It's time for coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine day. Now here's Nick coffee. All right, let's get it started, Ladies and Gentlemen, Hour number two Coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety Getting you set for the weekend. Sorry, doing a little live producing, getting our guests rearranged. We had to shift some
things around, but that's okay. We're gonna talk to Doctor Ben's here shortly, and also Jeff Greer's gonna join us to talk about the big match tomorrow over there at Lynn Family Stadium. Actually are they both? Like I know is Lynn Family Stadium? I know that's where Racing Lou plays. I know that, but lend them and loose City were they both called? Because the UFL Soccer stadium is Lyn Standa. That's it, Doctor Mark and Cindy Lynn
Stadium. There we go. I knew, I knew they were both basically paid for or you know, sponsored by the great Lynn family, but I didn't know how you know the naming of each. But so Lynn Family Stadium that's where you need to be tomorrow at four o'clock for their for their big match, and if you've never been to a Racing Louisville game, you can get yourself a free ticket, which you know that gets you in the door. You could take advantage of the two dollars happy hour beers they got before
the game. So again, take advantage. You wouldn't want to, you know, I mean, if you don't have plans, I know it's going to be hot, but you know, should be good vibes. It's a legit I mean, it's the only legitimate, like top level professional sports team we have in this town. And again, you can get in free if you've never been before, and actually you can if you've been before, you
can still get a discount of ticket. So I tweeted out the link at Twitter on my Twitter at the card Connect, and all you have to do is fill out this little form. It takes just less than a minute. Really, just give your information and email that kind of stuff and you'll get a complimentary ticket. And the first two thousand fans that make their way into Lynn Family Stadium will get two thousand dollars or not two thousand dollars two The
first two thousand fans will get a T shirt. Don't want to te two thousand dollars. You're not going to give you two thousand dollars, but it'd be great if they did. But yeah, tomorrow at four o'clock as they take on the uh Bay Football Club, is that what they're called. It's a stupid name. There's any BFC. Yeah, BAFC, some of those, some of those the names they give clubs, they're I mean, like, I mean, am I supposed to be scared of BAFC. I mean
where they located? That Tampa Bay or something. I feel like I need to confirm the name. Now. Well I'm looking at it and it's BAFC dot Com. That's them. I'm on, So I think you're right. But yeah, where they located the Bay area? Does that mean San Francisco? Yeah, so they're coming coming from the West coast. But yeah, they're uh, they're going down tomorrow. That's all I know. And I believe, and we'll get clarification from mister Greer is going to join us a
little bit later on. But I do believe that with their draw meaning racing Louisville, they are currently I think in line for the last playoff spot. So let's hope they can keep some momentum rolling here right. If you guys want to join us on the show, you can five O two five seven seventy nine hundred is the number. If you want to give a call, you can also text in on the Ellen and Federal Credit Union text line five O two six five three zero seven ninety. Let's go to the text line.
That's a good question. I mean, it's a question that often that often comes. Actually, let's go to a different question because some good stuff that came in earlier. I want to go later, get back to this one, because it's it's it's a it's the typical hypothetical question that you get in the off season, but somebody put an interesting twist on it, and I want to wait and get to that once we have a little more time. But this says Nick, are you surprised to see Trenton Flowers not get
drafted last night? Do we thank him for leaving because he could have helped Kenny? Or do and do we claim him he was here? What do we do? Well, you do whatever you want. I mean, you mean he was here, he didn't play, he bailed and you know at the time that happened, and you know, John, I know you don't listen to every single word I say, and you don't keep track of my
takes from many, many many months ago. But I'm pretty sure I defended Kenny in that and saying that, like, there really wasn't a whole lot that Kenny could do to keep that kid from deciding to leave. Like I was critical of Kenny for a lot of things. When Tritton Flowers left again. He was here, money was there, he was already getting paid, and he at the last minute decided to up and leave and go to Australia.
