Good morning, Nashville. With football season rapidly approaching, the lockout situation is getting a little more dire. Players are asking for an injunction to stop the lockout, which was instituted earlier this month, while the NFL is asking a federal judge to uphold it, as they say there’s no legal grounds to stop it. Meanwhile, at least a couple of Titans are trying to maintain their offseason workout and practice routine by hitting the gym together at Father Ryan High School. Cortland Finnegan, Chris Hope and Craig Stevens expect about 20 of the Titans to join them in their 9:30am workouts after everyone gets back in town.
- Nissan still examining impact from Japan. Nissan is still assessing how much they’ll be affected by the disaster in Japan, as some of their facilities are pretty close to that damaged nuclear plant. Nissan North America parts are mostly supplied from within the US, though, so they don’t expect any big disruptions. But speaking of Japan, the money raised at this weekend’s Cherry Blossom Festival will go directly towards Japanese relief efforts.
- Bruce Pearl no more. University of Tennessee fired men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl yesterday. Though he’s been one of the most successful coaches in the team’s history, he was charged with recruiting violations by the NCAA last fall and admitted to giving investigators false information when questioned.
- Bits & pieces. Metro Schools officials are finally having schools tested for radon, a cancer-causing gas, about 20 years after a law passed requiring it … Perry County, which had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at the height of the recession, may be getting a new resort that could create 100 jobs … The Lady Vols are headed to the Sweet 16 after beating Marquette 79-70 … More than 2,000 inmates in Tennessee may receive early releases because the budget is so tight … Preds rookie and Brentwood native Blake Geoffrion already has six goals under his belt in 11 games, including a hat trick … Metro Schools will likely be increasing the cost of school lunches by $0.25.
Photo by Jeffrey Davis.