When Mark Pope announced that he would be taking questions directly from BBN, we all knew things could get interesting. But honestly, it turned out pretty good; you had some honest questions and some good answers. Sure, there were sarcastic questions that just were never going to be answered, but Pope did address the GM situation. While it wasn’t the answer a lot of people hoped for, at least there is now a clear hierarchy within the basketball front office. Let’s break it down.
Kentucky
6 Best Lakeside Towns in Kentucky
The Bluegrass State may be famous for the Appalachian Mountains, but its lakeside towns are equally amazing. If you want to rent a secluded cabin in the heart of the mountains, you don’t have to travel far. And lakeside retreats are not in short supply either! These amazing lakeside hamlets, in most cases, provide the best of both worlds: the mountains and calming waters. Some, like the kitschy area of Burnside, feel almost like a seaside getaway. So, load up the canoe on your roof rack, and let’s get to know these charming lakeside retreats.
Aurora
Far removed from the bustle of the big city is the charming city of Aurora. If you’re dreaming of waking up in a lakeside cottage overlooking the quiet waters of Kentucky Lake, there are plenty of cabin rental options in Aurora. It’s a summertime hub for outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of opportunities to fish, hike, and relax along the calming waters. The downtown area is exactly what you would expect from this close-knit community. Quiet streets and delightful locally owned shops. The Hitching Post and Old Country Store, for instance, is the perfect place to stock up on supplies before heading out on the water.
The Kenlake State Resort Park is a popular spot among summertime tourists to unwind on Kentucky Lake. You can rent a pontoon at the marina, or take a hike on one of their wooded trails. It even has an outdoor amphitheater that’s ideal for watching the sunsets or catching a live show during the Hot August Blues Festival. Another great spot is the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, which offers 300 miles of peaceful shoreline and includes an Elk and Bison Prairie and the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. Aurora is one of those off-the-beaten-path towns that will help you unwind and reconnect with nature after a long week.
Grand Rivers
Grand Rivers is a small, often overlooked Kentucky town with a lot of heart. The downtown area feels like stepping back in time with its commercial buildings dating back to the late 1800s. Visitors can shop in unique stores like Grand Rivers Antiques or wake up with a fresh cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll at the Boston Block Cafe. The Badgett Playhouse is a great spot to catch a show at the end of the day and offers live theater 12 months out of the year.
While there’s plenty to discover inside Grand Rivers, the real adventure starts just outside the city limits. It’s home to two breathtaking dams: the Kentucky Lake Dam and the Kentucky Dam. You can access the view of the dams via the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, which offers so much more than prime dam access! If you want to spend the day fishing on Kentucky Lake, the Kentucky Dam Marina offers daily boat rentals as well as pontoons and jet skis. One of the more popular hiking trails in the area is in Kentucky Dam Village, which takes you along maintained pathways with calming shorelines along Kentucky Lake. Grand Rivers is the perfect spot where life is never boring.
Kuttawa
Along the crystal-clear shores of Lake Barkley, Kuttawa was named after the Cherokee village, meaning “city in the woods” or “great wilderness.” While Kuttawa is sandwiched between lush wooded areas and picturesque views of Lake Barkley, it still provides all of the amenities of a home. If you want to get lost in the wilderness while still experiencing great dining and cozy accommodations, Kuttawa is a must-visit. The Oasis Southwest Grill offers excellent pub food, and Hu-B’s on Kuttawa Harbor is a perfect spot to enjoy a meal and the view (although they’re only open seasonally).
When you’re ready to explore the natural wonder of Kuttawa, the Old Kuttawa Recreation Area is a popular local freshwater recreation site in Kentucky. It combines the shores of Lake Barkley with Kentucky Lake, and it’s a great spot to take the family. You can take a dip in its calming waters or take a short hike through the shaded Anderson Woodland Trail. The Mineral Mound State Park is another scenic spot in Kuttawa with a popular golf course, boat launch, and cozy picnic areas. No matter what you love, you’re bound to fall in love with the delightful city of Kuttawa.
Burnside
As the only town on Lake Cumberland, Burnside is a fantastic summertime retreat with water views everywhere you look! Downtown Burnside has all the vibes of a kitschy beach town. The downtown area is dotted with quaint shops and cafes like The Goodie Shack or The Cove Grill, highlighting the fun and lively feeling of Burnside. They even hold fun events year-round, including the Summer Kick-Off Concert, Thunder Over Burnside, and Christmas Island.
