In case you haven’t heard, Patti Stanger is genius!  I watch Millionaire Matchmaker like white on rice and the more I watch the more I realize that I keep dating a-holes! Well time to change that! Thanks to a good friend of mine who is going through the same thing, we decided to start the Dating Detox created by the Millionaire Matchmaker herself!

So I will be blogging about my status through this crazy adventure of focusing on me not my nonexistent love life.   

Well so far so good! The second semester of my junior year of college is about to start and I have loaded my schedule with everything from sports writing to artist management! I am currently a stringer for the Hendersonville Star News/Gallatin News Examiner and will also provide some articles for the Nashville Predators website.  Also in the sports category is softball hitting lessons.  If you know anyone who needs lessons, let me know asap!

I decided to get my feet wet in the country music industry over the summer and I am still going strong! The only difference is I kind of appointed myself manager for a friend’s band, Chad Freeman and Redline, go like their Facebook page! I finally understand the stress management must be under when working with a new artist.  I am doing all I can to help but good lord it is hard to grab the attention of a country when nobody knows who you are.  I have had some success because people know I have a good ear when it comes to country music. So any advice is welcome!

I have also been “reunited” with a wonderful friend who has inspired to keep my blog up to date about anything and everything.  It won’t be sports all the time, it will be just what is going on in my life.

Hope 2012 is treating everyone else as well as it is treating me!

So for you who don’t know, I am currently writing for Tennessee Sports Magazine.  For the April edition I am writing a feature story on Rick Honeycutt, the Dodgers pitching coach.  So today I interviewed Honeycutt, Don Mattingly, Clayton Kershaw, Jonathan Broxton and Hiroki Kuroda via his translator.

When I first walked into the clubhouse, I felt the adrenaline rush kick in and once I stepped foot in the locker room, I was overwhelmed.  I looked around the room and there were players everywhere.  I was told to approach whoever I wanted to talk to so I decided to go for Broxton.  From what I was told he isn’t very talkative but he spoke to me after I told him it was for a southern magazine.  After Broxton, I spoke with Kuroda.  It was the first time I interviewed a foreign player with a translator.  The whole time I was asking questions, I wasn’t sure who to look at.

I had about 20 minutes left until they began practice and that’s when I was introduced to “Honey.”  When he was told that I was from Tennessee he gave me a huge hug in the middle of the locker room.  Definitely not what I expected!  We talked until he had to leave for practice.

When I returned to Camelback for the game, I ran into Charlie Steiner, one of the long time voices of the Dodgers and he remembered me from the Winter Meetings in Nashville.  The feeling of being on the other side of the rope was incredible! I was walking alongside some of my favorite players and I just couldn’t believe it!

Kershaw had a great outing and I interviewed him after the 5^th inning when the starters were lifted.  I walked back over to the field from the clubhouse and met Steve Sax (my mom’s favorite!).  Everything just fell into place after that.  I interviewed Mattingly and talked to Honeycutt some more.  Most of the people in the organization that I had met before were so proud of me and seemed as excited as me.

Right before I walked out of the clubhouse, Honeycutt stopped Tommy Lasorda in the hallway and introduced me to him.  Lasorda decided since I was from Nashville, he would tell me a story about building the convent on Pennington near Opryland Hotel.

Today was such a great experience and I have been on cloud nine ever since.  I always knew I would make it into the Dodgers’ clubhouse but I just didn’t expect it to be this soon! My dream became a reality today and I can’t wait to see what is next!

Josh Hamilton: Beyond Belief was one the best autobiographies I have ever read.  Ever since spring training, I have been totally obsessed with the Texas Rangers and when my prediction of them winning the American League came true, it didn’t weaken my new found obsession.

Any baseball fan knows at least part of Hamilton’s story.  A former number one pick and now, a former drug addict. I don’t want to regurgitate the book word for word but I will share some of my favorite parts and some “Did you know?” tidbits.

