THE ORIGINAL 7VEN TEAMS UP WITH FOX SPORTS NET
TO KICK OFF NBA SEASON

“#Trendin” To Be Featured In Televised Games and Recap Coverage

Los Angeles, CA (December 26, 2011) Outrageously funky band The Original 7ven, formerly known as The Time, is partnering with Fox Sports Net for the hotly-anticipated new NBA season. Beginning December 26th, basketball fans will hear the group’s single “#Trendin” throughout televised regional basketball games, alongside highlights and in special productions for approximately three months. Already a bonafide hit at urban radio, “#Trendin” is the first single off The Original 7ven’s current album, Condensate.

Released October 18th on SRR Records, Condensate debuted in the Top 10 of iTunes’ Soul Albums chart as The Huffington Post awarded the album five stars, noting “Condensate marks a mighty return to the fore for a beloved ensemble that has rightfully earned its own status as music royalty.” The Philadelphia Daily News gave it an “A,” adding “…the set achieves nirvana…” and People magazine bestowed three out of four stars declaring the band “…still cool.” The Original 7ven stole the show when it opened the Soul Train Awards ceremony last month with an extended performance and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in late October.

Condensate marks the first time the seven musicians have recorded together in over 21 years and comes 30 after their first time they played together in Minneapolis. The new album delivers the exciting funk/rock/pop that drove the launch of the Minneapolis Sound, infused with a new energy and power.

This Chick LIVES For Football Season.
By Staff Writer for Nashville Newzine Sports
Bethany Reynolds/Titans Chick
For Sports Archive - Past Articles

Last Saturday night around six p.m., I began to shoo my family out of our family room. I cleared up the pile of books, sheet music, lesson plans and grade books from earlier that day. I was tired but also fired up. I cooked some popcorn and got a Diet Rite from the fridge (five years ago it would have been a Miller Lite). I turned on our 42-inch plasma TV and muted the sound. I turned on my little portable radio to 103.3. Hearing the voices of the Mike Keith and Frank Wychek, my cats ran for cover, as they knew it is that time of year again - when their loving mother turns into a screaming lunatic for three hours every week.

It is game time. My time! This chick LIVES for football season.

Things Can Turn On A Dime In The NFL
By Titans Chick - Bethany Reynolds

Let’s talk about the 30 million dollar man.; the "play-maker." The only play that I have seen CJ make is throwing his offensive line under the bus after the humiliating 41-7 loss at home last Sunday to the Houston Texans. This is not the same Chris Johnson that has run for almost 5000 yards his first 3 years in the NFL. This is not the same CJ that can break away from any secondary and laugh all the way to the end zone. This impostor is timid, unsure, and slow to hit the hole. He's dancing around waiting for the seas to part and it ain't happening. I've heard all kinds of excuses from he's injured and not telling anybody, to he’s not in football shape yet, to he's rich and happy, to he's been abducted by aliens and replaced by Little Richard in a number 28 jersey.

Honestly, I think the whole team is suffering from the impostor syndrome. Who are they?  Are they the duds that showed up down in Jacksonville for the first game of the season? Are they the team came to play at LP field and whooped up on the Ravens? Are they the mediocre team that almost got beat by Denver? Or perhaps the boys that went to Cleveland and brought home a "W"? Or maybe the ones that got pushed around up in Pittsburgh. Will the real Tennessee Titans please stand up?

When Kenny Britt went down in the Denver game, I could literally hear the air seeping out of the entire team. The managed to squeeze out a nice win in Cleveland but big deal! Next came two blowout losses to Pittsburgh and then Houston. The Houston game was such a big game for both teams. Houston came to town to win. The Titans came out of the tunnel lifeless and flat. It was a painful game to watch.

Speaking of painful, the pathetic Colts are coming to town Sunday. They have not won a game yet. PLEASE don't let this week be their first win! If the Titans don't win another game this year, they have got to muster up enough rah rah to win this one!