And I don't, you know, Kenny can't control that, but I think given how the season played out, it's probably not a crazy thing to think about how maybe he could see how dysfunctional things were, how unorganized things were, and he could just see the writing on the wall that regardless of the p personnel here and regardless of my ability, I got to get out of here. I don't want to be attached to this because he was. I saw towards the end of the draft they were doing the ten available and
he was in there towards the bottom of the ten. But like, if he's at Louisville last year and he's you know, because to be honest, talented kid, he wouldn't have made a damn bit of a difference. He'd have given you another body, And they did have injuries last year at times, so like maybe they'd had another win or two wins along the way,
but it wouldn't have changed the overall situation. Right, But I feel like he probably made the right decision because I feel like his draft stock would have been worse had he played in college and been a part of that because he wouldn't have been close to the best player, but he would have showed glimpses, showed upside, but his numbers wouldn't have been like great. And I'll put it this way. Trey White who is now at Illinois, talented guy,
you know, meaning he's got good size. He's not really bad at anything, although other than defense, which I'm not sure if he's ever even
anybody. He might not even know what defense is. Like maybe if somebody told him what it was and what the what the objective is when you don't have when your team doesn't have the ball, like, maybe maybe he'd be pretty good at it because he's super athletic, has good size, and you know, he was an all Pack twelve freshman performer for a good USC team and then you know he comes to Louisville and you know it just didn't work out. But like my point is this, like he wouldn't he would Trent
Flowers would not have been as productive as Trey White when healthy. And that's not to say Trey White's great, but like you know, it's just he's a true freshman. So hopefully he can. You know, I don't, I don't have much. I don't I don't really care what happens. I'm not saying, you know, like when I say I don't really care, it sounds mean, But what I'm telling you is that, like I don't wish that he doesn't have a great career because he left Louisville. But I'm
not gonna lie. He would be fake and be like, man, I'm really hoping he has a great career. I just you know's it doesn't really relate to me. So like I'm not going to spend time thinking about what happens with Trenton Flowers. But to answer your question, I don't see how anybody from Louisville whatever, like if he does into the end up in the league, which he signed signed with somebody, but I'm not sure if he signed a two way contract or if he signed just when the summer league.
He probably signed a two way contract, to be honest with you, But whatever he did sign, if he does end up having, you know, a long career in the league and he's successful, I mean, you could do what you want, but I would feel like it would be very disingenuous to claim him because he didn't play here and he left, Like, I think it's weak when Kentucky fans claim Innis Canter and Shade and Sharp, although Shade and Sharp you shouldn't. I mean, he didn't. He didn't claim
you like he didn't want to play for you. He used you, so like, I don't know why you would ever claim him, but Canter wanted to play didn't and it was because d N s DOAA, So like I feel like it's a little bit more. It's still weak because he never actually played a second at Kentucky. But that makes a little more sense. Trn
Flyers was here, took money and left. But there's also again that other component to where like I can't say that I blame him for not wanting to be a part of what was last year, and as it played out, it's a little more believable now that he left because he knew that he was not going to be a part of a successful team and he probably wasn't even
going to be top three leading scorer. And you know, it's still a weak thing to do in the grand scheme of it, but these guys got to look out for themselves and that was his that was his exit strategy, is to just bail and go to Australia where he you know, he had
moments, he had flashes. But yeah, it looks like he signed with the Clippers, but I can't I can't figure out if it was actually a because there's a huge difference in signing, Like when you signed to be on somebody's G League team, that's not a trend like they're gonna they're gonna pay your way to be in Vegas for the league. I think you get some type of compensation for that, But I mean it's not a contract, like
there's no you know it's it's really it's not even a tryout. It's just you know you're here and you may get ten twelve minutes a game and that'll give you a chance to kind of show what you know, what you can do. So, yeah, it looks so like he did sign Let's see here, Yeah, it says it's unclear what type of contract he signed, which again that's a big factor in in in how all that comes together, like for example, DJ Burns, which, by the way, did you
see how much weight DJ Burns lost? No, he lost like forty five pounds in the draft process, and that's a quick forty five considerable it was just in the final four. Let me, let me, let me just double check this, because I feel like saying forty five is like, no, he lost fifty. He lost more than fifty pounds in the lead up
to the draft, and he still looks like a big guy. But you know, he signed I think it was a summer league, you know, a agreement with UH with it might have been the Cavaliers or something, so yeah, with the Cavs. So you know that's not I mean, he should go to the summer league. Here's here's how it works. If you're fresh out of college and your best opportunity is G league or as a contract in the summer league because you didn't get drafted and they didn't give you like
a two way deal. You should go to the Summer League and just you know, see what you can pull off. Maybe you can really ball out and turn some heads and end up on somebody's training camp roster and find your way on their roster or find a two way right because that's if they sign you. Like this is a scenario that I could see happening for DJ Burtns.