One of the most popular attractions in Burnside is the General Burnside Island State Park. This scenic park has so much to do, and you could spend an entire weekend alone there. It has an 18-hole regulation golf course, a boat launch for fishing on Lake Cumberland, 75 acres dedicated to camping, and picnic areas. As one of Kentucky’s few island parks, it’s something truly unique to the state. Just 12 miles from Burnside is Lee’s Ford Marina, which is one of the best marinas on Lake Cumberland. If you want to experience life on the water, Burnside is the place to be!
Calvert City
Looking for an exciting getaway to take the family over a long weekend? Think of Calvert City as a fun beach retreat (sans the ocean) in Kentucky! With wooded trails, peaceful water views of the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, and a hopping downtown area, it’s a great place to unwind. Downtown has a host of fun, family-friendly activities like Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland (a truly wacky experience), or late-night movies at the Calvert Drive-In.
If it’s rest and relaxation you need, densely wooded trails and water adventures are not far! The Bo Beckett Loop Trail is a short, scenic trail with views of Kentucky Lake and the Kentucky Dam Marina within Kentucky Dam Village State Park. If you love biking, the Land Between the Lake North and South Trails is a great place to ride. After a long day on the water, head into town for some of the best Southern cooking in the state at Southern Fried & Sweet Tea, and be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth at the Tiny Cakes Emporium! Calvert City is a great way to escape the stress and have a little fun over a long weekend!
Paducah
In the Four Rivers Region of Kentucky is the fun and quirky town of Paducah. While Paducah offers sweeping water views in town, it’s also a hop, skip, and a jump away from Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and Land Between the Lakes. The newly installed Paducah Transient Boat Dock connects you from the water to the heartbeat of Paducah. After spending a day on the water, dock your boat and set out to explore Historic Downtown Paducah.
Fun fact: downtown Paducah was hailed as the country’s most beautiful Main Streets by countless publications, including Architectural Digest. Set along the Ohio River, you can walk the rustic brick sidewalks and pop in cheerful cafes like the Etcetera Coffeehouse. As an artsy town, Paducah has so much to offer. The National Quilt Museum is awe-inspiring, even if you don’t quilt! The Yeiser Art Center, only a block away from the quilt museum, has rotating exhibits and a small permanent collection. With a charming and artsy vibe and amazing water views on full display, Paducah is a must-see on your next Kentucky road trip.
Experience Kentucky’s Alluring Lakeside Towns
Did you know that Kentucky has more miles of running water than any other state in the continental United States? In fact, it has more shoreline than Florida! As a part of the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Range, it’s like a nature lover’s paradise. These small towns are slow-paced and uncrowded and provide scenic retreats without being boring. Discover the artsy vibe of Paducah, or watch your worries melt away while lounging on Lake Barkley in Kuttawa. These towns prove you don’t have to drive to the Atlantic Ocean to treat yourself to a relaxed vacation by the water!
Warm and humid weather for Preakness Stakes this weekend
The second race of the Triple Crown is May 16 in Laurel, Maryland. Conditions at Preakness Stakes are expected to be warmer with humidity. There could be a spotty thunderstorm after the race.
Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby. He won’t be at the Preakness. And that’s becoming a familiar story.
This marks the second straight year and the third time in five years that the Derby winner has decided not to compete in the Preakness Stakes despite having a healthy horse. The reason is almost always the same: two weeks isn’t enough time.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the call quickly after Golden Tempo’s dramatic last-to-first Derby victory on May 2.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime,” DeVaux said in a statement. “We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”
DeVaux and Golden Tempo are focused on the June 6 Belmont Stakes instead.
The pattern is pretty clear.
From 1997 to 2018, every Kentucky Derby winner ran the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown path intact. That streak ended with Country House, who won the Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security, was scratched from the Preakness. The sport has been wrestling with the question ever since. Maryland’s racing leaders have considered moving the Preakness one week later, from the third Saturday in May to the fourth, though no change has been made.
Of the 14 horses entered in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, just three made the trip from Churchill Downs. None of them won the Derby. One nearly caused the biggest upset in recent memory.
Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1)
The most intriguing Derby returnee. Ocelli finished third at 70-1 odds on May 2, giving trainer Whit Beckman and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a surprise ticket to Laurel Park. He was the lone maiden in the Derby field and remains a maiden heading into Saturday. Nobody expected him to be here.
Incredibolt (post 12, 5-1)
The morning-line co-favorite among Derby runners. Incredibolt finished sixth at Churchill Downs and trainer Riley Mott moved quickly to point him to Laurel Park. Jockey Jaime Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey. The connections believe the 1 3/16-mile distance suits Incredibolt better than the Derby’s mile and a quarter.
Robusta (Post 4, 30-1)
The longest shot of the Derby trio is Robusta, who finished 14th of the 14 in the Derby. The question with any horse coming back this quickly after a tough Derby is how much the race took out of him. At 30-1, it seems the market has answered that question.
COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – A Northern Kentucky man is in jail, accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who’d been reported missing.
Matthew Wade, 40, faces charges, including sexual abuse, unlawful transaction with a minor and assault.
Covington Police say they found the teen at Wade’s home on Highway Avenue on Monday. According to the police report, he was knowingly hiding her, knew she was missing and had cut her ankle monitor off.
Investigators say the teen was given alcohol, marijuana and magic mushrooms.
The girl told police wade slapped her and choked her.
Officers also say they found guns in the home.
Mark Pope has confirmed that no official GM position will exist for at least this season, and most likely won’t exist going forward. Why? Because he has the responsibilities spread out across 4 different people, and believes that is the best way forward.
“In this ever-changing college basketball dynamic, everybody is trying a different solution. For us, instead of hiring a singular GM, we’ve gone with a more comprehensive general management team approach. We have four members of the team. Keegan Brown is a data analysis and roster construction expert who’s worked in both college and the NBA. Nick Robinson is our salary cap strategy and management specialist. Kevin Sergent is our compliance officer, and he deals with all of our contracts and legal language. Kim Shelton is our JMI liaison, and she does all of our NIL contracts that deal with corporate sponsorships. That’s our four-person general management team.”
But who is each one of these people, and what makes them qualified?
Who’s doing what in the Kentucky basketball front office?
Well, Keegan Brown has been a video coordinator in the G-League. That essentially means he would go and watch all the videos on league opponents and potential prospects, and come up with data-backed scouting reports for the coaching and front office teams. Pope has worked with Brown at BYU, so there is some familiarity there.
Nick Robinson also worked with Mark Pope in Provo, being an assistant coach from 2019 to 2024 and following Pope to Lexington. He has been on staff all 3 seasons now, and is being tasked with handing out Kentucky’s money and setting a budget for each player.
Kevin Sergent is not new to Kentucky; he has been in Lexington since 2020. But this is his first time handling compliance on his own; his official title is Senior Associate AD for Athletic Compliance. He handles all the rules, applying for waivers, basically making sure the entire staff is doing everything the right way.
Kim Shelton is a UK alum who was more known for soccer than anything else. She was part of the very first Kentucky women’s soccer team and is a former CEO of Lexington Sporting Club. She worked for Kentucky when Commonwealth was renamed as Kroger Field, and played a role in setting up naming rights for Kentucky Proud Park. Right now, she is kind of the bridge between Kentucky and JMI, specifically handling BBNIL Suite.
If you don’t remember what BBNIL suite is, it’s essentially the opt-in program where student athletes agree to only work with deals through JMI. They find offers, broker deals, and help athletes make money. It is, of course, optional, but if players decline, they will not be able to use the University of Kentucky logos in their NIL marketing.
Trent Noah is probably the most successful NIL athlete who opted out. The Kentucky native is handling his own NIL, and by the amount of ads and cardboard cutouts I see littered around the state, he seems to be doing pretty well.
Seeing JMI integrated again into Kentucky Basketball is probably going to make some of you uneasy, and I get that. But everyone who has worked with them who has officially gone on the record says they are a pleasure to work with.
And that’s how Mark Pope wants it done. There is a theory out there that he wants a GM, but JMI won’t let him. Considering he has chosen 2 of the 4 people personally, I highly doubt that’s true.
What do you think of his explanation, and what do you think of how he is handling the GM role?
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