Calkins: More than four decades later, a beloved Memphis jersey finds its way home.
Ned Hasanbegovic (left) reached out to Geoffrey Gaia (right) after Hasanbegovic’s father’s death. (Courtesy Geoffrey Gaia)
Geoff Calkins
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.
Geoffrey Gaia, age 14, sprinted onto the Liberty Bowl field along with everyone else.
This was in 1980. The Memphis Rogues of the NASL were playing their final soccer match in the city before moving out of town.
“I remember people running around everywhere,” Gaia said. “Nobody was running anywhere in particular, just running around with bittersweet joy.”
Topics
Memphis Rogues Jado Hasanbegovic Geoff Calkins NASL Subscriber OnlyWe’re in the final countdown of 2025. ⌛🪩🎉
Will you make a donation before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve to fuel trustworthy reporting in the new year?
➡️ Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization.
We believe an informed Memphis is a better Memphis. If you agree, join our growing list of donors now!
Geoff Calkins on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Geoff Calkins' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.