He goes to the Summer League and you know, despite being a very different player than most as far as how he plays, style and all that stuff, he's still is effective and ends up getting an opportunity to sign with them a two way deal on their and be a part of training camp and then they probably wouldn't keep him on the fifteen man roster, but it may
turn out to where they have him in the G League. So look, if you're in the G League and you're on a two way contract, or you're in the G League and you were on your rookie contract meaning you were drafted, you know, you're not making the high end of the NBA salary, but you're making a good You're making a lot of money, you know,
compared to guys who are just on a G League contract. So But what happens is these guys understandably so once they've done the Summer League a couple of times and they realize, you know, I still haven't turned this into an NBA opportunity. A lot of these guys don't play Summer League because they realize it's better off for them to not risk injury and really take advantage of
the type of money they can make in Europe. Guys will chase the NBA dream, I think, until they realize it just wasn't meant to be, and then they can use the rest of their time where they're young enough and healthy enough to play and go make a great living playing in different countries. So I always think it's silly when people all have fun in Europe have fun in you know, China. I'm like, well, I don't know about you, but I think it's a dream come true to be able to play
the game you love and make a living. So I just think it's funny how people kind of mock that. But anyways, let's bring him in. He's doctor Larry, Ben's from pro Reha physical Therapy. How are we doing this afternoon, Larry. We're doing wonderful, Nick, but more importantly, how are you. I'm doing well. It's a Friday. There's some good vibes here in this great city of Louisville, and I am excited to chat with you. And you are, obviously folks know Larry from for a variety
of reasons. Doctor Ben's a prorae physical therapy. They've been partners with us for years, partners with the University of Louisville. But you also are connected with the University of Louisville specifically, and I'm just curious to get your thoughts on the big news that came out a couple of weeks ago, and it's been talked about it. I don't act like it's been ignored, but I don't know if people realize how different college athletics may look here in a couple
of years once these universities have the option. And I say they have the option, I mean if they don't choose to pay them, I don't know how they're going to, you know, have a good athletic department. But you know, we'll have to wait and see what it all looks like down the line here. But just kind of your initial thoughts is that as the settlement took place, and now schools are allowed to pay up to twenty two
million annually to student athletes across the board. Yeah, no, it's very interesting, Nick, And there's a series of what I would refer to as knowns, and there's a lot of unknowns right now and pending. You know, certainly there has to be a sign off by the judge on the settlement. Let's not forget that. And they've already promulgated at least with the distribution
of the house settlement would be member the house. Athlete who filed it was a swimmer, and it looks like swimmers as a percentage aren't going to get very much. So it's kind of has a bit of twisted irony there. But effectively, what's happened is you take step back and you just talk about college athletics as an industry outside of the NFL. It's the largest revenue industry, far bigger than the NBA, Major League Baseball and the like. So
you have to look at it and it's a sizable group. And what's happening here is it's not going to be professional. Now, you could argue this nil wild West name image likeness because of the no real rules has turned into just paint players. But that will end in terms of the big picture of things and the way they arrived at this. You cited twenty two million,
and that's just indexed for that year. So if this starts in the fall of two thousand, you know, effectively a year from now, budget approvals by athletic departments across the country, we'll have to take this settlement into account. Now might get pushed an additional year. I personally hope it does, but the reality is it's likely going to be in the fall this you know, coming up next fiscal years. Most universities are on a July fiscal year.
The way this is, Yeah, I was just going to say, I was just gonna say, the way this was playing out, I feel like a lot of a lot of athletic directors universities across the country were I don't know if they expected this number, but like this wasn't probably a huge shock to them. It kind of seemed like this was where that where it was heading. Now, that's right, I think that. You know,
the first question is where did the twenty two million come from? Well, that's a revenue share, like in the NFL and other sports where you might have a fifty percent revenue share. I think they decided, well, all fifty percent is too high, We're going to go with thirty percent. So this is somewhat arbitrary with some delveration, if you will, And that's where this twenty two million dollars is index. But then there's a whole series of
thoughts around, well, there's offsets to the twenty two million. You know, we're not going to have scholarship limitations anymore, and so if you have ninety you know football, you know right now we have eighty five. If you go to ninety, if you go to twenty five in baseball, if you go to certain numbers, those scholarships will reduce the twenty two million dollars, meaning that theory, every dollar reduction is a dollar or less that you're
effectively paying players. So there's a little bit of a trade off there and misaligned incentives if you're being honest, because the less scholarships you have, the more money you'll have to distribute to paying players. I would estimate that the bulk is going to be, you know, obviously football, followed by men's basketball and women's basketball. Just like you're saying with the settlement. You know, the proposed percentages there are likely going to align, but schools will be
have the flexibility to do what they want. And I would suggest or believe that in the Power five conferences that if you're not at that high end of the twenty two million dollars, you're not going to be competitive. Y. It's just the you know, it's just the fact. I mean, that's why you have minor league sports and you have major league sports. They could pay differently. You were just and seeing the G League a few minutes ago.
