KSR Today: One day closer to Derby

Good morning, friends, and congratulations on making it halfway through the week. If you’re a Star Wars fan, May the Fourth be with you. If you’re a Kentucky Derby fan, I hope the excitement for Thurby, Oaks, and Derby carries you through what may be your last workday of the week. Or, if you’re just a normal person staring at your computer or phone, tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo so at least there’s that. Tacos and margaritas make everything better.

It’s finals week at UK, hence the lack of actual UK sporting events. The fun starts back up tomorrow with game one of the baseball team’s series vs. Tennessee at Kentucky Proud Park. On Friday, the softball team travels to South Carolina for a series vs. the Gamecocks and the men’s tennis team hosts DePaul in the NCAA Tournament.

While we wait for the actual sports to rev back up, let’s take stock of what’s happening around the Bluegrass and beyond.

Kentucky Football on KSR radio later this week

Itching for a football fix? We’ve got just the thing. On Thursday, Mark Stoops will call KSR to give us the latest on the Cats following spring practice and the NFL Draft, and a day later, his right-hand man Vince Marrow will do the same. Hearing from two of the most popular men in the state on the state’s most popular radio show makes the end of the week a little easier, doesn’t it?

Chris Oats’ rehab continues

Two months ago, Chris Oats reached a major milestone on his road to recovery, standing up with assistance from his wheelchair. Now, almost two years after suffering a stroke, he’s working towards his next goal: walking. Oats and his mother Kim are at a neurological injury recovery center in Florida this week and shared these videos of his progress.

Day1 of our journey #oatsstrong22#wildcatsfamily pic.twitter.com/z1k2g54kkf

— Kcoats22 (@kcoats22) May 3, 2022

Day 1 on our journey #oatsstrong22 pic.twitter.com/THGx8mHZ1F

— Kcoats22 (@kcoats22) May 3, 2022

You can help Oats and his family throughout his rehabilitation journey by donating to their GoFundMe at 22OatsStrong.org.

Home teams win in the NBA Playoffs

Conference semifinals continue in the NBA Playoffs. Last night, Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Warriors 106-101 to even the series at 1-1. Morant got poked in the left eye in the third quarter but played through the blurred vision to finish with 47 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds. On the East coast, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics to a 109-86 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. That series is also tied at 1-1.

Tonight, a quartet of Cats are back in action as Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers take on Bam Adebayo, newly-minted NBA Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro, and the Heat. After that, Devin Booker and the Suns will try to take a 2-0 lead on the Mavericks.

• 7:30 PM (TNT): 76ers vs. Heat – Game 2, MIA leads 1-0
• 10:00 PM (TNT): Mavericks vs. Suns – Game 2, PHX leads series 1-0

Maybe if we’re lucky, Shaq will share his gas-saving tips again.

Kentucky Volleyball got a transfer

Craig Skinner’s squad added a new player yesterday. Kelly Franxman, a Covington, Ky. native, is transferring to Kentucky from Xavier. She’ll be eligible this fall. In 2021, Franxman played in 25 matches, recording 2.54 kills per set for the Musketeers and hitting .193. She had 213 kills on over 650 swings for Xavier, where she also averaged 1.96 digs per set. Welcome aboard, Kelly.

I’m not ready for Season 1 of Winning Time to be over

There are a million TV shows releasing new episodes right now, but if you haven’t yet, watch Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on HBO. The season finale is Sunday and I’m already dreading the moment it’s over. Adam McKay’s dramatized take on the Lakers’ rise to fame may not be 100% factual but it’s entertaining as hell and appointment viewing in our household. I’m not sure which is more impressive: the casting of Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson or John C. Reilly’s portrayal of Jerry Buss. Give it all the awards.

Bourbonade Season is here

The mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, but if you’d like to serve your guests something that’s not disgusting, try my bourbonade recipe. It’s a crowd-pleaser and the perfect thirst-quencher on a warm spring or summer day.

• 2 cups ice tea (unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup sugar or Splenda
• 1 12 oz can frozen lemonade
• 1 12 oz can frozen limeade
• 1 750 ml bottle of bourbon
• 7 cups water

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees announced

What do Eminem, Duran Duran, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Eurythmics, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and Carly Simon all have in common? They’re members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2022 Class. The group will be inducted during a ceremony on Nov. 5 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

And your #RockHall2022 Inductees are… pic.twitter.com/pPRuqMf8Kw

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) May 4, 2022

Dolly initially turned down her nomination but changed her tune after learning that the honor extends to all music genres, not just rock. I can’t wait for her speech.

Come to Star Wars Trivia tonight at KSBar

Celebrate May the Fourth by showing off your Star Wars knowledge at KSBar and Grille. The fun starts at 7 p.m.

TOMORROW – It's May the 4th and that means it's Star Wars Trivia Night.

Call (859) 554-6081 to reserve a table for your team.

And try not to yell "It's a trap" every 30 seconds while you're here. That gets old. Oh, no Yoda voices either. pic.twitter.com/G9NQ850A5Y

— KSBar & Grille (@KSBarAndGrille) May 3, 2022

Registration for the KSR Golf Scramble opens at 10 a.m.

One hour from now, you can secure your spot in the KSR Golf Scramble at Boone’s Trace Golf Club in Richmond on June 24. We’ll have all the details and the link to register on the site at 10 a.m. ET, so set a reminder.