Over 2,000 Fans See Titans First Practice

Fans turned out in droves in the heat to see the Titans suit up for the first time this season. Some pics:

CJ after a run during drills with the QB's

Sen'Derrick Marks and Jovan Haye with Coach Washburn

First Picture of VY and CJ

This picture is believed to be the first media picture
this season of VY handing off to CJ. It was taken
just after VY entered the drill and before present media
arrived to this far part of the three practice fields.

Mack Brown: Leadership Runs in the Family

Brown and a serviceman (used by permission)

“It’s in our blood.”

            That’s Mack Brown’s description of how coaching and leadership is part of the Brown families' heritage. And his older brother Watson says the same thing.

The heritage is also in education.

            “Everyone in our family was in the school business,” said Mack between photo shoots in Austin, just days before the start of preseason practice. “All the male role models in our family were people who believed in education, were principals and coaches.”

            Their grandfather, Eddie Watson, was a head coach and principal at Cookeville Central High School. At that time, he was the winningest high school football coach in Tennessee.

            Their father, Melvin, was a head coach, principal and superintendent.

            Their parents ran a disciplined, strict home and made sure their children worked hard, did well in school and developed character. Those same traits are prominent in the Brown brothers’ coaching styles today. They have a younger brother Mel as well. Their cousin Mel Brown, now principal at Mt. Juliet High School, is one of the winningest high school baseball coaches in Tennessee history. He built McGavock into a powerhouse program and then coached at Lipscomb.

            Both Watson and Mack attended Vanderbilt and played football there. Mack also played at Florida State.

            “Watson went to Vanderbilt to be a sportswriter,” said Mack. “And I went to Vanderbilt to be an attorney. But then our paths changed.”

“Our grandmother tried to get us to do something other than coaching. But it’s in our blood. Watching our grandfather and father had a big impression on us. Our grandfather was a strong coach.”

Bob Neyland's Son Recovering from Flood

Bob Neyland at the 44th Annual UT Picnic

Bob Neyland, the son of legendary Tennessee football coach and U.S. Army General Bob Neyland, lives right here in Nashville. He was at the Vols All-Sports picnic yesterday.

His home and belongings were severely damaged in the flood, and he is living now with friends in the Bellevue area.

Please help him and other victims out if you can. Thank you!

He certainly looks a lot like his father. Gen. Neyland built Tennessee football into the powerhouse program it was in the 20th Century. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

This coming season, UT will unveil a statue of Neyland at the stadium. It has cost $350,000 to make. The sculptor is the same one who does the statues for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Vet Helps Pets through Acupuncture

Jennie Finch in Nashville for Diamonds-Bandits Series

Softball superstar Jennie Finch pitched a complete game shutout on Thursday night, her first day in Nashville for the Diamonds-Bandits series, a four-game series that ends on Sunday.

Finch before pitching in the Bandits-Diamonds game

Finch is of course perhaps the most famous softball player in the world. She's been a member of the USA National Team since 2003 and has become the face of women's pro and amateur softball in the US.

Finch, 30, is a fierce competitor and a charismatic spokesperson for softball and women's athletics.

Originally from So Cal, Finch's family means everything to her. She is married to MLB pitcher Casey Daigle (Astros) and has a two-year-old son. Her parents and two older brothers are very special to her as well.

"I owe everything I am and everything I have to my family," writes Finch on the USA website. "I am, and will forever be, grateful for their love and support."

The Bandits interim coach says that what makes Finch so special is her spirit.

"I think what separates her is her spirit," said Mike Steuerwald, "It's amazing to see her do so much to promote softball, even while having a family and everything."

This week was packed for Finch. She was in Anaheim for the All-Star Celebrity Classic, part of the MLB All-Star week, then flew to Nashville on Thursday morning, and pitched a complete game win Thursday night.

VU's Johnson Retires as Head Coach

Johnson addresses media after the announement

After eight years as head coach at Vandy, Bobby Johnson retired today.

At a packed press conference in the McGugin Center at Vandy, Johnson, Vice-Chancellor David Williams and interim head coach Robbie Caldwell addressed the media.

Johnson said his whole heart is not in it. He and his wife Catherine made this decision. Johnson hinted that they while they love Nashville, they would likely eventually live in their native So. Carolina, where most of their family lives.

Williams said Johnson told him about his desire to retire this past Monday, July 12. Johnson said he started thinking about it one month ago.

Johnson was emotional, especially when talking about his players, but did not shed any actual tears.

New Interim Head Coach Robbie Caldwell

Spencer Shines For the Diamonds

Spencer (R) chats with teammates

For pro softball player and college coach Chelsea Spencer, playing softball is almost second nature.

Spencer is the Diamonds' shortstop, key hitter and team leader. Now in her sixth season playing pro softball, Spencer keeps playing for many reasons, including her love for the game and her desire to be a role model for youngsters.

"I love the game of softball," she said before a recent game. "I have a passion for playing and coaching. And I think it's great for young women to have role models."

Spencer admits that this may be her last season playing pro ball. The rigors of the season and the game are very challenging- injuries, travelling and more.

Spencer grew up and still lives in the San Francisco Bay area. She is an assistant coach at Chabot College in San Fran, a school with over 14,000 students. Her goal is to be a Division I coach.

Spencer signs autographs for fans-
Diamonds 2, Pride 1 in background

Chelsea starred in college at Cal, a national powerhouse program in the most competitive state for baseball and softball. California natives fill up many slots on all the USA national teams.

