Shane Pippin
Staff Writer
Middlesboro native Matt Jones won the Media Award at the East Kentucky Leadership Conference’s 26th annual gathering held in Middlesboro last week.
“This award means a lot to me,” said Jones. “The setting makes it extra special. I love Middlesboro, so to be able to win the award and to receive it here in Middlesboro is very endearing.”
Jones is the founder of KentuckySportsRadio.com, the largest independent college sports blog in America, and host of KSR Radio, with more than 20 affiliates around the state.
Jones showed appreciation to Middlesboro and its people for having a huge impact on his life.
“I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the friends and teachers that I had in Middlesboro,” said Jones.
Furthermore, Jones gives much credit to a special relationship he has with legendary UK sports enthusiast, Oscar Combs, founder of the Cats Pause Sports Weekly, co-host UK Big Blue Radio Sports Network pre-game show and member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. Jones credits Combs as being a mentor to him.
Between the blog, the radio show, television sportscasting and the UK radio pre-game shows, Jones was considered a safe vote for the Media Award.
KentuckySportsRadio.com has skyrocketed as a popular, sports blog. The blog was a product of five or six college buddies creating similar blogs to keep in touch with each other. The friends shared a common love for University of Kentucky (UK) basketball.
Jones went on to attend and finish Law School. He then began practicing Law and continued to do so for about five years. All the while, he was maintaining the blog.
However, the blog was continuing to grow and required more and more attention.
“It got to a point where I had to choose between the two,” said Jones about juggling the dual effort of practicing law and managing the blossoming opportunities within media.
Obviously, Jones chose his passion and continues to flourish because of it.
Reach Shane Pippin at 606-248-1010 ext. 204, mpippin@civitasmedia.com
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