Predators' P.K. Subban's story told in father's new book

For fans of Predators second-year defenseman P.K. Subban, a soon-to-be published book — "How We Did It; The Subban Plan For Success In Hockey, School and Life" — written by his father, Karl, is a must-read.

After the advance reading copy was released to the media, new material was added on Karl’s experience following P.K. and the Predators journey in the Stanley Cup playoffs through the Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

P.K.’s athletic prowess is well-documented, but his is not the only success story in the Subban family.

Karl Subban’s other sons — Malcolm and Jordan — were also drafted and signed by NHL teams. His daughters Natassia and Natasha both played college basketball.

Karl Subban, originally from Jamaica, is a retired coach, school principal and educator. He is now a motivational speaker.

P.K. credits his father and mother, Maria, in the book for helping him deal with issues he faced growing up, such as racism.

“I remember being upset (after being called racist names as a child). My parents took a very stern approach with me on that one. It was just ‘You better get a whole lot tougher than that if you want to play in the NHL. If you want to be somebody in this world, you need to find a way to turn the cheek on that.'”

P.K. said in the book he didn’t grow up feeling like the middle child.

“It’s always hard to find your groove (as the middle child), but for me it was different. Hockey was a big part of my life growing up, and I think everybody in our family, including the kids, knew how badly I wanted to play in the NHL and how hard I worked. I think once that happened, even though I was a middle child, I felt that in some sort of way I was becoming more of a leader in the family.”

Malcolm Subban was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2012 and Jordan by the Vancouver Canucks in 2013.

Malcolm played in one game in both the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons for the Bruins. Jordan spent the last two seasons with the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League.

The book will be available in the fall.

Ex-Vandy QB in mix for anthem singers at Predators game

Former Vanderbilt quarterback Marcus Wilson and Les Sabler could end up performing the national anthem at a Predators game this season.

The Predators are holding open auditions through the weekend for anyone interested in the gig at Bridgestone Arena.

Sabler, a Nashville resident and jazz guitarist, submitted a video of the duo performing the "Star Spangled Banner" and "O Canada."

He previously lived in Tampa, Fla., and performed the "Star Spangled Banner" more than 70 times at Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Rays games.

Wilson was a two-year starting quarterback at Vanderbilt (1991, 1992) who became an acclaimed vocalist and song writer after he graduated. He toured with Grammy Award winning vocalist Regina Belle and Grammy Award winning gospel vocalist Bobby Jones.

Sterling Marlin wins again at Fairgrounds Speedway

Sterling Marlin has now won two races at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville since celebrating his 60th birthday.

Marlin turned 60 on June 30 and eight days later won the pro-late model 100-lap feature race. He won again in the division last week.

The two-time Daytona 500 champion from Columbia now has 62 career victories at the Fairgrounds.

That is second to Joe Buford, who had 66 wins. Darrell Waltrip had 55, Mark Day 50, Mike Alexander 45 and Marlin’s father, Coo Coo, had 39 along with Chad Chaffin.

Former UT, MTSU assistant joins Trevecca baseball staff

Chase Sain, who spent time on the staffs at Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State, has been hired as an assistant baseball coach at Trevecca.

Sain spent last season as a volunteer assistant coach at UT. He coached the Vols catchers and served as director of camps.

Before that Sain spent two seasons at MTSU coaching the Blue Raiders catchers.

Golfer Doug Hall beats age at Richland

DuPont's Doug Hall was one Nashville's top high school golfers in the 1950s. He won the state championship and The Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament in 1956.

Hall not only still plays today, but he still plays well. So well, in fact, that he shot below his his age recently at Richland Country Club.

Hall, who is 78, shot 77 while playing with former MBA and Alabama football standout Hunter Husband and Steve Waters.

Brian Collins leaves ETSU for Illinois State

Former Whites Creek and Belmont basketball standout Brian "Penny" Collins has joined the staff at Illinois State where former Vanderbilt assistant Dan Muller is the head coach.

Collins, who scored more than 1,000 points in his Belmont career (2003-06), spent last season on the staff at East Tennessee State.

