When the Memphis Grizzlies retired big man Marc Gasol’s number Saturday night at FedExForum, The Daily Memphian had you covered.

Chris Herrington and Geoff Calkins both wrote before the ceremony and delivered terrific columns after it, while Drew Hill caught up with Gasol’s former high school friend, Jonnie West, for a super piece on a special moment the two shared.

It was a highlight of the year for the injury-plagued Grizzlies, whose 2023-24 season mercifully winds down with games Tuesday night at home against San Antonio, Wednesday night at Cleveland and — back home — Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers and Sunday afternoon against Denver.

And when the Memphis Showboats played their United Football League home opener earlier Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Frank Bonner II and Tim Buckley covered you there.

Bonner delivered a moving piece before the game on the health struggles faced by new Showboats coach John DeFillipo, followed by his game story, while Buckley wrote on how the UFL’s quirky rules cost Memphis and what the pro spring football league franchise is doing to earn fans’ trust.

The Showboats are on the road this coming weekend, playing Saturday night at 2023 USFL champion Birmingham.

The rest of the week kept the staff busy with Parth Upadhyaya’s reporting on Memphis Tigers basketball transfer portal news (expect more on that in the days to come), Sam Hardiman’s reporting on the latest regarding FedExForum renovation funding, John Martin’s take on former Tigers coach John Calipari’s talks with Arkansas and John Varlas’ Memphis 901 FC coverage.

Here’s a look at some of the staff’s top work from the week: — Deputy sports editor Tim Buckley

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Calkins: How did Marc Gasol celebrate his moment? By sharing it, of course. By Geoff Calkins

A hug to remember during Marc Gasol's championship moment By Drew Hill

Health condition can't keep Showboats coach from the sideline By Frank Bonner II

Buckley: Showboats lose. Don't blame the quirky rules. Embrace the fun. By Tim Buckley

Memphis' Ashton Hardaway, Penny Hardaway's son, enters transfer portal By Parth Upadhyaya

How a shared vision led former Tulsa star PJ Haggerty to Memphis By Parth Upadhyaya

Memphis lands Illinois transfer big man Dain Dainja By Parth Upadhyaya

Here is the deal that fully funds the FedExForum renovations By Samuel Hardiman

Martin: Will Calipari be successful at Arkansas? Look no further than his Memphis past By John Martin

Orange County hands 901 FC its third straight defeat By John Varlas

901 FC returns home with three points in mind By John Varlas

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