Predators keep team dentist busy





Jody Jones learned early in his athletic career to take care of his teeth.

His mouthpiece never came out when he played football at Donelson Christian Academy and Vanderbilt.

Today, Jones tries to pass along his passion for pearly whites to the Predators.

He's in his fourth season as the team's dentist, a job that keeps him extremely busy during the season with the flying pucks, broken sticks and fisticuffs that routinely place players' teeth in harms way.

"My dentist growing up was Dr. (James) McPherson, and he stayed after me pretty good; he groomed me well when I was playing," Jones said. "I did whatever it took to take care of my teeth."

McPherson was the Predators' dentist before he died in 2004. He also was the dentist for Vanderbilt athletes and the Titans.

Jones helped lead DCA to the Class A state championship as a starting center and linebacker in 1988 and played defensive back at Vanderbilt from 1990-93.

For many years, his mother, Lucy Jones, was one of the most beloved employees in Vanderbilt's athletics department. She retired as senior director of athletics in 2011 to go to work for Jones and his brother Dewayne, who also is a dentist.

Jody Jones now has a private practice on Music Row.

After seeing patients all day at his office, on game nights Jones has to be at Bridgestone Arena in case of emergencies.

"In between each period I go down, along with all the other people involved in medical care, and we're available for anything they need," Jones said. "There's like seven or eight docs between every period. We're also there about an hour before the game and an hour after the game."

Jones uses a dental chair equipped with a Predators logo across from the training room to perform work on Predators player and their opponents.

"About every fourth or fifth game I'll have something that has to be done during a game," he said. "Sometimes it's minor, sometimes it's more serious."

This season has been especially busy for Jones. And there have been more serious cases than in the past.

"For whatever reason I've had more through the first three-fourths of the season than ever before," he said. "We've had probably five cases that have not just been knickknack stuff, things where we've had to go in and do some pretty intense work."

Part of that is because of the arrival of James Neal, a forward acquired in the offseason in a trade from Pittsburgh. Jones has spent more time with Neal, who brought with him a history of dental trouble, than any other player on the roster.

"Neal had a lot of bridgework done in Pittsburgh and he took a stick from Rich Clune in practice and it pretty much broke everything they had done," Jones said. "I had to go in and redo all of that."

Forward Taylor Beck lost a tooth last week, and a couple of big hits have landed defenseman Seth Jones in the chair several times this season.

Clune spent a lot of time with Jody Jones because of his knack for mixing it up.

"He had a bridge, got in a fight and tore everything up," Jones said. "I kept telling him, 'Rich, you've got to quit fighting.' The next week he got in a fight again and tore it all up. It just started expanding where it was more and more teeth every time."

Jones handles all cleanings and other dental needs for the Predators and their families.

He also does dental work for World Wrestling Entertainment athletes and admits to being a sports junkie. He got married last summer on the 50-yard line at Vanderbilt Stadium.

"Having grown up around sports in this area, I still like being around them in whatever capacity I can be," Jones said. "It's been fun. I've enjoyed getting to know these guys."

Legendary cross country coach to speak at Lipscomb

Jim White, the subject of the Disney movie "McFarland USA," will be the speaker for the seventh annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence at Lipscomb's Allen Arena on April 25.

Past speakers included Tim Tebow, Mike Krzyzewski, Ernie Banks, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Duck Dynasty's Phil, Kay and Si Robertson.

Kevin Costner depicts White in the movie, which grossed more than $22 million in its first two weekends after being released in February.

The movie focuses on White's time as coach at McFarland High, where he led the cross country team to nine California state championships in 14 years. Most of White's runners were children of immigrant field workers.

For tickets or more information, contact Brent High at brent.high@lipscomb.edu.

Marlin still running strong at Fairgrounds Speedway

Sterling Marlin, who made his NASCAR debut at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 1976, ran practice laps at the historic track recently and is prepared to run in the 2015 season.

Marlin, 57, a Columbia native, won the Daytona 500 in 1994 and 1995.

The 58th season at Fairgrounds Speedway opens April 4 with the first of 10 scheduled races.

Earnhardt unveils new paint scheme in Nashville

Speaking of racing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in town Wednesday to promote Bristol Motor Speedway.

He spoke to fans at Wildhorse Saloon, where he also unveiled his new green-and-gold Mountain Dew "DEWshine" paint scheme for the No. 88 Chevy SS in the Food City 500, to be run April 19 at Bristol.

