James D. Horne, who covers Austin Peay athletics for The Leaf-Chronicle and was co-host of the city's only daily sports talk show, is leading the direction into the next generation of sports talk.

Formerly a co-host of the Afternoon Blitz on WDXN-AM 540 with Felix Diaz, Horne "Big Dog" is taking sports talk into uncharted territory with "The Big Dog," Clarksville's first exclusive online sports talk news program, which can be heard only at www.theleafchronicle.com. The Big Dog airs Monday through Friday at 3 p.m.

Horne will discuss all of the major local sports stories, along with regional and national sports stories and topics. The daily 60-minute show will also expand on local news and events covered by The Leaf-Chronicle. The format is the first of its kind in Clarksville, an all-online sports and news talk format.

Horne joined The Leaf-Chronicle sports staff in the fall of 2003 covering prep sports before moving to the Austin Peay beat three years later. Horne writes a weekly column "From the Sideline" each Friday in The Leaf-Chronicle sports section. He also produces online video coverage of Austin Peay athletics at www.theleafchronicle.com. Horne also blogs for the College Sporting News (OVC Football) and Rush the Court (OVC Basketball).

In addition to The Leaf-Chronicle, Horne previously was a writer for the Carrollton Democrat (1995-96), Hammond Daily Star (1996-98), and Columbia Daily Tribune as the University of Missouri basketball beat writer (1998-2000).

Horne has won three UT/Tennessee Press Association awards for sports writing.