After the gifts are unwrapped and the Christmas dinner dishes are done, the rest of the day can feel like a letdown, right? Not if all the family wraps up in all those new knit scarves and hats (I got three sets of gloves last year) and heads down to LP field to see the Titans play the Chargers. Buy tickets!

Even if not everyone in your family is a ball fan, you gotta get out of the house and do something on Christmas, especially if you’ve got out-of-towners. And, let’s face it, Jeff Fisher and his Titans may not quite have coal in their stockings, but they will have to deal with the AFC West powerhouse Chargers, and they need our support. So get out there and pray, for a victory that is.

Dane

How do you know summer is nearly over? (Sad, I know.) Because a bunch of guys on skates start beating the heck out of each other over at the Sommet Center. That’s right, it’s nearly Predators time!

Get in gear with a little pre-season taste of the carnage to come when our hometown heroes take on the Atlanta Thrashers on Sept. 17. And this is going to be a year you’re not going to want to miss. With maybe the best young defense in the league, things promise to be hot on the ice.

If you’re new to the Preds, here are some players to keep your eyes on: Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis. Weber and Hamhuis tore it up at the orientation for the 2010 Canadian Olympic team and Suter did the same with the U.S.

So come on out on the 17th and see the blue-ring brigade in action. I have a suspicion it’s going to be the start of something downright beautiful.

Dane

OK, you know I’m a sports fan, but I’ll bet you never thought I’d be plugging this: You’ve got to get yourselves to the Nashville roller derby. No kidding.

The season opener double-header is this Saturday, February 7, at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. The Brawl Stars, Nashville Rollergirls’ newest team, are up first, battling the Jacksonville Rollergirls. Next, our own Nashville Rollergirl All Stars battle the Texas Hotrod Honeys. That’s right, people. The Hotrod Honeys. Come on, need I say more?

With names like Jersey Jackhammer, Comanche Red and Olive Turmoyl, I’m betting on some fast, stiff-arm action. Might be good to get tickets online in advance. It is the season opener after all.

Dane

Hey hockey fans. I know it’s not looking too good for our hometown Preds making it to the playoffs. Heck, I haven’t done the math and we may already be out of it. But people counted us out last season and we still made it.

So my point is get over to the Sommet for a game. Playoff bound or not, the guys are great on the ice. Especially J.P. Dumont because he’s great to watch (even though he’s not scoring these days…). Dora isn’t a huge fan but she likes to watch him.

I’d say the upcoming game on Feb. 10 is probably the must see one. Detroit will be in town and they’re at the top of the Central Division. They’re the team to beat and should make for a good show.

A shameless plug as well…we’ve got a Predators package going on right now ($99 + tax, includes breakfast for 2). Just enter in the code B&B when you book your stay. We also offer free parking and complimentary shuttle service from the airport.

Dane

Ha. Well, don’t you worry your pretty little head Bama girl. I’ll admit my Vols had tough time. It could actually work out to be almost our worst season ever. We know how to win, so we’ll come back next year stronger than ever. The Crimson Tide better look out.

But I’m really not happy to see Coach Fulmer step down. I won’t write here what I really think about it but it’s not a good move. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the Athletic Dept. finds as good a replacement.

And be careful about your predictions over there. Even though Bama is rolling along they did just have some big injuries. Looks like both Earl Alexander and Roy Upchurch are hurt. Are they falling apart? Hmm, only time will tell…

Dane

OK, I’ve got to come clean. Dane has been razzing me about me saying that I’m from Tennessee. I’m not actually though I do love Tennessee and Nashville. But the truth is my heart bleeds Crimson. I’m a Bama girl and proud of it!

So there you go Dane. And I’m betting you’re wishing you were from there too given how Bama is doing compared to your Vols. Hmm, who is ranked no. 1 in the country? I wonder. Oh wait, it’s the Crimson Tide!

It’s going to be our year. You watch Dane. There’s no stopping us. But don’t worry I won’t say anything if you want to start saying that you’re from Alabama too! I have some crimson red for you to wear.

See ya!
Sabrina

If you’re like Dora and me and still miss that the Olympics are over, you might want to know about what’s coming up at the Sommet on Oct. 16. No, not Michael Phelps. Though tell me he wasn’t great to watch. I haven’t been that interested in swimming since Summer Sanders was in the Olympics.

No, I’m talking about the tour the U.S. gymnastics team is doing. They’re coming into Nashville on Thursday the 16th and I of course surprised Dora with tickets. Ahhh… Just don’t tell her they’re in the nosebleeds.

Shawn Johnson will be there and Nastia Liukin, the Hamms, Chelsie Memmel. Who else? Shannon Miller. Blaine Wilson. Pretty much the whole group it sounds like. I don’t think they could ever match the excitement from Beijing, but it will be great to see them live.

Dane

OK, people, football post number two coming at ya. Now that your Saturday is taken care of with the Vols, I’ve got to help you find something to do on Sunday. I’m talking Titans.

Their next home game is Sept. 21 at LP Field. As far as I know there are still tickets available so that would be my first advice. But second to that option I’d say go out and see the game with authentic Nashvillians in their natural habitat. Which on Sundays is any of the sports bars around town.

At least I’d say order up lunch from the Café Isabella and watch the game from the total comfort of your own pajamas and your own bed in your own room here at Hotel P.

Coming up: the Houston Texans on the 21st and the Minnesota Vikings on the 28th.

Dane

Every year you think, “This is going to be our year.” We love our Vols around here. So in my house we’re not letting ourselves get too upset about their first-game loss against UCLA. I think a lot of it is playing in the Rose Bowl. That’s a hard place to go. Tough.

I know Coach Fulmer put them through their paces and they’ve gone over and over the films. We got time. And we’re on board no matter what happens. That’s part of being a real fan. Plus, I don’t exactly know what we’d do with our Saturdays otherwise. It’s one of those things where I know that all of Nashville is doing the same thing at the same time.

My advice is if you’re in town, and you can’t get seats to the game, find a place to watch at a bar somewhere. And wear your orange and white.

Dane

We don’t have professional baseball down our way. So I guess we’re more a football town. And hockey with the Predators. Or at least I’m just speaking for myself.

But if you prefer to measure your sports by innings rather than halves or periods, head over to LP Field for a Vanderbilt baseball game. They were the SEC champions last year and are third in the division this year so far.

Though you’ve got to get on the stick. I just checked their web site and the last home game is May 11 against Georgia. Georgia is leading the division so that would be a good one to catch.

And then the SEC tournament begins on May 22 in Alabama, if we make it. Do us proud, Commodores!

Later,
Dane