Matt Jones - Kentucky Sports Radio

>> For Big Blue Nation fans.

The Kentucky Sports Radio franchise built by Maj Jones's appointment entertainment each weekday as he delivers a high octane blend of sports in political news commentary and comedy.

But even Jones has said is done in the most ridiculous manner possible.

Matt Jones is here to Dish on his expansive brand and maybe spill some tea on some baby and rumors and news.

>> It's now on connections.

♪ ♪ Thank you so much for joining us today for connections.

I'm Renee Shaw, Matt Jones, founder and host of K S are Kentucky sports radio with 40 affiliates.

Also has an NFL preview show on ESPN radio.

He's the co-owner of the Kentucky Sports Bar and Grill VW wrestling.

That's right.

And author of New York Times bestseller Mitch plays.

He doesn't need a longer introduction than that as he's a familiar voice to thousands and thousands and thousands of big Blue Nation fans.

Matt Jones, good to have you.

>> Nice to be around.

Tell you, my parents are probably more excited about me doing this and anything.

They watch you all the time.

And I've done interviews over the country and I've never had to be more I was going to be on with Renee Shaw.

Got to solid County is watching.

Oh, that's awesome.

I'll gladly take them.

So thank you all.

Appreciate it.

>> Are you doing?

Alright?

I'm doing all right.

You're doing better than all right.

Yeah.

Well, I mean, I >> things have really worked out well for us.

You know, radio show is is very popular.

And I I did TV for a while.

You know, that's a stressful game, right?

So haven't done that a couple years.

But yeah, I'm doing things are great.

So remember, the time we talked was in Pikeville you are and that's what's the name of that bar restaurant.

Plus bar so far.

downtown.

>> Yeah, that's right.

And because you are doing your radio show on the road and it was in preparation for you to emcee Fancy Farm pick.

That's right.

So we sat there and did that.

That was really fun being there.

I think that war mistakenly like this orange came across or >> how cross on these airwaves.

They came out and said I talked to log and I still think I was trying to be funny.

And I actually thought we were Now cross.

He crushed me on the on the Fancy Farm brought.

>> You know about you, but I will say that you changed the game for Fancy Farm.

All right.

Because up until that point had been very kind of stayed kind of commentary.

People just kind of read what was given to him.

You really did bring a different flavor, an energy that that picnic had not seen since I've been around?

Well, that's very so.

I think they they've had to maybe change something since you, but it's for the working for the good or I might go with that.

I'm a big believer.

We talk about politics are so >> And I'm a big believer that you have to make things entertaining for people like if you try to be staid and boring, like people are just not going to follow it.

So I thought, well, this fate before picking some amazing traditions going back.

It's probably the most important political event of the year.

Let's make it to where people want to see it.

Yeah, that aren't just political heads and I enjoy that.

They have invited me back.

I think that's not unusual.

I know I think Mitch McConnell did not like some of the jokes I made was to say I've gone back and looked at it was it was funny.

But I can see where some people have been >> But I did not like the AB 99 problems what he didn't like.

Well.

>> And that's one that really resonated with.

I'm 90 Z like me.

I was like, OK, he's bringing it.

Okay.

So let's talk about your background because something like everybody knows what you do.

And when you talk about.

But I want people to know who you are like.

You're from Bell County.

A mother was a prosecutor.

Now she's going to seminary.

I mean, you know, you you came in Bell County is not exactly Fayette County or Jefferson County.

It's the rule experience.

I want to talk about that and then how you become somebody who graduates number 2 in your glass from do.

>> Well, I I grew up in Bell County.

My was up.

Ross was initially just a small town lawyer then became one of the first 2 elected women, prosecutors and state of Kentucky in 1993, she and another woman became the first 2.

>> I grew up around watching her, etcetera.

I loved being in from the mountains.

I think I'm a mountain guide.

you know what's Transylvania than the law school at Duke and was practicing law and just decided it really one for me.

And I started a Web site just as a hobby.

In 2005, I can't wait that long.

Almost 20 years ago, right?

It was just a hobby.

Kentucky sports radio dot com.

And it kind of took off.

And in 2009, I stopped practicing law altogether and just devoted myself to that the radio show and then have been kind of expanding since.

>> They said you have Howard and the thank for your successful.

Yeah.

He was actually a big part of it.

So I guess in 2004 I was in Washington, D.C., Clerking on the DC circuit and Howard Dean was kind of at that time.

The hot potential candidate to run against George W Bush and I went to one of his little meetings in Washington, D.C., early on and they were talking about how blogs where the way to communicate to younger people.

