Geoff Calkins
Calkins: A magnificent day for Memphis — right up until the end.
It was a magnificent day for Memphis basketball. Right up until Houston hit the winning shot. On a day when Tiger basketball conjured that magical feeling once 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 1013 articles by Geoff Calkins :
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March 2023
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Morant is sorry? That’s a good start.
It’s easy to be skeptical about Ja Morant’s statement of apology. But it represents an important first. He never before has accepted responsibility for his actions. Now maybe there’s a shot he will change.
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Calkins: It’s time to put down the gun, Ja. And to put down the act.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: It’s time to put down the gun, Ja. And to put down the act.
Nike produced a Ja Morant shoe because he is “a real leader” for “the NBA, for basketball and for the city of Memphis.” Morant’s latest Instagram live video makes a mockery of those words. It is time for Morant to put down the gun and put down the tough-guy act. Here’s hoping he realizes that, at long last.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Now comes No. 1 Houston — and a day this Memphis team has earned.
The best thing about Sunday’s epic matchup between the Memphis Tigers and No. 1 Houston? It was earned.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Ja Morant’s greatness gives the Lakers the boot
The Lakers came to town Tuesday and greatness followed. No, not from LeBron James. He missed the game with a bum foot. But he had a splendid seat to watch Ja Morant score 28 points in the third quarter to lead the Grizzlies to victory.
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February 2023
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Kendric Davis was promised the NCAAs. Now it’s close to coming true.
Penny Hardaway texted Kendric Davis prior to Sunday’s game. After the win over Cincinnati, Davis and the Tigers are one step closer to the subject of that text.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: Tigers win ‘by any means’ necessary
The Memphis Tigers are battered, weary — and now they’re missing a key player who broke his hand punching a door. So how do they keep winning games? By any means necessary. On a Memphis team that richly deserves a trip to the NCAAs.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Sure, Memphis lost this game to Houston. But the rematch could be history.
The Memphis Tigers put up a gallant fight in losing to the Houston Cougars Sunday. The good news? The Cougars should be No. 1 in the country when they come to FedExForum for the rematch on March 5. And a healthy Kendric Davis should be waiting for them.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: It was a massive Memphis win — and maybe the craziest one ever.
The Memphis Tigers lost Kendric Davis to injury, lost 24 turnovers and somehow still managed to beat Central Florida Thursday night. It may not have been the most important win in Memphis history. But it was unlike any that have come before.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Grizzlies future has never looked brighter than it does right now
The Grizzlies headed off into the All-Star break with a win over the Utah Jazz. It was a fitting way to wrap up the best, most promising start to a season in franchise history. The future has never looked better, on and off the court.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: As Tigers aim for the tournament, DeAndre Williams shows them the way
DeAndre Williams is determined to lead the Tigers through this critical stretch because making the NCAA Tournament never gets old.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Sure, they hear the laughter. But Grizz can still be fine in the West.
Who won the trade deadline? OK, not the Grizzlies. And Ja Morant became the punchline of a viral tweet. But do not be too discouraged, my fellow Memphians. The Grizz will be fine (in the West).
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Boos! Hate! Grizzlies end a wild day with a win.
Ja Morant dug in, Dillon Brooks got booed and the Grizzlies fell behind yet again. Which is when head coach Taylor Jenkins urged his team to “embrace the adversity.” It turned out to be winning advice.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Maybe there was no gun. There’s still a lesson for Morant.
Ja Morant would be better off if he asked his friends and family to let him flourish in the spotlight he has earned.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: It could have been a great day at FedExForum. It was a crusher, instead.
Memphis fans thronged to FedExForum to celebrate Lorenzen Wright, Larry Finch and the Memphis Tigers. Then the game happened. For reasons that are becoming all too familiar, it did not go well.
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: As trade deadline looms, Grizzlies need help
It’s exactly one week until the NBA trade deadline. And the Grizzlies need help!
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January 2023
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Along with their city, the Grizzlies grieve
Yes, we made it through the weekend peacefully. But now what? The Grizzlies got a win Sunday, and that’s great. Then they shared that they’re struggling with grief and anger, just like the rest of us.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Why Penny will never meet insane expectations — but is still the perfect guy for the job
Has Penny Hardaway met the lofty expectations he set for himself? No. Can he ever accomplish what he set out to accomplish? Probably not, but is he the man to coach Memphis basketball? Absolutely, he is.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: Penny Hardaway gets win 100!* (Just don’t tell the IARP)
Kendric Davis and DeAndre Williams were magnificent in leading the Memphis Tigers to their 100th win under Penny Hardaway. OK, the official record will say this was win No. 99. Either way, it was sweet.
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GolfCalkins: LIV golfers have everything money can buy. Except Memphis.
Remember when it was a struggle to get the best golfers in the world to come to Memphis? Now it requires a federal judge to keep them out of here.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: The Tigers give away another. But why?
Kendric Davis scored 42 points against Central Florida Wednesday, which was great. But if the Memphis Tigers had done what they should have done before the game lurched into two overtimes, they’d have something much sweeter: A win.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: There will never be another DeAngelo Williams
DeAngelo Williams became the first Memphis football player elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. He’s the best Tiger player in the history of the school. But looking back, you know the stat that really stands out? He stayed at Memphis for four spectacular years.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The lesson of Damar Hamlin, and why it matters here
Where were you when Mike Conley nearly beat the Golden State Warriors with a broken face? When Chris Douglas-Roberts threw down that dunk on Kevin Love? The best moments of sports connect us to the places and people we love, as the Buffalo Bills reminded us this week.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: How’d Alex Lomax save the game? He did it the Memphis way.
Memphis was careening toward a bad loss against East Carolina Saturday. What happened? Alex Lomax happened. He stole the ball and saved the day.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Lindenwood minister has a podcast dedicated to ... TCU football?
They say that college football is a religion in the South. Does that mean that ministers are its podcasters? Meet Geoff Mitchell, the senior minister at Lindenwood Christian Church, who also hosts a popular podcast about TCU football.
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