Summer Events Galore!!
June 13, 2008
I started off the week playing in my 3rd Cops and Jocks Celebrity Softball Game in Mt. Juliet. This is always a good game and I joined a few other Titan players, many country music stars, and several Mt. Juliet police officers to raise money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). There were a lot of players on each team and the outfield was split into about 30 different sections, each one filled by a player. That made it hard to have much success hitting fly balls, but it also kept the game moving with one out after another. Later we auctioned items between the innings. The highest bid of the night was $1550, out-bidding Jevon Kearse for a gold Charlie Daniels fiddle. At the end of the game, my team came out ahead by one run, and the night ended with some live music in the infield.
The next afternoon I played in another celebrity softball game. This one was the City of Hope game at Greer Stadium to kick off the week of the CMA Music Festival. Five other Titans joined me and many of Country Music’s big-name acts. Lots of fans came out to cheer on their favorite artists in the peak of the heat, and it was a HOT afternoon on the diamond!!! We only played five or six innings, but that was more than enough to remind me of the heat coming in July and August during Titans training camp. I can't wait for the season to get here, but it would be nice to fast forward through 2-a-days! It was another close game, and unfortunately one team has to win and one has to lose. We lost by one run, but I hope next year will be a different story!
Thursday night was the first of a four-night concert series at LP Field for the CMA Music Festival and I thought I was going to have a great seat in the audience. One of my buddies, Storme Warren, a personality on GAC, was hosting the concert and he had an extra pass for me to join him. The night started off with Phil Stacey singing the National Anthem followed by a fly over. I got to watch the show from back stage... that is until Storme said my name into the microphone, and someone tapped me on the shoulder, handed me another mic, and gave me a soft push from the back. The next thing I knew, I was co-hosting the concert with Storme! Talk about being thrown into the fire and being nervous! Obviously this wasn't my first time in front of an audience at LP Field, but it was my first time on a stage with a mic at LP Field. It was unexpected and a lot of fun. This was totally different than when I kick because I got to feed off of all the people in the crowd, and I got to interact with them and have a little fun. During a game I do just the opposite - I tune everything out and just focus on kicking the football through the uprights. Storme was a great host and he helped with everything I needed to know. At one point towards the end of the night, I ran into the audience with a GAC guitar signed by each artist and gave it to a fan. I had a blast all night, even though it was another HOT one. I got to meet many new people involved with CMA and GAC, not to mention that I was able to talk with each of the artists that took the stage that night. I had met most of them before, but it was good to catch up with everyone and say hello. I'll remember that night for sure and will call Storme again next year for a little co-hosting during the 2009 CMA Music Festival!!!
Friday started out with early workouts and then I headed straight to the Chevy Sports Zone to compete in the Steve Azar and Friends CMA Celebrity Sports Challenge. There were six teams of five or six teammates each. We competed against the other teams at golf, basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, and football. It was another HOT afternoon. I was just glad we were playing under a big tent and avoided having the sun beat down on us during the two hours of competition! In the end, Steve Azar's team came out ahead of all the others. I think he stacks his team and/or gets two points for each one of ours. I think he's taken the trophy home every year, but that's okay because it’s his home court advantage and I was just glad to be invited to take part in the day's activities. After the Challenge, I went back to LP Field for another night of music. This time I just hung out with some other Titans and friends, and it was another great show!
I spent Saturday catching up on some rest and just laying low. At the end of the day I headed to Nashville Superspeedway where Danielle Peck put on a pre-race concert and the NASCAR drivers were getting ready for a lot of left turns! I was invited with a few others as a guest of Brad Daugherty on the track. You may know the name because he played center for the Cleveland Cavaliers and his #43 jersey was retired after he was done playing. The evidence of his NBA career does show as he stands 7 feet tall. Brad is currently a college basketball analyst and a NASCAR broadcaster for ESPN, and he owns a couple of the race teams. I think that helped us gain some pit passes for the race. This was my first NASCAR race experience and it was filled with a night of roaring motors, fast cars, pit stops, a green flag, a few yellows, and a checkered flag.... followed by the smoking tires of the winner and donuts through the grass, of course! I haven't been able to go to a race previously, because I have usually had a football commitment. I was glad to finally get out to a race and I'm sure I'll be at more in the future. Thanks for a great night at the speedway!
