College Football Is Broken, Jockey Perry Ouzts 53 Year Ride & Wacky Sports History | Just Wondering

Welcome back to Just Wondering. I'm Norm Hitskas. On today's show, college football is just so screwed up, and then I'll introduce you to an extraordinary fellow who's literally spent his lifetime riding racehorses. And finally, some wacky historical sports stories celebrating anniversaries this week. And now a word from our title sponsor. Eying retirement? We aim to turn your nest egg into a paycheck with half the amount you've been led to believe. Fluent Financial combines in house portfolio design risk management with income generating investments designed to aid your financial independence. Our goal is to develop an effective portfolio strategy to help you retire sooner and have a better lifestyle. Fluent Financial can also implement a program that allows business owners to install a cash balance plan, which may potentially reduce income tax payments. You've worked hard to become successful. Let us help develop an effective portfolio strategy that works for you. Learn more today about Fluent Financial. Retire sooner, better lifestyle. For more information or to schedule a meeting, visit fluentfinancial.com or call (972) 852-4800. College football is a mess the size of Yellowstone Park. The transfer portal's running totally amok. Millions and millions and millions of NIL payments creating more haves and have nots in the sport. We have major colleges ripping one another in public, very much in public. Lawsuits are flying around, stories of athletes gambling on their own teams, and lots of other teams also. Lots and lots of coaches in college football are now making a lot more than some of the coaches in the NFL, including the Cowboys, Brian Schottenheimer? Yes. More and more conferences pointing fingers at each other. The SEC suggesting it might break away from college sports, break away from the NCAA. Nobody's taking that seriously, but what if the Big Ten and SEC together broke away? I'm sorry to the Big twelve and the ACC, but you are second tier conferences these days. There are some kids this coming season who'll make nearly $6,000,000 to play one year of college football. How many of the 90 or so cowboy players now taking part in camp in Oxnard are due to make 6,000,000 or more this year? Professional players? 10 of them. And they've all played at least five years of pro football. There is deep frustration in the sport about the system, frustration over the NIL and revenue sharing, frustration over the barrage of lawsuits, especially eligibility related ones, frustration over frequent losses in the court system. So what does the future hold? Can college sports be saved before it devours itself? Well, in May, two congressmen introduced a bill called the these bills always sound so good. The Protect College Sports Act of 2026. Its aim is to reform college sports. It first proposed to reduce the power of the SEC and Big Ten. Good luck with that. And then it said no more expansion, but then when colleges said, wait, wait a minute, wait, it said, okay, conferences can't be any more than 20 teams, and we can wait to challenge that down the road, but if you're a power four team looking jump conference, let's say the University of Houston wanted to join the SEC, it would have to go independent for five years. Oh, yeah, good luck getting that passed. So where is it now? Well, a bill cleared committee and is on the floor of the Senate. It's been there since mid June. So far, no senate vote, no house vote, but they're talking off to the side about the opposition to some things in the bill and what changes they made. They're getting a lot of pushback from the Big Ten, the SEC. Does college sports definitely need reforming? Oh, good heavens, yes. But expecting Congress to do it? Hey. This is the group who can actually decide if we're in a war with Iran five months after we started dropping bombs. Congress has been ducking its responsibilities for a year and a half now, and now they're gonna fix college sports with the protect college sports act. Hey, you know what we all might need? A protect us all from congress act. What do you want from your favorite restaurant? Fantastic personal service, a cheery, welcoming, spotless atmosphere, and of course, great food. The primest of beef, Wagyu, and lamb, incredibly fresh seafood, lobster, salmon, shrimp, hall of fame food from a hall of fame restaurant, two locations of Bob's Steak and Chop House, the original Bob's on Lemon Avenue, and the gorgeous new Bob's at Craig Ranch McKinney. My wife, Mary, is the co creator of Full Moon Healing Balm, and I guess I'm the reason this terrific cream was developed. A few years ago, I began getting these huge, ugly blood blotches just beneath the skin of my arms and hands. The condition's called senile purpura. And no, you don't have to be senile to experience this embarrassment. It happens as you age. And then to cover it up, we begin wearing long sleeves, even when it's hot. It took two years working with a New Jersey lab to refine the all natural ingredients of full moon healing. Gently massage a very small amount into the skin, and within a day, the blotches begin to fade. See now, purpura