He said he hopes to bounce back Sunday at Fontana's Auto Club Speedway after crashing into a wall last week in the CampingWorld.Com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

NASCAR driver Burton's son enters Fairgrounds race

Harrison Burton, 14, son of NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, became the first to enter the Southern Super Series 100, to be run April 11 at Fairgrounds Speedway.

The race will be run in conjunction with the ARCA 200 that day.

Burton won a pair of races last season, including a 100-lap Pro Late Model event at the New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.

He ran at the Fairgrounds in November in the All American 400. He started 29th and finished 12th.

Belmont baseball coach gets 500th victory

Veteran Belmont baseball coach Dave Jarvis picked up his 500th win at the school earlier this month.

Jarvis is in his 18th season at Belmont.

The milestone victory came at Rose Park when the Bruins beat Quinnipiac on March 8.

Jarvis came into the 2015 season averaging 29 wins per season.

MTSU baseball statues to be unveiled Tuesday

The first two statues on the campus at Middle Tennessee State will be unveiled Tuesday, and both are of legendary sports figures.

The likenesses of longtime baseball coach and athletics director John Stanford and fundraiser Reese Smith Jr. have been placed near the entrance of the baseball field.

The unveiling will be at 5:15 p.m. MTSU plays Vanderbilt at 6 p.m.

"These will be the first two statues on our campus, which is very significant," athletics director Chris Massaro said. "Coach Stanford and Reese Smith have really helped build our program together and allowed us to be able to compete nationally. The look in front of our stadium with the two statues is a great centerpiece to our campus and really showcases our history."

McGavock teachers show support for baseball team

McGavock's baseball team had a rough offseason with the squad's fieldhouse and concession stands being burglarized and vandalized.

The players held several fundraisers to replace the stolen equipment and repair the damage.

Their commitment to the program didn't go unnoticed by the faculty, which chipped in this week to pay for a sign for the field. It reads, "Stay Raider Strong McGavock Baseball!!! We support you, McGavock High Faculty and Staff."

Defending champ Venom to kick off 2015 season

The Nashville Venom, which won the Professional Indoor Football League in its inaugural season in 2014, kicks off the 2015 season Friday against the Alabama Hammers at Municipal Auditorium.

The Venom beat the Hammers twice in 2014. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Nashville beat Lehigh Valley 64-43 in the 2014 championship. Lehigh Valley will visit the Venom next week.

Eat crawfish to benefit Special Olympics

The 16th annual Ragin' Cajun Crawfish Festival, which benefits Special Olympics, is April 11 at Cumberland Park.

There will be all-you-can-eat crawfish with plenty of Louisiana-style sides and live music from 4-9 p.m.

About 3,000 pounds of crawfish is routinely devoured at the event.

Orlando Magic executive coming to town

Orlando Magic senior vice president Pat Williams will be in town May 12 to speak at the Hutton Hotel.

Williams has written more than 80 books about child raising. He is the father of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations.

He will speak at an event sponsored by Jonah's Journey, located in Gallatin, and the Palmer Home for Children

Tickets ($125) are available at idxevent.com/nashville.

Litton room to open April 11

If you're a history buff and a fan of high school sports in Nashville you should visit the memorabilia room in the Lion's Den at old Litton High School. It will be open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 11 for the Litton Merchandise Sale.

It's also worth checking out the school's gym, which was renovated a few years ago.

Franklin Rodeo coming in May

The 66th annual Franklin Rodeo is May 14-16 at the Williamson County Agriculture Expo Center.

This year's event will feature Amanda Payne with the One Arm Bandit and Company. She will perform each night.

Amanda's father, John, and brother Lynn have been featured at past Franklin Rodeos.

For tickets ($10-$20) or more information, call 615-763-3611 or visit franklinrodeo.com.

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

SPORTS ON NASHVILLE TV

The top five ratings for local sporting events on television for March 9-15.

1. SEC Tournament final: Kentucky-Arkansas, 8.2 rating

2. NASCAR: Phoenix 500, 7.3 rating

3. SEC Tournament semifinal: Kentucky-Auburn, 7.3 rating

4. SEC Tournament semifinal: Arkansas-Georgia, 4.5 rating

5. ACC Tournament semifinal: Notre Dame-North Carolina, 3.9 rating

SEC Network rating not available.

Each rating point is equal to 10,028 Nashville homes.

Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 program & research director