Sunday started with another Charity event under the tent at the Chevy Sports Zone. This time it was Michael Peterson’s Celebrity Tractor Race. I kid you not, we were racing a large tractor between cones. The rules said to go down the course twice and then park the tractor in the same spot where you started, without running over any of the cones. That was fine, but it was a race and the cones were pretty close together. I had a decent time (56 seconds), but I ran over a cone and got a 10 second penalty. Oh well - there were some good finishes that beat my 56 seconds anyway. After the race, I walked around on Broadway and the Riverfront with a couple of friends. We checked out a few stops along the way - there is a lot going on downtown during the CMA Music Festival. Tents and booths were set up all over the place and there was music on every block. It was time to get out of there and grab some lunch before long, because I was tired of sweating through my shirt!!!
The evening brought me back to LP Field for the final night of concerts. This time I was a guest of Phil Stacey, who I first met after he sang the National Anthem at one of our games against the Raiders. What a great guy with a great story. Last year he was stationed on a Navy ship. He tried out for American Idol (missing the birth his daughter), was discovered, released his first album with Lyric Street, and is now playing at the CMA Music Festival at LP Field. I wish him all the best and more success to come! I want to thank him and his wife for letting me tag along and see the night behind the scenes at the concert. It was, as always, a great night of music filled with meeting lots of new people and hanging out with friends! Our field showed the evidence of so many people on it over the past four nights. Our grounds crew will have their work cut out to get the grass back before the season gets underway. They usually do a good job reviving or replacing the turf before we get going on it. Let’s hope they can do it again!!!
It's now Friday the 13th... I can remember the movies growing up - I hope Jason doesn't show up. I hope you have a great weekend and are enjoying your summer!!! I'm going to spend a day or two at Bonnaroo and get some rest this weekend as we have two weeks of OTAs coming up, three days each week. I'll let you know how they go as we get through with them. I’ll talk to you all soon.
~RB2
CMA Festival and NASCAR Here I Come!
June 2, 2008
It's been a slow week and a good time to get a little rest. I've had the opportunity to meet some friends here in Nashville for lunch and dinner. I've enjoyed this time away from everything and have had the chance to get some good training at the practice facility.
I know things are going to pick up a little bit this week as I take part in a few charity events. Also, I will be attending CMA Music Festival and some of the concerts at LP Field over the weekend. Those that I'll be attending are listed on my calendar page, check them out if you're looking for some good outdoor activities to watch. I'll also be heading to Benji Olsen's retirement party this weekend and attending my first NASCAR race. I'm told it is going to be a blast and there's a great chance I'll be in the pits and listening to the spotters through a headset. I'm excited to finally get out to a race!
Like I told you, it's been a nice, slow week. I'm sure I'll have a few paragraphs for you next week. No doubt the last few weeks have been exhausting with non-stop action. I had a blast taking part in so many events and new things, but slowing things down is just what I need right now.
Until next time...
~RB2
Las Vegas...Here I Come!
May 27, 2008
Hi! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I hope none of you were stuck driving in the rain on Monday like I was! I got away to Kentucky to hang with my family for a couple of days for the holiday. My brother invited all of our family to his place for a cookout. There was a great turnout with plenty of good food and conversation. I enjoyed just spending the day outside with everyone. Now that the weather is warming up, I hope to be outside more and more.
Speaking of being outside, we had three OTA practices last week. It went well - I hit almost all of my field goals during practice. It is still early in the off-season for all of us. We are working to be fully prepared for competition starting in August and September. Now is the time to be taking the proper steps to be getting the body ready and as fully prepared as possible for the 2008 season. I will continue to kick three times a week in June, and then I’ll bump it up to four times a week in July. I just want to be sure not to over-kick and burn out the legs... it's a long season! The OTAs went well. Everyone showed up and the weather was nice - warm, but not hot! We also got a first look at most of the rookies. I know some of the vets were glad to have them taking some of the final reps in the drills. We are only in helmets right now, no pads, so we're not hitting and it's difficult to see what each rookie is going to bring to the table. Time will tell.
