Calkins: Happy National Drive-Thru Day! Some American heroes serve fries
We curse them, criticize them and (sometimes even) flip them the bird. On National Drive-Thru Day, let's hear it for the front-line workers who see us at our worst.
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 1029 articles by Geoff Calkins :
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July 2020
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Sports Calkins: Justise Winslow is not Chandler Parsons — and the Grizzlies are not cursed
Yes, Justise Winslow is out for the season with a hip injury. But the idea that the franchise is somehow cursed is a new twist on an old, wrongheaded civic narrative. The Grizzlies — and their fans — have been remarkably lucky. Memphians should appreciate that.
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Opinion
EducationCalkins: At Rhodes College, leadership the whole country needs
As leaders around the country make decisions based on wishful thinking, Rhodes College postponed on-campus eduction for the fall semester because it determined it could not safely bring students, faculty and employees back to campus. "It’s about setting your values and having the courage of your convictions," said president Marjorie Hass. If only more leaders would do the same.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: With Moussa Cisse aboard, the Memphis Tigers can (once again) dream big
Five-star center Moussa Cisse has committed to Memphis. It's a huge win for Penny Hardaway — and a reason to believe that next season (if there is one) could be what last season was supposed to be.
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High School SportsCalkins: It’s time to move high school football to the spring
There are a lot of hard choices to make during this pandemic, but postponing high school football shouldn't be one of them. It's time to move the season to the spring.
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Food Calkins: Memphis bars want what we all want — competent leadership
Sixteen bars have sued the Shelby County Health Department alleging that they were unfairly singled out for closure. And you know what? They're right. It's the kind of irrational regulation that undercuts the legitimacy of government when we need it most.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: How Ramen Noodles could give Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies a decisive edge
Ja Morant said Friday he's a "Ramen Noodles guy." That's just the kind of attitude NBA players will need to succeed in the Orlando bubble.
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SportsCalkins: If Tiger Woods plays Memphis now that fans aren’t invited, will this be the cruelest year ever? (Answer: Nah).
Fans won't be allowed at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational this year. But for the very best of reasons, Jack Sammons, the chair of the tournament, would still welcome Tiger Woods.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: When he said there would be no fans in Neyland Stadium, y’all laughed. Nobody is laughing now.
The Ivy League was the first conference to cancel football this fall. It won't be the last. For that, you can blame those who didn't listen to people like Dr. Jon McCullers, who tried to tell you this is how it could go.
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June 2020
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: All these years later, the Grizz arena lease still a win
Here's how the "early termination" section came to be in the Grizzlies lease — and why Memphians should still consider the lease to be an emphatic success.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: A $29 million pot of money could help the city and county pay off the Grizzlies
When the FedExForum deal was struck, some people worried that the city and county might not have the money to pay off the arena bonds. Instead, there's a $29 million surplus. And it might come in handy real soon.
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Calkins
Geoff Calkins‘Early termination’ clause in Grizzlies lease may require city and county to kick in millions to keep team
The Memphis Grizzlies have met with city and county officials to discuss a little-known "early termination" clause in the Grizzlies lease which could require the city and county to spend millions to make up for ticket shortfalls this season — or risk losing the team.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Don’t worry about the Grizzlies moving — worry about this
An "early termination" clause in the Grizzlies lease poses a real challenge for the city and county. But if you're worried about the Grizzlies relocating someday, that's not what you should be most worried about.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: The hardest Father’s Day of them all
Pete Wickham should be taking his son, Matt, to a Redbirds game today. But Pete was diagnosed with a brain tumor and Matt — who is autistic and intellectually disabled — is locked down with COVID-19. Somehow, this very difficult Father's Day has become a reminder of what it's all about.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Memphis recruiting is zooming on up
When the pandemic began, Memphis football had exactly one commit. Somehow, in the last two months, new coach Ryan Silverfield has put together the best recruiting class in the history of the school.
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Podcast
Grizzlies PodcastJa Morant continues to impress, both on and off the court
Drew Hill and Geoff Calkins discuss the latest in the life of Ja Morant.
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SportsCalkins: Even at Disney, Grizzlies are moving on up
When the NBA season resumes in Orlando, the Grizzlies will be staying at the Grand Floridian. Just another sign that the team is moving up in the league.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Ryan Silverfield and Memphis football won’t stick to sports
The Memphis football team put together a massive march through campus Sunday morning. The fact that it felt almost routine — another football team marching for social justice — shows just how much the world has changed.
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Calkins
Memphis GrizzliesHow Ja Morant came to ask Murray, Ky., to tear down a Confederate statue
Ja Morant wrote a letter to the judge executive in Murray, Kentucky, asking that a Confederate statue be taken down. Here's the story of how that letter happened — and what might come next.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Fans at college football games? Not so fast, my friend
Dr. Jon McCullers, head of the task force to open the University of Tennessee, remains skeptical that there will be large fan gatherings at football games this fall.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Want to run a 5K? Go to the beach? Expert says how — and when — you can resume activities
Dr. Jon McCullers thinks we'll have 5Ks before the year is out. He's OK with the beach (and the protests!) too.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: As Memphis prepares to play football this season (really!), the Liberty Bowl may be the perfect place
The Liberty Bowl has long been mocked as "too big" for modern times. But in this strangest of college football seasons, it may be the perfect place to spread out.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Here is Penny Hardaway’s real statement about racial inequity – and it’s not the one he released
It’s good that Penny Hardaway released a statement in support of the protesters. But he didn't have to. This is why.
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Public Safety ‘Enough is enough': Penny Hardaway to meet with city officials in wake of George Floyd
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway releases statement on the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
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Public SafetyCalkins: A turning-point of a week — but what happens next is what matters
Apologies are necessary. Especially now. But it's what happens after the apology that matters. A story of two Memphis ministers and one simple request.
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