And I thought, wow, OK, so Howard Dean is doing this messaging on the way on the Internet, which at the time was new right?

And I said, you know, I could do that.

But what do I want to write about?

And then UK sport?

So, yeah, as odd as it is, Howard Dean is mostly known for scream and after that thing in Iowa.

But he watching how he created that campaign.

It's kind of what led me to create a website and then old MTV Vj.

Let's see if you remember Adam He's yeah.

Okay.

So I was this in the NBA in PR and Adam Curry was on any start.

Talk about this new thing called podcast.

He said you can talk to people directly downloaded on the Internet.

And I thought, man, that sounds interesting.

And so in 2005 also create a podcast.

So Howard Dean and 2 big reasons.

I started to.

>> Griese a Matt Jones there.

So so you didn't want to practice law, but why?

I mean, what was it about?

I liked it.

I mean, yeah, I just want was growing up.

My mom was a prosecutor.

So she was in courtroom a lot.

So I got to see her make arguments.

And that's what I like.

I really liked getting up watching her talk in front of a jury.

>> When she's that's performing event, something a little bit and just really good at it like she's really good at making.

I'm big on making logical arguments like you say this and I try to counter it and I watch my mom do that.

Then when I started practicing law realized unless you're a prosecutor, you really do much of that.

And I didn't really enjoy that.

I worked for a cross bow tie.

Great people.

But what my thing and then I worked for myself.

I had a part like a law firm with another guy for the mind.

And I liked it.

But this other thing was more fun.

>> And this?

Yeah.

And it's worked out for ya.

I mean, you know, think about how much is expanded now you've got all these other enterprise is that you're doing?

>> But to get to a wrestling show, you go.

Let me know when you want to come.

Haha, you can be a haha, I don't even know what's involved in and that what is involved in that.

But I mean, look, I wrestling to me is like wrestling Lowry.

I grew up watching it.

I think it's like it's almost like performance art supplies.

Yeah, you know, people say to me, well, is it real?

Well, I mean, I don't if you watch succession or pick a television show where they're not real, but they're fun.

They're fun and entertaining.

And I really like watching we're a developmental group.

>> So I watch.

I like watching people try to reach their dreams, trying to reach the WWF and rwb and all that.

So it's been a lot of fun.

And I'm just I have an entrepreneurial spirit.

Yeah, I'm trying to take credit.

Remebered is the mayor of Louisville.

He and I bought it and we're hoping we have a Netflix show coming out in when Tree crew followed me around all the wrestlers around for 4 months and it comes out dog.

What's it called?

I know.

But I'm not supposed to say about it.

It will.

If you're seeing last Chance U action I've heard it's the director that did that.

Okay.

His neck showcase to look for that.

You're look at you like and all kinds of ways.

So when you started doing Kentucky sports radio, did you set out for it to be like this kind of political stuff, too?

>> I didn't think anybody would ever listen to.

First time I did a podcast.

It was just me and 2 of my friends and we I remember we looked after 2 days and 14 people had downloaded.

And I thought 14 people must be really bored if they're sitting there downloading this.

So I never I if you had told me it would even end up on a radio station.

I wouldn't have believed it much less what it became so.

The politics part came to be honest with you it when KET Rupp Arena, they were trying to decide whether or not to like redo it.

And I kind of got involved in that process.

And David Williams was Senate majority leader had him on my show.

And I just kind of I don't like politics, but I found a way to integrate the show.

And then when Mitch McConnell ran against Alison Lundergan I did some stuff with that.

They brought me to Fancy Farm and it just kind of took on.

But yeah, from there.

>> And you know, you have been an alleged candidate.

>> Haha.

>> I mean, for the 6 district Congressional District and Andy Barr hold even as someone against U.S., Senator Mitch McConnell you know, did you really, really think about doing were I mean where you are?

So you first, that's for sure.

That was one where you more serious the Senate, the so when they want to me to run against Andy Barr, the National Democratic.

>> It for people who don't know the way they do that stuff.

They recruit people to run.

And they recruited me after fancy for they saw me at Fancy Farm and said, hey, this guy kind of gets under Mitch McConnell, skin.

Maybe he should run against Andy Barr's.

They brought me up there.

They took like and I just KET that one for me.

I think people in the House of Representatives are insane.

Not not all of them, but most of them.

And it's also you have no power or at all.

The Senate was different.

I thought Mitch McConnell still think Mitch McConnell need to be replaced.

I sort of looked at it and thought maybe I'm the one person that would have a shot.

It's very, very difficult to beat him.

Obviously.

