10. Austin Riley, baseball

Yes, another one of the greatest Memphis athletes of the century actually grew up and went to high school in the area.

We didn’t necessarily expect this before the voting. But that’s the way it is turning out. Indeed, if you peek ahead to the others we’re unveiling today, you’ll see that an astounding 13 of the 20 athletes between 6-25 are locals. Y’all must be doing something right.

Riley grew up in Hernando and went to DeSoto Central. He initially committed to Mississippi State but skipped directly to professional baseball after the Atlanta Braves picked him in the first round.

Riley smacked a home run in his second at-bat in the majors. He hit seven homers in his first 14 days. He is a two-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and was a key part of the Braves team that won the World Series in 2021.  

Oh, and Riley is also a two-time father. He and his wife, Anna, just announced the birth of their second son, Beau.

Calkins: We picked the greatest 25 Memphis athletes of the century. And the list is going to tick you off.

9. Pau Gasol, basketball

Gasol is already in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. And while he won his championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, he played more regular-season games with the Grizzlies. His greatness began here.

Gasol was the first draft pick after the Grizzlies moved to Memphis — and the team’s first true star. He was Rookie of the Year in 2002. He went on to carry a cast of overachievers and role players to three straight playoff appearances. 

His best seasons at Memphis are among the best seasons in franchise history. In the 2006-’07 season he averaged 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks. Compare that to Jaren Jackson Jr.’s recent All-Star season, in which he averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 3.0 blocks.

Even though he only played six seasons with the Grizzlies, Gasol still ranks third in rebounds, fourth in points, second in blocks, second in made free throws and second in player efficiency rating. He also ranks second in points per game for the Memphis version of the Grizzlies, trailing only Ja Morant.

And Gasol was total class at a time when that mattered, when skepticism about the NBA was running high. He and Shane Battier — who did not make our list — became the faces of the franchise. They connected the team to the town.

Then Gasol got injured, and the team faltered, and you know the rest. He was traded for his brother, whom he had been urging the Grizzlies to acquire all along. Would things have been different if the Grizzlies had listened to Pau? 

Pau was asked that question the night of Marc’s jersey retirement ceremony. He said things worked out for everyone just fine.

Which is true, isn’t it? Marc was able to grow into the best version of himself without his big brother around. But the big brother was spectacular, too. If this were a list of unappreciated Memphis athletes, he might well be No. 1. 

The greatest Memphis athletes of the century: Nos. 11-15

8. Tony Pollard, football

When Pollard showed up at Memphis, it created a problem for the coaching staff.

“When we put him at safety, we really liked him there,” said Darrell Dickey, an assistant coach at the time. “When we put him at wide receiver, we really liked him there. When we put him at running back, we really liked him there.”

Pollard is one of those athletes who is really good at everything.

It’s why he ranks so high on our list.

But it’s a curious ranking, too. Because Pollard never led Memphis in rushing, not even for a single game. He only cracked 100 yards rushing once, in the Birmingham Bowl, when Darrell Henderson decided not to play.

So why is he here?

Because he was really good at everything. And, honestly, still is.

Before Pollard arrived from Melrose High School, it had been 20 years since a Memphis player returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Pollard did it seven times.

Twice, he was All-AAC. Twice, he was AAC Special Teams Player of the Year. His final year at Memphis, he was a consensus All-American.

“An unbelievable weapon,” Dickey said.

Indeed, some have wondered why the Memphis coaches didn’t use it more.

As a pro, Pollard has just kept running past guys. He’s rushed for more than 1,000 yards in two different seasons. He’s accumulated more than 6,000 all-purpose yards. In 2022, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl.

And now Pollard’s back in Tennessee. He’s being asked to replace Derrick Henry, which will not be an easy task. Among all running backs, Henry ranked first in yards after contact last season. But you know who ranked third? Pollard, that’s who. Over the last three seasons, Henry averaged 4.8 yards every time he touched the ball. Pollard gained 5.3.

He’s been a better pro than Darrell Henderson or Kenny Gainwell. He’s been a better pro than Antonio Gibson or Patrick Taylor. Pollard may not have gotten the touches at Memphis — but he’s getting them now.

The greatest Memphis athletes of the century: Nos. 16-20

7. Matt Cain, baseball

Earlier this year, Cain flew Mauro “Goose” Gozzo to San Francisco for “the Game Changer Awards,” a fundraiser that invites sports stars to honor a mentor, someone who made a difference in their lives.

When Cain was 11, his grandfather answered an ad in The Commercial Appeal advertising pitching lessons from a major leaguer. Gozzo — who pitched for the Mets — gave Cain his first lesson in the backyard.

Cain went on to star at Houston High School, where he struck out 83 batters in 62 innings his senior year. He actually signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Memphis but decided to turn pro when the San Francisco Giants picked him in the first round. Cain became a three-time All-Star, a two-time World Champion and the author of the first perfect game in franchise history.

He was a throwback, in many ways, routinely pitching 200 innings a year and spending his entire career with a single team. He struck out 1,694 batters, won 104 games and would have stacked more wins with decent run support. Cain had a 3.35 ERA over his first seven seasons — and a record of just 69-73. It got so bad that whenever a Giants pitcher pitched brilliantly in a loss, locals would call that “getting Cained.”

But then came the glory years. Cain was at the heart of the Giants two World Series championships. In the 2010 postseason, he pitched three games and didn’t allow an earned run. He became just the fifth pitcher to pitch at least 20 innings in a postseason and not allow an earned run.

And then, on June 13, 2012, against the Houston Astros, Cain threw a perfect game. It was just the 22nd in league history. Only Sandy Koufax had as many strikeouts (14) while throwing a perfect game. Cain was given a key to San Francisco, where every June 13 is still recognized as Matt Cain Day.

The greatest Memphis athletes of the century: Nos. 21-25

6. Cindy Parlow Cone, soccer

Maybe you’re surprised to see Parlow Cone on the list. Not because she isn’t great. She’s one of the greatest soccer players in the history of the country. And the Germantown High graduate is currently the president of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

But this is a list of the greatest Memphis athletes of this century. Does Parlow Cone really qualify?

Yes!

Parlow Cone won two college national titles in the previous century. She was on the legendary U.S. team that won the World Cup in 1999.

For present purposes, we’re not counting any of that.

But Parlow Cone was also the leading goal scorer on the U.S. national team that won a silver at the 2000 Olympics. She was back on the team for the 2004 Olympics that won gold. Which makes her the only person with an Olympic gold medal on this list. 

After that, Parlow Cone was one of 20 founding members of the Women’s United Soccer Association — the league that preceded the National Women’s Soccer League — where she served as captain of the Atlanta Beat. Her retirement focused national attention on the danger of concussions in the sport.

So yes, Parlow Cone is one of the greatest Memphis athletes of this century.

Last century, too.