Geoff Calkins
Calkins: It’s the best sport in the universe — and it’s booming in Memphis these days
The hottest sport in Memphis? No, not pickleball. Cross country is having a moment. And that’s a very good thing.
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 1063 articles by Geoff Calkins :
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November 2025
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Geoff Calkins
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October 2025
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: What happened when Calipari returned to Memphis? The only thing that could have happened, of course.
When John Calipari and Penny Hardaway walked to center court at a little after 8 p.m. Monday night, the Memphis fans rose and unleashed an ovation for them both.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCoach Cal Countdown: It’s the most painful loss in Memphis history. And it hurts for a whole new reason today.
This is the final installment in a series remembering games that defined the John Calipari coaching era of Memphis Tigers basketball. Today: The 2008 NCAA title game was a painful loss. The passage of time — and changes in college basketball — make it worse.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: They did it again! Tigers once again give Memphians a reason to believe.
Memphis rallied to beat nationally-ranked USF Saturday. And suddenly, all is right with the Tiger football universe once again.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Happy 25th opener, everyone! Because Ja was Ja.
Cedric Coward was perfect and Ja Morant was even better as the Grizzlies opened their 25th season with a win.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Grizzlies are tipping off their 25th season in Memphis. Here’s to 25 more.
“What should Grizzlies fans want out of the team’s 25th season in Memphis? A new lease on FedExForum.”
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Geoff CalkinsCoach Cal Countdown: Darius Washington Jr. had three shots to lift Memphis into the NCAA Tournament
This is the second installment in a nine-story series remembering games that defined the John Calipari coaching era of Memphis Tigers basketball. Today: A chance to beat Louisville and make the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
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Geoff Calkins Coach Cal Countdown: Nine memorable stories for nine memorable years of Calipari coaching the Tigers
As the city prepares to celebrate John Calipari and his former Tigers as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic preseason game, The Daily Memphian is rolling out nine stories on games that defined a wondrous era of Memphis basketball.
Related content:
Coach Cal Countdown: Memphis sends message by spoiling Carmelo Anthony’s Syracuse debut
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: It was a surreal night on Beale Street — and everything Penny Hardaway dreamed
What do you get when you combine Penny Hardaway, Beale Street, Memphis Pom, the FBI and the National Guard? A night of Memphis basketball that seemed like a dream.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: They’re not just cutting a ribbon in Whitehaven. They’re showing us the way.
You know the best way to solve the ills of a community? With hope. There will be plenty of that at Whitehaven High School Wednesday — where they’re cutting the ribbon on a new STEM center.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Penny Hardaway says Memphis has ‘lost that fandemonium.’ And he wants to get it back.
Penny Hardaway was scheduled to talk about his basketball team. But he spent more time talking about the challenges facing Memphis fans — and the city he has always called home.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Mike Ceide walked away from local TV — for the best of all reasons
Mike Ceide made a life decision when he saw his grandson, Knox, in the neonatal intensive care unit. As he put it, “I finally realized there is more to life than having the best job in the world.”
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Spirit of Memphis Calkins: Larry Rea may have told more Memphis stories than anyone. He did it with unmistakable joy.
Larry Rea didn’t write about mayors or city council members or NBA stars. He wrote your neighbors and friends. Rea, who covered high school sports and the outdoors for nearly 60 years, died Saturday at the age of 82.
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September 2025
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: For 100 years, Memphis and Rhodes have needed each other. That’s truer than ever today.
Rhodes moved from Clarksville to Memphis in September 1925. A hundred years later, the college and the city still rely on each other to thrive.
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Spirit of MemphisCalkins: The Central High band was banned from a game. So they fought back — with kazoos!
The Central High band was banned from a football game Friday night. So how did they respond? With kazoos! A protest story for our time.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: How did Memphis beat Arkansas? With a miracle. And heart.
How did Memphis defeat Arkansas? With a crazy, can-you-believe-it play that will be remembered forever in Tiger football lore.
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Smith’s run, Bracy’s hit help Memphis edge Arkansas
Memphis vs. Arkansas: Tigers rally from down 18 to edge Hogs
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Memphis has a rich history of playing the SEC. Is it coming to an end?
For almost exactly 60 years, SEC teams have been traveling to the Liberty Bowl to play Memphis in football. Saturday might be the beginning of the end.
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Why is a cove in Memphis suddenly filled with Cubs flags? It’s out of sadness — and respect.
Todd Dixon — a nurse, triathlete, Sunday-school teacher, husband and father — died at 54. Now an entire street in East Memphis is flying Chicago Cubs flags in his honor.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Calipari is coming back to Memphis. And that’s a very good thing.
It had to be the right moment for John Calipari to come back to Memphis. This is the right moment.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: He’s going to get people believing in this city once again — if he has to do it one Memphian at a time.
William Dunavant III has a speech he has already given to 20,000 Memphians. The topic? Why the city is on the cusp of great things.
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August 2025
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Grizzlies want to stay in Memphis. Let’s make it easy for them.
The Grizzlies lease negotiations are nerve-wracking. What is a Memphian to think?
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Memphians will be finishing Liza’s Run again. A few weeks ago, that was no sure thing.
A month ago, it seemed as if the event was ending. But a group of women emerged to make certain that Memphians will once again be finishing Liza Fletcher’s run.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Why does he give expensive gifts to strangers? A Memphis mystery to melt your heart.
“I understand that it’s unusual,” Mike Perkowski said. “Some people might think, ‘What’s this weirdo doing?’ Or they think there has to be a catch.”
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: On Fred Smith’s 81st birthday, the city he loved said goodbye
Memphis threw a celebration at FedExForum that was worthy of Fred Smith’s life. Of course, Smith himself might not have liked all the fuss. He would have told us to get back to work.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Why Fred Smith saved the Memphis golf tournament. (Hint: It wasn’t about the golf.)
“This will be the first FedEx St. Jude Championship since the death of Fred Smith. Why did Smith embrace the tournament the way he did? It wasn’t about the golf.”
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