And I really considered I almost did it to be honest with you.

I would you do it.

I don't think I would do it now.

I I remember thinking that I'm either going to do it now when I'm young, not married, you know, have the energy for it.

I thought the contrast between me and Mitch McConnell was a good win.

His strengths, his weaknesses.

I thought I couldn't.

So I came very close.

I was probably 55.

45 know almost did it.

But once I decided not to do that, I kind of thought I probably won't.

You know, that was the time to take out.

The Senate majority leader is a radio host would have been a heck of a thing I not so I won't say never, but I think it would be very unlikely for me to do it.

>> What about a statewide race?

I did.

To be quite frank with us to show off.

I think our our platform we have on K S are.

Has a better chance to affect people's lives than all.

But maybe the governor and U.S. senator.

>> So how does that do that in your view?

>> Well, OK, so in America, you're actually one of the people that's an example of of what I what I think is positive.

Now day so many people consume their news based on people.

They agree with some Republicans watch FOX News Newsmax Liberals watch MSNBC.

Whatever.

I don't think they're very many people who will take the time to really listen to the other side.

Not just get mad.

Okay.

Ks are.

I'm a pretty known Democrat slash progress.

But my audience to 75% conservative.

We've done some polls of that.

Most of my audience or Republicans.

>> I think it's a very unique things like how many people, how many liberals in this world talk to conservatives every day and they list right?

I can't think of another should only because you temper it with the basketball in the FA.

And I think it's because when they first met me, I wasn't talking to them about politics, right?

So they got there no way was a different because actually they got to know me through sports.

So they don't just lies.

Did well.

Radio is a very intimate media.

Like when you listen to radio, you get to know the person on it.

You can't be fake on radio.

You could be fake on Not she's You can be you cannot be fake already.

You're on too much.

And I think they got to know me.

And so they want to start talking about this hour.

We say for a lot of people on their one liberal for it box right now in the mountains.

I have so many people say to me, man down the wire, LeBron, I love you like that's but but what it does do, what they have voted for, you.

Why can you put I don't know.

I really do.

I don't think anybody is likability is a factor, right?

Which is a big factor was very unlike and hey, I want to go have a beer with Matt Jones and just I don't really drink, but I KET we could have a DOT Co. Yeah, I'm good with that.

I don't drink very good.

So, you know, I think that may be.

>> Right, that that's a big part.

And that's what we're talking about.

Now.

We look at who we've got in this giving tutorials danial camera, Andy Beshear like likability is going to be a big part of that.

If the state is red.

But yet people like Andy because maybe how he's handled crises and challenges.

I mean, how big of a factor is that overcome all the things that Republicans are going to La Bacha?

I?

>> It's a great question.

I I don't know.

I mean, I think let's put it like this.

If I had been the running against McConnell instead, Amy McGrath, I would have done better than she did.

But what I've won with Trump on the ballot, probably not.

And that was one of the things I KET.

I wasn't delusional.

I mean, I KET it was going to be very hard to wait if Trump wasn't on the ballot.

>> All right.

Well, that was a different situation.

They're not my head up hunters chance, but I just decided I also KET the fire and no one would ever see me to say.

So like they never would see me.

Is there one liberal friend again, they're not be the guy who ran for office.

And I don't think to be quite frank with you.

Let's say Iran and last I went back on the radio.

I wouldn't have 75% Republicans listening.

I would have been they would look at me the same.

So I had to say, do I want to give up this platform?

I have this ability to talk to people that are different to me.

For race and I'm probably going to yeah.

And I just decided it would work.

>> Yeah.

And so do you think you're changing some of your conservative listeners minds?

>> I don't know about that, but I do think what I try to do is I try to say, OK, it's very easy in today's culture for people to caricature views that are different than that.

>> I try to say I'm a reasonable person that you think is whatever nice.

And I think that so maybe everybody's not crazy.

You know.

Made for instance, we've had at our sports bar.

We've had drag but we did it because they sell out and we make money.

I didn't do it for political state, but the fact that I makes it to where people don't just think, well, it's all these crazy see on television.

Here's somebody I listen to that thinks there's value in allowing people to express themselves and maybe they look at it slightly different.

I'm not saying it changes their mind, but it might temper that a little.

So you're not saying that what you're doing at the K S bar.

>> Could have had some influence on the Senate bill.

One 15 that came before, you know, the Legislature, you I'm not going to give myself that but I do think, though, here's my hope.

And I mean this, I'm serious about this all across the state.

There are people in every town.

Are different than the majority of people in their time.

And a lot of times.

That's a very difficult spot to be.

