Hey, Nashville's new NA3HL team, where's the roster?

On May 1 of this year, the NA3HL, the third tier of the North American Hockey League, the biggest junior hockey league on the continent, announced that Nashville would be one of three new markets getting NA3HL teams (the other two being Decatur, Alabama, home of the new Point Mallard Ducks; and North Richland Hills, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, home of the new Texas Brahmas, whose head coach is ex-Ravenwood boss Al Rooney, who will come up again in this blog post). After being unnamed for a few weeks, the team decided to be smart, and call themselves the Jr. Predators, though they aren't affiliated with the youth program. The team is owned by Franklin-based MDG Management, which includes former Pred J.P. Dumont. Dumont is also serving as the Jr. Preds' general manager.

The team will play its home games on weekends on Rink 1 at A-Game Sportsplex in Cool Springs, the first being on Friday, October 3, though one game - against Rooney's Brahmas - will be held at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, November 15. The team's first game is in 18 days, against the Topeka Capitals at the Kansas ExpoCentre. I hope to make it out to some games, and I hope you will, too.

However, not everything is completely rosy with the Jr. Predators. They really haven't marketed themselves very well, and they seem to spend more time retweeting stuff on their Twitter account (@NashvilleNA3HL) than posting news. The biggest problem on the team's website is the fact that they haven't posted a roster. The team Tweeted this three months ago:

First local tender announcement coming soon - things coming together for Nashville Jr hockey #NA3HL
— NashvilleNA3HL (@NashvilleNA3HL) June 4, 2014

But nothing ever came. In fact, the Twitter account, website, and Facebook page the team operate has only somewhat mentioned the players in regards to being a host family to those from out-of-town. After months of Twitter searching, I ran across this earlier this morning:

Proud to say I've signed with the Nashville Jr. Predators of the NA3HL.
— Jacob Elrod (@ellyrod7) August 7, 2014

That's right. Jacob Elrod, one of the biggest pieces of Centennial's Predators Cup-winning team in the most recent GNASH season, has signed with the Jr. Predators. And good for Jacob. He deserves this shot at the next level, and I'm glad he's doing it in his hometown.

But that's all I can find. Are there any other GNASHers who have signed up with the team? Kyle Kawamura? Kieran Ogle? Brenden Eng Tow? I don't know. Not even the team's "31 in 31" preview on the NA3HL website mentioned any players.

Meanwhile, Rooney's Brahmas have been announcing player signings left and right. Three of them are GNASHers: former Ravenwood Raptor, Zach McPherson; Brock Brown, now formerly of Station Camp-Beech; and Matt Alfieri, now formerly of Pope John Paul II. I've complimented Al and the Brahmas on announcing their signings; this is a great way to get people interested in the team, especially kids.

This brings us back to the Jr. Preds. Why have they said absolutely nothing about who will be wearing the sweater for them? Why did it take a Twitter search for me to finally find someone who's going to play for them? The team took part in the NA3HL draft in June, but didn't draft one player from the Nashville area. Did any of the players drafted end up signing? I have no idea.

What's even wilder about all of this is the fact that the team is on their second head coach before even playing their first game! In late May, Steve Howard, who won the league's Coach of the Year Award head-manning the Flint Junior Generals last year, was hired. By the time the league's camp in Flint, Michigan, rolled around last month, Howard had left his post to become an assistant coach with the United States Hockey League's Waterloo Blackhawks. Taking over was Karlis Zirnis, a Nashville resident for the last few years, who had worked at A-Game. Zirnis was an assistant to Ted Nolan for Latvia's men's hockey team during the Winter Olympics in Sochi back in February, where they reached the quarterfinals, and gave Canada a hard time, before the eventual gold medalists pushed Latvia out. A local coach in Zirnis and at least one local player in Elrod is a good foundation to build this team on.

But more has to be done.

Get out in the community with player appearances, buy ads on TV and the radio, put up a billboard, COUGH UP A ROSTER! No one ever got attention by sitting on their hands. The Jr. Preds are opening for business at the right time in this market, with the opening of Ford Ice Center in Antioch, but they need to make themselves visible if they want to succeed.

I love that the Nashville market has an NA3HL team, since it means that any GNASH players who want to go to the next level can do so without leaving the state, but getting a fanbase starts with them. So far, it seems that only the diehards are aware of the team's existence. The Jr. Predators failing would be a big blow to the Nashville market (and the youth version almost blew things up this past Spring, which would've been absolutely horrible for hockey around here), so, just give us a roster. That's all we need.

