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

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 to leave local sports talk radio after two decades

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Sun, 4 Jan 2026 04:00:12 -0600

Geoff Calkins has been a fixture in Memphis sports talk radio since 2004. He’s giving up his daily show this week.

Coach Cal Countdown: Nine memorable stories for nine memorable years of Calipari coaching the Tigers

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 21:03:27 -0500

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.

Calkins: Larry Rea may have told more Memphis stories than anyone. He did it with unmistakable joy.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 21:28:14 -0500

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.

Calkins: Why is a cove in Memphis suddenly filled with Cubs flags? It's out of sadness — and respect.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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.

Calkins: Memphians will be finishing Liza's Run again. A few weeks ago, that was no sure thing.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:00:10 -0500

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.

Calkins: Jarmond Johnson died 'a hero.' Memphis Rox will soon reopen to spread his light.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 21:26:41 -0500

Jarmond Johnson died a hero, according to officials at Memphis Rox. The celebrated climbing gym is preparing to reopen with a memorial climb in his name.

Calkins: Everyone loved Reggie Barnes — which is how he reshaped Memphis sports

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 29 May 2025 12:59:30 -0500

Archie Manning said Reggie Barnes “had a gift for bringing people together.” For the better part of five decades, Barnes — who died Monday — used that gift to promote Memphis sports.

Calkins: RFK said kids with autism will never hold a job? Don't tell this Memphian.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 6 May 2025 16:08:09 -0500

Kim Jameson is a Memphian who founded a program at Christian Brothers University to help people with autism succeed not just at college but in life.

Calkins: Nearly 60 years after he was killed, a hero finds a new home

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:54:38 -0600

Donald J. Reilly was the most decorated Marine in Vietnam when he was killed in 1965. After nearly six decades, he is finally getting the send-off he deserves — at Arlington National Cemetery.

Calkins: Ed Scott on realignment, Penny, the NCAA investigation, attendance and more

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:57:17 -0600

Memphis athletic director Ed Scott has been on the job for six months. Here’s what he has to say about realignment, the ongoing NCAA investigation, Ryan Silverfield, Penny Hardaway and the university’s plans for paying players.

Calkins: The St. Jude Memphis Marathon isn't just a race. It's a lesson for us all.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 18:17:38 -0600

Some 22,500 people will be running through Downtown Memphis on Saturday. How did it happen? That’s a story worth telling all your friends.

Calkins: He's the pastor who survived the Harvest plane crash. A story of gratitude and grief.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:12:16 -0500

Kennon Vaughan has been told that the insurance company’s survivability expert concluded there was a zero percent chance anyone could have survived the plane crash. But he did. Here’s how he makes sense of his story.

Calkins: Hundreds of students will be working the polls Tuesday. So be nice!

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 3 Nov 2024 14:05:46 -0600

If you’re voting Tuesday, don’t be surprised if you’re checked in by a high school student. More than 250 have signed up to work the polls this week. So be on your best behavior, people.

Calkins: Gene Brady is gone. The world needs more Gene Bradys.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 13:36:35 -0600

Gene Brady, 89, died in a single-car wreck last week. Maybe you didn’t know him. But if you’re lucky, you’ve known people like him. We could use more of them today.

Calkins: Derek Clenin was 'one of a kind.' A story about rivalry, friendship, life and death.

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 13:37:44 -0600

Twenty-two years ago, Derek Clenin blocked an extra point to lift MUS over CBHS. Clenin died Oct. 8. Now, the quarterback of that CBHS team, Carter Giovannetti, plans to run the St. Jude Marathon in his friend and rival’s name.

Calkins: U of M to celebrate the life of Liza Fletcher with a new soccer stadium

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:29:33 -0500

It’s the perfect way to honor Fletcher’s legacy — and to continue to spread her light.

Calkins: Elizabeth Lemmonds has a brain tumor and no health insurance. It's a sadly American tale

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:20:09 -0500

Lemmonds has a brain tumor and no health care. Why is she telling her story? “Someone reading this is going to get hit ... by a diagnosis that is going to bankrupt them,” she said.

Calkins: In Munford, they gathered to celebrate 'Rusty' McKinney in the only way they could

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 08:58:56 -0500

In Munford, they knew Joseph “Rusty” McKinney as an Eagle Scout and a band kid. Saturday, the town honored him by assembling at the football stadium to form a giant, solemn M.

Calkins: How to fix the city's gang problem? Here's an idea even better than a truce

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:46:44 -0500

Memphis Mayor Paul Young met with gang members last week and asked for a “truce.” But you know what’s better than a truce? Giving kids an alternative to joining gangs in the first place. That’s where Memphis Rox comes in. And it could use your support.