Geoff Calkins
Calkins: It’s not over, Memphis fans! But yeeesh.
‘Don’t lose heart, Memphis fans. The Tigers may have been blown out by SMU, but they can still make the NCAA Tournament. As long as they never play like that again.’
Geoff Calkins
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 :
-
February 2022
-
Premium
Geoff Calkins -
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Hardaway seizes the moment in critical win
With time running out in the first half, the Memphis Tigers were in dire straits. Which is when Penny Hardaway did something he rarely does. It was a brilliant stroke.
Related stories:
Duren’s career night helps Tigers prevail over scrappy Temple
Why Jalen Duren’s emergence as Tigers' best player bodes well for postseason run
-
Spirit of Memphis Calkins: Ice storm ends a 70-year love story — in death
Left in a house without power, Orange Mound residents Jake and Vennie McIntosh — ages 92 and 91 — died together in the recent ice storm.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: With an NCAA bid for the taking, Tigers not letting go
There’s just two weeks left until Selection Sunday. Judging by the way the Tigers blasted Wichita State, they don’t appear to be leaving their invitation to chance.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Think you’re a Memphis Tigers fan? Meet Julie.
Julie Barrett went to her very first game at FedExForum Thursday. But you’d have to travel a long way (1,000 miles, anyway) to find a more devoted Memphis Tigers fan.
-
-
March 2022
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: 52 for history! A magical night for Memphis, Morant
On a mesmerizing night at FedExForum, Ja Morant became the first Grizzlies player to score 50 points in a game. He wound up with 52. And then Morant celebrated the feat with his teammates. And the whole city, too.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Now comes the biggest Memphis Tigers home game in years
Memphis defeated South Florida on Thursday, setting up Sunday’s game against Houston. It’s the biggest Tigers home game in years.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: On a magical day in Memphis, Penny Hardaway delivers on his promises
Memphis smashed Houston in front of a delirious crowd Sunday. Four years after accepting the head coaching job, Penny Hardaway will be taking the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Why Penny Hardaway should be coach of the (half) year
Penny Hardaway wasn’t named AAC Coach of the Year Wednesday. But no coach in the country has done more in the past two months.
-
Premium
Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: Yo, Tigers. Just go win the thing.
Never mind all the talk about bubbles and brackets. Just win the conference tournament, and get the banner y’all deserve.
-
Premium
Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: Nervous? Nah. Memphis didn’t come to Texas to lose.
Admit it, you were nervous. Until Jalen Duren and Alex Lomax restored order. And reminded everyone that the Memphis Tigers didn’t come to the American Athletic Conference Tournament to lose.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: It should be a magnificent Sunday. And these Tigers earned it all.
“The Memphis Tigers will play for the AAC Tournament title Sunday, and then they’ll get an NCAA Tournament bid. It has all been well and truly earned.”
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Memphis is back in the NCAA. And that’s all that matters.
It’s a shame the Tigers didn’t get a chance to celebrate their NCAA Tournament invitation the way they planned. But make no mistake — this is a defining moment for the program.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Tigers are back in the tournament! (And Emoni Bates may be back, too)
It’s not enough that the Tigers will play in their first NCAA Tournament in eight years. Now there’s the chance Penny Hardaway may bring back Emoni Bates. Either way, Thursday will be a compelling day for Memphis basketball.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Lomax and Hardaway win one for the city
For Penny Hardaway and Alex Lomax, the Tigers’ win over Boise State wasn’t just a first-round NCAA Tournament victory. It was why they signed on four years ago. And it was exactly what they dreamed.
Related stories:
Lomax’s gritty performance leads Memphis past Boise State
Why highs, lows against Boise State show Memphis can go far in NCAA Tournament
-
Premium
Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: It’s Memphis vs. Gonzaga. Just like Penny Hardaway dreamed.
Nearly four years to the day since he accepted the Memphis job, Penny Hardaway will lead the Memphis Tigers as they take on No. 1 Gonzaga. It’s been a long journey to get to this moment. But the Tigers are back where they belong.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Yes, it was heartbreaking. But Memphis basketball is back.
You will remember this one forever, won’t you? The Tigers’ season may have ended with Saturday’s loss to Gonzaga. But the game delivered an emphatic message to the country. Memphis basketball is back.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: We have a civic crisis, Memphis. ESPN is in town.
ESPN is spending the entire day in Memphis. Which is great, sure. But how are we going to keep that chip on our shoulder now?
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Yes, America. The Grizzlies really are that good.
ESPN came to Memphis to cover Ja Morant. They got a whole team of swaggering Grizzlies instead.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Memphis and Hardaway will fight allegations. But this sure doesn’t look good.
The IARP alleges that Penny Hardaway and Memphis basketball committed multiple Level 1 violations. The university is fighting back. Could this be the beginning of the end for Hardaway? The battle has been joined.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Dillon Brooks ‘had the vision.’ Andre Iguodala got the boos.
Two years ago, Andre Iguodala declined to report to the Memphis Grizzlies after a trade. Now they have essentially clinched the No. 2 seed in the West. So what did Dillon Brooks have to say to him after the Grizzlies smashed the Warriors?
Related story:
Calkins: Remember the kid Ja stared down? The one in the Warriors jersey? He’s a Grizzlies fan now.
-
-
April 2022
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: How did the Grizzlies beat the Suns? Joy!
The Grizzlies were missing four starters, all their point guards and (by halftime) their head coach. But they beat the best team in the NBA anyway. How did they do it? The same way they’ve won so many games this season. With irrepressible (and irresistible!) joy.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Is Memphis dirtier than Kansas or UNC? Why Monday’s national championship may be hard for Tigers fans to watch.
As Memphis waits to learn its punishment, North Carolina and Kansas will play for the national championship. In the past decade, both schools have been accused of cheating on a grand scale.
-
Geoff Calkins Calkins: Remember the kid Ja stared down? The one in the Warriors jersey? He’s a Grizzlies fan now.
After the Grizzlies beat the Warriors in January, Ja Morant stared down a kid in a Golden State jersey. The kid is Maddox Hehn, 8, from Nashville. He was back at FedExForum Monday night. But he sure looked different this time around.
-
Premium
Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Grizzlies look ‘damn good’ in Morant’s return
Good news, Grizzlies fans. Ja Morant returned to the lineup Saturday. And the Grizzlies celebrated by smashing the Pelicans.
-