Stephen Yeargin

Al Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize

Former Vice President Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize, the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel, for his work in raising awareness of accelerated global climate change. His award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth won an Academy Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Documentary and Best Original Song (Melissa Ethridge’s I Need to Wake Up). As per typical (and it would seem every time Gore’s name appears in print), readers of our Metro newspaper prove once again that they generally dismiss accepted science in favor of dogma ant talking points, and that any accomplishment by a non-Republican must be a sham.

If you are slightly confused how his work constitutes a “Peace Prize”, consider the wars (ahem) centered around rich oil producing nations and conflict in sub-Saharan Africa that largely pertains to water supply. If the climate shift continues down its projected path, it is all but certain that these kinds of unrest will only grow.

Jim Balsillie makes another bid for Predators

Even without the ability to file a formal bid (the local ownership group headed by Dave Freeman has exclusive negotiating rights), Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie again has come calling on Nashville. Given his track record as being nice and “Go Nashville” on the front end only to sell season tickets in Hamilton, Ontario the same week, his latest overtures of dedication to the Music City cannot be taken seriously.

If anything, Balsillie’s renewed entrance is nothing more than a distraction to keep the team from meeting the October 31 deadline. Missing that, he can then plop down the full amount (around $200 million plus the current $16 million exit fee), strong arm the Board of Governors, sit down for an interview with Scott Burnside of ESPN and celebrate the Hamilton Predators in Copps Coliseum next season. With a seemingly endless supply of cash capital, there is really nothing that can be done to stop him once that ball gets rolling.

Nashville Kats cease operations

For any of those that thought losing of the Predators would only help the city support more traditional southern sports, take one off the list. The Kats finished three places up from last in attendance in the Arena Football League and failed to make the playoffs last season. As a result, Titans owner Bud Adams shuttered the team.

So of the four professional sports in Music City (Titans – NFL, Predators – NHL, Kats – AFL, Sounds – AAA Minor League Baseball), only one of them is guaranteed to play next season. I am beginning to give a bit more thought to those that are convinced that this is a conspiracy to only have a football team.