Bright spots...hmmmm, well, Matt Hasselbeck's head? CJ's gold teeth? No, those are more like shiny spots. I don't know if there is a bright spot. We have tied up at least 30 million dollars in a running back who has gone soft, our best player, Britt, is out for the season, and our defense went from 1st in the league to giving up 80 points in a 2 game span. I'm just not seeing any kind of silver lining; sorry!

But you know what? All it will take is one break out game for CJ, a few sacks from the D-line, one wide receiver stepping up and emerging as a "playmaker" and all will be forgiven and life will be happy again in Titan Land.

It's frustrating to get your hopes up when your team starts 3-1 and they lay 2 colossal eggs in a row. But things can turn on a dime in the NFL. I hope and pray that they will turn things around and win back the hearts of us fair weathered fans. Let's start this weekend with the Kilts, uh I mean the Colts!

Chow!

Misery and Tennessee Make Perfect Company
By Brian Estes

As Tennessee fans, we finally know what it’s like to lose to Kentucky. It’s worse than I possibly thought it could be.

Watching the latter stages of this game gave me the most hideous, gut wrenching feeling I’ve ever had watching Tennessee football.

There’s something unsettling about watching 26 years of history come unraveled, especially against a Kentucky team as miserable as this one. The Wildcats rank in the bottom half of the SEC in total defense and have been lifeless on offense for the entire season.

But apparently Kentucky has found the formula for getting past the Volunteers. Forget guys like Mike Hartline and Randall Cobb; what you really need to do is insert a wide receiver at quarterback. The Wildcats ran the same offense my high school team ran, and they did it to the tune of 276 total yards. Not pretty, but on this day it was enough.

It now appears the Vols are further than ever from returning to relevance. Accusations of selfish play filled the air in the postgame interviews, and on the field it looked like the Vols were interested in being anywhere else but here. The offense turned in the most lifeless performance of the season. All day long Tyler Bray hurled passes toward the sidleline out of bounds, and all day long receivers were falling down and dropping easy passes.

Although the defense turned in a solid effort, the Volunteers were doomed by turnovers, a turgid offensive effort, and a failure to stop WR turned QB Matt Roark, who rushed for 124 yards. The Wildcat front line, bolstered by a trio of seniors, paved the way, but the Tennessee defense was still capable of shutting down the threat from an admittedly putrid Kentucky offense.

They just didn’t deliver.

Make no mistake; this loss rankles with fans and now seems poised to be a major turning point in Derek Dooley’s Tennessee career. During his two years, the Vols have consistently been outschemed and outplayed in the second half of games, they have not had a backup plan for playing through injuries, and recently they have even struggled against teams they usually dominate. They lost to Kentucky, needed overtime to down Vandy, and failed to score in the second half against a lousy MTSU team. Sun Belt teams have given the Blue Raiders bigger beatdowns than what they got on Rocky Top.

There is a good chance Dooley needs to have a big year next year if he wants to keep his job. Will Tennessee have what it takes? Dooley will have to hope that one more recruiting class will give the Volunteers the depth they need to stick around in the second half of games. His starters will mostly be juniors and seniors with at least two years of starting experience. The offensive line and run game must get better, and the skill position players must stay healthy. The defense has been okay, but they are going to need to improve in order to close the gap between themselves and the elite defenses in the SEC.

Oh, and one other thing.

For the love of God, don’t lose to Kentucky.

Kili Hood - Staff Writer for
Nashville Newzine Sports

Column for The Nashville Sounds
Baseball Team

For Kili's Linked Article Index: Click HERE **

It’s Drastically Different From The Big Leagues
By Kili Hood

One of the biggest advantages that fans of minor league baseball teams have is the access they have to the players. It’s drastically different from the big leagues, where the players are rushed through private entrances and rarely have time to stop and sign autographs for fans. The Sounds have had four Autograph Days this season (one of which was rained out), saving the biggest for last – the final home game of the 2010 season.