The (proper) grammar of talking about sports

When I was younger, I was a professional wrestling fan. However, I lost my interest in it when I was about 10 years old, and I haven't watched any wrestling event or show extensively in almost two decades.

I do, however, like current WWE Superstar CM Punk. He's true to himself, he says what he feels, and, having sat in on the WWE Mattel panel at last year's San Diego Comic-Con, he seems to be a really nice guy.

As part of YouTube's "Geek Week", Punk has launched a new web series on Nerdist's YouTube channel, entitled Grammar Slam. Five episodes have been released so far. In each episode, Punk reads a hate Tweet and a hate email, each one written specifically to him. Each written statement contains improper grammar, and Punk proceeds to teach the writer(s) of the statement(s) about proper grammar with his own special brand of tough talk. The series is pretty funny, and I recommend viewing it. Here's the episode on the difference between "your" and "you're", both of which are increasingly misused these days (warning: NSFW language):

A new hockey rink for Nashville - it's about time. How about GNASH's future? Will it grow?

The Tennessean's Getahn Ward reported today the news that many hockey fans around Nashville have been expecting and hoping for - finally, a new sheet of ice will be built. A new rink for those in the community to learn and play the game on, and one that the Nashville Predators could be calling their new practice facility.

The new rink, expected to be officially announced on Monday, will be located on the grounds of the old Hickory Hollow Mall, now known as the Global Mall at the Crossings, at the mall's north entrance. The rink is one of many projects going up at Global Mall, along with a library, a community center, and a park.

Forget the fact that this is something that could revitalize Antioch's economy, which has taken a huge hit, with the Best Buy and Target stores recently closing, leaving Universal Kia, Kroger, and the Home Depot, plus a few fast-food restaurants, as those in the area needing business, Kroger being the only one of those that's a total necessity.

This is something the Midstate's growing hockey community has needed for years. Four sheets of ice - two at Centennial Sportsplex in Downtown Nashville, and two at A-Game Sportsplex in Cool Springs - are no longer enough. It would've been more than enough, maybe even too much, when the Predators began play in 1998, but now, with many Northern transplants seeking out a place to play, and many Nashville natives starting to take the game up because of the Predators' success over recent years, we need another rink.

Class AAA State Softball Tourney schedule - why so staggered?

So, here we are, just over 36 hours away from the first pitch of the 2013 Class AAA State Softball Tournament at BlueCross Spring Fling, and the field will be set tonight, once Soddy-Daisy and Smyrna decide a winner.

And whoever wins won't have long to celebrate, as they have to face Maryville at 4 o'clock on Starplex Field #1 in Murfreesboro tomorrow.

But one thing always nags me about the AAA State Tournament schedule - how come half the field starts on Tuesday evening, and the other half on Wednesday morning?

High School Football

Well folks, this past Friday was the start of the high school football season. I was privileged to be at Tullahoma with Davey for the Tullahoma v Blackman game. From the start of the game it was all Blackman. Actually, it was all I'Tavius Mathers. This running back/kick returner for Blackman has skills like nothing I have seen before. He can break tackles, run like the wind, and just flat get at it when the ball is in his hands. Over four hundred general purpose yards and four touchdowns (two kick return touchdowns) on the night. This was just the first game of the season. I can only imagine what he might be like when he really gets going this season. As a junior, I am sure he has several scouts keeping an eye on him and I plan on talking with his coach to get some more information on this young man. Seeing this kind of performance on the first night of the season gets me very excited for what is to come. I truly look forward to seeing the talent that is out there in Middle Tennessee over the rest of the season.

Early prospects for the Titans in 2010

It's August 2, and the NFL Preseason begins this Sunday with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals, whom, of course, just got one Terrell Owens. Both of these teams could be factor big in the postseason.

I can't believe it's already been six months since the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, a result that I loved, by the way.

But here we are, another NFL season on the horizon. Enjoy it, because thanks to the impending labor dispute, there might not be one next year.

However, I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to give my early predictions on the Tennessee Titans' 2010 season.

It's been a bit of an unusual offseason for Tennessee's NFL franchise. Chris Johnson got a new contract he held out for (he deserves it, in my book). But that's pretty much been it. In a year with no salary cap, the Titans, with their billionaire owner, Mr. Bud Adams, did what they usually do in the offseason for new players: nothing. They lost Kyle Vanden Bosch to the Detroit Lions, and Keith Bulluck to the New York Giants. No question those are huge losses on the defensive line.

The offensive line pretty much looks the same, except that longtime center Kevin Mawae is gone now. Vince Young's still at QB, CJ in the backfield with Ahmard Hall. Bo Scaife remains a tight end, and Nate Washington and Justin Gage remain at wide receiver, along with sophomore Kenny Britt.

