Mark Wiedmer started work at the Chattanooga News-Free Press on Valentine's Day of 1983. At the time, he had to get an advance from his boss to buy a Valentine gift for his wife. Mark was hired as a graphic artist but quickly moved to sports, where he oversaw prep football for a time, won the "Pick' em" box in 1985 and took over the UTC basketball beat the following year. By 1990, he was the newspaper's lead sports columnist, a title he still holds today after a couple of Tennessee Sports Writer of the Year awards and a box full of other honors. He joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Mark hails from Hopkinsville, Ky., and graduated from Centre College. Contact Mark at 423-757-6273. or mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.
Mike Keith, the longtime radio voice of the Tennessee Titans, isn't necessarily predicting a victory for the many hues of blue crew when it visits Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium to face the Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
by Mark Wiedmer 1 hour agoThrough 1,080 men's college basketball games, whatever Vanderbilt did or didn't accomplish, it always walked off the court having done at least one thing right.
by Mark WiedmerTennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel entered the interview room at the franchise's training facility just north of town on Thursday morning looking pretty much the same as he had a week ago.
by Mark WiedmerCheck out the latest MaxPreps national rankings for boys' high school basketball teams, and you'll find Chattanooga's Hamilton Heights Christian Academy at No. 2 and Sunrise Christian Academy of Bel Aire, Kansas, at No. 5.
by Mark WiedmerThe typical Classic 150 fundraising event celebrating a famous athlete or supporter of athletics from the Chattanooga area is typically as much roast as toast, a perfect mixture of humble pie and high praise regarding the honoree of the evening.
by Mark WiedmerIt appears that the Louisiana State University Tigers are exactly who we thought they were, which is the best college football team in the land.
by Mark WiedmerThe last team to win three road playoff games as a sixth seed? The 2010 Green Bay Packers, who finished as Super Bowl champs that year.
by Mark WiedmerCLEVELAND, Tenn. — A few years ago, when Max Shulman was still a McCallie Blue Tornado and Ryan Montgomery a Central Purple Pounder, the two occasionally would spend the night at each other's homes after games.
by Mark WiedmerIf masterful comedian and writer Larry David had gotten his way prior to the 2018 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans might be facing the New York Jets at 8:15 Saturday night in the AFC divisional playoff round instead of the Baltimore Ravens.
by Mark WiedmerIt would be easy to blame the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs for Wednesday night's 73-66 loss to Furman at McKenzie Arena rather than praise the Paladins.
by Mark WiedmerRodney Dangerfield the Tennessee Titans aren't.
by Mark WiedmerExactly 30 days ago today, Alabama coach Nick Saban said of college football's changing priorities: "We have made everything about the playoffs in college football."
by Mark WiedmerIn almost any other year this century, if you had just knocked off the New England Patriots on their home field in the opening round of the AFC playoffs, you would probably become the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
by Mark WiedmerCan the Vols clean up their mistakes in time to keep their fading NCAA tournament hopes alive?
by Mark WiedmerThe best team won the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday night.
by Mark WiedmerIt sounds impossible.
by Mark WiedmerI want to believe.
by Mark WiedmerWhy are we even having a College Football Playoff title game?
by Mark WiedmerThe Times Free Press sports team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
by Mark WiedmerIt has to end this way, doesn't it?
by Mark Wiedmer