usually takes weeks to disappear. But this bomb cuts the timeline to about a week. And ordering's so easy. Just go to the website, fullmoonhealingco.com. I think when we're young, we all dream of finding something to do in life that we can love our entire life. Well, I'd like to introduce you to a man who has been just that fortunate. He loves his sport, and he loves his job. This is jockey Perry Ooch. He's now 72 years old, and he's still an active rider. In fact, he rode two horses yesterday at Belterra Park, finishing third with one of them, a long shot named Decree in the second race. He's ridden more races than any American jockey ever. He's won the fifth most races of any American jockey ever, and the four in front of him, Russell the Muscle Bays, Willie Shoemaker, Lafitte Pinkaya, and Pat Day are all legends of the sport. He's never been a regular rider at the huge track like Churchill or Belmont or Gulfstream, but he's been the leading rider River Downs an astounding 35 times. He's the top rider of Beulah Park thirteen years, and he's the all time leading rider at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky. In May this year, Perry became the oldest jockey to ever win ride a winner when he got the wonderfully named lipstick and lashes into the winner's circle. 37 times Perry Ooch has ridden more than a 100 winners in a year. 10 times he's ridden more than 200. Perry, thank you for your time. Congratulations on a wonderful record, and I really look forward to talking to you. Thank you. Looking forward to it. Perry, if you could tell us when you fell in love with racetracks and riding. Guess it was in 1972 when I started galloping horses. That's where first racetrack I was ever at was Arlington Park. It's the first track I'd ever seen. And I went there right after I graduated high school. My cousins were up there. I had a bunch of cousins who were on the racetrack. And they called me up when I graduated and asked me if I wanted to come up Chicago and they'd make a jockey out of me. So I said, yeah, I'm on my way. Even before that, did you have any feeling that you'd like to be a rider in your life? Kind of, like in the fifth grade, my cousin had already started riding. He he was a bug rider that year. And I thought that would just be a great job, you know, riding horses for a living, because I always liked horses. I mean, ever since I can remember four or five years old, if I got close to a horse, I was getting on him. And when I was in the fifth grade, they asked you to do a report that what you wanna do when you grew up. And I said, I'd like to be a jockey like my cousin. And I said, we're both small. And I said, like horses? That'd be a great job. And I never give it much thought after that until I graduated from high school, like I said, and they called me up and asked me why I wanted to come to Chicago for the summer. So I went up there, learned how to gallop. They taught me all the basics and started riding the next spring in April. I want to take you back to the spring of nineteen seventy three. This is fifty three years ago. You were 18 at the time and you rode your first winter. What was that feeling like? It was kind of like a dream sequence. It just seemed like everything went into slow motion, and it was just like a blur. You just couldn't really describe what it felt like. But I've been fortunate enough to get that same thrill over 7,500 times, so Yep. It it it was addicting. Well, you've spent your career riding the circuit in Kentucky and Ohio. Right? You've never ridden in a Triple Crown race or Breers Cup race. Have you ever been offered a ride in any of those huge races? One time a guy needed a jockey for a maiden in the Derby and I just told him, no, I wasn't interested, you know, just to go down there and fight that crowd to ride a maiden just to say you rode in the Derby. So I I passed on that. Yeah. I don't Yeah. But I don't think he got in anyway, but, you know, he was leaning that way. But that that's close as I ever think. Just once wouldn't you have liked to hear the roar of that crowd, Perry? Not really. I went down that road one day on Oaks Day to rode a horse, and I promised myself I would never go back there again because it was just way too crowded. Yeah. I'm not big on big big crowds. Perry, most most jockeys try to stay around one hundred and ten pounds and a lot of jockeys for most of their lives fight to maintain that weight. Have you ever struggled to maintain your riding weight? No, I've maintained one hundred and ten pounds every single day for fifty three years. No. Within one or two pounds every single day. It's never varied. What's what's your eating program like? Like what's a day what's a day in the life of eating for Jockey Periute? Well, I start out the day with couple cups of coffee and couple cinnamon rolls, and that's breakfast. Then for lunch, I usually eat, like, some cheese and crackers, and that's about it. And for lunch, just eat a regular meal. Wow. And I do it every day, same every day. It it never varies. So you're almost like Groundhog Day. Well, like I said, I'm very dedicated to my job. A jockey can be a very, very dangerous job. Have you ever been seriously in I can tell already