I was in some HOT weather last weekend, in Las Vegas for the Academy of Country Music Awards. I think the thermostat showed 104 - 105°F and my body confirmed that with beads of sweat every time I stepped outside. There were so many familiar faces there, it was as if much of Nashville was picked up and transplanted to Las Vegas for the Awards Show. I had a great time, spending days poolside, evenings at amazing restaurants, and ending my nights at some of the best nightclubs in the city. And maybe I sat down at a couple of tables to try my luck. Not too much, though, just a few hours during the trip. There was way too much to do outside of the casinos!
On Saturday, May 17th, I played in the fifth annual Academy of Country Music Celebrity Golf Classic hosted by Rascal Flatts. The event benefits the ACM Charitable Fund and was one of many activities that led up to the 43rd annual ACM Awards show that took place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. I was in a foursome with Gary LeVox (lead singer of Rascal Flatts), Brian O'Connell (one of my buddies from Live Nation in Nashville), and Doug Kane (a friend of Brian's since grade school). We needed a few less strokes to take home one of the trophies, but I don't think we really wanted to pack a trophy in our luggage anyway! As expected, it was a hot day on the Tournament Players Club Course in Las Vegas and I packed the wrong golf shoes. My feet were burning up in black leather all day! It was still a fun day, I just had hot feet! The shots we played off my sticks probably could have been counted on two hands, but I did come away with the long drive of the day on one of our final holes. I got into that one and kept it in the middle of the fairway - better there than off to the left into the canyons like a few of my other balls! It was a good thing we started with 12 balls. And yes, I did have a few left at the end of the day.
Sunday was a long day. I had lunch by the pool and caught a few rays before changing for the show. I met up with friends and we walked the Orange Carpet to enter the awards. I thought it was going to burst into flames. Again, it was HOT! Dry heat or not, I know my core temperature was elevated while I was outside before entering the MGM Arena. I talked to some of the country music stars and eventually ran into the Rascal Flatts, who invited us to hang out with them backstage during the show. Jay, Gary, and Joe Don are down to earth guys, and they always have the time to say hello. It can be after a Titans' game on Sunday, at a concert, an awards show, or just out in Nashville. They are a great group of guys to hang out with. Many of the other country artists here in Nashville are the same way! Since playing in Nashville, I've really come to appreciate what the artists do and the dedication they put into it! While backstage at the show, I talked to many of the country artists in attendance. After spending some time there, I met up with some other friends upstairs and enjoyed the show. It was long, three hours, but we had a good time and it was a great reason to spend a couple of days in Las Vegas. After the show, I met back up with Rascal Flatts and congratulated them on a great performance and their selection for The Home Depot Humanitarian Award.
I thought I would head out to a few other events and parties after the awards, but Rascal Flatts had a different idea and I went with it. I joined them for most of the night. First, I went behind the scenes to experience their media interviews, pictures, more interviews, and more pictures. I guess it best relates to the Super Bowl for us on the gridiron - I hope to be there one day!!! I had a chance to meet and talk to Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and a few other artists while I was waiting on the guys to wrap things up.
After that, we went to a suite at The Palms where their record label, Lyric Street, was hosting a party. Good food and a lot of new people to meet kept me busy while we were there. I've been running into Phil Stacey more and more lately, and it’s always a pleasure to see him and his wife. It was cool to be in one of the suites I've seen in magazines and read about. The room had an infinity pool outside that extended from the side of the building. The security guard said Michael Jackson actually lived in the suite for 6 months at one point. I really liked the main room, which had water running down a wall into a pool that covered most of the floor space. The water area was roped off after a couple of people got their feet and pants wet because it was as smooth as glass! I fortunately made my way across the room on the granite tiles instead of getting wet!
