Columnist
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.
There are 983 articles by Geoff Calkins :
When Mike Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz, everyone said the trade was “win-win.” But nobody expected the Grizzlies would do this much winning, this soon.
Dillon Brooks is just crazy enough to think the Grizzlies can beat the Utah Jazz. Which is exactly what they did Sunday night.
No, the Grizzlies won’t have a full house for Saturday’s Game 3 against the Jazz. But that’s no reason to be angry. Buy a ticket and soak it in. The Grizzlies will have more people in the building Saturday than since before the pandemic. It’ll feel like playoff basketball is supposed to feel.
Memphis didn’t win Game 2 in Utah Wednesday. But any Grizzlies fan who watched the game had to be pumped. The Grizzlies now have home-court advantage and the best player in the series. Saturday night at FedExForum should be wild.
Four years after the last NBA playoff game at FedExForum, more than 10,000 Memphians will convene Saturday to celebrate a new era of postseason basketball in the city. This team might be even more audacious than that one. Just read the Growl Towels.
It was a wonderfully unruly night as playoff basketball returned to FedExForum Saturday. Until our old friend Mike Conley ruined everything.
The Grizzlies lost to the Utah Jazz Monday to fall behind in their playoff series. So how come it felt like another great night for the Grizz?
Yes, the Utah Jazz bounced the Grizzlies out of the playoffs Wednesday. But their 20th season in Memphis will go down as one of the most promising in franchise history.
Here are the two things the Memphis Grizzlies absolutely have to do this offseason if they want to contend for an NBA title. I believe they’ll do both.
Former Lausanne star Cameron Kinley found himself at the center of a storm this week after it was learned the Navy had rejected his request to defer his service so he could play in the NFL. It’s not the decision he wanted, certainly. But Kinley says he would go to the U.S. Naval Academy all over again.
Penny Hardaway is reportedly targeting Larry Brown for an assistant coaching job with the Memphis Tigers. Here’s how to do that without making things worse with the NCAA.
On June 8, 1999, Verlinda Johnson Henning’s husband, Darrell, died at the age of 45. Exactly 22 years later, Henning appeared as reigning champion on “Jeopardy!” It was just a coincidence, of course. But it helped her find balance on a very difficult day. Memphian is ‘Jeopardy!’ champion June 7, comes in second June 8 Related story:
The University of Memphis may yet get whacked in the case before the NCAA. But if and when that happens, you can take solace in knowing there is no American institution with less credibility than the NCAA.
When George Cates died in a plane crash Monday, Memphis lost a leader with vision and enthusiasm — and who was determined to bring everyone along.
Penny Hardaway has emerged as a ‘serious candidate’ to become the next coach of the Orlando Magic. He is closer to being the former coach of the Memphis Tigers than he has ever been.
It appears increasingly unlikely Penny Hardaway will be offered the Orlando job. But either way, Memphis basketball will endure.
On the same day Penny Hardaway confirmed he won’t be leaving for the Orlando Magic, it was reported that Larry Brown will be joining him on the Memphis bench. Say this about Tigers basketball. It is rarely dull.
For decades, Memphians have crossed over to Arkansas to get their fireworks. That will be considerably harder with the bridge out. A report from the West Memphis fireworks tents. Will business be a dud?
When Mike Glenn retired from FedEx at the height of his career in 2016, the news release said it was to “transition his focus full time to his family.” This is the story behind that decision, one that is hard and beautiful all at once.
Larry Brown said his hearing aids gave him trouble at his first Memphis practice. But listen up, people. This is a basketball story to appreciate.
Can we please stop with the nationally televised whodunits in the Lorenzen Wright case? We already know who done it. Which is why Sherra Wright, his ex-wife, is sitting in prison.
Penny Hardaway is 50! And he’s spending his birthday at an AAU tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina, because he is working to bring a title to his hometown.
Calkins: “The only thing SEC states do better than football is ignorance. Why you should be rooting for forfeits — and fully vaccinated Vanderbilt — this season.”
The Milwaukee Bucks proved you don’t have to be in a major market to win a title. So Grizzlies fans are free to dream.
‘Memphis deserves better than to be fretting about conference realignment again. It needs the Big 12 to implode once and for all.’