you're starting to remember things. Tell me about any serious injuries you've had. We probably don't have that much time. Yeah. Yeah. I've been hurt quite a lot in the in the fifty three years that I've been riding. The last count that I can remember, I've broke over thirty five bones. Had 10 major operations, plates, screws, rods, nine yards. Well, there there was a there was a bad accident in 2006. It was a really bad accident. You had a crushed leg and a broken arm and lots of other stuff. Have the doctors ever told you your riding career is over after any injuries? Yeah, 2006 that year they told me my jockey days were done. See because I broke my back in I think, vertebraes. It was messed up pretty bad. And they said that, you know, if I went down another spiel, I could be paralyzed. So I looked him in the eyes and I said, no. I said, I'll let you know when it's time to quit. And I would like to know remember what that guy's name is and send him a picture from winning the other day, and that was twenty years ago? Yeah. Twenty. Yeah, and I probably went over 2,500 races, probably rode over 15,000 races. I was right. He was wrong, you know? Because, you know, like I said, you can get paralyzed no matter what, no matter if your back's weak or not, you know? When you're young, at 17, 18, 19 years old, you can get paralyzed, you know, and have the best So physical you ever that never didn't bother me at all. So I just told you no, unless I went back a couple of times for checkups with him, but that's far as it went. When you're not riding, are you still up at the crack of dawn exercising horses? Yeah. I get on horses six days a week. Wow. But mostly now, all I get on is just for my wife. I don't really go out and hustle anymore like I used to for, like, say, last fifty years. My agent got sick. He got cancer, and he wasn't able to really work the last few years. And I just paid him. You know, I just told him to stay home, do what you can. I paid him. And then this year I just didn't really need him anymore because I wasn't riding, just mostly for my wife and that was it. So yeah, we were together thirty nine years. Wow. Yeah, that was pretty tough. Well, you and your wife have been married what forty two years? Forty two, yes. Forty two and you've put two boys through college. Horse racing has been pretty good to you, hasn't it? Has. I've been very very very blessed, especially if you do it for this long and still enjoy it. Like, I still get a thrill every time I cross the finish line. If I win, every time, just like it was back in 1973, you get that same thrill. And I just don't get it as often anymore. Like I said, I'm about ready, you know, 72 years old. That's about time to call it a day. I think I would have probably done retired, but my wife just wouldn't let me. Yeah, she just runs to the claim box and buys another one, so I had to keep going. Have you ever in past years seriously considered quitting? Not really. There was one time, I think it's back in '92 maybe, I had a horse stepped in my face and shattered my whole eye socket. Oh. Got metal plates all around my whole eye. I was in intensive care for, like, I don't know, ten days or something. My head swelled up like a pumpkin. They said that I didn't even look like a human being. And I was in the hospital, I was laying there, and I told the nurse one day, I said, you know, man could get killed doing this job. And that's the last time I ever thought about it. Know, that was back in '92. That's the only time I ever even considered it. Know, nah, just three weeks later, I done forgot about it. Two months later, was back riding again after that. Oh, my. Yeah, I'm tougher than I look. Barry, you don't have to convince me you're tough, believe me. So do you have any plans to retire now? No, I'm just kind of winding it down. You know, it's it's pretty close because I'm not riding, but maybe one or two a day, you know, win one here and there. When you're used to wearing three, four, five every day, you know, it's it's kind of tough. You know, it's kinda hard to, I guess, I don't know how you would explain it, to comprehend. But, you know, 72 years old, you know, people are ride you when you get that old. Yeah. But Perry, you've had that experience of crossing the finish line first more than 7,500 times. Yes. And it was a thrill every time, every single one. Finally, Perry, let me let me just ask you on behalf of everybody who's watching, including myself, who's never been on a horse in a race in their lives. Describe if you would, your love for riding race horses. Well, I like the speed. You know, I like going fast. And I just like it when you can get one to the winner's circle. It just it makes you feel like you've really accomplished something. You you you beat all the rest of them. So it would be hard to explain really what it felt like if you've never done it. But like I said, it's a feeling like you'd never get from anything else. Like I've tried other things, to get that same excitement and I've never found anything that gave me that same thrills, nothing. God bless you. God bless you for finding out that that something that's been a whole life for you have wonderful safe trips, and whenever this ends, you'll