We left there and went to the hotel where Rascal Flatts was hosting a party themselves. Again, I met many new faces and had a great time. I picked up a pool stick and tried my luck at a game of pool, but it wasn't my night behind the cue ball. I caught up with Brian, my golf partner from a day earlier, and Kellie Pickler stopped by and I had a chance to say hello. One of my arena football teammates from Carolina was with her... as her bodyguard! It was good to see Wes. He's from Nashville, so I also see him around here from time to time. I was invited to another party hosted by John Rich, but I was ready to call it a night. I haven't had the training to hang with these rock stars! All in all, it was an eventful day, a fun-filled night, and a great weekend. I got enough of Vegas for one weekend and was ready to get on my plane back to Nashville. Home sweet home! I couldn't wait to get in my bed and get a good night's sleep!
We have the next three weeks away from OTAs and I'll be using that time to train on my own, kicking three days a week, 50 to 75 balls each day. I'm right on schedule and today was a good day. The ball is coming off my foot solidly and going straight through the uprights. I'll continue increasing my reps and strength, and then just maintain my leg to be as prepared as I can be for training camp, preseason, and most importantly, the 2008 season! Thanks for taking the time to read more of my blog... I'll be back to type again soon!
-RB2
No Time To Slow Down!
May 15, 2008
You probably know I'm from Louisville, Kentucky, and the Kentucky Derby takes place in my hometown each year. This year I finally made it back to Churchill Downs for the weekend! It's changed a bit since I went last, as a senior in high school over ten years ago. I have been busy playing in college and the Arena League since then. It's gotten much bigger and has become a huge event. The Derby Festival Events have always lasted for 2 weeks, but now there are more activities and the town is packed with more celebrities, not to mention that Churchill itself has grown a few floors to accommodate the needs of all the spectators.
Thursday night, April 24th, I got to town for a few charity events. I stopped by the Easter Seals Taste of the Oaks Dinner and Auction, which was a collection of local restaurants and eateries preparing their best dishes for the guests to experience and enjoy. I’m glad I started there, because I was hungry and had just driven in from Nashville. After saying hello to a few people, I stepped out to another event called Bowl for the Roses. This was close by in the 4th Street Live entertainment district of Louisville. It was another great event and was hosted by my good friend Chris Redman, the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, and DJ J-Dub. After walking the red carpet into Lucky Strike, I caught up with a few other NFL guys who were there to support the event. We bowled a couple of games and signed autographs. I was paired with one of the jockeys who would be racing on Saturday, Rafael Bejarano... I could not believe how tiny he was! We bowled with the Texas Bowlers, a proud team of six from the state of Texas, obviously! I had a lot of fun. I’m not the best bowler, but I did all right for the night.
Friday morning came early and I was headed to the track with my brothers and their wives for the day. It was the Oaks at Churchill Downs, a day where the big race is by the three year old fillies, and it’s always the Friday before the Derby. It was good to be back home and to spend some time with family. I always see them during the season, but this was away from Nashville and away from football. The day was long and after hitting a couple of winning bets, I was worn out and we were ready to battle the downpour as we departed the track. When we returned to my brother's house for dinner, I found myself asleep before I knew it. That’s probably a good thing because the Derby was going to be another long day!
I didn't do the Derby like Vince Young and Keith Bulluck, on the red carpet and all. I went with my sister, her husband, and my good friend Jamie from back home. We hung out all day in the Trophy Suite, just beyond the finish line, with a lot of great company. It was windy at Churchill. Most of the rain from Friday evening had disappeared and it was a beautiful day! Once again, I was fortunate to make some lucky choices and hit the right numbers on a few races. The food selection was good and yes, I did have a couple of "Mint Juleps" over the course of the day. You have to enjoy one or two so you can take home the souvenir glasses! I didn't win the Derby race this time. I knew Big Brown was a huge favorite, but I wanted to see a long shot win. That didn't happen, so it was a good thing I had the right picks in some other races throughout the day! I met my family again for dinner and spent the night enjoying their company while I was back home. It was a good weekend and I can't wait to get back to see everyone again before I have to be in uniform on Sundays! Maybe I’ll make it on Memorial Day Weekend. We'll see - I hear one of my brothers is going to fire up the grill!
