Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame Partners With Tennessee Lottery

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The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame has partnered with the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation. This venture will see the Hall rebranded as the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with the Tennessee Lottery as we continue to tell the history of sports in the state of Tennessee,” says Brad Willis, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame executive director. “Our mission is built around teaching the lessons learned from sports to the next generation, and the Tennessee Lottery helps us do that, while continuing to provide funds of over $6 Billion to date to Tennessee-based education programs.”

Visitors can explore displays on College Football, College Basketball, Tennessee Olympians, Auto Racing, and more, while also learning about individuals like Peyton Manning, Wilma Rudolph, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Pat Summitt, and others. Additionally, visitors can see new memorabilia from the Class of 2020 and many others who have impacted the history of sports in Tennessee.

“The partnership between the Lottery and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is a natural fit, presenting a fantastic new way to engage with players and fans in Tennessee,” says Lottery President and CEO Rebecca Paul Hargrove. “We are thrilled to be a part of bringing Tennessee sports history alive, and we want to thank Brad and everyone at the Hall of Fame for this opportunity.”

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery, located inside Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nashville’s Alex Walsh Wins Silver Medal In 200-Meter At Tokyo Olympics

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Alex Walsh. Photo: Courtesy of University of Virginia Athletics

Nashville native and current University of Virginia swimmer Alex Walsh took home the Silver in the 200-Meter at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday night (July 27) with a time of 2:08.65, a new personal best.

“My perspective going into this race was unlike any other I’ve had,” said Walsh in an Olympic press release. “I just felt really calm. I felt really good in the water.

“Last night I was really struggling,” Walsh continued. “I had seen a lot of my friends medal and you know the whole of the United States is watching you. I called my parents, I called some of my friends–I just wanted to talk to them and get my mind off the race and that really helped.”

Alex Walsh. Photo: Courtesy of University of Virginia Athletics

Walsh finished just ahead of USA and UVA teammate Kate Douglass who swam a 2:09.04 and picked up the bronze. Both swimmers finished behind Japan’s Ohashi Yui who swam 2:08.52, beating Walsh by just over one tenth of a second and picking up her second Gold medal in Tokyo.

Walsh and Douglass helped UVA to its first NCAA team championship this year and each won individual national titles. Walsh captured the 200 IM while Douglass was first in the 50 Free. Walsh also anchored the Cavaliers’ 800 Free Relay team that took the NCAA title.

A 2020 graduate of Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Walsh was a two-time individual high school state champion and was named the Tennessee high school female MVP (2016-19.)

Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, More Invest In New Sports Streaming App ‘Buzzer’

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The new sports streaming app, Buzzer, has received up to $20 million in investment funds from a plethora of new and existing investors, such as Sapphire Sport, Canaan Partners, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan and Patrick Mahomes.

The new financing will allow Buzzer to further democratize frictionless access to live sports and scale its first-of-a-kind product, specifically designed to meet the needs of the next generation of sports fans. This financing will also help the Buzzer team build new product features that lean into the social aspect of sports, develop new partnership opportunities, and grow with key hires. Other athlete-investors include LaMelo Ball, Devin Booker, J. Cole, DeAndre Hopkins, Sabrina Ionescu, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Renee Montgomery, Naomi Osaka, and Bobby Wagner, among others.

“With the proliferation of new distribution platforms, fans are finding it harder to know when and where live sports are happening, creating an experience that is not optimized for their expansive interests based on how they consume. We envision Buzzer becoming the discovery and curation tool that brings Gen Z fans back to live sports with simple access to ephemeral moments,” says Bo Han, founder and CEO of Buzzer. “We’re grateful to have so many influential industry leaders as partners who have a shared vision of creating a platform and community built to close the generational gap in live sports consumption. We’ll continue to build Buzzer with fans’ interests in mind and with a partner-first approach that presents new opportunities for them to reach net new audiences, define new revenue streams, and offer added value to their existing subscribers.”

Founded in 2020, Buzzer simplifies the discovery and viewing experience of live sports for mobile consumption in a short-form live format. The platform offers a seamless user and viewing experience by aggregating and organizing live sports streaming rights into one cohesive and accessible mobile platform, and allowing its users to set up customized alerts based on their preferences. Current league partners include NBA League Pass, the PGA Tour, and the NHL with additional partnerships slated to announce in the coming months as Buzzer continues to expand as a multi-sport, aggregated platform.

“Buzzer is uniquely suited to bring together the massive market of live sports and a new generation of fans who prefer mobile content. With viewership down across many league’s telecasts, sports media is experiencing an existential challenge,” says Maha Ibrahim, general partner at Canaan. “Buzzer presents a novel approach to reclaiming value in the $75B U.S. live sports market, making it painless for fans to drop into games right on their phones – sending them hyper-personalized notifications at exactly the moment when their favorite player, team, or sport is live.”