A lot of people are thinking VY might have a career year. He just might, if he keeps up his play from last season.

Fans' expectations of the Titans are varying. Some diehards see a Lombardi Trophy coming to the Music City in early February 2011. Some might be thinking a playoff appearance.

But those like myself who know this team just a bit better never know what to expect. I had no idea the Titans would go 13-3 two seasons ago, winning their first 10 games. Sadly, their Divisional Round playoff loss to Baltimore didn't surprise me at all, no matter how much I was thinking about a parade down Broadway.

I actually wasn't surprised to see them struggle so badly at the start of last season. Thank God they recovered to finish 8-8.

But how about this year? How do I think the Titans will do in 2010? Let's see.

The Titans should start the new season 2-0. Should. They open on September 12 against the Oakland Raiders at home. The Raiders, of course, cast away Jamarcus Russell after the former LSU QB turned out to be a bust, and picked up Jason Campbell, sent away by the Washington Redskins after they got Donovan McNabb. Expectations for the Raiders are, again, low.

September 19, the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town. We all know what happened the last time they were here. December 21, 2008. The Titans clobbered the Steelers 31-14 to seal the #1 seed in the AFC for the playoffs, which, of course, they wasted. But the victory was, as you know, overshadowed by Chris Johnson and Keith Bulluck stomping on a Terrible Towel, which sent Pittsburgh into an angry frenzy. It might've been a bad omen for the Titans, whom, as previously noted, was kicked out the door by the Ravens in the postseason, and the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Titans and the Steelers opened the 2009 regular season with the annual NFL Kickoff Game. The Steelers won 13-10 in overtime, but neither team made the playoffs. The Titans, though, didn't know how slippery the slope was about to get.

The Steelers are considerably different for 2010, however. They lost Santonio Holmes to the Jets, and Willie Parker's gone, too. Hines Ward is returning, and the team has brought back Antwaan Randle El, who played with the Steelers when they won Super Bowl XL over my NFC team, the Seattle Seahawks (a loss, that, by the way, still doesn't sit well with me). Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for the first six games for, basically, not using his head off the field, and expectations for the Steelers went from low to real low.

The Titans should open the season 2-0, and I say they will. But it's all up to them. They're the ones who play the game for dough.

On September 26, the Titans make their first visit to New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey to play the Giants. This obviously means Mr. Bulluck gets an early showdown with the team that let him go without a fight.

The Giants went 8-8 last year, and don't want that to happen again this year. I think this could be a tricky one for the Titans, and will result in their first loss of the season.

On October 3, the Titans return home to host the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have two questions for 2010: Tim Tebow? Or Kyle Orton? Gonna be a bad year for the Broncos. I have the Titans at 3-1 after this game.

For Week 5, the Titans head to Cowboys Stadium to take on the resurgent 'Boys, whom a lot of people think might be playing for the Lombardi in their own house come February. Of course, the two teams' preseason clash last year saw debate ignited over the insanely large JumboTron over the field, after a couple of Titans punts hit it on the uptake. I think the Titans will really struggle against Dallas, as Tony Romo greatly matured at the end of last season. Jason Witten is as dangerous as he's ever been, Miles Austin looks like he might have a great year, and if he's healthy, I think Dez Bryant will make a big impact. The Titans will be 3-2 after this game.

The Titans' first game against a divisional opponent comes on Monday, October 18. The Titans will be in Jacksonville, taking on the Jaguars under the Monday Night lights. The Jags came into the NFL in 1995, going 4-12 in their first season. The next four seasons, though, were great. The Jaguars got to the playoffs in all four of them, including two AFC Championship Game appearances, where they were beaten by the New England Patriots (January 1997), and, of course, the Titans (January 2000). But since the turn of the century, the Jags have fallen apart. Since the 1999 season, the Jaguars have only made two playoff appearances. It's gotten so bad, people are wondering if NFL football is still viable in Jacksonville (all they need is to start winning again; chill out, people). Jacksonville will put up a fight, but the Titans will be 4-2.

Six days later, the Titans will head back home to host the now-Donovan McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles. I think bad times await the City of Brotherly Love. Kevin Kolb might not be able to handle the pressure. Titans will be 5-2.

The Titans' last game before the bye week is a trip to San Diego, to take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers, who have gotten under the Titans' skin these last few years. I don't think it'll get much better. Make it 5-3.

So, Halloween will mark the Titans' bye week, and they'll be halfway through the season. Things should be looking good, but the road's about to get bumpier...