Maybe it's that their day, maybe they're a minority.

Maybe they just think differently.

Right?

I want to sort of show people.

I think a lot of the things those people do and you like me, maybe you should give those people a chance.

Maybe you shouldn't just assume all the stereotypes about them.

And I do think maybe we have an impact on some level on that, right?

Do we change the state's political culture?

Know Hoy our audience would be growing if if they were turned off by it.

Right?

We talk less sports now.

Then we've ever and our audience is greater now than it's ever been.

What's your audience?

What do you know what I like size like?

It's it's it's hard to get a number, but a big sample.

We're on 5th.

We're now in 50 markets across the state.

We're number one in every market where and we are the largest sports, local sports radio show in the United States.

There's no even shows in New York.

Boston L a we do better in our market than anyone else does in the country.

And then, you on ESPN now nationally, so what I've tried to show is if you treat people with respect, if you.

You can talk about things that are controversial.

But here's what you can do, which is what a lot of liberals do, which is talk down to people.

You cannot you cannot talk down to people.

You have to treat them with respect.

And you have to not just assume that because somebody disagrees with you there I think that's why people give it a shot.

>> Do you call yourself a liberal?

>> I think I say progressive because I think a liberal.

I'm more about economics than social issues.

I really care about the working class.

So I'm not I probably think progressively on social issues, but I care about the people who get up every day and go work and who are screwed over by the and have been for years.

I I would have been old school union, Democrat unions lie.

but yeah, I'll call myself a progressive.

I don't know what the word liberal even means anymore.

Yeah, I'm probably a progressive moderate because I do think.

On some issues you can't go too far or the system will screw up right?

>> Well, let's talk about progressivism because you and Adam Ihlen who was a former state auditor who ran for governor.

You know, you all started this project, the Kentucky new Kentucky Scott has a birth and death data August.

26 16 and it ended April 2019 to know a lot of things happen.

There.

Dillon was running.

You are being talked about as a candidate.

Both.

Why?

Why of all the Times he would say if there was ever a time a group like that could really catch fire where maybe it's progressive, but also common sense ideas and to really help a groundswell of grassroots.

Why not resurrect that now?

>> I learned a lot of lessons from that.

I mean the reasons that didn't succeed had less to do with the ideology was more.

We all myself included.

Source stressed ourself to fend Craig Greenberg was part of that.

Yeah.

Morgan McGarvey has been a congressman was part of that other things to do it all.

And then, you know, when Adam decide to run for governor, that sort of took his focus.

But but I also think when Trump came into office, everything in politics became pro or con Trump.

Everything was bad.

You couldn't just say let's talk about issues.

All people want to talk about Trump.

I mean, we had our first forum at the New Kentucky project and we tried to talk about issues and all anybody want to talk about stopping Trump.

And like I said, I don't particularly like Trump.

I don't like Trump.

But at the same time, I don't think the world should be about what Trump does every single day.

And that's what politics is.

And I just wanted to retreat for that.

So what I realized is if I spend more time focusing on what happens in Kentucky, people don't people will be more open-minded about the state of Kentucky.

Then they will the nation.

And you see that with the fact that Andy Beshear has a chance to win.

I mean, this is a Trump plus 30 state and we might re elected a Democrat for governor.

You going to ask both he and Cameron to come on?

I would love to I. Cameron was supposed to come on the primary debate.

He ended up backing out heat.

We scheduled around his schedule.

He said no, but anyone so he might not want to do it.

I didn't get his first as you did an amazing job on a new U. I mean that like you really you're the only person that was able to get all the candidates.

They're so kudos to you.

Thank you.

And you did an excellent job.

I hope he will come and do a debate in general.

I'd be surprised if you do.

Yeah.

>> Well, and we believe that the more opportunities that, you know, citizens and voters have for people to see what they are about, not just because of ads.

It's the best man.

You want an informed citizenry.

So we're both kind of good at it.

From the same perspective, new.

>> Do the same thing that I try to do, which is it's not about inserting are absolutely not.

I don't expect Daniel Cameron to agree with me.

The question, though, for Daniel, an ad.

Can you back up what you say be on like platitude.

It's like anybody can say.

But when somebody says, OK, but what about why?

To me, that's when you find out if people really know and are are into it.

And that's what I think.

Debates are good.

>> Well, and, you know, we had not I did not see with the official turnout was, but it was projected to be what, 10 to 15% at 14, 14%.

So that's not good.

That's terrible.

And so do you think we should have our governor's contest in the presidential election year?

I don't.

>> Because then I think it just becomes a national referendum.

