“You’re on the FBI Watch List,” a Southwest Airlines ticket agent said to me on the morning of December 26 at Nashville International Airport. “We’re not supposed to talk about this,” she continued, then she flipped over the printout of my reservation information and scrawled, “tsa.gov.” She said: “You can go to that website if you want to get more information.”Fat lot of good that did me, since
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Breeders' Cup, Day 2: Foreigners and Females Challenge the American Big Boys
Posted on 12:02 AM by ergeg
By Steve BradyBreeders' Cup events handicapped below begin with Race #2, Sat., Nov. 7, at Santa Anita Race Track, Arcadia, California. Televised coverage begins on ABC at 1:45 p.m. EST, and then switches to ESPN at 3:30 p.m. EST. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade II), $1,000,000, Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings, 1 Mile (Turf)Two-year-old colts on the turf. I like the favorite, Interactif (4-1) [
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Breeders' Cup, Day 1: Distaff Lineup Faces Talented European Invaders at Santa Anita
Posted on 12:55 AM by ergeg
By Steve Brady The Breeders’ Cup is a two-day event. With one exception (The B.C. Marathon), Day 1 is dedicated to distaff events (female horses only), and Day 2 is for male horses (although there will be some significant females “taking on the boys”). Breeders' Cup events handicapped below begin with Race #3, Fri., Nov. 6, at Santa Anita Race Track, Arcadia, California. Televised coverage begins
Friday, September 25, 2009
New SMA-Produced Webisode Analyzes the Early Season 2009 Performance of the Tennessee Titans
Posted on 5:03 AM by ergeg
Sunday, September 20, 2009
SMA Continues Video Production Program
Posted on 11:12 AM by ergeg
Sports Media America continues to partner in video production with new-media sports outlets. The latest effort features a two-part series on the 2009 Southeastern Conference football season, produced in association with VinettPicks.com. Catch the commentary at:SEC WestSEC East
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Tuesday Morning Quarterback: NFL Week #1
Posted on 12:31 AM by ergeg
Notes and observations from the NFL’s opening week: When it counts most, new Bears QB Jay Cutler stinks up Lambeau Field, tossing four interceptions as Bears fall to Packers, 21-15. Bears LB Brian Urlacher lost for season with broken wrist. Aaron Rodgers connects with WR Greg Jennings for game-winning TD with 1:11 on the clock. In the “Isn’t life ironic?” category, new Broncos QB Kyle Orton
Friday, September 11, 2009
Raspy, Wimp-Voiced Rick Reilly Debuts as ESPN Anchor
Posted on 12:02 AM by ergeg
So whose knob is Rick Reilly polishing at ESPN? After slowly but surely insinuating himself into their web pages—with his signature "alternative" semi-humorous reporting—and then launching his ESPN "Homecoming" sports interview show (which, let's admit it, is kind of gay), Reilly showed up tonight doing anchorman work. Putting up with Reilly's raspy wimp-ass voice on an occasion isn't so bad, but
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
NFL 2009: Predictions for an Unpredictable Season
Posted on 9:54 AM by ergeg
The old-school NFL rule of thumb is that rookie QBs need to sit and watch for a while. Unless your options are limited. Or your team looks so bad—ahem, Detroit—that exposing a youngster immediately to the fires of stiff NFL defenses just looks like better public relations. Both caveats generally apply to the Lions’ Matthew Stafford (Georgia) and the Jets’ Mark Sanchez (Southern Cal). The other
Monday, September 7, 2009
Teens Sensational: It's Melanie and Caroline in the Open Quarterfinals
Posted on 11:18 PM by ergeg
For the third straight match, teen tennis phenom Melanie Oudin ceded the first set to a supposedly superior opponent, then went on to take two out of three, advancing to the U.S. Open quarterfinal. Monday's victim for the 17-year-old Georgian was Russian Nadia Petrova, who fell 6-1, 6-7, 3-6. Oudin has now established herself as the unofficial American Russian killer in this tournament, having
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Maria Loses to Melanie in U.S. Open Third Round
Posted on 2:26 PM by ergeg
Once more done in by poor service play, Maria Sharapova lost her third-round U.S. Open match today to 17-year-old American phenom Melanie Oudin, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7. After keeping her tendency to double-fault at a minimum in the first two rounds of play—4 and 7, respectively—tennis goddess Sharapova sabotaged her early advantage with an astonishing match total of 21 double faults. Sharapova also
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Cowboys Need to Punt on New Stadium's Video Screen
Posted on 11:48 PM by ergeg
You know, only in this universe, in this galaxy, in this solar system, on this planet, in this country, in the state of Texas, in the city of Dallas, at this time in history—only there and then could the owner of the highest-profile professional football team in existence build a $1.2 billion football stadium/palace/shrine, and then install in the middle of it 1,500 square yards of video screen
Maria Advances
Posted on 6:31 AM by ergeg
In Toronto last night, unseeded and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova defeated 14th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) to advance to the Rogers Cup semifinals. After a straightforward victory in the opening set, the Russian-born Sharapova rebounded from an early break of her serve in the second set, eventually winning a hard-fought tiebreaker to take the match. Sharapova
Friday, August 21, 2009
Titans, Colts Vie for AFC South Divisional Crown: SMA Co-Produces with Nashville247.tv
Posted on 2:29 AM by ergeg
Sports Media America serves up its second entry in its new video production program. Nashville sports journalist Henry Nichols raps with fellow football freak Sean Vinett on AFC South rival Titans and Colts. Who will win the division in 2009?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
SMA Produces Video for Nashville247.tv
Posted on 11:28 PM by ergeg
Sports Media America has waded into the video production world. This is our first, very humble effort, produced in conjunction with Nashville247.tv sports journalist Henry Nichols. Henry and fellow "talking head" Sean Vinett analyze the impact of Brett Favre's signing with the Minnesota Vikings. Yes, we know: This is sort of the "Wayne's World" of sports video, two earnest guys just talking at
Saturday, August 8, 2009
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria’s?