After driving back to Nashville on Sunday afternoon, I was beat! I was in bed early as the week was going to include a few OTA practices and I wanted to be well rested for them. Rookies will show up around the middle of May after they finish classes and graduate college. As much as I enjoy being away from the field, it felt good to put back on the helmet and hit a few balls. There was a good energy on the practice fields of Baptist Sports Park. I know we are all looking forward to the season getting underway! We'll continue to have workouts each day during the week, mixed with a few more OTAs through June to prepare for training camp. That's when the days will get long and we’ll see what we have on the field. I'll talk more about that then!
After workouts on the 14th, I headed over to Gilda’s Club of Nashville to give out a couple of awards. I was one of a few celebrity judges for the 1st annual Gilda's Club Essay Contest. This is a place where boys, girls, men, women, and families can go while dealing with cancer. I learned that a big part of what Gilda's has to offer is the ability to give a good hug. All of the staff and volunteers were wonderful and it was an honor to have a small part in their day. I was introduced to the three winners, took some pictures, handed out the awards, and heard Alison McFerrin read her winning essay, “Cancer, It's more than a Reality TV Show.” She told us the story of her victory over LLS. It was eye opening, and I'm glad I got to be there.
That about does it for this blog... I'm heading into workouts and then to the airport. I am going to Las Vegas for a few days for the ACM Awards Show. We have three days of OTA practices when I get back. It should be another fun weekend before a good week of practice.
-RB2
Busy Schedule!
May 14, 2008
Kyle Vanden Bosch kicked off the KVB's SACK Foundation with a Draft Day Party on Saturday, April 26th, with the help of Jonathan's Sports Bar and Grille. Although I was supposed to have already been in Kentucky for the weekend, I stuck around to support his efforts to help better the lives of local youths. I was in attendance with other Titans and a few people from the music industry. The turnout was great - many Titan Fans showed up to root for our 2008 draft class as they were picked in each round. We took some pictures and signed autographs, raised money for Kyle's foundation, and enjoyed some lunch. I eventually got on the road to Louisville where I caught up with some friends running in the Derby Festival Marathon.
My friends were running on Team F.A.R.M. to support one of our friend's fathers (Mark) and the Plummer family. It is a cause that is close to me because this is a family I grew up with and they are going through a terribly difficult time right now. The money raised by team F.A.R.M. was donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. I know the family appreciated it and we were all glad to do this little bit to support them and the others who have been affected by spinal cord injuries. When all was said and done, I think we were able to raise over $12,000, which more than doubled our goal. It was a good weekend to get together with old friends and family!
After returning to Nashville on Monday morning for workouts, I attended The Boys and Girls Club 2008 Youth of the Year Award Dinner and Auction. We had nine Titans at a table to support the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee. Kyle Vanden Bosch was the guest speaker and it fit right in with his efforts to better today's youth through KVB’s SACK. After dinner and the announcement of the Youth of the Year, they held a silent auction. I was an auctioneer for a few minutes trying to bring in more money for an autographed football, a KVB Pro Bowl jersey, and one of my Pro Bowl jerseys. I think I did alright - the package raised $10,000... even if the winning bidder was paying to get me off the mic! At the end of the evening, we took a few pictures with some of the people who came out to support the event.
The following night, I attended the PENCIL Foundation's Little Night of Music Charity Event at the Country Music Hall of Fame. I accompanied Ken Levitan (Honorary Co-Chairman) of Vector Management and his wife, Gloria Dumas. It was another night of giving to charity and enjoying good company. I got a chance to meet Trace Adkins and Kellie Pickler before they put on a small concert in the theatre room. That was pretty cool because there were only about 200 people in attendance and the music was great. It was amazing to see those two perform to a small crowd. They sounded really good! I was glad to see a few people outbidding each other for a #2 Bironas jersey as well! I stayed for a few minutes to take a picture and speak with the lady who bid the most before having to leave for another event - The 2008 Cheers to Robin Charity Event for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It’s another great cause and many Titans were there to support it. I was only able to get there for the last hour or so, but it was full of good people supporting LLS.