There's a big difference in compensation. The other factor is that name, image and likeness will have a series of rules around the fact that it is supposed to be for name, image and likeness. When those become propagated, who knows. But that is a big part of this because a lot of things, people think the collectives will go away, and I don't think that's
the case at all. While I think the universities are going to have to support the athletic departments in this twenty two million dollar rep share, you're still going to have a collectives that fulfill of necessary purpose, just like you have professional football players that get endorsement deals. For their name, image and likeness. You're going to have the same thing in college, but they'll be more driven around, you know, a regulatory environment as opposed to right now where
there's zero regulations. So you know, that's been critical for the University of lov I mean we have five or two circle. It has been the lynchpin. The community support and the broad based support of it has been the reason why we have such an excitement on men's basketball right now, certainly in football and some of the other sports as well. I think Dan McDonald and baseball
and others that are Yeah, they're thriving. And the thing about it is is that the the biggest asset I think our five pot two circle has is the collective wisdom around the coaches, the athletic department, and the collective working together. Because in a lot of programs around the country it's a disjointed effort, but not at University of Little So I think that's a good thing.
Now back to this twenty two million dollar rupture, It's going to create some interesting, you know, series of consequences because right now student athletes get a scholarship, if thronoical scholarship, they get what's known as Alston money, which is a dollars meant for somewhat academic is that essentially the stipend people reference exactly, Well, there's two stipends, So the Alstin money, there's some requirements they have to meet either a certain GPA or they have to you know,
the schools have their have ways they require to get the entire you know, I call it fifty nine hundred dollars, and that varies from school to school, but it's based on the It was, you know, another legal settlement. The guy's name was Austin, and the reality was that students athletes were to disadvantage because they couldn't get academic money because they were student athletes. And
so they said not, now you get academic money. That's where this you know, this money comes in. But then they also get the stipend called cost of attendance. So the cost of attendance at the University of Louisville might be six thousand, at the University of Alabama it might be thirteen thousand. And it's determined by local governments and such working together to try to replicate what would be the amount of money a student athlete needs to support themselves. Outside
of scholarship. I mean, they need gas money, they need additional money for food and you know all the type of things this student closes and the like. And that was the original thought behind cost of attendance several years ago. So, unbeknownst to the general public, student athletes have in theory been you know, at major universities have had access to this Alston money and access to cost of attendance. At least at the University of LOUISLL that could be
ten thousand dollars a year. It go a long way for a college kid. It absolutely you know, it can buy a lot of a lot of you know, a lot of Big Max, a lot of beer for a college kid, There's no question about it. The question will come into well, how will those dollars be factored into this twenty two million? In theory there might be a credit. Well, if they're a credit, are they
taxed? Are they not taxed? And so it's a mess, and there's going to be lots of you know, considerations, and right now nobody knows a lot like how where's the twenty two million in it come from? Well, there's a lot of ideas floating around each university is going to have to figure it out for themselves and then they'll be best practices in the like well where there'll be transparency. Well, I know what the quarterback at the University
of Alabama is being paid out of that twenty two million? Will that impact the quarterback? You know that we're recruiting for university at Louis. You know, in the NFL and the NBA and others, salaries are effectively slotted. There's almost complete transparency. Will that happen in college sports? I don't know. You know, then will you supplement that through NIL? It'll be interesting.
