Hannan
Monday, August 3, 2009
Hannan / Sports LenDale White Loses the Worm, 30 Pounds
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 12:03 PM
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Oft criticized Titans' running back LenDale White has lost 30 pounds in the offseason. How'd he do it? White gave away his secret to Sports Illustrated and, in the process, prematurely ended any hopes of future sponsorship opportunities from a particular tequila company:
"I really got to be honest," White said. "It wasn't a lot of major diet changes. (It was) watching what I drink. I was a big Patron consumer. ... That's what it was. I was drinking a lot, drank a lot of alcohol. I cut that out of my diet all the way. I don't drink at all. I cut the drinking, I stopped drinking for six months. "It started falling off."Now I'm no tequila expert, but according to this really convincing website a shot of Patron has between 69 and 104 calories. Which would mean, in order to account for a loss of 30 pounds, the previous, non-teetotaling version of White would have had to have drank approximately a case per day. Lineman Michael Roos does a good job of summing up the guarded optimism towards the newly svelte White (who is, after all, in a contract year) with this masterful display of passive-aggressive locker-room quote-making.
"Hopefully, he'll be able to last longer than he has in the past and go deep in the season and help us out," All-Pro left tackle Michael Roos said. "We've still got time to see what happens, but he's looking good so far."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Hannan / Media / Sports ESPN Radio is Off Nashville's Hot Seat
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 6:00 AM
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Yesterday, WNFN 106.7 The Fan announced a format change. Formerly home to ESPN Radio, the new i106.7 will now play top 40. Obviously any move that improves the odds of hearing Daughtry or Vertical Horizon while flipping through the FM dial is no reason to celebrate. But it's hard to think the loss of the Worldwide Leader will cause any Nashville sports fans to break their bobbleheads in anger.
ESPN's primary contribution to the airways are their personalities (ranging from the pleasant, like Scott Van Pelt, to the intolerable, like Colin Cowherd) and the way they can somehow turn 15 minutes of national news into 24 hours of coverage. All things you can find on TV or the web. Other than broadcasting MTSU games, local sports were not their forte. (That's primarily the domain of 104.5 FM and 560 AM, who cover the Sounds.)
Still want your Mike & Mike fix? Then it's time to pony up for the Sirius.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Crazy Crap / Hannan Today in Bigotry
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 12:57 PM
As a concerned citizen and Christian, I am very disturbed by the proposal that Metro government relinquish its' right not to hire homosexuals into the departments it governs. Of particular concern are those related to family, educational and community development where the presence of a homosexual could negatively influence traditional, Godly values. The Holy Bible, the uncontestable word of God, makes very clear that homosexuality is an abomination. Making special provisions for those that engage in this sin not only promotes it, but places Metro government in opposition with God's laws. The Bible not only contains very clear warnings about the consequences of homosexuality, but God clearly warns all those who simply "tolerate" or "approve of " it will be held just as accountable as those who engage it in. Please understand that I have no hatred for homosexual individuals. As a Christian, I love them and, therefore, pray that they will come to realize their sin, repent for it, and turn from it. I also pray that you personally will state your opposition to this sin and not provide a comfortable means for individuals to continue in it. Respectfully, Nicolette R. Lucak, Member Nolensville Road Baptist Church
40 Jealous Whores / Hannan / Politics Convention Center Question? Ask the PR Flacks
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 9:15 AM
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Recently, a Nashville resident we're going to call Mr. Curious e-mailed his Council representative the following question:
Mr. BLANK, I live at BLANK. I think I am in your district. My question is how do I find out more information on the convention center? I am interested in the projections Nashville CVB is using to determine future demand. It seems to me technology and a desire to be energy efficient will change the face of the convention business. What is your current thinking?Mr. Curious thinks the convention business is changing. This makes him one smart dude. Our fearlessly engaged citizen then attended the debate between Nashville CVB president Butch Spyridon and meetings industry Cassandra Heywood Sanders. Mr. Curious was not impressed:
Mr. BLANK, I don't know whether or not you were at yesterday's discussion at Vanderbilt but I hope you were. After yesterday's meeting it is apparent that Nashville wants to move forward and believes we are special enough to overcome market forces but it is also apparent that the group recommending the New Convention Center has failed to take a critical look at the "largest project in Nashville's history." I surely hope that you will use your vote and influence to at least slow the process down long enough to look at new scenarios that are quite possible if not highly probable.Holy crap. Not only is Mr. Curious curious, he's also insightful enough to see through the city's flawed logic: That simply because we've got some honkytonks, an NFL team and a sweet skyscraper shaped like a superheroes mask, we're somehow going to reverse the flow of an industry's decade-long decline. I'm starting to like this guy. I sure hope answers his question...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Hannan / Politics Zach Wamp Loves Him Some Common Folk
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 12:03 PM
See, there's two ways to go with a Tweet like this.
