Hockey Tonk

Last night I had the pleasure of watching one of the best hockey games that has been played this year. I know this may not sound like it has anything to do with Country music, but hold on and I will give you the connection. This game was played in Nashville between the Predators and the San Jose Sharks. It was a back and forth game the whole time with San Jose winning in a heartbreaker( at least for all Nashville fans) in the 2nd overtime 5-4. It was the most exciting game this life long hockey fan has ever seen, with the Predators scoring an unheard of two goals in the last five minutes of the third period to send the game to OT. Speaking of hockey fans, many of Country Music's biggest stars( see the connection) enjoy coming to the game and being out of the spotlight so to speak. In recent weeks there had been sightings of Vince Gill and Amy Grant, both of whom are big hockey fans and come to the games when time and schedules are permitting. Garth Brooks and Little Jimmy Dickens have even been known to show up and enjoy the action. Last week Sara Evans brought her children and their friends to the game and was even kind enough to give an interview during a commercial break, which was suprising because most stars come to the games to enjoy not being the center of attention. Which brings me to the biggest fan of all the stars and to my knowledge the only one that has season tickets, Barbara Mandrell. Mrs. Mandrell has been a hockey fan since before the NHL came to Nashville, because her son used to play youth hockey in the local travel league. So, its only fitting that she is a fixture at all of the Predators games, always good for a smile on the jumbotron(A gigantic TV that hangs above the ice). She seems to enjoy the game more than most always cheering and clapping, and even on occasion joining in on the boos after a bad call. It makes the game more enjoyable to see the stars there rubbin' elbows with us normal folk. It is also great to know that they are just one of the fans out there to watch the Predators on their quest to win the Stanley Cup. It just goes to show that no matter how big a star is, when push comes to shove they are just one of the guys(or ladies in Mrs. Mandrell's case) GO PREDATORS!