But the reality is, whether you like the settlement or you don't like it, you have to adopt because where this is where we are, and we have seen that late you know, kicking people come into things kicking and screaming and do not accept the change. Are the ones that you know don't
do as well as early adopters. And so given the fact that the University of Louisvelle has done so well with NIL, I suspect with the leadership of Josh hur and President Chattle and the groups are working within their department, I believe will be early adopters. I believe will be very successful at it. But until we get more direction and clarity around the rules, around the regulations
around the dollars, right now, everything's a little bit of speculation. Yeah, And I think as a fan myself, it's nice to see that from from all From from what I can tell, everybody at the University of Louisville has has handled this, as you just mentioned, just knowing, like regardless of thoughts on it or challenges this, this is what. This is where we are and we will always strive to be as competitive as we can be. So we're going to do what we have to do, you know,
to make it happen. And I know you may not have all the you know, I'm sure you don't have every detail about the money that goes here and there, but I'm sure there are some things internally that could could save some money, that they could eliminate that like we wouldn't even know about. I'm sure there's things that from the outside looking at people say, why would
they do that, that's a waste of money. Well, I'm sure there's value and there's a reason why they're doing They're not doing it just to do it, But there probably are some things they can tram along the way that would would you know, probably not going to give you twenty or twenty two million, But you know, I'm sure they have some things in mind as this was approaching to where they could they could save some money. And I'm
not talking about cutting sports. I'm just talking about making just making some changes. No, that's absolutely right. I mean, you look at an average you know, the budget at University of Little athletic department is of one hundred and fifty million dollar range. It represents about eight and a half nine percent of the university's total budget. Other universities those those those numbers are different. But it also brings in a lot of money in the university because it brings
in in scholarship and housing and everything, about twenty seven million dollars. Because you've got you know, five hundred plus athletes that you've got spirit teams banned. You also have people who go to major colleges because they're have a Division one sports, and so you have a lot of indirect you know, aspects
of this. I think last year I've been reading financials of athletic departments around the country, like I'm trading football cards, and you could my numbers here are going to be, you know, directionally correct, and that the ACC schools have been supporting their universities in the tune of about fifteen million dollars a year, so you're going to have more. You're going to have more academic and other support from the university. You're going to have to in order to
be in the Power five division one kind of thing. So I think, you know, what are some trade offs and what are some good news about this? Well, the settlement is going to mobilize things for a while. All of a sudden, you don't hear too much about conference realignment right now, and for good reason. Everybody's got to try to figure out this new repshare model. Focus is shifted. The focus has shifted in a major way. Right now. Everybody's scrambling for nil. But you know this is going
to change and this scourry here. In about nine months, we're universities trying to figure out their budgets for athletic departments. It's going to be fun to watch from both the spectat are in from the participant level. So I'm very excited by it, and I fundamentally do believe that this is long overdue to some extent. I take the position at student athletes, for the most part,
have been exploited over a many year period. I know some people would probably disagree with me, but I believe when you have lots of profitability and money coming on, when you got these media rights and some you know it's the Big ten and the SEC going forty fifty sixty seventy million dollars at media rights, that money should be shared more to the you know, proletariat and the labor that's produced it. Where has it been shared in the last several
years. Well, the money has gone to facilities, and it's gone to coaches and coaches salaries. You're now going to have limitations in the number of coaches for football. Will those salaries increase? I predict that they won't. I think in the NFL right now, their facilities are good, their training facilities, everything, they're great. But you have to manage these things like
a business. And so right now, when you're having an unfunded mandate to get twenty two million dollars or you know, it's going to make for some interesting desis vision making and you're going to have winners and losers, that's for sure. But it's going to be extremely exciting time for the Power of Five conferences, particularly football, and there'll be better transparency, I think in what people are being paid. Doctor Larry Bens and Pro pro Reapdesic Therapy is our
guest joining here. Really informative conversation. I have one more question for you as we shift gears here. The TBT coming up next month. A lot of excitement from the Loisle fans to see these former Cardinals competing with a chance to you know, excite us and win some games and win some money for themselves. And the big addition this year is Montrez Harrel, who is going to be playing. Trees is coming off of an injury that kept him out
of the NBA last year. He tore his ACL and his meniscus and I've seen some you know, this happened in October of last year, and I've seen he's working out, he's playing, he's sharing some clips of him in different open open runs and whatnot, and he looks like he's, you know, he's he's ready to go. I don't think he'd be playing if he felt like he wasn't. But just the timeline there, you know, to know when that injury took place, and as we sit here in late late
June and a lot will be when these these games take place. Is this a This is a typical time frame you'd expect from someone like him to have that kind of injury. Yeah, it's interesting. First of a couple of things. Pro Rehab is going to be supplying the sports medicine for here we go. You we're very excited about it, and you know, so I'll know have a little better uh you know, firsthand knowledge when when we see
it. But yeah, the timeframe fits again not knowing the extent of his injury, because as you mentioned, he not only had ACL I think he had some miniscal some other things going on there. But I think that's part of it. I think the other part of it is the number of minutes. You know, keep in mind this is a shortened season, and if I recall last year, which brought a lot of excitement to our fans, they played a fair number of players. So how many minutes will he be
expected to play? What type of contributions will those minutes increase? You know, the further they get in the tournament. I mean, this is a very interesting tournament, as you will know if you remember years ago it started out as a one and done. Now you've got a little opportunity and so the dollars are pretty huge. Yeah, it's awesome. I cannot wait. It was very exciting last year and I know it's going to be just as
exciting this year. I'm sure Pat Kelsey is going to be on hand doing what he does, getting people excited and really just sharing that infectious energy that he has. So good vibes, no doubt, Larry. I appreciate you making time for us to know you're very busy man, so again we appreciate it. Enjoy your weekend and we'll talk soon. My friend absolutely, thanks Breddy. It's doctor Larry Ben's pro Rea physical therapy. Always appreciate his time
and always informative. But some really good stuff there as far as the financial component of college athletics, as things are about to change in a major way. All right, quick break, we'll come back on the other side and we'll welcome in the one the only mister Jeffrey Greer from Soccer Holdings to talk about tomorrow's big match and other things as well. We always go in a lot of their different directions with mister Greer, so stick with us right here
on Sports Talk seven ninety Coffee and Company. About halfway through here on a Friday, as we get you set for the weekend, and we now bring in the one, the Only, mister Jeff Greer. Jeff, how are we doing here on a beautiful Friday afternoon. I'm doing great, Nick, And I gotta tell you this might be the first time that I did not recognize a Turn to Action song there? What what song was that? Though?
