By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Despite the lack of specifics regarding when the NHL season might resume or where, the Nashville Predators now at least know who they would face in the opening round of the playoffs. The NHL Players Association voted last Friday to approve the league proposal of a 24-team, conference-based playoff format. That doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a resumption of play as the union and owners still must agree on health and safety proposals, but it does mean that if/when it happens, the Predators would be the sixth seed in the Western Conference and…
Author: Ron Wynn
A labor/management confrontation isn’t exactly what anyone would expect in the midst of the CoronaVirus/COVID-19 global pandemic, but that’s exactly what’s looming in the world of Major League Baseball. Despite Commissioner Rob Manfred’s overly optimistic sentiments last week when he discussed with reporters the latest MLB plan for relaunching the season, there’s no way one can view what’s about to happen as anything other than a major fight occurring between the owners and players. The MLB players union has long been rightly viewed as the strongest in pro sports, and one of the things that they cherish the most is…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Vanderbilt head basketball coach Jerry Stackhouse’s staff was reduced last week. An announcement that initially surfaced online last Monday night was subsequently confirmed laster in the week by the university. Former assistants David Grace and Ricardo Patton will not be returning to the team for the 2020-21 season. The more unusual thing about this move was that these were the two most experienced coaches on the 12-member staff. Grace’s roles with the Commodores included recruiting coordination, scouting opponents, practice planning, skill development, player behavior, and academics. He joined the Commodores staff after serving…
TSU kicker Antonio Zita has entered the transfer portal By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee State Tigers will be losing one of their most reliable offensive weapons for the 2020 season. Kicker Antonio Zita, whose accuracy enabled him to set a school record last year for most field goals in a single season, announced he was entering the transfer portal last Thursday. Zita made 20 of 24 attempts, including three of four between 40 and 49 yards and one from 50. He also made 30 0f 33 extra points and even served as the backup punter. The sophomore…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans made a move to bolster their secondary and add veteran leadership late last week when they signed Jonathan Joseph to a one-year deal. It was reported worth $2 million total ($1.5 guaranteed), with the possibility of it reaching $3.25 million if. he achieves all the incentives. While he won’t be a starter unless something unexpected happens, Joseph’s salary will be considerably less than the person he’s being slotted in to replace in Logan Ryan, who made a reported $10 million last season. According to statistics from Pro Football Focus, Joseph had…
More than 40 states are in the process of gradually re-opening businesses and facilities following nearly two months of almost total societal shutdown. But even as those processes begin, America’s sports leagues must face a reality forced upon them by the impact of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic: they must move forward with any plans for restarting their operations without the presence of fans in the stands. Already those leagues around the world such as baseball in Korea and soccer in Germany are only holding games in empty stadiums. It will be at least 2021, if not longer, before it will be…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans have gone from NFL afterthought to getting three games n primetime for the 2020-21 season, if it begins on time. They will even be part of the opening night lineup for Monday Night Football on ESPN. The Titans will face off against the Denver Broncos on the road, with the game set for an approximate 9:20 (CDT) start. The contest has some added interest in the wake of the Titans unloading longtime defensive tackle Jurrell Casey to the Broncos for a low draft choice in the off-season. They will also be…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Predators won’t get to open the 2020-21 NHL season in Europe. The NHL announced last Friday that proposed exhibition and regular season games in Europe were being cancelled due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The Predators were going to be part of the league’s Global Series. They had exhibition games set in Switzerland. Then they were scheduled to begin regular season play against the Boston Bruins in Prague, Czech Republic. The league made a joint statement with the players association announcing the decision Friday.. “The NHLPA and the NHL remain committed to maintaining…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The honors keep rolling in for Tennessee State wide receiver Chris Rowland. Last week he added TSU Athlete of the Year to the lengthy list of honors he’s received following one of the greatest seasons in college football history. Rowland set an HBCU record for receptions with 104, shattering the 103 mark of Jerry Rice, the Hall of Famer many feel is the finest player at his position in NFL history. Rowland was consensus choice for the OVC Offensive and Black College Hall of Fame Player of the Year awards. He was picked on…
By Ron Wynn Even though there’s no MLB currently happening, the big leagues are moving ahead with plans to trim 40 minor league teams. At first it was thought there was no way this could happen, but now reports of meetings in the last couple of weeks between officials of MLB and those in MLiB (Minor League Baseball) indicate that the plan will move forward.There will be a new working agreement and the 120 remaining teams will be affiliated in a new version of joint minor leagues. According to a report in Baseball America, the current Player Development Contract is…