Hamilton was blessed with the skill of a major league ball player at an early age.  As a 6-year-old, he was too skilled to play in his age group and was forced to play on his older brother’s team, at the time his brother was 11.  Not long after he joined his brother’s team, he hit his first real homerun.  I found it unbelievable for a kid his age to have that kind of strength.

It wasn’t until his freshman year of high school did the reality of going pro right after graduating was a possibility.  He did verbally commit to North Carolina State University but never stepped foot on the campus as a student.  Tampa Bay drafted him as the number one pick for a signing bonus if $3.96 million dollars.

His parents followed him everywhere until the Rays organization were aggravated with them as they claimed that they weren’t allowed him to grow up.  Not long after his parents left, Hamilton got his first tattoo and started spending most of his time at the local tattoo parlor.  After about six tattoos, he started hanging out with the guys who worked there and after that it was bad news.  They introduced him to cocaine and everything spiraled out of control.

Long story short, he went to eight different rehab places and couldn’t get clean.  It took everyone giving up on him except his Grandmother for him to realize what needed to happen.  His Granny took him in, stood by his side through his toughest moments until he sobered up.

I could go on and on but I think everyone should read his book.  Once somebody hits rock bottom there is nowhere to go but up and that is exactly what he did.  He was reinstated to the MLB and started his comeback.  The Cubs picked him up in a Rule 5 draft and right after that, the Reds traded for him.  He made the major league roster out of spring training as a fourth outfielder.  His first hit was homerun and after one season with the Reds, he was traded to the Rangers and the rest is history.  The Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium with the chants of “Ham-il-ton!” to this past season, American League MVP, earning 31 of the 32 votes.

I can honestly say, I am now a huge fan of Josh Hamilton not just because he is a great player but everything he overcame to be the player he is now.  There is so much more to him than the starting center fielder for the Texas Rangers.

The Preds are in town this week for their game against the Coyotes tomorrow and I was invited to sit with them at the Diamondbacks game tonight in Phoenix.  It was kind of weird seeing all the boys in casual clothes but then again, it was really cool being able to sit with them in a casual setting, everything OFF THE RECORD.

I sat behind Jared Smithson, Dan Hamhuis, Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, Cody Franson and Joel Ward.  All of them acting like little kids star struck when Matt Stairs was taking batting practice.  They even asked him for his autograph! So they are just big kids at heart that look up to the old Canadian veteran.

To go along with sitting behind them I sat next to Tom Callahan who does radio play by play, Pete Weber and Terry Crisp who do play by play and color for television.  It was a great night at the ballpark and look forward to happy and healthy post-season with them in Phoenix (fingers crossed!).

Nashville clinched their 5^th playoff berth in six years while Phoenix hasn’t seen post-season play since the 2001-2002 season.

Phoenix is in fourth place with 102 points and three games remaining.  Nashville is four points behind in 5^th.  Both teams entered the season under the radar and neither team was predicted to make the playoffs.  Now, with a Predators win or overtime loss Wednesday, they can clinch a spot no lower than 7^th.

Jason Arnott has been out of the lineup for the Predators for the past two weeks and the Coyotes haven been missing Scottie Upshall since January 28 and is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

The teams have a similar style of play.  Neither has a star player but they have coaches that work well with their system.

Nashville (46-28-6)

Patric Hornqvist leads the team in goals (30) and points (51) after having a total of two last season.

Shea Weber and Ryan Suter probably rank in the top three for defensive pairs in the NHL.  Weber has 41 points while Suter has 36.

Pekka Rinne is the starting goaltender for the Predators after splitting time with Dan Ellis for most of the season.  Rinne is tied for 2^nd in shutouts this season (7), trailing only Ilya Bryzgalov who has eight.

Phoenix (48-25-6)

Ilya Bryzgalov leads the league in shutouts (8), ranks 6^th for GAA (2.30) and ranks 8^th in save percentage (.920).