So if you have it when the PA which already who disagree with you, that it is.

>> I mean, again, if it that she's are.

But if it was a national referendum, baby would lose by law.

I mean, Trump won by 30 Mitch McConnell about 22 right.

If this was a national referendum, this we wouldn't even be talking about this being competitive.

I think if you move it to a presidential year, what happens is whoever people vote for president the vote.

That party for governor.

And I think our governors races will not be competitive here ever again.

Good points.

So that's why I kind of actually like it off.

Yeah, OK, let's talk some sports talk, which is really not my wheelhouse.

But I feel like I got to get it in half.

>> 2 cars that people want to know especially way like what's he going to I thought it was 100% chance.

He laughed.

I think there's a chance he might have been working out.

He has.

I think you I think is hard, isn't leaving.

But if he doesn't have a place to go, he might come back because he says that.

What did he say that was tweeted out?

I believe there will be a team in the NBA that will love what I do.

>> Yeah, I think his heart.

>> Listen, people.

I'm a big believer, people.

Some father.

I think his heart is in moving So I hope he finds a place.

But if he doesn't, if nobody wants him, I could see him coming back.

Coming back to UK are getting at the airport.

I think what he said yesterday UK.

So I think okay, I if he says that I have no reason to.

I thought that transferring was a possibility.

But he seemed us definitively say if he comes back, it will be UK.

So how big of a deal is this transfer of power portal?

It's completely change changer.

Completely change.

College sports.

The difference between the transfer portal, the addition, the transfer portal and nil knowledge, college sports are completely different that I think it's more fair.

I think it's the way the world should be, but it has completely and totally changed.

What college athletics are in a good or bad way.

Good.

But we've got to get some regulations were in this Wild West period.

Still no, but yeah, nobody really knows what to do and how to define.

The Supreme Court said you have to do this, but Congress hasn't made any laws yet we need.

I do think we need to create some guardrails.

But overall college kids should be able to go to college where they want.

College kids should be able to make money just like you before.

We didn't let that thing that happened.

And I don't know Okay.

So okay.

The bad part about it is.

>> The bad part about it is.

>> I think it's right for people to get fraud like put like this.

I think there were 3,000 for 1500 football players that got the portal and only 900 and up a scholarship.

600 people out where those 600 people right like I don't know.

I think that's where we've got to figure out.

Do you guarantee these folks education's, you know, and then on the and I'll peace, are we really just going to make it to whoever pays most is where they go to school.

Maybe that's okay.

We do that every other form of life.

But it is not exist.

Does it feel exactly right about public university?

Yeah.

>> So UK athletics, are they doing a better job about getting homegrown in-state talent?

>> We don't produce enough of it here.

We don't produce enough of it to begin with.

Yeah.

I mean, the state of Kentucky in football.

We're starting to produce pretty good players.

In basketball.

If you only took kids from Kentucky, you're not going with the Kentucky fans want to We just don't have this time of people.

Yeah, and we just don't have enough.

The city of Louisville used to produce you systems that created really good basketball players.

That's kind of broken down and I think it's hurt.

Yeah.

Okay.

Boos at the games.

>> So there's going to be a trial period here with the baseball and softball games, right?

Do you think there should be boos at the football and the?

>> Yeah.

Basketball game.

We have it everywhere else.

I don't.

I think that's the reason why not anyway, I mean, what's the grounding them talk about like safety and fan experience and that's all true.

But alcohol is legal on that.

I mean, like you're not just people are drinking these games.

I mean, I'll take There's a lot of people out of the game.

Yeah, not going to be drink, I think is is is silly.

You know, maybe you create zones where there's no alcohol for families.

I'm cool with that.

But the idea that you're going to when you try to legislate more Audi, you almost always going to fight.

Yeah, I think trying to KET alcohol from being in games trying to legislate.

>> Last question, 30 seconds.

People happy with Cal or not.

>> Yes, but he better win this year.

A lot of people are like this is the year cow.

We've got great players come in.

We've got to win.

>> Yeah, this is fun.

Match.

I had fun and how to my parents who are.

>> How very happy though.

Well, thank you for Mac.

You come back some time.

We'll talk to a spot on the Shout out to Bell County to we love you.

Haha, thanks so much for watching.

You can watch the show again online at KET Dot Org, slash connections.

We have podcast to KET in touch with us on social media, Facebook, Twitter where their Instagram you see it on your screen.

>> Make sure you tune in each week night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire and I will see you on Kentucky tonight.

Monday night at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

Thanks for joining us.

Take good care and I'll see you real soon.

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