I'll put another blog together soon to finish catching you up. I’m going to try to do a better job of writing a few things down once a week. Even with all of these things going on, I have been in the facility working out four or five days a week and am still kicking as needed to be well prepared for training camp.June and July might be a little more boring for you to read as I am about to begin kicking more each week and will tune out many off-field activities. This off-season has been great, but I do have a job that takes focus and preparation. Hope you are all doing well. I will write more soon.
Around Town
April 30, 2008
Hello everyone - I'm back again! I had a lot going on last week and I'm back in the swing of things on the field. I just got home from workouts and kicked all of my field goals through the uprights for the day. It's always good to walk away without a single miss... I feel like I haven’t taken a break since the Pro Bowl! I think 2008 is going to be a great season. I have a few minutes to write you before some of my family arrives for the Bon Jovi Concert. I'm sending my brother, his wife, my sister, and my mom. I won’t be able to go to the concert myself because of prior engagements, but that's okay - I saw him perform a couple of years ago, and it was a great show!
So, back to last Wednesday, April 23rd. I have become a huge supporter of the Nashville Predators. I’m not sure I know every rule, but I like to get out to the games and support the team on the ice. My teammate, #48 Casey Cramer, and I signed autographs for an hour and a half before the game. It was all part of the pre-game festivities on the front concourse. The line was long and the fans were great! After signing a bunch of autographs and taking many pictures, the Preds gave me a #2 Bironas jersey to wear at the game. I thought that was a great honor and I plan to wear it to all of the games in the future. I have only owned football jerseys in the past! The game was good and the Predators won, making it2-1 in the series.
The next day, Thursday the 24th, was a full one. The most notable event was the Nashville Film Festival movie premiere of The Deal, starring William H. Macy and Meg Ryan. Should I mention that I've had a crush on Meg Ryan since I was a little kid? The night started with a walk down the red carpet at Regal Green Hills Cinemas. I attended the event with Wild Bill of Underground Choppers fame, and we signed some autographs, took some pictures, did a few interviews, and met a lot of great people. The movie was pretty good - it was a little slow at the beginning as the plot was laid out, but was very funny by the time it got going. I was happy to support our local film industry, as these are some of the people out supporting the Titans on Sundays. After the show, I got a chance to meet William H. Macy and I spoke with him for a few minutes before he was rushed off to BMI for the after-party. I spent some time at BMI myself before calling it a night. It was becoming a long weekend, but the fun wasn't over yet.
I got a chance for a little bit of down time on Friday. I just met up with some friends and hung out for a bit before catching a good night’s sleep. Saturday was filled before I knew it. First, I went to my friend Thaxton Ward's house for his birthday grill out. The house, front porch and front yard were filled with friends and family. Good food and cake will always keep me coming back... Happy Birthday Thaxton!!!
After the party, we were off to a going away party for former Titan Jacob Bell. Unfortunately, Jacob won't be with us in the 2008 season, as he has signed a multi-year deal with the St. Louis Rams. He will really be missed in the front trenches of our offensive line next year. It was another good party with life-sized posters of Bell propped up throughout the house... a little creepy, but pretty cool at the same time! Congratulations on the new contract, Jacob.
Next, we went downtown to Wild Horse Saloon to attend the annual Maxim party. It wasn't the same as the Maxim Super Bowl party, but we had a great time. We walked the red carpet and enjoyed the Country- Western theme of the Wild Horse. After spending some time there, we headed across the street to John Rich's new club, The Spot, for a bit of late night conversation and to get away from the crowd. It’s nice to get off the beaten path at times and away from the norm, and The Spot lets you do just that.