Other notable investors include current and former athletes the likes of Pat Connaughton, Madison Hammond, Scotty James, Christian McCaffrey, and Apolo Ohno; team owners David Blitzer (New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia 76ers), GSW Sports Ventures, Steve Kaplan (D.C. United, Swansea City), Steve Koonin (Atlanta Hawks), Lerner Enterprises (Washington Nationals), Stephen Pagliuca (Boston Celtics), Curtis Polk (Charlotte Hornets, 23XI Racing), Steve Simon (Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever), Jeffrey Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning), and WISE Ventures (shared ownership of Minnesota Vikings, Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride). Influential leaders in the sports and entertainment community including Ros Gold-Onwude, Ibrahim Hamad, Devin Johnson, Estee Portnoy, and Taylor Rooks; and investment firms Black Capital, Chetrit Ventures, JDS Sports, Jump Capital, LionTree Partners, OneTeam Partners, Targa Partners, and Micromanagement Ventures have also become investment partners in the new sports consumption endeavor.

Vanderbilt Faces SEC Rival Mississippi State In College World Series Final

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Jack Leiter. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics.

Vanderbilt takes on Mississippi State in its second straight College World Series appearance after NC State was forced to forfeit due to Covid-19 protocols.

The Commodores were set to face NC State for a third time on Saturday, June 26, with the winner getting a ticket to the CWS Finals. The Wolf Pack lost to Vanderbilt 3-1 the day before after only being able to field 13 players due to the rest testing positive for COVID-19. NC State was then forced to forfeit the elimination game on Saturday after more players were forced to go under COVID protocols.

The NCAA issued this statement after the announcement of NC State’s forced forfeit:

“The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee has declared the Vanderbilt-NC State Men’s College World Series game scheduled for Saturday, June 26 at 1 p.m. Central time a no-contest because of COVID-19 protocols. This decision was made based on the recommendation of the Championship Medical Team and the Douglas County Health Department. As a result, Vanderbilt will advance to the CWS Finals. The NCAA and the committee regret that NC State’s student-athletes and coaching staff will not be able to continue in the championship in which they earned the right to participate. Because of privacy issues, we cannot provide further details.”

The Wolf Pack was one of the most exciting teams in the college baseball postseason, not losing a game through the CWS until their shorthanded loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday. Despite its untraditional manner, Vanderbilt is back in the CWS Finals and will face one of the best teams in the SEC and a team they faced in the regular season, winning two of three games.

The Commodores faced the Bulldogs in a three-game series in late April, wining the first and last games. Kumar Rocker pitched a complete game against Mississippi State giving up three hits, two runs, and one earned run. Rocker pitched against NC State on Friday, June 25, so he will most likely pitch again in game two or game three of the CWS Finals.

Sophomore Jack Leiter will more than likely take the mound for Vanderbilt  for tonight’s game. He had one of his worst outings of the year against the Bulldogs earlier this season after he pitched five innings and gave up four runs on six hits. Leiter currently sports an ERA of 2.08 with 171 strikeouts. The Commodores will need its offense to open things up in game one with the help of Carter Young and Enrique Bradfield Jr. Both players had bad days against NC State on Saturday, Young going 0-3 and Bradfield Jr. going 0-5.

For Mississippi State, the player that has the most potential to lead them to a championship is Tanner Allen. Allen was named the 2021 SEC Player of the year and currently has a batting average of .382 with 95 hits, 66 RBI’s, and a slugging percentage of .622. Tanner went 2-4 and hit the game-tying run in the team’s eventual win against the University of Texas on Saturday.

The SEC rivals will play in a best-of-three series with game one being played today (June 28) on ESPN2. Game two will play on Tuesday on ESPN, and game three, if necessary, will be played on Wednesday on ESPN2.

Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame Class Of 2021 Induction To Air As TV Special

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The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 induction will be airing on TV statewide this weekend. The special will be a two-hour event on Saturday, June 26 and will be hosted by the “Voice of the Titans” and 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Mike Keith.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2021 class adds a star-studded list of sport icons with the inductions of Kieth, Bill Bates, Cathy Bender, Mike Caldwell, Cindy Parlow Cone, Todd Helton, Mary Lou Johns, Reggie Johnson, David Poile, Brandon Rowland and Tommy Woods.

“I have had the honor of hosting the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame induction and awards dinner since 2000, but I have to admit this year is quite different,” says Keith. “For years, I have had the pleasure of sharing the stories of the TSHF inductees and honorees. It is humbling to be part of this year’s inductees, especially since this group is so accomplished in their respective fields. When you combine everyone involved with “The Nashville Six”, it might be the most accomplished, special overall group that the TSHF has ever honored.”

Along with the Class of 2021 inductees, the Hall of Fame will be honoring other athletes and teams from Nashville and around the state. The Class of 2021 of honorees include Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry as Tennessean of the Year; Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant and Seattle Storm and former Middle Tennessee State Star Alysha Clark will be honored as Pro Athletes of the Year; and the Tennessee Titans as Pro Team of the Year.

University of Tennessee’s Women’s Athletic Director Emeritus Joan Cronan will be honored with the David Williams Significant Historical Achievement Award. Jerry Robertson, former head athletic trainer at East Tennessee State University and Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association Merit Award winner, will receive the Pat Summit Lifetime Achievement Award. The six brave members of the Nashville Police department that worked diligently and selflessly to evacuate residents leading up to the explosion on Christmas morning, will also be honored with the Courage Award.

