Is anyone else ready for them to play the Super Bowl so we don't have to hear any more stories about the waterboys for the Eagles and the Patriots and how they are playing a vital role in getting their teams ready for the big game next Sunday?!?
In a related note, those of you with young children may want to
heed the warning in this article from yesterday's
Tennessean, about how the ads during the big game aren't going to be that toned down this year.
But as we all await the spectacle, pagentry and excess that is Super Bowl XXXIX, there are other sports stories going on in and around Nashville. First the good news--the Nashville Kats arena league football team is back and
they won their first game of the season Friday night. I was driving home and caught the familiar voice of Mike Keith calling the plays. While Arena football is certainly no NFL or college, it's a pretty interesting way to help keep the inevitable football withdrawal at bay. And with Nashville having it's team back, I have a team to get behind and pull for.
Now onto the less than great news. The Vol's men team managed to help Auburn win their first game in the SEC yesterday. As I've said before, there is little tougher than seeing the vast potential the basketball team has and seeing those hopes and dreams dashed over and over again. Honestly, the men's program hasn't been the same since we lost that game to North Carolina in the NCAA Tourney a couple of years back.
Meanwhile, the Nashville Rhythm is without a coach this morning. Ashlee McElhiney, the first female to coach a men's team (and she was doing a good job from what I understand)
got fired last night when co-owner, Sally Anthony wanted former Vandy superstar Matt Fredje pulled from the game. (For those of who don't know, Fredje was brought in on a two-game contract by the other owner and GM of the team to help the team and probably to boost attendance given Fredje's popularity in the Nashville areas).
Sounds like Anthony has gone to the Jerry Jones or Al Davis school of team ownership. I thought a coach was supposed to coach and do what it took to the win the game and the owner did what it took to give the coach those pieces. Also, I have to wonder--does Anthony as co-owner have the right to fire McElhiney by herself and will the other owner overrule her?
This story sounds like it could continue to be interesting over the next several days.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 1/30/2005 01:23:00 PM |
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