Geoff Calkins
Calkins: The secret of Ernest Withers (now in an important podcast)
Ernest Withers was an iconic civil rights photographer — and an FBI informant. A new podcast revisits the complicated, painful tale.
Geoff Calkins
Columnist
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.
There are 1062 articles by Geoff Calkins :
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July 2022
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Geoff Calkins
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June 2022
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: On a lively draft night for Memphis, Ja Morant makes a big call.
The Grizzlies picked the players they really wanted Thursday night. It’s cool that one of them — Tennessee point guard Kennedy Chandler — happens to be from around here.
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Health CareCalkins: Memphis golf tournament has something money can’t buy: St. Jude
“LIV Golf exists to whitewash murder and human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. The FedEx St. Jude Championship raises money for St. Jude. Which side do you want to support? This really isn’t hard.”
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Elliot Perry is an inspiration — and an example of how to live a life
You’ll never guess where Elliot Perry is being honored Tuesday night. At the Museum of Modern Art, in New York. It’s the latest accomplishment for one of the greatest, humblest Memphians.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Frank Haith is a Tiger? Penny Hardaway strikes again.
Penny Hardaway has now added the former AAC Coach of the Year along with Kendric Davis (former AAC Player of the Year). That’s impressive work for the coach of a program facing possible NCAA sanctions. It speaks to Hardaway’s resilience, above all.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Kerrick Jackson is a critical hire for Memphis — and for baseball
Kerrick Jackson broke down Wednesday when he was asked what it meant to be one of just three Division 1 baseball coaches outside the HBCUs. Can he succeed at Memphis? All of baseball had better hope so.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: 20 years ago, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis — and the world — came to Memphis
Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson fought Lennox Lewis at The Pyramid. It was a defining moment for sports in Memphis. And it was a hell of a lot of fun.
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Spirit of MemphisCalkins: Steve Spurrier goes way back with Memphis. And he remembers every win.
Steve Spurrier returned to Memphis on Sunday to accept the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s Distinguished Citizen Award. Some of his biggest triumphs involved Memphis. They may not be what you think.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: You’d never guess what’s on the menu at Penny Hardaway’s new restaurant
“There’s no telling if Penny Hardaway’s new restaurant will live up to expectations. But it should be better than Cal’s!”
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Spirit of MemphisCalkins: The best dog in Memphis is gone. She wouldn’t want you to be sad.
Why is it so hard to say goodbye to our dogs? I asked Scott Morris, who is still saddened by the recent loss of Sidney, the best dog ever. He says the secret is love.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCalkins: Quinones’ shorts were teeny. His impact was not.
Lester Quinones is keeping his name in the NBA draft. But the guy sure had an impact at Memphis. He was a lot more than an air guitar and short shorts.
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May 2022
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Happy ‘Mr. Bruce Day’ for those who celebrate. (Maybe all of us should.)
It was “Mr. Bruce Day” at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School Friday. And if you don’t know what that means, let me tell you. Because we all could use it today.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: What we learned about the Grizzlies’ future, as Ja and his teammates said goodbye
Ja Morant is going to sign his contract extension, Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones seem unlikely to return, and Steven Adams thinks “duckmaster” would be a fine thing to put in a Tinder profile. What we learned from the Grizzlies’ postseason news conferences.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: It may have been the best Grizz season ever. It was certainly the most fun.
The Grizzlies ended their season with a loss to the Warriors Friday. Was it the best season ever? Maybe. It was absolutely the most fun.
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Real EstateCalkins: The stadium renovations look totally cool. But will they get Memphis where it needs to go?
Make no mistake, Memphis is partnering with the city in a “transformational renovation” of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in order to get to a better conference. Will it work?
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: That’s how you whoop that trick, Steph. And what a glorious whooping it was.
Steph Curry said the Warriors’ plan to close out the Grizzlies was to “Whoop That Trick.” Yeah, that was a mistake. The Grizzlies responded with one of the great whoopings in NBA playoff history.
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: Why, Dillon, why? On a crushing ending to a crushing day.
What was Dillon Brooks thinking? Why did he take that shot? The Grizzlies had the win right there for the taking. On a very hard ending to a very hard day.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: There’s a ‘good chance’ Ja is out? Say it ain’t so.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said there’s a “good chance” Ja Morant won’t be able to play in Game 4 on Monday. What it means for Morant, for the Grizzlies and for this increasingly bitter playoff series.
Related stories:
Herrington: Remember, Grizzlies-Warriors was supposed to be fun
Fans discuss Poole’s move on Ja, say Grizz-Warriors rivalry’s getting out of hand
Ja Morant doubtful to play Monday with knee injury -
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Get well soon, Ja! That’s what matters now.
The Grizzlies’ defense was poor, the Warriors’ shooting was not. But most important now is the health of Ja Morant.
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: Jenkins fires back at Golden State calling Memphis ‘dirty.’ And the series gets even more fun.
Steve Kerr called Dillon Brooks’ play “dirty.” Taylor Jenkins was having none of it. An intense series is getting more so by the moment. Do we really have to wait until Saturday for Game 3?
Related stories:
Dillon Brooks suspended for Game 3 vs. Warriors
Taylor Jenkins fires back: Grizzlies are ‘the furthest thing from dirty’
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: With 273 seconds of brilliance, Ja Morant saved the series
Ja Morant has played magnificent games before. He has come through in critical moments. But he has never played a more magnificent game, at a more critical moment, than he did Tuesday.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Draymond Green is Memphis’ No. 1 villain. (If only he would stop saying such nice things.)
Memphis fans are duty bound to loathe Draymond Green for the rest of the series. Which would be easier if Green didn’t love Xavier Tillman Sr., Jaren Jackson Jr., Young Dolph and Memphis music generally.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: It wasn’t just a missed shot for the Grizzlies. It was a missed opportunity.
Draymond Green was tossed from the game. Ja Morant had a last-second shot to win. So it’s a good thing the Grizzlies don’t let anything bother them. Because Game 1 would be easy to regret.
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April 2022
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Grizzlies win first playoff series since 2015. (But it won’t be their last.)
The Grizzlies sent the Timberwolves packing. Now all they have to do is turn around and play the Golden State Warriors Sunday afternoon. Impossible? Nah. Not for a team that is wired to win.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Today, Memphis, you can ‘thank God’ for Ja Morant
With the game and the season hanging in the balance, Ja Morant did what superstars do. He lifted his game, his teammates and the city, too.
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