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

Calkins: If Memphis really matters, don't carve it into thirds

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 3 May 2026 04:00:06 -0500

“Memphis is in a corner. Memphis is its own place. To divide the 9th Congressional District into thirds would be ‘like putting the Black vote in the back of the bus.’”

Calkins: The best young athlete in Memphis? Noah Schepman is an inspiration on wheels.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 1 May 2026 04:00:07 -0500

When Noah Schepman was one, his dad built him a tiny wheelchair. Now Schepman’s tennis coach calls him “the fastest kid — on feet or wheels — that I’ve ever seen.”

Calkins: Yes, the Grizzlies might play games in Nashville. But that's no reason to be terrified.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:52:02 -0500

If you were an owner intent on keeping a profitable NBA team in Memphis, wouldn’t you do whatever you could to tap into the Nashville market? To bring some of those Nashville riches over here?

Calkins: Remember the winter storm of 2026? It inspired a dog (and cat) story to warm your heart.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:13:52 -0500

The great winter storm of 2026 — it was inconvenient for a lot of us humans. But it turned out to be the best thing ever for a lot of local dogs.

Calkins: Ted Butler is about to teach his 100,000th golf lesson. And he's not about to stop.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:37:46 -0500

Ted Butler didn’t want to teach golf lessons. That was nearly 100,000 lessons ago. The math is absolutely staggering. But the man is not about to stop.

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

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:51:50 -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.

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

Calkins: If Memphis really matters, don't carve it into thirds

Calkins: The best young athlete in Memphis? Noah Schepman is an inspiration on wheels.

Calkins: Yes, the Grizzlies might play games in Nashville. But that's no reason to be terrified.

Calkins: Remember the winter storm of 2026? It inspired a dog (and cat) story to warm your heart.

Calkins: Ted Butler is about to teach his 100,000th golf lesson. And he's not about to stop.

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!