Wojtek Wolski was a great addition to the Coyotes at the trade deadline.  He is the team leader in assists (39) and points (61).

Lee Stempniak, was also acquired during the trade deadline, leads the team in goals (27), including 13 in 14 games and was named the NHL’s First Star of the Month for the month of March.

1. Do not show up to the Dodgers and Angels games without buying your ticket ahead of time.
2. Do no fall over the bleachers in order to get a ball from your favorite player.
3. Never get your favorite player to sign a baseball with a sharpie.
4. Never sit near a Hall of Famer without getting his autograph.
5. Never try talking to Ozzie Guillen unless you are under the age of 10.

Why did I state the five things above you ask? All five things happened to me. So I will start from the beginning.

I decided to go to the Dodgers and Angels game in Tempe during spring break but in order to get there it meant taking the light rail then a cab.  I arrived to the stadium only to realize that the game was sold out and there weren’t even singles available.  So there, I traveled for over an hour to get somewhere that would have taken 25 minutes by car only to find out that it was sold out!

My first game that I actually got in to see was the Dodgers and A’s in Phoenix.  I spent $7 on an outfield seat and got there over an hour early so I could watch batting practice.  Now most of you who read my blog know how obsessed I am with the Dodgers and for those of you, who really know me, know that I am totally obsessed with Andre Ethier. So I was directly behind Ethier during warm ups.  He was throwing with Matt Kemp and a couple throws in, Kemp over threw him and the ball was coming towards me until Ethier grabbed it at the last second.  I told him, “I could have caught that.”  He turned around and laughed, but that was ok with me because I got his attention.  Then next overthrow happened and he asked the crowd, “Anyone got that?”  I replied with, “Yeah, I got it…with my bare hand!”  And that made him laugh even more.

When he finished warming up, I asked him he could sign my book and he said that he would be back so I asked for the ball.  He took the ball out of his glove and threw it to me.  Ironically, he over threw me and not only did I reach up and grab it with my right hand; I fell back over the bleachers to make sure nobody else caught it.  Later on I got him to personalize the autograph on the ball, only he signed it in Sharpie! Do you know what happens to autographs signed in Sharpie? After a couple years they begin to fade and the ink blurs!

So when I was walking to my seat, I noticed Tommy Lasorda and Maury Wills were sitting in the stands except every one was walking right by Wills and straight to Lasorda.  So I walked over and asked Wills for his autograph and then he yelled at Lasorda to make sure and sign what I had.  I ended having to leave the game early, just like the typical Dodgers fan but finally got my favorite players’ autograph and that is all that mattered to me!

The second game I went to was between the Rangers and White Sox in Surprise.  I sat three rows behind the legendary Nolan Ryan!  I couldn’t believe it!  So I bought a ball from the pro shop to have him sign but I noticed that everybody who went to get his autograph was sent away by security.  So I was waiting till after the game to talk to him and what happened?  HE LEFT IN THE 8^TH INNING!

During the game I decided to go sit in the sun behind Ozzie Guillen.  That man is hilarious but ignores everyone ages 10 and up.  A little boy in a Dodgers hat asked to sit by me and of course I told him he could.  I asked the boy if the Dodgers were his favorite and how many games he had been to and not long after that Guillen turned around and started talking to him.  Totally ignored me!  After about an inning, he invited the boy to sit next him on the field! I couldn’t believe it but I was jealous of an 8-year-old!  As I was leaving the stadium I noticed the boy’s family had gone on the field with him and my only guess was that he was going into the clubhouse.

So with the conclusion of spring training, I learned my lessons about certain things and am also looking forward to a meeting with the Dodgers when they come play the Diamondbacks in May.  I am so excited and cannot wait!

I will also be interning with Sports Xtra on 560 WNSR in Nashville this summer! So be sure to tune in and maybe you will hear my voice from time to time!

