Calkins: Bill Walton and Memphis will be linked forever — and that’s a tribute to both
UCLA center Bill Walton (left), who died Monday, is helped off the court by Memphis State’s Larry Finch, during the final stages of the 1973 NCAA Men’s National Championship game in St. Louis. Walton, made 21 of 22 shots and scored 44 points to lift UCLA over Memphis State, but one of the lasting images of the game was when Finch helped Walton, in a show of sportsmanship, off the floor. (AP File Photo)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
Bill Walton hit 21 of 22 shots to defeat Memphis State in the 1973 national championship game. But he never became a villain in this city. There was too much mutual respect.
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Bill Walton Memphis Tigers Basketball Memphis Tigers 1972-73 Subscriber Only Bill Laurie Hank McDowell Larry FinchThank you for supporting local journalism.
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