Honored to be part of documentary, "Gold Record: Fifty Years of Hockey in Nashville"

I was honored to be interviewed for the terrific one hour documentary on the history of pro hockey in Nashville entitled, Gold Record: Fifty Years of Hockey History in Music City. The portions where I reminisce include the rowdy times at Nashville Knights games in the mid 90s, as well as reflections on the rabid fan base (including the crazed inmates of infamous Cellblock 303) at Predators’ games since 1998.

Here is info from the official press release:

Leading into Tuesday night’s Nashville Predators game vs. the Vancouver Canucks, the Preds flagship TV station, FOX Sports Tennessee, will debut the one-hour documentary “Nashville Predators Present: Gold Record – 50 Years of Hockey History in Music City,” at 6 PM Central Time.

This special takes a look back at the history of hockey in Nashville, beginning with the Dixie Flyers in 1962 all the way through to the present day Nashville Predators. The show features interviews with Dixie Flyers captain Ken “Red” Murphy, South Stars owner Larry Schmittou, Knights radio broadcaster Steve Carroll, current Predators Chairman Tom Cigarran and country legend and hockey aficionado Barbara Mandrell, among others. Fans will travel back in time to Municipal Auditorium, the original home of hockey in Nashville, by way of vintage footage and rare photos. This all encompassing look at hockey in Music City will air on Fox Sports Tennessee several times over the next 6-8 weeks.

“Gold Record truly highlights the history and passion Nashville has had for hockey of the last half century,” Nashville Predators Executive Vice President Chris Parker said. “It is a tribute to all the teams, players and fans who came before the Predators and laid the foundation for the support we have received over the last 15 years. We are sure that hockey fans and all sports fans in general will enjoy the program!”

Here is the airing schedule so far. All times Central:

• Tuesday, February 7--6 PM leading into Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks game.

• Tuesday, February 7--10 PM following Predators post game show after Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks game.

• Thursday, February 9--10 PM (following "Predators Snapshot" after Predators vs. Ottawa Senators game.

• Saturday, February 11--10 PM
• Tuesday, February 14--10 PM following post game show after Predators vs. Chicago Black Hawks game.
• Sunday, February 19--9 PM following post game show after Predators vs. Dallas Stars game.
• Saturday, February 25--11 AM
• More airings to be announced for March and April.

I am grateful to director/producer Scott Osborne for seeking me out and other fellow Section 303 rowdies like Kurt Andress, Laurie Dishman, and Brian Binkley for our participation. I waxed nostalgic for over an hour, and I know that many others gave long testimonies to the long-sufferings and joys of being hockey fans here in Tennessee that were edited for running-time purposes.

Additionally, there is plenty more archival footage to be had of the various franchises that have graced the Municipal Auditorium ice sheet in the 60s, 80s, and 90s, as well as of the Preds at Bridgestone for the past 13 seasons….so, who knows? Maybe there will be a Volume Two and Three!

Should you get to watch it, or have seen it already (every Predators season ticket holder was sent a copy as a Christmas gift), let me know what you think. I’m sure those of you who are hockey fans will enjoy this fun skate down memory lane.