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 976 articles by Geoff Calkins :
If a Navy bassoonist stationed in Hawaii busts up his bassoon or a tuba player stationed in Seattle dents her tuba, where do you imagine those instruments end up?
For years, Memphis has competed at the highest level in college sports. That is in jeopardy now. The NCAA and the Power 5 have agreed that Power 5 schools can pay roughly $20 million a year in direct payments to college athletes. How is a school like Memphis supposed to compete? NCAA, Power 5 leagues sign off on plan that includes paying athletesRelated story:
Bill Walton hit 21 of 22 shots to defeat Memphis State in the 1973 national championship game. But he never became a villain in this city. There was too much mutual respect.Related story:
Superlo is celebrating its 80th anniversary this summer. In recognition of this moment, we attempted to discover why Memphians are so crazy about this grocery store. The answer? It isn’t just the fried chicken. (But the fried chicken doesn’t hurt).
It was Mayor Paul Young vs. Mayor Lee Harris on the basketball court Saturday. And it was not always a pretty sight. But the impulse behind it was beautiful. Isn’t that what really counts?
Ted Townsend had to answer some questions about Elon Musk and xAI on Sunday. And he couldn’t very well duck them. They were from his mom.
A group of Crosstown High students painted a beautiful mural that said, “We can do better.” Within weeks, the mural was vandalized. So how did they respond? By doing better.
“Nobody believed Jerry West would take a job with the Grizzlies. He was too famous, too big, for this town. But West never thought that.” Jerry West, a 3-time Hall of Fame selection and the NBA logo, dies at 86Related story:
The University of Memphis has identified a pool of candidates to interview for the job of athletic director. Among the questions those candidates will be asking: What’s up with Penny Hardaway?
“Adam Clay was always the fat guy. He endured all the humiliations that went along with that. So how did Clay finally lose 100 pounds? With a regular diet of pickleball.”
Ed Scott is the new AD at the University of Memphis. All he has to do is direct the largest construction project in program history, raise millions in cash, get Tiger hoops on track and lift the university into the Power 5.Related story:
Jimmy Birkholz and his two dogs spent 45 days living at the hotel inside the Bass Pro Pyramid. That’s 45 days of alligators, pork rinds and elevator rides. How did it happen?
Scott Morris walked out of Crosstown Concourse Friday for the last time as CEO of Church Health. He’s not leaving, just changing his role. Here’s a Q&A with Dr. Morris.
High Point Terrace is staging its 75th Independence Day Parade this year. But the parade isn’t beloved because it’s big and spectacular. It’s beloved because it touches the heart.
Olson thought he was giving away a painting of a cat. Instead, he tapped into a massive, enthusiastic and wonderfully supportive cat community he didn’t know existed before.
Forty-four years ago, after the last game the Memphis Rogues would ever play, 14-year-old Geoffrey Gaia asked Jado Hasanbegovic for his jersey. Hasanbegovic stripped off the jersey handed it to the kid.
The illuminated flag atop Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium has been displayed in the city for more than 100 years. Now the stadium is being redone. So what happens to the flag? They are trying to move it — very carefully.
“They started knocking down Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Monday. The goal isn’t to have a nicer place to watch games. The goal is an invitation to a power conference. But is it too little, too late?”Related story:
The Daily Memphian has selected the greatest 25 Memphis athletes of the century. Nos. 6-10 include a two-time Silver Slugger, an NBA Hall-of-Famer, a running back who had a hard time breaking 100 yards in college, an Olympic gold medalist and a Memphian who pitched a perfect game.
The Daily Memphian has selected the greatest 25 Memphis athletes of the century. Nos. 11-15 include the “King of Memphis,” the leading scorer on the most dominant Tiger basketball team of all time, two prep stars and the Grizzlies player who authored the most courageous performance in franchise history.
The Daily Memphian has selected the greatest 25 Memphis athletes of the century. Nos. 16-20 include two Grizzlies, a Tiger quarterback, one of the greatest kickers in NFL history and a baseball player who could be back in the news this week.
The Daily Memphian has selected the greatest 25 Memphis athletes of the century. Nos. 21-25 include two men who won historic trophies, two of the best receivers in Memphis football history and one of the most accomplished prep hoopers of the last 24 years.
The Daily Memphian staff made a list of the greatest 25 Memphis athletes of the century. If the result ticks you off, and it most certainly will, it’s because there has been too much greatness to list. The greatest Memphis athletes of the century: Nos. 1-5 The greatest Memphis athletes of the century: Nos. 6-10 The greatest Memphis athletes of the century: Nos. 11-15Related stories
It’s finally the moment to unveil the greatest five Memphis athletes of the century. And these five didn’t leave much doubt. The list includes a Tiger football player, a Tiger basketball player and three Memphis Grizzlies. Only the order is up for debate.
When he was 16, Seth Rider told his family he wanted to be an Olympian. It was an audacious thing to say. But that kid from Germantown now has a silver medal around his neck.