Columnist
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. 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.
There are 1155 articles by Geoff Calkins :
Alex Lomax called it a “legendary” night. It was, at the very least, emphatic. Exactly 364 days after losing to Ole Miss in chaotic fashion, the Memphis Tigers exacted their revenge, 68-57.
“On Danton Barto’s day, the final scoreboard blazed with his number.” It was a fine way to retire the jersey of the all-time great Memphis linebacker, who died in 2021 at age 50.
Memphis Tigers point guard Kendric Davis got a text from Ja Morant and Desmond Bane before Saturday’s game telling him to “go be that killer you are.” Davis didn’t have to be told twice, evidently. He scored 27 points as Memphis knocked off unbeaten Auburn.
You may think the Memphis-Utah State matchup is a humdrum game between two six-win teams. But no! It is an opportunity for Memphis to settle a 51-year-old grudge. It is a story of college football treachery. And it is time for Utah State to pay.
There’s no better place to watch the U.S. in the World Cup than an Irish Pub. So I went to two of them. The joy (and the Guinness) overflowed.
The 2022-2023 Memphis Tigers may not play a pretty brand of basketball. But the way they fight together? Head coach Penny Hardaway calls it “a beautiful thing.”
“Memphis football ended its regular season with a crushing interception. It summed up the year perfectly. So what comes next for a program that keeps regressing? And why not think about a new coach?”
Yes, Ja beat Zion. And that was fun. But this was a Black Friday performance that had everything. The Grizzlies kept on giving, right to the end.
The Tigers lost to Seton Hall when a 6-10 player who hadn’t made a 3-pointer all season before Thursday banked one in at the buzzer. So how does the team get ready to play another game Friday? Former Memphis guard Trey Draper tried to help.
Will Drennan died a hero the first day of flag football practice. His team of five and six year olds played on. Ten days ago, they tried to win the championship “for Daddy.” Why a kid’s game meant so much.
Kendric Davis was brilliant in his home debut. He scored 26 points, collected seven assists and looked exactly like the player Memphis needs him to be.
Andy Branham, Bob Leopold and Dr. Van Snider didn’t grow up in the city. But they rolled up their sleeves and got to work when they arrived. Three men who made Memphis a better, more hopeful place.
Why are the Showboats returning to Memphis? The answer involves Fred Smith. And even if the team doesn’t flourish, its existence can only help the city. Here’s why.
The Memphis Tigers gave up a whopping 90 points in losing to Saint Louis Tuesday night. Is that something to worry about? Not yet, certainly. This team is going to be fine.
Hey, look. The Memphis Tigers won a game! The Tigers finally got the breaks they needed Thursday as they defeated Tulsa, 26-10.
Memphis traveled to Nashville and dominated Vanderbilt Monday, 76-67. In the process, Memphis looked like something we haven’t seen from a Hardaway team before. It might be better than its hype! Memphis uses ‘more together team’ to beat Vanderbilt in season-openerRelated stories:
Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield made an inexplicable call that helped Central Florida defeat the Tigers Saturday. No, the call won’t cost him his job. But all the little things are adding up.
The Grizzlies looked spectacular Friday, 130-99. But the absolutely best part of the night? An efficient (yes, efficient!) Dillon Brooks.
Nearly two years after Tommy Pacello died of pancreatic cancer, his friends and colleagues are celebrating the visionary city planner’s birthday by unveiling a fellowship that will support his work.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel mentioned Memphis in a podcast about the coaching future of Deion Sanders. Could Coach Prime be coming to Memphis? It’s certainly worth a call.
Jerry Lawler beat up Frankie Dudley at the Mid-South Coliseum in the 1970s. Five decades later, Lawler went to see Dudley again. In hospice. It’s a story about heroes and the passage of time.
The Tigers shot just 2 of 19 from deep against Christian Brothers Sunday. That’s the bad news. The good news? They have Kendric Davis. And that may be enough.
Memphis fought back to lose by 10 to Tulane Saturday. Yes, it was gallant. But is it all Tiger fans can expect?
Ja Morant was brilliant in leading the Grizzlies past the Knicks Wednesday. But you know the best part? He will be appearing at FedExForum all season long.Related stories:
While Jalin Hyatt, Hendon Hooker and Chase McGrath all had a hand in the Vols' win over Alabama, Catherine Davenport had — well, she had a leg. Vols defeat Alabama on field goal to end 15-game losing streakRelated story: