Season One, Chapter 11: Why a Lil Penny comeback still means so much
Penny Hardaway says Lil Penny is making a comeback. The man who created Lil Penny explains how the phenomenon came to be – and why he'd be thrilled to see the puppet make a return.
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 974 articles by Geoff Calkins :
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January 2019
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Geoff Calkins -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: Memphis State destroys SMU — and it was just like old times
The Memphis basketball team -- wearing Memphis State uniforms -- destroyed SMU Saturday. It felt just like old times.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Penny Hardaway vs. Rick Barnes yet again? Let’s check the facts
Tennessee fans are mad that Penny Hardaway apparently criticized Rick Barnes again. Are they right to be? Is Hardaway making things up? I check the facts.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: The Grizzlies are a mess – and there’s no easy fix
The real problem with the Grizzlies isn't that they're in a bad situation. The real problem is that there's no obvious way out.
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Sports Chapter 10: Penny Hardaway (barely) gets his first road win
Calkins: Coach Penny Hardaway is upbeat as the Memphis Tigers get their first road win with an 83-79 victory over Tulane. “I knew that it was time for us to win a game on the road.”
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Penny Hardaway says ‘Shame on the seniors’ after much-too-close win
Penny Hardaway continues to try to push the right buttons to motivate his Memphis basketball team. As the win over East Carolina made abundantly clear, this has not been an easy task.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Grizzlies win! And like each other! (According to team source)
Grizzlies right their teetering ship as Gasol snaps out of slump in leading Memphis to a win over the San Antonio Spurs
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Chapter Nine: Houston Cougars remind Penny Hardaway there’s a long way to go
Calkins: Tigers’ youth on full display as freshmen fail to contribute in loss to No. 19 Houston Cougars.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Chandler Parsons may be an entitled phony — but ultimate blame lies with the Grizz
Calkins: Chandler Parsons has revealed himself to be an entitled phony but that still doesn't excuse the Memphis Grizzlies for handing him $94 million.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Calkins: Mike Parks is a new dad! (But he might be sleepy for Houston game)
HOUSTON — Mike Parks Jr. won’t be as rested as usual when the Memphis Tigers take on Houston Sunday evening. But he has the best excuse in the world. And his name is Zakari Daniel Parks, all 7 pounds and 8 ounces, who was born by C-section at 9:41 p.m. Saturday. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: So maybe Penny Hardaway can coach?
Penny Hardaway answers critics regarding his potential coaching acumen as Tigers take down Gregg Marshall and Wichita State in American Athletic Conference opener.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Calkins: Alex Lomax hears the harsh criticisms – but wouldn’t change a thing
When Alex Lomax was named Mr. Basketball his sophomore and junior years of high school, everyone in Memphis loved him. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: Once again, Chandler Parsons is unwilling to bet on himself
If Chandler Parsons wants playing time, he can prove he deserves it by playing for the Hustle. Right now, his public criticism of the franchise seems both premature and ungrateful.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: The 10 most compelling Memphis sports figures of 2019 (and Penny Hardaway is not No. 1)
Two new sports franchises, a world-class golf tournamaent and the arrival of James Wiseman mean 2019 could be an historic year in Memphis sports. Here are the top 10 most compelling Memphis sports figures of the year ahead (and, no, Penny Hardaway is not No. 1).
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December 2018
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: The 10 most compelling Memphis sports figures of 2018
Penny Hardaway was the most compelling Memphis sports figure of 2018. But here are 10 more who shaped the year.
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Geoff Calkins Chapter Eight: In 2018, Penny Hardaway changed everything
Just one year ago, Memphis Tiger basketball was an embarrassment. New coach Penny Hardaway has changed everything.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Memphis Tigers football falls just short (once again)
BIRMINGHAM — He made the first one. Riley Patterson drilled the 38-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Except Wake Forest called timeout just before the snap. So he had to kick the thing again. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: Antwann Jones saves Penny Hardaway and Memphis from a flop
This could have been embarrassing for Penny Hardaway and the Memphis program. It’s one thing to get into a public fracas with Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. It’s another thing to then go out and lose to a team like Little Rock. But with 3:52 left in the game, Little Rock up by two points, embarrassment seemed distinctly possible. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: Supreme Bey (formerly Chris Douglas-Roberts) is coming back to Memphis
Chris Douglas-Roberts, now known as Supreme Bey, is returning to Memphis early next week to start a foundation and host an event to give Christmas gifts to kids. He explains why he's doing it, what he's up to these days and why he declined the university's offer to retire his number.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Penny Hardaway comes out swinging at Rick Barnes
And on the third day after the Memphis-Tennessee game, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway went after Tennessee coach Rick Barnes with balled up — not fists — but words, at the very least. -
Geoff Calkins Exclusive Q&A: Robert Pera says he remains committed to Memphis and is more hands-on than ever
Robert Pera remains committed to keeping the Grizzlies in Memphis and is more active than ever in running the team. That emerged as the theme of The Daily Memphian’s interview with Pera – the product of a longstanding request – during halftime of Friday’s game against the Miami Heat. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: How the MarShon Brooks fiasco unfolded — and why you shouldn’t blame the Grizz
MarShon Brooks could hear his mother, he just couldn’t hear what she was saying to him. -
Geoff Calkins Chapter Seven: Memphis vs. Tennessee was a welcome brawl
Just 47 seconds remained in this brawl of a game, when an actual brawl seemed on the verge of breaking out. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: As Memphis braces for No. 3 Tennessee, the thrill is back
Twelve cough drops. Not one, not two, not three, not 10. -
Geoff Calkins Calkins: Is it possible to be a fan of both Memphis and Tennessee? NO!
As the big game bears down upon us, as Memphis prepares to play Tennessee in basketball, let us all come together to agree on one essential truth: you have to pick a side.
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