Despite the rain, and let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be a Sounds game this season without a little rain, over 8,000 fans turned out for the end of the season celebrations at Greer Stadium, including Autograph Day, where players lined the field before the game and met with fans. Sounds players were also out at the opening gates, greeting fans as they entered the stadium for the final time this season.

One of the fans taking advantage of the opportunity was 5 year-old Madison Martin, of Nashville. He was so excited, that he hardly noticed the rain. “I don’t care how hard it rains,” Martin exclaimed, “I’ll wait even if I get all wet!” Once Madison got his hat signed, he was grinning from ear to ear. “This is the coolest thing ever! I wanna be just like them when I grow up. Maybe I can even play here,” Martin gushed.

The players seemed to enjoy the day too, smiling and laughing with the kids (and adults) as they walked through the line. Autograph Day wasn’t the only attraction for the season finale, as the Christian-based group Sonicflood performed a pre-game concert. Throughout the game, fans also had the opportunity to bid on the gameday throwback jerseys, and the winners were presented the jerseys by the players following the conclusion of the game.

And what a game it was! The Sounds certainly wrapped up the home schedule in style, with a convincing 10-1 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs, highlighted by the team-voted MVP Brendan Katin’s grand slam and 3-run homers, and an outstanding pitching performance by Sounds starting pitcher Josh Butler.

The Sounds hit the road to try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive for the final road trip of the season, starting with five games with the Oklahoma City RedHawks. The team then wraps things up with their final four games in New Orleans against the Zephyrs.

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Climb Nashville
By Kyle Dickerson

Over the last few weeks we’ve taken a look at some wonderful places to get out and get active in Middle Tennessee. Opportunities abound around the mid-state area for residents to enjoy the scenic outdoors, explore their adventurous side, and stay healthy while doing so. From mountain biking to camping, hiking to Frisbee golf, there’s something for everyone, young and old.

But what happens if you head out the door, only to find the skies have clouded over and rain is just beginning to fall? Well, we have you covered...literally. There is one place near the heart of Nashville where the adrenaline never stops, come rain or shine. And if adventure is in your blood, then Climb Nashville is the place for you.

With over 12,000 square feet of climbing surface available, Climb Nashville weighs in as the largest indoor rock climbing gym in Middle Tennessee. They offer a variety of climbing options, including traditional climbing, bouldering, and lead climbing for those certified to do so. And their experienced staff takes much pride in handcrafting climbing routes that are challenging, unique, and fun.

For many people, the thought of entering such a place, where learned athletes scale the walls with honed precision, is quite intimidating. At Climb Nashville, it’s just the opposite. With athletes of every caliber, from first-timers to seasoned pros, this gym welcomes anyone and everyone looking for a good time and new experience. The friendly staff enjoys teaching new climbers, and introducing them to the sport, just as much as they do watching the veterans achieve new goals and further their talent. There is never a lack of expertise in the gym, and most climbers are willing to help out with advice and guidance if someone is in need.

Out of all the activities we’ve explored in the last few weeks, rock climbing has a higher potential for danger than most. That’s why the folks at Climb Nashville take every precaution to insure your climbing experience will be the best, and safest, you’ve ever had. All climbers must go through a simple basic safety course before hitting the walls, covering the do’s and don’ts of responsible climbing. It takes very little time away from your day in the gym, but equips you with both the tools for safe and fun climbing, as well as the confidence to use them. And don’t worry about gear. Everything you need, from a harness to shoes, is available for rent in-house.

For more information on hours, rates, and special group deals, check out the Climb Nashville website at climbnashville.com.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these last few weeks, and that you’ve been introduced to some opportunities you might not have known were waiting for you. As the warmer months roll on, we hope to see you out on the trails, in the parks, and at the gyms, enjoying what our wonderful state has to offer. Take care of each other and help protect the beauty of Tennessee for the generations behind us. And, as always, BE SAFE!

Read Kyle's Sports articles from the Archive Page.