He was the coach at Columbia State (2012-15) and also has spent time on the staffs at Tennessee State and Cumberland.

Woody to be inducted into Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame

Longtime Tennessean sports writer/columnist Larry Woody will be inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame Tuesday.

Woody was a three-time Tennessee Sports Writer of the Year who covered the NFL, NASCAR, Vanderbilt, the OVC and outdoors for more more than four decades.

He already is in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Martin Methodist College Sports Hall of Fame.

Hammaker transfers from Kansas State to Lipscomb

Former Christian Academy of Knoxville basketball standout Anna Hammaker, who spent the last two seasons at Kansas State, has transferred to Lipscomb.

Hammaker missed last season with a fractured kneecap. She will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2017-18 season.

Hammaker scored 2,805 career points at CAK and was a Class AA Miss Basketball finalist in 2015.

Her father, Atlee, is a former major league pitcher who was a National League All-Star in 1983. Her brother-in-law is veteran Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes.

Brentwood residents will play in tennis national championships

Brentwood’s Kathryn Roberson and Jennifer McNabb will play in the USTA League National Championships in October.

Roberson and McNabb won the USTA League 40 & Over Southern Sectional Championships last week in Mobile, Ala.

More than 76 teams and nearly 900 players from nine states were in the sectionals. Eight teams will compete in the national championships Oct. 20-22.

Kat Banks joins Belmont staff

Former Beech softball standout Kat Banks has joined the coaching staff at Belmont.

Banks spent last season on the staff at Trevecca.

She was a three-time all-state shortstop at Beech who went on to play in more than 200 games at Virginia Tech.

Banks’ sister Alex is a former Beech and Lipscomb basketball star and her father, Alan, is a former Goodpasture and Lipscomb basketball star who is in the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame.

Harpeth Hills Course reopens next week

Harpeth Hills Golf Course, which has been closed this summer for greens renovation, will reopen on Aug. 18.

Ultradwarf Bermudagrass was installed on the greens and, according to Metro Parks superintendent of golf Wayne Evans, “should be an outstanding putting surface for Harpeth.”

Tee times in advance of up to seven days can be made by calling 615-862-8493.

Second class enshrined in DuPont Hall of Fame

Seven former athletes were inducted last week into the DuPont High All-Sports Hall of Fame.

The second annual class included Kenneth “Moe” Wright posthumous (football, basketball, 1952), Albert Williams posthumous (football, basketball, baseball, 1948), Sonny Russ (basketball, baseball, 1953), Boots Scott (basketball, golf, 1960) and his wife, Gail McGowan Scott (basketball, 1960), Jerry Bell (baseball, basketball, 1965) and Jeff Edwards (baseball, 1981).

Lipscomb Academy senior wins women's municipal amateur

Christina Vetvong, 17, claimed the James H. Fyke Municipal Amateur women’s championship last week at McCabe and Two Rivers golf courses.

Vetvong is a senior at Lipscomb Academy. She shot a 2-under par 68 in the first round at McCabe and a 4-over par 76 in the second round at Two Rivers for a 2-over par 144 total.

Mallory Sullivan, a Belmont senior from Smithville, was second (3-over par 145) and Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi was third (8-over par 150).

Beech's Barnard finishes fifth in Junior PGA championship

Beech senior Michael Barnard finished fifth in the 42nd annual Boys Junior PGA Championship last week at The Country Club of St. Albans (Mo.).

Barnard posted a 12-under par 276 in the four-day tournament. By finishing in the top five he earned an exception for next year’s championship.

Bryce Lewis, a Hendersonville senior, finished tied for 35th with an even par 288.

A total of 144 boys were in the field.

Barnard and Lewis are both committed to Middle Tennessee State.

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



Sports on Nashville TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events from July 31-Aug. 6:

1. NFL preseason: Cowboys-Cardinals 6.9

2. NASCAR: Watkins Glen 355 3.7

3. PGA: Bridgestone Invitational (final round) 3.0

4. PGA: Bridgestone Invitational (third round) 1.9

5. NASCAR: Watkins Glen Xfinity 1.6

Each rating point is equal to 10,116 Nashville homes.

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