KSR Today: A Chamber of Commerce Saturday Across Kentucky

Folks, it doesn’t get much better than this. There are clear skies and warm, 70-degree temperatures as far as the eye can see. It’s a beautiful day in Kentucky.

For the young folks who are graduating from UK this weekend, it’s an ideal opportunity to crack open a couple cold cokes and have an afternoon. Is Darty still a thing? That term was a little after my time and it’s probably already cooked.

For an old fart like myself, this is where the garden starts. From flower boxes to busting out the tiller and tomato cages, no amount of dirt is going untouched on this beautiful Saturday. It’s a great day to have a great day.

The Bat Cats go for a series win at Kentucky Proud Park

Why tend to the honey-do list when you can have someone take you out to the ballgame? It’s a wonderful day to watch the Kentucky Wildcats in their final weekend homestand.

Things got off to a good start on Friday night. Cole Hage hit a two-run Big Blue Bomb to power Kentucky to a four-run third inning. It was the only offense the Cats had all night, but it was all they needed. Oklahoma scored an unearned run in the fifth and Jackson Nove got the Cats out of the jam. The Sooners stayed scoreless up until the final two strikeouts from Simon Gregersen, who recorded the save in the 4-3 victory over Oklahoma.

Friends of COLE!@Colehage_33 with a two-run #BigBlueBomb to give us the lead!

The Cats hit for team cycle in first four batters of the third inning.

B3 | UK 3, OU 2 https://t.co/JW0RwSWWw4 pic.twitter.com/ukelCZmqyW

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) May 9, 2025

You only have two opportunities to see this team in action at Kentucky Proud Park. This team needs the support of Big Blue Nation to secure its NCAA Tournament fate. Get over there! The action starts at 12:30 pm ET this afternoon and will be broadcast live on SEC Network.

Why couldn’t we have had this weather a week ago?

I’ll never complain too much about Kentucky Derby weather. It’s the Derby. It’s a great day no matter what. However, I would have preferred this weather over a raincoat anytime.

Today and tomorrow will be ideal conditions at Churchill Downs. Friday got off to a rough start with a breakdown at the finish line in race one. We’re pushing forward with an 11-race card, highlighted by the Grade I Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic. First post is at 12:45 PM ET.

Congrats to all of the University of Kentucky Graduates!

Thousands of University of Kentucky students are now holding diplomas, well, at least leather books that will hold diplomas once they arrive in the mail in a few weeks. There were a few notable student-athletes who walked across the stage at Rupp Arena. Rajon Rondo returned to Kentucky and received his diploma, as did former Kentucky cornerback Chris Westry.

Kerr Kriisa and I share something in common: We had to bring a basketball onto the stage. Mine was a Nerf ball. This was the real deal Holyfield, and not Steven Peake’s Wilson Evo NXT.

Kerr Kriisa and his basketball at commencement pic.twitter.com/pBVddMgiBL

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) May 9, 2025

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Biggest NBA Playoff Game Since…

You rarely see an NBA Playoff game with as much hype as this afternoon’s matchup in Madison Square Garden between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Sure, it happens in game sevens in the conference finals, or in The Finals, but a second round playoff game 3?

Tickets are going for thousands of dollars. Knicks fans have lost their minds in a way that we haven’t seen since the 90s. New York took a surprising 2-0 lead after mounting consecutive 20-point comebacks while Boston shot a combined 25-100 from three-point land. Will water find its level, or will the Knicks put the defending World Champions in a 3-0 hole? We’ll find out at 3:30 PM ET on ABC.

It’s not the only NBA Playoff game on the docket. The Timberwolves and Nuggets are tied at 1-1. They take the court for game three in Golden State at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.

The Pope at the World Series

The selection of a new Pope is meaningful for Catholics around the world. This time, we got a new Pope in the internet era from the United States of America. It’s produced incredible content online, but nothing was more jarring than seeing the future Pope in the crowd at the World Series. What a wild time to be alive.

Pope Leo XIV made the broadcast while at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series

pic.twitter.com/VGSqkRFsSB

— Joe Binder (@JoeBinder) May 9, 2025