Hello, friends. Today was a tough one. Recovering from a holiday weekend comes with aches and pains that accompany the game of catch-up at work. Even though I was logging shifts in the blog mines, there is still plenty of catch-up to play at Kentucky Sports Radio.
Matt Ponatoski‘s announcement and a candid conversation with Kentucky offensive tackle Shiayzh Pete consumed the time around Fourth of July festivities. Nevertheless, there were still a few things on my to-do list that were left unattended. It’s time to check some boxes.
An Explosive Celebration
Matt Ponatoski celebrated his commitment to Kentucky with a bang. The blue Cadillac was a nice touch. He’s clearly ready to be a Cat.
And Just Like That, It’s College Football Talking Season
There is no real offseason in the world of college athletics, even if there aren’t any games in June and July. Despite a slow start, recruiting consumed the first month of the summer. As fun as it can be at times, what separates the winners from the losers is Talking Season.
We are one week away from SEC Media Days, which serves as a convention for us talking heads to get together and Bake Takes. Rankings will be flying off the shelves faster than you can keep track. Even though Mark Stoops’ Kentucky football program will not be a featured player, the KSR crew is fired up to deliver you a ton of content from Atlanta, where revenue-sharing will surely dominate the conversation.
Agents Need to Chill
NBA free agency is a shell of what it once was. Contracts have been restructured to incentivize players to stay put. It’s better for the health of the league, but it makes the summer significantly less entertaining, even when they just completed the first seven-team trade in NBA history.
Agents have made it even worse. The days of Woj Bombs that were purely informative are done. Now, Shams has to tell us which suit is behind the deal. Why do agents need credit for doing their jobs? Cut the crap. We don’t need name drops for every free agency deal.
Banana Ball is Something You Gotta Experience
The Savannah Bananas are the modern-day Harlem Globetrotters, yet are on their way to becoming significantly more successful. Not only do they know how to monetize it and market via social media, they do something the Globetrotters didn’t: Play a real game.
That’s something I learned when I got my first Banana Ball experience. The Party Animals played the Visitors at Louisville Slugger Field. In the first inning of the two-hour performance, the Visitors went yard. The Party Animals eventually came back, in large part thanks to a home run from a guy who chugged a beer before entering the batter’s box.
Of course, the game is a footnote for the entertainment product. They have essentially turned a sport into a circus that features music and dancing. It’s one sporting event where you are guaranteed to leave happier than you arrived, and it’s an experience I’d recommend to anyone of all ages (but especially those who have kids).
This probably wasn’t the best cameo of the weekend. Johnny Damon returned to Fenway for an at-bat.
Nothing like the All American Rejects surprising a sold out crowd at Fenway with a little mid-game concert
pic.twitter.com/RkXrdURTMK
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 6, 2025
D’Eriq King is Already a College Football Coach
Remember when D’Eriq King became the first big-time profiteer of the NIL era? The revenue-sharing era is beginning with King on the sidelines as the SMU quarterbacks coach.
Speaking of random quarterbacks, I chased a rabbit down the hole over the weekend and was stunned. Michael Vick has average college football stats. He only had 20 TDs and 11 INTs in two years at Va. Tech. Jalen Hurts had 40 touchdowns and 10 picks (only one in year two) and it still wasn’t good enough for him to keep his starting job. Lynn Bowden had more rushing yards (1,468) in one year than Vick did in two (1,202).
It’s evidence that Vick played in a much different era of college football. The offensive game has changed drastically, and Vick’s ability to open up the field with his athleticism certainly played a role.
Excellent College Football Names
Did you know Moh Bility will suit up for Rice this fall? His change of direction is incomparable. However, it’s not the greatest name that came across the wire. Four-star wide receiver Boobie Feaster committed to play at USC.
Peake Roasts Tennessee
I love to mix it up with Tennessee fans. The Vols know how to get me going. I was never forced to live amongst ’em. Steven Peake spent time working in Knoxville. You can hear the hate that spawned years ago. Shout out to Mr. Peake for creating one of the best thumbnails on YouTube dot com.
The Kentucky Derby will never be the same
Over the last week, I’ve searched for the right words to provide a profound way to salute a horse racing legend. D. Wayne Lukas passed away at 89. What do you say about the guy who did it all for as long as he could do it?
I was born into a world where he dominated horse racing. By the time I started taking my kids to the track, he was still winning Triple Crown races.
I’ve spent my whole life around the sport, and am still learning about it each day. One thing I’ve determined, from the racing side to the breeding operations, this isn’t just a job. Horse racing is a lifestyle, one that he chose after spending years as a Coach. He did not take that responsibility lightly, arriving at the track well before dawn to tend to his horses, even until his dying days.
It’s easy to get lost on the backside of Churchill Downs. D. Wayne Lukas’ barn stood as an obelisk of success. The Kentucky Derby won’t be the same without it.
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