I was just playing so producer John, I'm he may not be able to hear me, but you can relay the information of Okay, it was Don't put out the Fire by Dirty Honey, Don't stump you, don't put out the fire by Dirty Honey. That's the song. I was gonna guess, like reda Van v I feel like that style. So yeah, good stuff, and you know, like to keep we got to keep you on your toes career, come on, you know we keep you on your toes
a little bit. So with tomorrow's match, obviously you guys are looking to fill the fam and and I'm expecting to see a huge crowd out there for you guys. But not all draws are created equal, correct, Like the draw from from your most recent match was pretty significant, and and and it's put you guys in a spot. And I may be wrong here, but you know, playoff postseason still clearly in contention. Right, Yeah, for sure, we're still in a playoff spot and very much in the thick of
it. But you're right, you know. I always liking this to my to my non soccer loving friends. Basically, we were trying to kill a power play for eighty minutes, is basically how I described it. I mean we were a player down from the ninth minute on, so eighty one minutes playing with one fewer player and anyone who has seen the size of a soccer
field, I mean, that is a really challenging thing to do. But it took a really good team effort, a lot of hard defending, and then literally the last kick of the game, we just kind of dropped the ball into the box, knocked it on and poked it in with one of our rookies. It was really a great finish. It was fun to walk.
I was already on the field waiting for postgame interviews when the when the ball went in and our team is celebrating, and it's there's nothing more fun than being part of a team on an away arena and a place that was previously just full of life and ready to go party being absolutely silenced. I mean that it's so much fun on those environments, and we've done that a couple of times this year, so we're coming back with a little win in
our sales. For Yeah, I can say it creates a momentum for you for sure as you have this this match tomorrow that obviously again hoping to see a great crowd out there taken on BAFC, would you say that there's somewhat of a comparable type of team as far as where you guys stand within the NWSL standings. Obviously you're not going to overlook any kind of an opponent, but this is certainly a winnable match. Yeah, for sure it is.
And to your point, I mean, we've learned from last year. I think going into the last day, there were if my memory serves, there were four playoffs spots taken out of the six available and this and they've expanded the playoffs this year, but last year I think it was like the other six of the other eight teams were fighting for the final two spots on the last day of the season. So this is an incredibly, incredibly competitive league.
Every year there are so many tough games, and this is yet another one where it's just like, yes, we're favored playing at home, but this is going to be an absolute dogfight. They are an expansion team this year. They're one of the two new teams a AFC out in San Jose, San Francisco area. But there's got a lot of talent and it should be a pretty evenly matched game. Jeff Grez our guest joining us here on Sports Talk seven to ninety. Again, if you guys have never been to
a Racing Louisville game, I mentioned this throughout the show. You can get in for free tomorrow. I tweeted out the link earlier. If you just go to the website. There's a banner right there at racingloufc dot com. It's to fill the fan banner. You click on it and you'll see the link there where you can fill out that form. You can actually get discounted tickets for students, and there's also a special group rate if you bring ten
or more. So hopefully we can do exactly that and fill the fan tomorrow. So pregame happy hour for two bucks. The first two thousand fans and attendance are going to get a free T shirt. But what I need to know is live karaoke. What are you going to sing for us tomorrow? Well, I recently put on a solid performance at a karaoke barne birthday U. And I you know, Nick, I'm sure you're the same way. I'm kind of like an R P O karaoke singer, Like I like to
get up to the line of scrimmage and just read the bar. You gotta see what the vibe is. Like I was at a Kikos a few years ago. You're there to deliver what they want, and you can't really know that until you're up there and you feel in the crowd. You kind of they're gonna take you in the direction exactly. So like there had been probably I mean, I'm not a big country guy, and and and that's fine. You know, there are probably about ten too many country songs in a
row at a Kikos a few years ago. So I had to mix it up a little bit and get up there. But and I'm trying to remember, Oh my gosh, of course I bring it up now. It's a Kanye song she gives Me Money, Oh gold Digger yoah Lord, I couldn't think of the name of the son great carry. I would never think to sing that song. That's a good karaoke song. It's a great when when when the when, the call and response for we want prenup? Oh yeah?
