There are a couple of things on my mind today, things I will share with you now.
Sorry, about this, folks.
This past weekend, the NFL draft commenced in the fair city of Nashville. Except for the locale, I had little, if any, interest in the event. The NFL left me several years ago, and I couldn’t tell you with any certainty, except for Tom Brady, who the league’s starting quarterbacks are.
Ten years ago or so, I probably could.
Give the Music City credit, though. It knows how to throw a party! I heard the initial estimates of the crowd on First Avenue were in excess of 300,000. Then I read where they figured nearly half a million crammed the riverfront. I even heard 1.3 million jammed downtown Nashville for this thing.
Whether you like the NFL or not, Nashville showed out. But when something is big or good, the city usually shines. For example, Bridgestone Arena has become a house of horrors for visitors of the Nashville Predators’ hockey team. The NHL has called it the toughest place to play in the league. The fans choreograph chants, they throw catfish on the ice and terrorize visiting players.
Come to Nash Vegas and see how country folk play hockey! The fans turn out in droves to support this team. And if you can’t get into the arena, you can bet that Broadway and Second Avenue will be hopping with folks in the eating and drinking establishments watching the game.
With that kind of turnout and support, why wouldn’t Major League Baseball consider a move to the mid state?
Just a thought.
This weekend, we learned of Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes’ contract details. Let’s put it this way: It’s lucrative.
Sure he’d have made more at UCLA, but would he really? Given the confiscatory state income taxes and regulatory fees that are turning that state into a third-world country, he might have, in the final analysis, been taking a pay cut.
Barnes will make $4.7 million next year with incentives and bonus packages. He’ll earn a $250,000 raise next year and will, by 2023, be making $5.7 million a year.
It’s funny what being No. 1 for five weeks in the regular season can do for you.
Here’s the harsh reality, though: Barnes is going to have to produce. We know he can take less-than-top-notch talent and win big with it. He had a collection of misfits and Bad News Bears this year and made them a national contender. It’s unlikely point guard Jordan Bone will return. He has elite speed and will probably draw a few looks in the NBA draft coming up. Grant Williams is the wildcard.
Williams knows he could earn a place in history by being a three-time SEC player of the year. He also knows that if he returns, Josiah-Jordan James, a five-start point guard coming in, could help ease the pain of Bone’s departure. The Vols could be another contender next season.
Barnes also knows that without Williams, the Vols may struggle to make the NIT. Then the fans will start to howl at Barnes … and then Fulmer.
Jim Steele is a correspondent for Magic Valley Publishing and the host of The Pressbox, which airs from 4-6 p.m. CT Monday-Thursday on WRJB 95.9 FM, Camden, Tenn.
