Mookie Betts returned from a broken hand to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup in August and returned to Nashville this month for a special edition of the CBS reality series Secret Celebrity Renovation.
The eight-time All-Star, who played at Overton, traded his glove for a sledgehammer to surprise his father, Willie , with a complete home renovation.
The show airs Sept. 20 (7-8 p.m. CST) on the CBS Television Network, and will be streamed on Paramount Plus.
Betts, 31, was one of the best high school players ever from Nashville as a four-year starter at John Overton (2008-11). His high school jersey No. 7 was retired in 2020.
He credits his father for helping him as a young player develop the work ethic and skill that helped him become one of the greatest players in the MLB over the last 10 years.
“I have zero complaints about my childhood,” Betts said during filming of the Secret Celebrity Renovation episode. “My dad did an awesome job with raising me into being the man I am today. He’s everything for me.”
Betts, who signed a 12-year, $365 million contract extension in 2020, has a home in Encino, California, but still spends much of each offseason in Nashville.
Willie Betts was an Air Force serviceman who served in the Vietnam War. In 2016, he was recognized as part of the "Hats off to Heroes" program at Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park, which pays homage to individuals for their military service. Mookie was playing for the Red Sox at the time.
CBS Entertainment | Mookie Heads Home
Mookie has attempted to improve his father's house over the years, but Willie always declined, saying he wanted to keep things as they were.
“I really just want to give him a nice living area. Just kind of upgrade him a little bit,” Mookie said. “He’s comfortable here and he’s not good with change but he’s getting older now and his house definitely needs an upgrade.”
Mookie admitted he had to learn on the job during the renovation because he grew up playing sports and never got into any type of construction. When it came to repairs around the house, Mookie said, "My dad always did it,”
During a break from the renovation, home improvement contractor and television personality Rob "Boston Rob" Mariano takes Mookie on a trip down memory lane to his old neighborhood. It includes a visit with Overton baseball coach Mike Morrison , who spotted Betts' immense talent at an early age.
Nischelle Turner , co-host of Entertainment Tonight, is host of the the episode. Along with Mariano the renovation team includes interior designer Sabrina Soto of "Design Star" and “Trading Spaces.”
Producing the show wasn't easy but Mookie, who was undergoing rehabilitation from his injury in the midst of the MLB season, remained fixed on getting it done.
“It’s challenging for an MLB star to participate in Secret Celebrity Renovation due to the demands of their long season.," show creator Robert Horowitz said. "Despite the tight filming schedule, Mookie was determined to take on the Nashville project for his father. The end result is a heartwarming father-son story that beautifully showcases their bond.'
TSU's Mikki Allen on NCAA Division I Football Championship committee
Tennessee State athletics director Mikki Allen has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Football National Championship committee.
North Dakota State athletics director Matt Larsen is the chair and Chattanooga Mark Wharton is vice-chair of the 10-member committee.
Allen knows something about national championships. He was a member of the Tennessee Vols 1998 national champion football team.
Belmont vs. Lipscomb basketball set for Nov. 12
The Battle of the Boulevard — Belmont vs. Lipscomb — men's basketball game will be played on Nov. 12 at Lipscomb's Allen Arena.
Belmont won the game, which was played in December last season, 72-71 on a 3-point play by Ja'Kobi Gillespie with 6.2 seconds remaining.
Belmont has won 18 of the last 21 meetings in the series.
The Bruins open the 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 vs. Maryville. Belmont's other non-Missouri Valley Conference games include Furman at home Nov. 8, at Air Force Nov. 15, Oral Roberts at Nov. 19, home, at Loyola Marymount Nov. 26, at home vs. Gardner-Webb, Nov. 29, Middle Tennessee State at home Dec. 7, at Richmond Dec. 14 and at home vs. UC Irvine Dec. 19.
Lipscomb opens at Duquesne on Nov. 4 then plays at Arkansas on Nov. 6, at home vs. Wofford on Nov. 9, at Western Kentucky on Nov. 17, at Kentucky Nov. 19, at home vs. Jackson State on Nov. 24, at Alabama A&M on Nov. 3, at Chattanooga on Dec. 3, at home vs. Southeast Missouri on Dec. 5, at home vs. Truett McConnell on Dec. 16, at MTSU on Dec. 19 and at home vs. Asbury on Dec. 29.
If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dodgers star Mookie Betts surprises dad in Nashville on 'Secret Celebrity Renovation'
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