have thousands and thousands of memories. Yes, sir, buddy. God bless you, Perry. Thank you for No your problem. Stolen Water Media is making a move. After two plus years, it's time to change and keep up with our growth. You can continue to view all eight of our podcasts on our Patreon pages. But now you can get all episodes at www.stolenwatermedia.com. This is a developing story, but you can begin by watching and listening right now at www.stolenwatermedia.com. Continue to find all audio wherever you find your favorite podcasts, and some you may not have heard of, but I think will enjoy. Are you just wondering where your next spectacular vacation will be? Relax. Feel the sun on your body. Let your cares melt away at the all inclusive Cerenian Bay Resort in Southern Belize. It's literally built right on the sand. The ocean, your ocean, is just a few barefoot steps away. Laid back luxury, terrific food, a swim up bar, a spa, air conditioned gym, unimaginable service, fishing, snorkeling in gorgeous turquoise waters. Do you want relaxation or do you need adventure? You choose at Ceridian Bay. Mary and I have been there three times and this summer will be number four. Take a cozy bungalow for two or bring the whole family to villas that can accommodate up to 14. Sirenianbay.com, S I R E N I A N. The sand and the sea are just waiting for you to get here. I just love wacko sports notes from deep in the history of the games we play. This one happened 07/25/1993, thirty three years ago this past weekend. The Cleveland Indians are playing the Kansas City Royals, and the Indians are terrible, that is as a team. The Indians record the second out in the sixth inning, and at that point, all nine Cleveland players run off the field heading for the dugout assuming the inning is over. The Cleveland manager, Mike Ferraro, incredibly embarrassed, starts hollering at them to go back on the field, there's only two outs. Cleveland would lose that game, and they'd lose a lot of games that season. But fortunately, Ferraro wasn't around to see all the losses. Not long after this, we don't know how many outs there are debacle, Cleveland fired him. That's right, they fired the guy on the team, the only guy maybe who knew how many outs there were in the inning. Next, let's go to August 4. August 4 coming next week. 1948, baseball's weirdest trade. The Dodgers announcer, the legendary hall of famer Red Barber collapses in a Pittsburgh locker room. He's got a bleeding ulcer, he's gonna be gone for a long time as he heals, So the Dodgers need an announcer, and the guy who runs the Dodgers, Branch Rickey, he has really taken a liking to this guy announcing in the minor league for the Atlanta crackers. I don't think we'd have that nickname these days. The Atlanta crackers, and the announcer was named Ernie Harwell. So he he wants Ernie Harwell, but Atlanta says, woah, woah, woah, Ernie Harwell's under contract to us. So a weird trade is made between the Major League Brooklyn Dodgers and the Minor League Atlanta crackers. Atlanta needs a catcher, so Brooklyn sends them a fellow named Cliff Dapper from their minor league system, and they get Ernie Harwell in exchange. Harwell goes on to broadcast in seven, seven decades. He's the first announcer ever in the hall of fame and Cliff Dapper, the closest he gets to the major leagues is probably listening to Ernie Harwell announce a game on the radio. And finally, this is one I was a part of. It's 08/03/1986. That's right, Forty years ago this weekend, the first ever international football game. The NFL plays a game in London, an exhibition game now, first exhibition game of the season. They play it at the incredibly famous Wembley Stadium where the greatest soccer games in England are played, and it's the Cowboys and the Bears, and I was there for that. It was an ugly game. It rained all the time, the players didn't seem to care, they wanted to be there, and the English fans were trying to figure out what are these rules, but there was one notable moment from that exhibition game. Back then, forty years ago, streaking was the thing. People taking off all their clothes and running across an athletic field. I don't know why either, but on this particular night, a streaker interrupted this boring game by running across Wembley. The streaker however wasn't like all other streakers. This particular streaker was naked except he was wearing a pair of socks. One wonders what he was hiding. And now a word from our title sponsor. Today's episode has been brought to you by Fluent Financial, retire earlier, live better. And by Bob's Steak and Chophouse on Lemon in Dallas and in Craig Ranch in McKinney. Bob's, a Dallas tradition for more than thirty years. If you've enjoyed just wondering, please hit follow and a fresh new episode will land in your mailbox early every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. Should you know a sports fan who might like our work? Please share our contact information with that person. Thanks for listening to today's episode of Just Wondering. I'm Norm Hitschkes, and know that every day I'll be just wondering about something. And I'm Mary Hitchgis, and I'll just be wondering too. This is a Stolen Water Media production.