Posted on 11:55 PM by ergeg
Okay, I have a passing interest in tennis. But I don’t really follow the sport. I have general knowledge about the big names, and sometimes have been known to drop what I’m doing and start to watch a match on TV, willing to settle in if the competition compels. I am also not one of those guys who tends to glom onto sexy lady athletes just because they look incredibly attractive in a tennis skirt
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Hero of Turnberry: Watson’s Meltdown Won't Eclipse His Achievement
Posted on 10:23 AM by ergeg
Subbing for Tony Kornheiser Friday on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” veteran sportswriter Bob Ryan averred that if 59-year-old Tom Watson were to win the British Open it would be bad for the game of golf. Watson’s too old, Ryan said, asserting his belief that old guys don’t make great achievements in other sports—because their juniors are younger, stronger, better—and if Watson outclassed the
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Best Baseball City in America Is...Not New York
Posted on 12:37 PM by ergeg
On the heels of last night's All-Star Game in St. Louis, we have to call your attention to the so-called worldwide leader, ESPN, which did one of its lame-ass polls the other day, determining what was the "best" baseball city in the U.S. Wow, what a surprise! New York came out on top! With Los Angeles second, and Chicago third. Funny how those are the three most populous cities. Complete
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Judge Not...?
Posted on 11:01 AM by ergeg
The dust seems to have settled on the Steve McNair affair. In the brief span of 10 days, the former NFL great was shot dead, oft-eulogized, and then buried in the ground in Mississippi. And, in what appears to be an open-and-shut police case, the whys and wherefores of McNair’s demise have been neatly summarized and accepted as fact. If you’d asked me 11 days ago what I thought of McNair, I’d’ve
Sunday, July 12, 2009
All-Star Break Offers Nats Respite from Futility
Posted on 9:52 PM by ergeg
[Editor's note: Approximately 16 hours after this story was posted, Manny Acta was fired as manager of the Washington Nationals. Jim Riggleman was appointed interim manager.] "It's at the point where it's just embarrassing for us," Washington Nationals relief pitcher Joe Beimel reportedly said this past Friday night. "I think everyone in the clubhouse should be embarrassed about the way we play
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
McNair File: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Posted on 8:41 AM by ergeg
Questions to be asked based on published Tennessean reportage: Report: Though many questions remain, investigators now know that Sahel Kazemi bought the gun that ended her life and killed former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. Kazemi bought the semi-automatic pistol on Thursday evening from a person Nashville police have not named. She made the purchase the same day she was bailed out
Saturday, July 4, 2009
McNair File: Saturday, July 4, 2009
Posted on 9:42 PM by ergeg
Pieced together from electronic news sources Former Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2003 NFL co-MVP Steve McNair is dead. The 36-year-old McNair was found shot to death in a downtown Nashville condominium this afternoon with multiple wounds to his body and head. Found next to him was the body of 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, a local waitress whom McNair had met fairly recently. Kazemi had a single
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Preakness 2009: Sometimes the Best Man for the Job Is a Woman
Posted on 10:33 PM by ergeg
By Steve Brady[Editor’s note: In horse racing, a “Derby” is a race set up specifically for 3-year-old colts, and an “Oaks” is restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Every few years, a particularly gifted filly attempts to “take on the boys” in a Triple Crown event. Fillies are traditionally given a five-pound weight break. Rags to Riches beat Curlin in the Belmont two years ago and Eight Belles
Friday, May 1, 2009
The 2009 Kentucky Derby—90% of Life Is Just Showing (Up)
Posted on 9:57 AM by ergeg
By Steve BradyWoody Allen once famously said that “90% of life is just showing up.” His words have special meaning on the first Saturday in May. As this year’s Kentucky Derby entrants convene on a track that few of them have ever run on—at a distance none of them has been proven at, against competition few of them have ever faced, in a stampede twice the size any of them has ever found themselves
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Kalas and Fidrych: Gone But Not Forgotten
Posted on 10:37 AM by ergeg
Longtime Philadelphia Phillies baseball announcer Harry Kalas passed away yesterday, and by all reports he was a well-liked individual and apparently a very nice man. He collapsed in the broadcast booth at Nationals Park prior to the Nationals-Phillies game in Washington, D.C. Death brings a sense of sadness—and an immediate tendency to reflect on the past. Having lived to 73, and having spent 38
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
New Baseball Prospectus 2009 Tons of Reading Fun, But Could It Help Joe Torre Win a Game?