Behind Door #1, there's the whole idea that Twitter is just another medium that allows politicians to spout inane cliches that uncomfortably glorify people poorer than themselves. Behind Door #2, there's a cheap joke about cocaine.
This election is going to be really, really fun.
40 Jealous Whores / Hannan / Legislature Hooray! Eric Crafton's Possible Anti-Discrimination Bill Covers Everyone
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 5:57 AM
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Last week, Eric Crafton was one of eight 
Monday, July 27, 2009
Hannan / Sports Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings Stands on Principle
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 2:26 PM
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Just like in real life, it's hard to distinguish between good guys and bad when it comes to college basketball recruiting. On the one hand you've got high school and A.A.U. coaches, who serve as mentors and sounding boards for their star athletes, even though they're sometimes abusing that privileged trust to serve their own ambitions. On the other you've got college coaches with similar ambitions (Remember kids: There is always another rung on the ladder. Step on hands if you have to, just keep climbing.) and an interest in not rocking the boat that's delivered them so far in their careers.
To top it all off, you've got the NCAA, a $4 billion sweat shop that only dabbles in educational do-goodery and colludes with professional leagues even wealthier than themselves in order to keep alive the profitable practice of indentured servitude. Is that enough moralizing for you? Good. Because now we've got an actual example of an actual college coach (who's local!) standing up and speaking the truth for once. And we're almost 99% positive he's not doing it to serve his own best interest. (OK, make that 95%. You never know with these guys.)
As the New York Times Pete Thamel reports, the gatekeepers who run summer basketball tournaments are now charging college coaches hundreds of dollars for information packets, often springing the extortionate cost on them after the coaches have driven long distances and paid the up-front admissions fees. (If nothing else, these guys certainly have a future working for Comcast.)
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings went to one such tournament in Memphis and drove home when the organizer asked for $295 for a "required" roster. As Deadspin points out, Stallings' willingness to talk on the record about a well-known practice marks him as the rare whistleblower in a small fraternity committed to the status quo. Bask in the glory that is a rich guy speaking truth-to-power:
"That's exactly what's wrong with our business," Stallings said. "There's a mentality where coaches want to cover themselves and not get out there and say what's right and call out the people that are wrong. "That's precisely why things are the way they are. That's why we have culture issues in our game. It's a darn shame. The people who could have influence and do have a voice, they choose not to use it because it doesn't help them. They don't want anything unsettling their smooth little boat ride."
Daily Diversion / Hannan William Walker: Grey-eyed Man of Destiny
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 11:07 AM
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If you're a fan of This American Life, or good storytelling in general, you're going to like the Memory Palace.
The Memory Palace is a podcast recorded by public radio reporter Nate DiMeo. Working out of his Los Angeles garage, DiMeo takes historical anecdotes he finds fascinating and then builds a three to five minute story around them. Being an admitted dunce when it comes to history, especially Nashville history, I was happy to see that one of DiMeo's latest actually centers around a guy who was born and raised here.
If you don't know the story of William Walker, forever immortalized by this historical marker on 6th Ave., I'm not going to spoil it for you. Rest assured, though, that anyone who tries to invade Mexico with only 46 troops is well worth learning about. For a five-minute education on one of Nashville's original badasses, click here to listen to "Presidente Walker."
Friday, July 24, 2009
40 Jealous Whores / Hannan Fill in the Blanks
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I'm a little late to the game on this one, but I'd still like to ask one question about Nate Rau's piece on infill in Wednesday's City Paper. (Cuz goodness, if there was one thing you were dying to read on a beautiful Friday afternoon, it's a critique of some other guy talking about development. But I digress...)
Rau's a smart guy who spends as much, if not more, time working, talking and writing on land use issues than anyone in the city. His opinion is one that should be heard, so it's nice to see him stretch his limbs on something more op-ed'ish every once in a while. That being said, I disagree with his main contention: That "neighborhood-first" (his words, not mine) Council members who voted against May Town and preach the need for smart growth need to stop being obstructionist NIMBYs when it comes to development in their own districts. Here's a summary, in his words:
But supporting infill development comes with a price, and it's a hefty one for "neighborhood" Council members to pay. Instead of paying lip service to infill as an idea only, Council members must proactively work with Nashville's development community; the time has come to move beyond preaching the value of land reuse and infrastructure utilization. The Council member ought to be soliciting development in their districts.My first though is that, in Rau's hands, "'neighborhood' Council members" is thrown around like a slur. Second? Since when did it become a Council members job to sell developers on the idea of building in their districts? See also: Enclave
By the Way / Hannan Who Has Better Sex? Democrats or Republicans?
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Special thanks to reader Michael Rogers for pointing us to this clip, an amusing outtake from Academy Award nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick's Outrage (trailer below). The well-reviewed documentary is all about the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who vote against gay rights. A film we'd totally go see if some local theater (hint, hint, Belcourt) would book it.
