The Grizzlies announced to the world that they are Western Conference contenders on Tuesday night. Chris Herrington and Drew Hill break it down. 

“Behind The Headlines” features a discussion of the year’s major events. The reporters’ roundtable found the long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic crossed even those events that seemed unconnected to the global public health crisis.

Is Denver the most dangerous threat to the Grizzlies for their spot at fourth in the Western Conference?

Chris Herrington and Jennifer Biggs discuss the end of 2021 and what’s ahead for 2022 in food.

The Grizzlies can play short-handed, but how will they look when everyone is healthy?

The coach surprised his players with Grizzlies tickets for Christmas. And when the team comes to town on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there will be history to remember. 

The Memphis football team also wraps up the season in the Hawai’i Bowl and there’s a lot at stake for Ryan Silverfield.

Can a win at Golden State or Phoenix bring Morant out of his somber spell? Just how long will it take to reintegrate their star?

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris plans to offer bonuses to recruit corrections and homeland security officers in county government, he said on “Behind The Headlines.” 

Elle Perry of The Daily Memphian joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar.

Steven Johnson and Frank Bonner break down the Tigers’ huge win over No. 6 Alabama at FedExForum Tuesday and how Memphis fared on Early Signing Day.

The Grizzlies have played the best defense in the NBA this month. Can they keep it up when Ja Morant returns?

Bert Smythe and John Littlefield talk about the 21 months they spent remodeling McEwen’s, which is reopening Dec. 20.

On “Behind The Headlines,” the bus transit system’s CEO and its new chief of staff say the ride-share service in the Whitehaven, Boxtown and Westwood areas is being used much more than the bus route system in the area was. 

Bishop Phoebe Roaf talks about the coarseness of our national discourse, the disconnections COVID brought on all of us, and her journey to become the first Black, female Bishop in Tennessee on The Sidebar.

The basketball team will look to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts Murray State on Friday and the football team will be without its defensive coordinator when it plays in the Hawai’i Bowl on Christmas Eve. 

The Grizzlies have won five of their last six games without their best player. Can they keep it rolling and finish inside the top six in the Western Conference?

The Timex watch of the Memphis restaurant scene is back. Mac Edwards brings favorites from The Farmer to Railgarten starting next week. He tells us how he got there from way back when in Gadsden, Alabama.

Eric Barnes talked to Marvin Stockwell, co-founder of the group that has for years tried to bring life back to the Mid-South Coliseum and now also the host of the Champions of the Lost Causes podcast.

The Never Have I Ever series will begin soon, COVID permitting, and Chris Herrington and I talk about the things we plan to eat and discuss why some restaurants seem insider-ish.

The defense is making strides for the Grizzlies, who are now 2-0 without their best player this season. 

Memphis beat writers Steven Johnson and Frank Bonner II discuss the importance of the Tigers qualifying for their eighth straight bowl game. 

Desmond Bane has been terrific for the Grizzlies in the absence of Dillon Brooks this season. 

Tigers beat writers Steven Johnson and Frank Bonner II break down the importance of this year’s football senior day and what it means for the program. 

On “Behind The Headlines,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says he hopes a city charter change on police residency is revived and put back on a ballot for a vote soon.