with time as best I could, and then I found out we're out early because of some weather that has impacted the schedule of these baseball games. But I've spent a lot of time discussing, you know, the news that I'm moving on after this, after the end of this month, two weeks from the day, with my last show here on Sports Talk seven nineties, I make the move to News Ready wait forty whch has to take over for

Tony Cruz. So if you missed me discussing that, I don't know what you missed out on but you can always go back and check it out on the podcast. But when it comes to the college basketball players that I guess technically are still college basketball players as of right now, but like the biggest names that are are kind of, you know, on the fence about what they want to do. These are guys that, like, for example, Cal at Arkansas, He's got two guys that are technically

on the fence. They have not said for sure what they're doing, but like, if they decide to come back, it would be huge for Cal in a good way. If they decide to leave, it changes everything a do Thierro at Arkansas. I mean he's actually at times been been viewed to be a potential first rounder because of the draft being weekend, because he's got a lot to like.

I mean, he's a very talented guys. I shouldn't have said it as if like the draft being weak is why he'd be a first rounder, but you know, he's borderline first round currently. And also Carter Knox, who was one of the best freshmen that played last year.

And a lot of that has to do with that, you know, he's not going to be able to recruit at Arkansas the same level he did at Kentucky, and I just don't think, you know, he he's not needed really in any way like he used to be believed to be needed, if that makes sense. And let me explain certain guys would go to the NBA regardless that they played at Kentucky or they played it Duke or Kansas, whatever, because they're they're that good, they're that talented. They can

even be bad for you. I mean Scalabissia was a first round pick for Kentucky. I mean, they'll they'll draft you based off your potential. Certainly, so you know, he was never needed. I think as much as maybe it was, it was believed. But certainly, if you want to get to the NBA as soon as possible and you are on that radar, I mean, hell, yeah, makes sense to

go play for calla Kentucky. But over time, you know, I think you realized that he wasn't as big of a factor for most of these guys getting in the league. And now you know he's I mean, maybe he does have great success down the line at at Arkansas, but I I mean he's not gonna be able to sell and bring in as much talent as he did when he was selling Kentucky. And also, even if you are the game's changed guys stick around longer, guy's turned down

the NBA to stay in college. Therefore, you building a team based mostly off of eighteen year olds, even if they're all great, like, that's not maybe the best the

best rest. So looking at the most updated mock draft here, this is from NBA draft dot Net, which not one of the better ones, but it's the only one I could pull up that it's not behind a paywall right now, but right now when it looks the I mean technically the Yeah, Carter Knox has viewed to be a early second round same as same as Buerrero, so I guess that streak could potentially come to an end. But anyways, other players that are I guess still making a decision.

You know, we take always mentioned, but I think he's coming back Alex Condon for Florida. I don't know where he is, but obviously he's a guy that if he does come back to Florida that changes things for them

in a big way. But nobody is more I think sweating out a decision than Michigan because they've got Jaxe Lindenborg to transfer from UAB who is rated as the number one player in the portal by a lot of outlets, and he's been really impressive at at the NBA Draft combine, and I mean, let me see where his stock is currently, Cause again I know how talented he is. He's a really good player. I'm not a draft analyst by any means.

I just played one on the radio at times. But you know, he's currently looked to be the twenty third pick by the Pacers. That to me is like the ultimate. If that's where you believe your range is, what do you do? Cause you are older, you've played in college for a long time. You know, will you be in that same position next year when the draft is much stronger? Right?

But if I take that money and then re enter the NBA draft next year while I still be in a position to have, you know, I mean that one would be tough if if I was that young man, especially knowing that he's played his whole career at UAB and then he's kind of starting all over with a coach that he clearly likes enough to have committed to that's Dusty May, but he's never actually he doesn't know

how to be utilized. And then I guess the others that are still I mean PJ Haggerty, I guess is still out there, but it all it sounds like he's

going to go to State. And then what I don't know is R. J. Luise again, the guy who was first team All American for Rick Patino at Saint John's and then he got benched in the second round and it became a story and he decided to hit the portal and he'll have a lot of suitors, but you know, I haven't heard anything about his his draft stock or any haven't heard anything about which schools may be in

the mix if he does come back. And then another name, Jamiir Watkins of Florida State Louisville was linked to him at some point and I don't know if that's still the case or not. But if he does come back, he'll be a big addition for anybody, and I don't know who it'll be. But long story short, there's still gonna be some players to go get in the portal,

and you know, Louisville certainly. I don't know about Kentucky, but Louisville has not only availability, but like they're going to have a real need now with James Scott gone unexpectedly, and then the eligibility of Khalifa still up in the air.