Sunday morning arrived quickly. After grabbing a bite to eat at the Pancake Pantry, I went down to the Sommet Center with a few other Titans players (Vincent Fuller, Cortland Finnegan, Josh Stamer and Craig Hentrich) to sign autographs again before the Predators playoff game. We were there as fans to cheer them on during the game. They were down 3-2 in the series and needed the win. Sean Conover, Ulrich Winkler, Wild Bill, Thaxton Ward, and a few others joined us for the game. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Preds win and move on to game seven of the series. Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way and that's how this series went for the Predators. I can't wait for their season to get started back up next year... I'll have my season tickets to support keeping them here in Nashville!!!
At the Predators game, I also stepped on the ice between the 2nd and 3rd periods. I thought I was going to be throwing t-shirts to the crowd, but I was surprised to find out that I would be strapped to a bungee cord with a Red Wings fan on the other end! Once we were on the ice, we were supposed to work in opposite directions to grab balls off the ice and put them in a basket. The Red Wing guy wasn't very good and I pretty much pulled him around like a rag doll (but then I am a Preds fan and it was our home ice). There was one moment when he caught me off balance and got me off my feet, but I still showed him who he was messing with and I put all four balls in my basket before he got his first. It was a lot of work, and I wasn't expecting to sweat so much while on the chilly ice. It was totally unexpected, but I think the Arena enjoyed the show. And after the game was over, I did get to throw some shirts out to the fans! I just wish the Preds could have gotten that win! They'll be back next year stronger than ever, and I’ll see you out there after my season ends!
Sunday didn't end there... after the hockey game and a wardrobe change, a few of us headed out past Franklin to Kix Brooks’ winery, Arrington Vineyards , for another Nashville Film Festival Event. Cortland Finnegan and Vincent Fuller got there ahead of me because I followed Wild Bill, who cruised in on his bright blue custom chopper. This was the 3rd year I have attended the Film Festival events and they are always a good time full of great people. It's great to see some of the faces I've met in the past and always nice to meet new people. The best part is that nobody wants anything from anyone else - we are all just there to have a good time and enjoy each other's company! And we did just that for three or four hours over a few glasses of wine. My favorite was the raspberry wine accompanied by raspberry chocolates. I've been trying different wines more and more over the past couple of years and have to say Kix is onto something down there at Arrington. I'm looking forward to tasting the new blends in the upcoming years.
This has been a very eventful off-season, with a lot to pick and choose from every day and night. It's been fun, but I know it will soon be time to cut it out and focus on nothing but football. For right now, I'm continuing to work out and kick in the mornings, and then relax and enjoy my afternoons, nights and weekends. I got back to kicking twice a week two weeks ago and will increase that as we get more into the summer - all in preparation for a great 2008 season. I can't wait to be back on LP Field in a Titans uniform!!!
-RB2
Lot's and Lot's of "Star"-Gazing!
April 25, 2008
Hello everyone. I’m back! Sorry it's been a little longer than usual between posts but things have been busy to say the least! I’ve been taking part in many industry events and fundraisers as well as attending sports, music and film events. There’s a lot to tell, so I'll catch you up on a few things now and save a few for my next blog entry.
A (Surprisingly!) Busy Week
April 9, 2008
Cortland's Karaoke for a Cure and Living United
March 31, 2008
Hello! To "kick off" this post, I wanted to let all my readers know
about one of my teammate's upcoming charity events. Titans cornerback
Cortland Finnegan is hosting a karaoke night at Cabana on Tuesday,
April 1. It's called "Karaoke for a Cure" with proceeds going to the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which helps in the fight against blood
cancers. The event starts at 7 pm and the doors open at 5:30. I am
planning to attend along with many other Titans players, local country
music celebrities, and songwriters. The night is going to be filled
with lots of fun, singing, and a silent auction. There will be several
Titans player jerseys up for auction, and I gave Cortland one of my
Pro Bowl jerseys and a Titans jersey for the cause. This is going to
be Cortland's kick-off event with many to come. You can get more
information at www.cabananashville.com or e-mail questions to
celebmission@yahoo.com. Come join us for the night and I'll see you
all there.