Additional honorees include: Amateur Female Player of the Year winner, MTSU women’s basketball star Anastasia Hayes; Amateur Female Team of the Year winner, Belmont Women’s Basketball; Amateur Male Player of the Year winner, University of Memphis quarterback Brady White; and Amateur Male Team of the Year winner, Memphis Men’s Basketball.

Fans in Nashville can watch the special event on Saturday on NewsChannel 5+.

Titans 5K To Be Held August 21, Registration Open Now

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The Titans 5K is set for Saturday, Aug. 21 and is open for registration. The race will give fans the opportunity to meet and run with former players, cheerleaders, and Titans mascot T-Rac.

A portion of the money made from the 5K event will go to the Titans Fund, which aims to help contribute to the Nashville community. All those who participate will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a ticket to the Titans game against the 49ers on Dec. 23.

The course as been designed around Nissan Stadium and downtown and will end at the stadium’s 50-yard line. Refreshments will be provided and an award ceremony will take place after the race where the fastest finisher for each age group (male and female) will receive a commemorative football and overall fastest participants (top 3 male and female) will receive personalized Titans jersey.

The prices for the 5K are currently $45 and will increase to $50 after June 30. Late registration from August 19-21 will cost $65 and will close at 6:30 a.m. CST on the day of the race.

Below is a map of the Titans 5K course.

Sabertooth Sports and Entertainment Partners With Iroquois Steeplechase

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Sabertooth Sports and Entertainment has partnered with Iroquois Steeplechase to offer all sports fans the exclusive opportunity to rent a box for the 80th anniversary of the event on Saturday, June 26, at Percy Warner Park. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University.

“We are pleased to partner this year with one of Nashville’s most time-honored and treasured events, Iroquois Steeplechase,” says Sean Henry, president and CEO of SS&E and the Nashville Predators. “Recognized as the premier spring event in Nashville, Iroquois Steeplechase is much more than a race, it is an event, bringing together more than 25,000 people each year for a day of excitement, entertainment, and plenty of suspense and intrigue delivered by the race itself.”

Iroquois Steeplechase was first contested in 1941 in a valley at Percy Warner Park on a course that was constructed by the Works Progress Administration. Volunteers for the race came from local fox hunters, among others. Those volunteers later created the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Association (now Foundation), which today remains the governing body of the race meet under the leadership of Steeplechase Chairman Dwight Hall.

“Perhaps most importantly, the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation has been able to use Steeplechase as a vehicle to raise more than $4 million for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University over the years,” says Henry. “We thank the Foundation for giving SS&E the opportunity to get involved and drive even more fans for Steeplechase and more revenue for the Children’s Hospital and the event’s other charitable partners.”

By renting a box for the 2021 Iroquois Steeplechase, fans can enjoy the premiere race day experience with access to the most exclusive parties of the day and the best views of the finish line, where all the action can be seen. Limited boxes are available now and include armbands for eight or ten people and two parking passes. Premium add-on options are also available in the Turf Club, Paddock Club, and Iroquois Society.

Kyle Petty Talks NASCAR Weekend, Future Of Motorsports In Nashville [Exclusive]

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The Sports Credential’s Steven Boero discusses race weekend in Nashville with Kyle Petty.

Last night (June 17), The Sports Credential reporter Steven Boero talked with Motorsports legend Kyle Petty about the upcoming triple-header race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway.

This weekend’s events mark the first professional racing at the Speedway since 2011 and the first Cup Series race to occur in Nashville since 1984.

When asked about NASCAR making its triumphant return to Nashville, Petty enthusiastically said, “The sport has changed just like the city’s changed, and just like the music industry has changed. To have these [races] back is like having the left hand and the right hand finally back together again. They just belong together!” He continues, “They belong back in the city and in this area, and I think the racing fans have missed it. The sellout [for Sunday’s Ally 400] is evident that they missed it.”

However, NASCAR didn’t just dip its toe into the waters of bringing back Nashville motorsports, but actually made a huge splash. By bringing in a total of three races to the weekend, they have provided a jam-packed weekend for drivers, teams, and NASCAR fans alike.

The Sports Credential reporter Steven Boero & Kyle Petty

“I don’t know if it says the city is in a different place and that it’s time, or if it’s all the racing series finally realizing they made a mistake about leaving and it’s time to come back,” Petty shares about the triple-header.

NASCAR’s return isn’t the only sign of motorsports coming to Nashville. With the upcoming Big Machine Music City Grand Prix’s IndyCar race taking over the city in August and the new Superstar Racing Experience at the Nashville Fairgrounds Racetrack in July, this appears to be the beginning of a new wave of Nashville sports.

Of the Fairgrounds Racetrack and its upcoming racing lineup, Petty says, “There is so much buzz about motor sports in this city, and you can’t have a conversation about motorsports without including the Fairgrounds. That’s the history of Motorsports in this city.”

Petty has a brand new show on Circle Network called Dinner Drive with Kyle Petty which will feature racing legends and country singers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mario Andretti and Darius Rucker. The show premieres on July 8 and the Circle Network can be watched on Peacock and Roku. To learn more, go to Circle Network’s website.