            So my first game for the Coyotes as a part of Center Ice Magazine was definitely one to remember.  Scottie Upshall had a natural hat trick in the third period.  His first goal came at 4:02, followed by the second at 13:22 and the third at 14:27.  Now for those other Predators fans out there, you should know that Predators traded Upshall to the Flyers along with Scott Hartnell for Peter Forsberg.

            After arriving to the game halfway through the first period, thanks to rain and Arizona people not knowing how to drive in the rain, I noticed Nashville’s sloppy play in their own end especially around the net.  Hamhuis almost had an own goal with seconds to go in the period and that careless play carried over into the second period when Matthew Lombardi took advantage of the failed clearing attempt to put the Coyotes up 1-0. 

            The Predators were clearly out shooting the Coyotes, 15-5 in the first but it took them almost the whole second period to find the back of the net.  Patrick Hornqvist scored his 20^th goal of the season at the 13:57 mark and was soon followed up by Martin Erat’s goal at 14:37.  Erat’s goal proved to be the end of the offensive game for the Predators as the third period was all Upshall.  Upshall finished the game with three goals, six shots and a +2 rating.

            After the game, Upshall said it meant a lot getting the hat trick against his old team and head coach, Dave Tippett couldn’t have agreed more. “I enjoyed watching it,” he said of Upshall’s hat trick, “We needed one (goal) and he got three.”  

            Although Upshall played well, so did Ilya Bryzgalov.  Bryzgalov had 43 saves in the win.  “He (Bryzgalov) was real solid,” said Tippett, “He played very well tonight.”

            With the win, the Coyotes move up to fourth in the Western Conference standings and the Predators are currently sitting in sixth.

Game Notes: The win over the Predators gave Tippett his 300^th career win.  The paid attendance tonight was 9,142.

I arrived early, along with three other people to tailgate and after an hour of tailgating with Sun Devil people, I decided it was time to ditch them and find some other people who bleed blue and gold.  I found a friend tailgating with his family and then decided to sit with them on the 50 yard line.  The seats were awesome!  Being at the Rose Bowl was just amazing!  I couldn’t believe I was actually there, sitting inside the stadium that I had always hoped to go to one day. 

When I was around 11, my mom took me to a UCLA softball game.  There, I learned the fight song and at the football game, I finally got to enjoy it again.  For UCLA’s senior game, they put a defensive show and won the game 23-13. 

Now the next thing on my agenda, HOME!!!  That’s right y’all, I am finally getting on an airplane and going to Tennessee.

Darius Rucker took home Best New Artist, “To the fans, thank y’all for accepting me. And to country radio, you took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C., and God bless y’all for that.”  Rucker, former frontman for the band, Hootie & the Blowfish notched his first number one single ever this past year.  The upset of the night goes to: Lady Antebellum.  Lady A took home Vocal Group and Single of the Year with, “I Run to You.”  Lady A upset Rascal Flatts who had won the award six years in a row.  Brad Paisley and Sugarland repeated in their categories of Male Vocalist and Best Duo. 

As far as performances go, Swift opened the show with a pitchy, “Forever & Always,” and later performed her newest single, “Fifteen.”  Miranda Lambert was by far, the best performance of the night as she sang her latest single, “White Liar.”  Jennifer Nettles was on key for the Sugarland performance, who showed off a softer side compared to their big hit, “It Happens.”  The first time duet with Daughtry and Vince Gill was an interesting combination, I never really pictured those two performing together, as well as, Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock.  Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews performed “I’m Alive,” for the last perfomance of the night.  A lot of the artists performed ballads; I am still disappointed the show didn’t close with a bang!

Co-hosts, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood kept the crowd entertained throughout the whole show.  Joking about Kanye, being interrupted by Little Jimmy Dickens, and Underwood’s 14 dresses!  Overall I enjoyed the show very much tonight and look forward to seeing what new artists breakthrough in 2010!