The Titans' first post-bye game will be at Miami on November 14. Since nearly going winless a few seasons back, the Dolphins have really picked themselves up, though they went 7-9 last season. The Dolphins picked up Brandon Marshall during the draft, but lost Ted Ginn, Jr. and defensive big man Jason Taylor. I don't know what to expect from the Dolphins, but I think a surprise is in store for Tennessee. The Titans will be 5-4 after Week 10.

Week 11 brings the Washington Redskins, now with Mike Shanahan at head coach, and, as previously noted, Donovan McNabb at QB. Whether ex-Titan Albert Haynesworth will be in the lineup remains to be seen. I think this could be the start of something good for the 'Skins. McNabb, even without a ring, has a Hall of Fame resume, and Shanahan's got Super Bowl rings. I think McNabb's veteran leadership will outshine Young, and the Titans will drop back to 5-5.

November 28 sees the Titans head to Houston to take on Kevin Whitmire's beloved Texans. I've noticed something with the Titans these past few years: They've never, ever shown the Texans ANY respect. They think they're gonna beat 'em down, just like that. But it's bitten the Titans in the aft end twice the last two seasons, and, to be honest, it should be a lot more. Remember the Titans' game against the Texans in December '08, the week before they beat down Pittsburgh? The Titans put up a horrible effort, and lost to a team that I've always taken seriously. It started the snowball that led to the Titans' playoff collapse. It'll be the case here, too. The Titans will waltz in, like the Texans don't belong on the same field, and it will bite them. Again. 5-6.

December 5 sees the Titans' second matchup with the Jags, this time at LP. The Jags will be struggling again, and the Titans will get back to .500.

December 9 is the big game. The Indianapolis Colts come to town to take on the Titans in the Thursday Night NFL Network clash. Those close to me know I am not a Colts fan or a Peyton Manning fan, and I reveled, reveled in their Super Bowl loss to the Saints. But the truth is, despite a few victories over them in the last few seasons, the Titans are afraid of the Colts. And Indy knows it. And the Titans will be 6-7 when this clash is done.

10 days later, the Titans host the Texans in their second matchup. The Titans will barely escape with a win, and get back to .500.

On Boxing Day, or the Day After Christmas, the Titans visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. I'm hearing the Chiefs are a couple of years away from being good again, with free agency and trades. But this is now, and the Chiefs will stink again. The Titans will be 8-7, and barely in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.

But the season ends in Indy. And it won't end well. The Titans will end up 8-8. Again.

Now before you go all "Ye of Little Faith" on me, this is what I think will happen. These are predictions. As I've said, it's up to the Titans to prove me wrong, and they might. But I don't expect them to.

I don't see a Super Bowl-caliber team when I look at the Titans. VY might have a good career, CJ's a great player, and I'm expecting great things about Kenny Britt. But the coaching is inferior (Jeff Fisher must have something in his contract about a raise for every 8-8 season), and the defense just isn't there. Which means this team isn't there. Will they ever be there? I'm really not sure.

GO TITANS! Please.

-Michael Hackney

What's Coming Up

Greetings MTSN fans. I sit here on Friday evening checking the weather forecast for Summertown, TN tomorrow. As of now the forecast does not look good for racing at Thunderhill. This is disappointing because the SRRS is in town tomorrow with their Super Late Models. Hopefully the rain will stay away for tomorrow evening so there can be a good night of racing. Keep your fingers crossed. Now, on to other sports that are coming up soon. Right now, Craig is currently working on getting our schedule set up for football season. Hopefully we will have a great season of football to bring you each Friday night from around Middle Tennessee. Later in the fall, we will be getting into Hockey season. I told you last week that I cannot wait. Well, I know you are chomping at the bit for hockey or anything hockey related as we swelter in the summer heat. In an effort to take our minds off the heat and to fill the void we feel from a lack of hockey, I am currently in the process of setting up a pre-hockey season show. This show will feature several of the coaches from GNASH teams to include: Defending State Champions Ravenwood Raptors Head Coach Dennis Hagemann, Second Place Centennial High School Head Coach Mark Layne, Pope John Paul II Head Coach Pete Neiman. This will be a fun filled evening of looking back on favorite moments from last season and discussing the upcoming season. I know it will be a blast for us and the coaches, and I hope that each and every one of you will tune in and enjoy as well. I will let you know as soon as the date is scheduled for this event. That's all for now from me. I'll be back next week with a little more entertaining blog. Have a good week.
SEE YA!!!

Kevin Whitmire