Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Geoff Calkins

Calkins: The Grizzlies need some lottery luck. Maybe that will stop people from talking about Ja Morant.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:19:36 -0500

Did the Grizzlies mistreat Ja Morant? No, of course not. But it’s telling (and unfortunate) that the question had to be asked.

Calkins: Time to hold Musk and xAI to 'the one promise they've made.'

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:35:56 -0500

“Will Elon Musk follow through on his promise to build a water-recycling facility? It’s up to Memphians to make sure he does.”

Calkins: After more than eight decades, a Memphis war hero will finally be awarded the diploma he earned

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 13:56:31 -0500

Memphis State student Arthur Allen was hailed as a war hero when he was killed in a bombing mission over Germany. More than 80 years later, Allen’s family will be presented with the diploma that Allen well and truly earned.

Calkins: The Grizzlies have a problem. And it isn't just basketball.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 13:55:14 -0500

They fell in love with the Grizzlies on their first date. But after Monday’s game, they’re giving up their season tickets. And they’re not alone.

Calkins: Iranians in Memphis say 'It's torture to even explain.'

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 17:48:21 -0500

The Daily Memphian asked local Iranians how they feel about the war. The prevailing sentiment? “The bombs do not scare us; what scares us is the war ending and the Islamic Republic still ruling Iran.”

Calkins: Now LeBron James is trashing the city? What's a Memphian to think?

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 17:45:11 -0500

“It was a disappointing cheap shot from a guy who grew up in Akron, Ohio, who should know something about hardscrabble towns.”

Calkins: Hana Haden is going to save the Memphis women's basketball program. But you don't have to take my word for it.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 18:11:19 -0500

“Women’s basketball is booming. Except in Memphis, where it’s been a drag. Hana Haden — the new coach of the Tigers — is going to change that.”

Calkins: Trump came to Memphis. We'll soon be ‘virtually crime free.'

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:14:39 -0500

President Donald Trump came to Memphis to declare victory over crime. Two Friday night shootings were a reminder that work still remains.

Calkins: Justice Amy Coney Barrett is speaking at Rhodes. It's more complicated than it should be.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:07:38 -0500

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is returning to Rhodes College to speak Wednesday. Why isn’t Rhodes talking about it? That’s complicated.

Calkins: Penny Hardaway is back. It will take real change — from him — to bring back Memphis basketball.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:55:58 -0500

“Penny Hardaway is returning as Memphis coach. How can he fix things? He can start by accepting that the disaster that was this past season wasn’t some ‘one-off.’ ”

Calkins: Lionel Hollins has never left Memphis — or stopped working to make it a better place.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:21:44 -0500

Lionel Hollins is the new board chair of Heal the Hood. Why has he stayed in Memphis for 23 years? Because our purpose is lift others up.

Calkins: The Medicine Man used to rally Memphis fans. Now his old friends are rallying to help him.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:11:29 -0500

Sam Bielich was famous in Memphis as the Medicine Man. Now he’s recovering from triple bypass surgery — and his old friends from the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity are trying to help.

Calkins: Could this be Penny Hardaway's last game at FedExForum?

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 11:35:10 -0600

As questions again swirl about the future of Penny Hardaway, athletic director Ed Scott had every chance to address them Wednesday. He chose to stay silent. What could that mean?

Calkins: It's just what Memphis needed. A win for the city's sports.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 04:00:11 -0600

Professional tennis is returning to the city. That isn’t some accident. It’s because Memphis did something very, very well.

Calkins: It's the worst basketball season in Memphis history — times 2!

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 1 Mar 2026 04:00:02 -0600

Ja Morant is on the way out. Penny Hardaway is teetering. It’s the worst basketball season in the city’s history, featuring the fall of two Memphis icons.

Calkins: The basketball manager at Houston High delivered a moment no one will soon forget

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:47:33 -0600

Henry Griffith is the basketball manager at Houston High. He had never played in a game before. But after he hit a buzzer-beater Friday night, he was carried off the court.

Calkins: He's our Memphian at the Olympics — back for one last bobsled run

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:00:04 -0600

Garrett Hines was a football star at Bartlett High. Now he’s in Italy coaching bobsled for the last runs in what has been a remarkable Olympic career.

Calkins: Mayor Young talked about crime, immigration and the future of the city. Of course it got loud.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:00:05 -0600

Mayor Paul Young was heckled during his State of the City address. But here’s the thing about Young and those hecklers: They want the same thing.

Calkins: Why did a Holocaust survivor visit Graceland? A story about hate, survival — and the importance of joy

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 21:17:38 -0600

Mark Schonwetter spent years hiding from the Nazis as a boy. He came to Memphis this week to talk about the journey of survival, the persistence of hate — and a lesson his mother taught him about joy.

Calkins: Will Ja Morant play for the Grizz again? We have an answer to that — and more.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 11:34:13 -0600

Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman was asked if Ja Morant will play for Memphis again this year. He gave an answer — which you can read for yourself.

Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Geoff Calkins

Calkins: The Grizzlies need some lottery luck. Maybe that will stop people from talking about Ja Morant.

Calkins: Time to hold Musk and xAI to 'the one promise they've made.'

Related content:

Calkins: After more than eight decades, a Memphis war hero will finally be awarded the diploma he earned

Calkins: The Grizzlies have a problem. And it isn't just basketball.

Calkins: Iranians in Memphis say 'It's torture to even explain.'

Calkins: Now LeBron James is trashing the city? What's a Memphian to think?

Related content:

Calkins: Hana Haden is going to save the Memphis women's basketball program. But you don't have to take my word for it.

Related content:

Calkins: Trump came to Memphis. We'll soon be ‘virtually crime free.'

Related content:

Calkins: Justice Amy Coney Barrett is speaking at Rhodes. It's more complicated than it should be.

Calkins: Penny Hardaway is back. It will take real change — from him — to bring back Memphis basketball.

Related content:

Calkins: Lionel Hollins has never left Memphis — or stopped working to make it a better place.

Calkins: The Medicine Man used to rally Memphis fans. Now his old friends are rallying to help him.

Calkins: Could this be Penny Hardaway's last game at FedExForum?

Calkins: It's just what Memphis needed. A win for the city's sports.

Related content:

Calkins: It's the worst basketball season in Memphis history — times 2!

Calkins: The basketball manager at Houston High delivered a moment no one will soon forget

Calkins: He's our Memphian at the Olympics — back for one last bobsled run

Calkins: Mayor Young talked about crime, immigration and the future of the city. Of course it got loud.

Calkins: Why did a Holocaust survivor visit Graceland? A story about hate, survival — and the importance of joy

Calkins: Will Ja Morant play for the Grizz again? We have an answer to that — and more.