If you want to start an entertaining debate between sports fans in Middle Tennessee, throw this out there:
Who is the face of sports in Nashville?
It’s not an easy question to answer. That's because it has never been an easy question to answer. This is a sports market that has and continues to lack the megastar influence of a generational player, coach or personality that exemplifies a city in an intangible way that goes beyond sports and time limits.
You know when you see it. With Chicago, for example, most would probably think of Michael Jordan. Indianapolis — and Knoxville, for that matter — would still be Peyton Manning, even after he moved on. It can be more current, though. Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, for example.
In Nashville, it's different. For our biggest celebrities, most would instinctively conjure images of country music. That’s old money, of course, whereas big-time sports in Nashville remains relatively new money.
The most enduring type of sports celebrity tends to typically be linked to championships (think John Elway in Denver), and Nashville simply hasn’t had that yet with pro franchises that have only been here little more than two decades.
So it's a fluid topic, the face of sports in our city.
An obvious choice (for now)
Back when we could still gather in large groups, Nashville SC hosted a lively downtown event for November’s MLS expansion draft. The club welcomed celebrities on stage to announce draft picks, and after majority owner John Ingram did the first, an athlete was next: Titans running back Derrick Henry.
That was before Henry won the NFL’s rushing title and took the league by storm in the playoffs.
So when asked, there wasn’t much hesitation from Teresa Walker, Nashville-based sports writer for the Associated Press: “He is definitely that guy at this moment,” she said of Henry.
Henry hasn’t seemed to want to be that guy. He’s humble. He doesn’t seek the public spotlight, but that almost adds to his appeal. He never complained about his expiring contract, never suggested he’d rather not be in Nashville. He wanted to stay with the Titans, and he finally reached a long-term deal that’ll keep him here awhile longer.
“Derrick Henry is the face of Nashville sports, in my opinion,” added Mike Keith, radio’s play-by-play Voice of the Titans. “… On every level of football, he checks the boxes for special. Even more, Derrick Henry is a bad man, and we love that here.
“He plays the game like we like it played.”
An obvious choice (from before)
Speaking of running backs who play the game that way: A case could be made that the face of Nashville sports in the era of pro teams — then and now — is Eddie George.
Along with his late teammate Steve McNair, George’s banner to this day looms large on the side of Nissan Stadium. George not only was a great player, but he has also maintained a consistent presence in Nashville, both publicly and behind the scenes with the Titans. Henry’s NFL breakout, for example, came with advice from George.
Similarities between the two running backs on the field are obvious as well, creating a lineage and tradition that is rare among Nashville's pro teams.
“Steve McNair and Eddie George are the pillars of that franchise in Tennessee,” Walker said. “They used to chant, 'Eddie, Eddie.' Now they are chanting, 'Derrick, Derrick' — or 'Henry, Henry.'”
Back to Broadway
How about the Predators? Were this question asked a year ago, a popular candidate would have been goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Preds GM David Poile, when asked this week, said Rinne still "jumped out as a no-brainer" to him as the face of Nashville sports.
"That's what just came right to mind for so many different reasons," Poile said. "Obviously, the longevity that he's been here, but I don't think that's the reason. It's because of what he's accomplished on the ice but equally as important what he's accomplished off the ice in the community. That, to me, is what represents the face of a franchise or face of sports."
Poile added that he thinks captain Roman Josi will be "the next one" from the Preds in this decision, but at the moment, he vouched for Rinne.
Meanwhile, Pete Weber, the play-by-play voice of the Preds, actually nominated Poile — the franchise's only general manager in history — for the discussion.
“David was the guy who got it all started here and is still doing it,” Weber said.
Others who could be considered in the realm of sports management: Sean Henry, president and CEO of the Predators and Bridgestone Arena, or Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation.
If it’s a matter of results, in fact, Spyridon really might be the best choice of anyone. He’s played in a major role in bringing huge events to Nashville like the NFL Draft. Another goal would be to bring a Super Bowl to the city, something that’ll probably happen sooner or later.
An argument for coaches
The face of a sports city is often a coach, especially in areas of the country that prefer college sports. Tom Landry would have been that face in Dallas for decades, much like Red Auerbach in Boston.
In Alabama, it was Bear Bryant transcending sports until it became Nick Saban. You could say the same about Adolph Rupp to now John Calipari in Kentucky.
With that in mind, how about Tim Corbin? In a town where the preeminent sports teams haven’t won the biggest titles, Corbin’s Vanderbilt baseball program stands out as having twice won the College World Series.
College baseball isn’t as high-profile as football or basketball, but Corbin has been so successful that his influence in this city and state routinely extends outside his own campus, even when you'd least expect it, like Tennessee State basketball coach Penny Collins randomly crediting Corbin for his advice.
If not Corbin, there’s also former Belmont basketball coach Rick Byrd or a Titans legend like Jeff Fisher, who still gets mentioned prominently.
“When Fisher was here, it was clear at one point he was kind of the face of the city,” said Nashville radio host George Plaster.
What if the winning is elsewhere?
After Henry announced Nashville SC’s second expansion pick, Major League Baseball star Mookie Betts announced the third. A Nashville native, Betts’ national sports celebrity would be comparable with almost any athlete, making him a reasonable candidate. But unless Nashville lands an MLB team soon, he won't be competing here. Same for David Price.
Another popular name worth mentioning is pro golfer Brandt Snedeker, whose ties to the Nashville area and fan following remain very strong.
“My other answer would have been Brandt Snedeker,” Keith said, “but I think that Brandt Snedeker might say that it is Derrick Henry, too.”
Reach Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.
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