While we're on the topic of charities, I wanted to tell you that over
the next year I'll be taking part in the United Way campaign to help
raise money and awareness for a better tomorrow. The theme is "LIVE
UNITED" and the hope is to push for better health, better education,
and better incomes for individuals by spreading awareness to groups of
people instead of one individual at a time. The hope is that people
will begin to "live united" and help others live united and live a
better quality of life.
Last Tuesday I took my first step in the United Way campaign. After my
morning workouts at the Titans' facility, I joined others from the
community for a couple hours at a video and photo studio. Titans
defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and my buddy Thaxton Ward (local
singer & songwriter who did "My Bironas") were there among many others
throughout the day. All were doing their part to help promote "LIVE
UNITED." The day started off with a little makeup and a wardrobe
change for the shoots. I skipped the donuts and coffee in the waiting
room because we have started our off-season workouts and I didn't want
to feel guilty, having just left the practice facility. When I was
called onto the shoot, I shot some video messages, an interview, and
some still photos. I got to do a little acting as well. After my
shoot, we took some group photos to finish off our first part in the
new campaign. All in all, it was a good day on set. Everything ran
pretty smooth and I was able to get back to Baptist Sports Park to
finish my cardio training before calling it a day. Over the next year,
as you see some of these TV commercials, billboards, and print ads,
stop for a minute and take notice: What can you do to LIVE UNITED?
Thanks again for taking the time to read about the things happening in
my life. I'll be in touch again soon.
~RB2
An Easter Surprise and Good News for the Home Teams
March 28, 2008
Hi everyone. Things have been back to normal since my trip to
California, but there are a few things that have happened in my world
that I'd like to share with you.
First up was Easter Sunday, which came early this year. (Actually I
heard it's the earliest on the calendar we will see Easter in our
lifetime.) I went to my sister's house to have an evening dinner with
her and a few friends who elected to stay in town for the holiday.
Each person made a dish so we had tons of good food along with a
turkey and a ham. The best part for my sister and me was the knock on
the door just as we were preparing our plates—our Mom and Dad made the drive from Louisville, Ky., to surprise us! And they sure did. It was
great because I hadn't seen them in about a month and a half (since we
flew out of Honolulu from the Pro Bowl). I typically see them every
week or two during the season, when they come down for my games.
Needless to say, their visit was a pleasant surprise that made Easter
even better than I had expected.
On Tuesday I went to see the Nashville Predators play again. I wasn't
able to make it to many of their games during the football season, but
now it's good to be able to support them with the rest of the
community. The game did not disappoint. The team collected an
important 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a big victory
because the Preds are chasing a playoff spot with just a few games
left. Some interesting things happened during the game. For example,
it was the first time I had ever been to a hockey game when a pane of
glass surrounding the rink shattered. That was pretty cool but it took
a while to replace it. Also, Jordin Tootoo had it out with a couple of
Blue Jackets in the third period. Shortly after he served one
five-minute penalty for fighting, he dropped the gloves with another
Columbus player. This time his opponent fell down and Tootoo held him
up so the linesmen wouldn't stop the fight. The crowd went wild and
Tootoo put his arms up to express victory as he again skated to the
penalty box. He is definitely a tough beast on the ice. I was glad to
see goalie Dan Ellis get the shutout too. I hope the team keeps
playing with the "W" in its eyes. I think I'm going to get back out to
the Sommet Center again next Thursday for the Preds' last home game.
I am looking forward to it!
There was good news related to my Titans squad on Wednesday: We
re-signed Donnie Nickey. Donnie's a good friend of mine and I'm glad
that he is staying here. At times, the whole contract thing can get
annoying because you're just not sure where you might be playing or
living next season or next week. Not only is Donnie a good friend and
one of our back-up safeties, he is on every Special Teams unit and
he's a leader. I know Craig Hentrich and I were two guys that didn't
want to see his value as a Titan become underappreciated. I'm glad to
know he will continue to cover my kick-offs each game. Congrats, Donnie!
That about covers it for now. I'll be back with more next week. Thanks
again for reading!
~RB2
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