The bar shut it down and the rest of the night was the rest of the night was a great night at the kikos h This week, I thought like, maybe we needed to have a nice relaxation moment out in Seattle. So I sang Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon and just belted it out, calmed the bar down a little bit, let everybody have a drink, and then the others got back to it. So, you know, you just got to feel things out, re read the linebackers at the line
of scrimmage, and really figure out what you want to do. As a reason, they call him the man of the people because he gives the people what they want. And those two songs specifically, I mean, those are great karaoke songs. I wouldn't I wouldn't have thought to perform those and a
keikos man, it's a little intimidating. I feel like, I've been there a couple of times in the last few years, and you know, you'll see some very amateur singers and then you'll see some people and you're like, oh my god, they came here to let everybody know this is their domain. Like I was blown away by some of the talent, legitimate talent that you see at that place. Yeah, and it's one of my favorite spots
in the city. I haven't been in a few years now. One of the all time nights that I've ever had, my brother was in town for literally it was like twenty four hours he had He was a surgical fellow, so he had one of those like fellowship interviews, so you fly in, you meet with a bunch of doctors, and then they give you a few hours in the at that night to do whatever you want. And we went
to this like festival where it was like smoked meats. This was years ago, and we like we had an incredible night eating all sorts of different barbecue and stuff, and then we ended up at a kikos and at like two in the morning, we're singing Toto's Africa and in between, like during the instrumentals, my brother kept shouting we're brothers, very loud in case somebody didn't know. Yeah, and the crowd just ate it all up. So I
love that place. But you're right, unless you've had enough of your bush lights, buddy, it's not going to be uh, it's not going to be a friendly crowd. Well, I'm sure it wasn't even something you planned to say, but you said it perfectly. We ended up at a keyko. You don't really make plans, you know what I'm saying. You end the night kind of leads you there, and if the night does lead you there, it's usually it's usually a pretty good night. All right. I
got a couple more questions for you. We'll stick with with racing lou here. I just want to give you a chance to kind of shout out some of the personnel within the squad here. Obviously you got some momentum mentioning the big draw last week when odds were against you guys, But who are some of the players that you feel like have really been, you know, delivering this season so far. I don't want to, you know, I know,
I'm sure everybody collectively has been doing their part. Everybody has their own role, But who would you say has really kind of emerged this year and kind of help get this thing in the position where you guys got a chance to go to the postseason. Yeah, I mean a familiar name for soccer fans, Savannah Tamelo. She was on the US national team last fall at the World Cup. Started a couple of games. She's our leading scorer.
She needs one more goal to tie the club record for most goals in a season at six, and surely she'll she'll blow past that and the the second part of the season. I'll point out two other players who I think are just really fun for people, and they're both rookies. We got a kid out of UCLA. She won a national championship. She was an All American and I heard your discussion with doctor Ben's before I came on. She was the very first NIL athlete signed period by Nike oh Leyland Turner. And yeah
she is. I think she's only twenty one. I don't even think she's turned twenty two yet. But she scored that late goal for US the other day in Seattle, and she's just oozing with talent. So I'm really excited to see her play. Sign her to a longer term deal and then Ema Sears, who went to Ohio State. You'll love this nick. She somehow was not on anyone else's radar at the draft this past year. But our coach, one of our coaching staff members who does a lot of our draft
prep and previously had worked at Ohio State. We've been scouting her for like three years, and so when the opportunity came for us to grab her at the end of the second round, which is incredible value, we snapped her up quickly. And you know, we had like three or four teams come over and say, oh man, we really wish that we had drafted her. It's like, yeah, well you had. You had twenty seven opportunities to do it, and we snagged her. But she's second in the league
in goals for rookies. That's awesome. She's statistically one of the top like two or three dribblers in the league. And she is faster than I believe the last I checked, she's faster than half of Louisville City's roster. Yeah. So, I mean, she is a freak athlete and it's very very fun to watch ms Ars and will be one of the stars of this league
for years to come. So I think those two in Savannah Demelo have been so much fun to watch, and their goal scorers and they beat people off the dribble, and it's just it's fun to watch those types of players. I love when things come together like that to where you were aware that nobody else was talking about her and and meaning you know, your coach who had
coached her before, was well aware of what she could do. There wasn't a ton of buzz and sure enough you take that chance and know that you know it's not something maybe anybody else would have drafted that, not somebody that somebody would have drafted that at that time, but then't sure enough she's delivering. You mentioned second in the goal, second in the league, among in
goals among rookies. So uh, that is that is certainly awesome. Right, last question for you, Jeff, how many years does Brownie James play in the NBA? Wow, that's a curveball. As long as it he'll be there. Yeah, I was gonna say he'll be he'll be on the Lakers as long as Lebron is there. But but look, I mean, and you know, I know it's hard for people on the on the in the Eastern time zone to watch pack, Uh, what is it packed?