Posted on 10:24 PM by ergeg
Baseball Prospectus 2009: The Essential Guide to the 2009 Baseball Season (Penguin/Plume, 628 pages, $21.95)This may seem to be a dotty notion, but I’ve long believed that I could manage a major league baseball team. In fact, I think there are a lot of regular guys all over the country who could manage a major league baseball team with some success. Or at least as much success as Manny Acta had
Monday, March 16, 2009
Conference Tournaments Still Blight NCAA Selection Process
Posted on 4:22 AM by ergeg
The message is now clear to every NCAA men’s basketball conference: Get yourself a season-ending conference tournament—and then manipulate the system. Conference tournaments suck. They’re stupid. Their existence invalidates the regular season conference schedule. And they were doubtless founded solely to generate cash. But according to the ESPN news story, Mississippi State, with its victory over
Friday, February 27, 2009
Haynesworth Finds Greener Pastures in D.C.
Posted on 7:16 AM by ergeg
So Albert Haynesworth is gone to the Redskins, who acquire the Titans’ behemoth defensive tackle for $100 million on a 7-year commitment. Haynesworth earns a guaranteed $41 million with the deal. There are two shorthand ways to think about this:1. Haynesworth is a premier defensive talent who is just now entering his prime. The Titans lose the heart of their defense, and the Redskins have
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Da Thom Abraham Show: Nashville Sports Talk Radio’s Answer to Phony Blue-Collar Fandom
Posted on 4:52 AM by ergeg
Thom Abraham’s been on 106.7, the local ESPN outlet, since the summer of 2007. He has a somewhat sketchy resume as a small-market radio host and also as a high school coach, so the Nashville gig is probably a big deal for him. His career has stretched in its previous, various incarnations from upstate New York to Florida and Alabama, which makes you wonder why he sounds like one of the SuperFans
Monday, February 2, 2009
Super Bowl Weekend Roundup: The Game, the Hall, and a Trivia Quiz for Diehards
Posted on 10:20 AM by ergeg
Yep, that was a good Super Bowl. Actually, a great one. My pregame prediction was 24-17 Pittsburgh—same as ESPN’s John Clayton—but I was rooting hard for the Cards. Hindsight’s always 20-20, but maybe if the Cards had taken the gunslinging approach sooner they’d’ve put some early points on the board. They credibly made the pro-forma attempt to “establish the running game,” but in so doing it
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Curious Case of Donovan McNabb
Posted on 8:53 AM by ergeg
Early morning local sports radio chatter on Nashville’s 104.5 turned today momentarily to Donovan McNabb and his status as a potential Hall of Fame candidate. The shorthand assessment—mainly from Paul Kuharsky, former Tennessean writer and now with ESPN.com—seemed to be that, since the standard of the era is Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, McNabb might not qualify. The Philly QB doesn’t have a
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Titanic Collapse: Fisher’s Boys Dominate Ravens, Then Squander Opportunities in 13-10 Playoff Loss
Posted on 2:46 AM by ergeg
Nashville’s Circle Players are currently in rehearsal for a production of Titanic, the Musical, set for opening next weekend. But for a compelling tale of unbridled disaster, the Tennessee Titans beat the local community theater to the punch with their performance Saturday afternoon in the AFC divisional playoffs. Like the journey of the Titanic itself, this one started out with high hopes and a
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Clash of the Titans—and Ravens: NFL Gypsies Lock Horns Once Again
Posted on 4:02 AM by ergeg
This weekend’s Baltimore Ravens/Tennessee Titans playoff matchup—Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST (CBS)—could be a game for the ages. Not only are the teams veritable spiritual clones of each other—big-time physical defenses, strong running games, competent quarterbacks—but the history between the two, while relatively brief, is rich, eventful, and amazingly balanced in the outcomes. Both teams are also
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