Spencer was one of the leaders of the Cal Bears during their three straight appearances in the Women's College World Series finals in 2002, 2003 and 2004. They won it all in 2002. That is impressive indeed.

Growing up in San Francisco, her parents and her older sister and brother influenced her a lot throughout those years. She remembers watching her older sister intently during her sister's softball games.

"I love Nashville, and we as team are very happy here," she said. "The morale on the team is high. We just want to improve."

Tennessee Diamonds Softball

Monica Abbott speaks to some fans before a game

Nashville's newest pro sports team is the Tennessee Diamonds, the women's pro fastpitch softball team.

The Diamonds are one of four teams in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) women's softball league.

There are four teams this year in the NPF: USSSA Pride (based in Florida); Chicago Bandits; Akron Racers; and the Tennessee Diamonds.

The League was founded in 1997 and has made a resurgent comeback as of late. The league used to have six teams.

The league definitely boasts the top women's softball players in the nation and the world, most of them recent college grads who play in the summer and often coach during the school year.

The Diamonds have two former Tennessee stars- pitcher Monica Abbott and catcher Shannon Doepking, both former UT college stars.

Abbott is one of the greatest college softball pitchers of all time. She is originally from Salinas, California, in Monterey County on the Pacific Ocean.

The Diamonds roster and every NPF squad is full of softball stars, most of them from NCAA powerhouse programs across the nation.

The Diamonds have players from coast to coast and from virtually every major NCAA conference- the SEC, ACC, Big 12, PAC-10 and more.

Spencer and Scott Provide the Diamonds' Leadership

Shanel Scott takes some practice cuts before a game

Two Diamonds players helping lead the squad are shortstop Chelsea Spencer and outfielder Shanel Scott.

Spencer is in her sixth year in the NPF, while Scott is in her fourth.

More about these two outstanding players and leaders in a future post.

Chelsea Spencer is a team leader

104.5 The Zone Has Successful Charles Davis Radiothon

Local sports talk radio leader 104.5 The Zone, a la Plaster, Daunic and the crew, is in the midst of their 18th annual Charles David Foundation fundraising effort.

It has already been a big success. Yesterday the station had their annual Radiothon, with four hours of fundraising, auctioned items, interviews with Davis and his staff and wife, and much more.

As you know, Davis is from Nashville, attended McGavock High School and then Vandy, and starring for the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan Era.

Davis has been giving back to Nashville and the inner city ever since.

The Titans, Predators, the Sounds and many more teams and groups donated goods and memorabilia, as well as staff volunteers for manning the phones.

There are three big dinners planned for late July. The cost is $250 per person to hear notable NFL stars and former stars, including Warren Moon, Gregg Williams, Jeff Fisher and staff and more.

C.M Newton Continues to Impact and Lead College Athletics

In his over 50 years of service and leadership, C.M. Newton has become of one college sports’ true leaders, innovators and pioneers. As a player, coach and administrator, Newton’s contributions to basketball, athletics, civil rights, people, higher education and more are almost unparalleled. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

           

Even in retirement, Newton continues to lead and impact college athletics and more. He is Chair of the NIT Selection Board and is on staff with the Southeastern Conference, as Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Basketball.

He was a head basketball coach for 28 years (1956-1980, 1982-1989) at three different schools. During his career, he compiled a 509-375 record (both NAIA and NCAA).

He then served as Athletics Director at Kentucky from 1989-2000, taking over during troubled times and leading the athletic program to prominence, including both the basketball and football programs.

            

Behind the scenes and headlines, a closer look reveals that Newton has had a profound and deep impact on basketball, on college athletics and in the area of civil rights. He has been a leader in regards to progressive rules changes, innovative advancements in USA national basketball, the advancement of women’s basketball and much more.

           

Moreover, Newton has been a civil rights pioneer, integrating the athletics programs at two colleges, Transylvania in Kentucky and the University of Alabama. He was the first coach at both schools to recruit a black student-athlete and integrate him into the athletic program.

            

Newton downplays his accomplishments, in characteristic humility.

           

“I’ve been very fortunate to be around a lot of very good people, who’ve provided leadership for me,” Newton said. “Any good things were the result of a lot of people spending a lot of time to help me.”

Newton grew up in south Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, in the 1930’s and 40’s. In those years, Ft. Lauderdale above Miami had grown as a result of the Florida land boom of the 1920’s. The population in the 1940’s was around 30-35,000, larger during World War II because of the military bases there.

Newton’s parents and two older siblings were all influences in his life. But his early years had their challenges as well.

            

“My mom and dad were very special people,” he said. “My father though was an alcoholic until I was 10 or 11 years old. He got sober and then he was a great role model.”

          

Newton was a star athlete in basketball and baseball, and his high school hoops coach and science teacher, Clois Caldwell, was a big influence on him.

            

“Coach Caldwell was probably a surrogate father in many ways for me. I admired him greatly.” Newton even dedicated a memorial to Caldwell at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

           

Newton’s older brother, Richard (less than two years older) was another big influence.

“Richard was my role model growing up. He was a really a self-made person,” said Newton. Richard Newton had a 30-year career in the military after attending West Point. Newton’s older sister, Jean, (12 years older) was an influence on the young C.M. She passed away when Newton was 25.

Young C.M. was a star baseball pitcher who would eventually play three years on minor league baseball with the Yankees.

“My father loved baseball,” said C.M. “And it was every kid’s dream back then to play pro baseball.” Newton was recruited by Adolph Rupp to play basketball at Kentucky and would go on to play on the National Championship team of 1950. Newton played but was not a starter.

to be continued...