Twelve games now at RP. I don't know what USC H whatever league USC is going to be going into, but I watched them more than once, I want to say times, and you know it's he's one of those guys and gosh, there a dime a dozen. It seems like at this point where you could point to them and say, you remember Troy Williams Indiana and yeah, like, oh my gosh, this guy just had there's something there. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it'll ever all
come together, but there's definitely something there. And that's how it felt about Bronnie, Like there were these little moments that he would do things and you're like, Okay, I can see he's got he's got a little DNA that will help him out. I could see, I can see what he's got going on, and maybe there's a player there. I just don't know if I would have tried to go into the NBA now, I maybe would have tried to cultivate myself a little bit more at the college level. But so
I'll it's a long answer. I'm waffling a little bit, but I'll say I'll give him three years. I'll give him three years in the NBA in some form. Does that include the G League? Yeah for sure, Yeah, because that's probably where he playing something. I think one of the things about Bronnie that nobody could talks about is that he doesn't try to be his dad when he plays. And I think that's you know, most people can't be Lebron because he's Lebron James. But I feel like that's actually an undervalued
thing for this young man who's really a kid essentially. He he kind of knows who he is a player. He's a defender, he's he's an athletic, uh, you know, off the ball kind of guard, and you know, he's not terrible. It's just it's just so obvious that he entered the draft way before he should have, and he got drafted specifically put because Lebron and a lot of a lot of a lot of pressure comes with that.
But uh, I'm pulling for him. You know, I'm not going to turn into a Lakers fan or whatnot, but you know, I think it's been he's carried himself. So the example I used earlier, Jeff was this, look at how Deon Sanders children behave. Not to say they're terrible guys, but like their show, like they are clearly just you know, in your face show, like a lot of a lot comes with that. And I think Bronni's kind of handled himself as good as you could. Is
somebody in that position. Yeah, well, and I'll throw one other thing out, Nick, And you know this increasingly, and like Peyton Steva would tell you this, Russ Smith, there are so many more opportunities to play professional basketball. And I know that they've been there for a long time and but they're expanding in a way that makes it more financially viable for people like Brownie's never gonna have to worry about money. But there are so many opportunities
to play at a high level. And that's another part of this too, is like, look, if there's no shame in you not making the NBA or sticking in the NBA, you'd go play in Spain. You have a nice life. I mean, look at Kyle Carrott, you could have a really nice life. And now Granton, he's playing at one of the best clubs in the world. But I mean there are guys who who've had decade
long careers or longer playing second second level pro basketball overseas. So I mean, I just I think there's an opportunity for him somewhere, and I'm sure he'll stick. I just don't know if it's going to be with the Lakers past Lebron's on the day he up as Sneakers. Jeff, you are the man. Thanks for making time for us on a Friday, and best of luck to the club tomorrow. Hopefully they can get it done. All right, thanks my man. I appreciate you, all right. That's Jeff Greer.
Always appreciate the time and the conversation. Quick break. Will come back for a quick segment, super quick segment to wrap at the four o'clock hour. And then it's five o'clock on a Friday. Folks, buckle up Will Smith on a Friday? Or is this good summer vibes? Yes? Smith. For a second, I thought it might have been all cool Jay, but no, it's definitely Will Smith. I recognize it now, all right.
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online at Elin dot com. So very little time left here to really get into anything else but a load at five o'clock hour coming your way, a lot to get into. We'll reset some things from last night, talk a little more about the NBA draft stuff, and get yourself for the weekend. It's Friday, folks. Let's let's let's get it started right. Maybe your weekend starting right now. We got another hour to go, but you know we're almost there. Keep it locked right here. It's Coffee and Company.
Phil Beth Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety