Spirit of Memphis
Calkins: Why one man has walked all over Memphis — and will do it again Thursday
Every March 21, Josh Greer walks all over Memphis from daybreak to dusk. Here’s why he does it and what we can learn from his annual trek.
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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March 2024
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Memphis basketball was left out of Selection Sunday. It better not happen again.
“Memphis basketball was left out again on Selection Sunday. It better not happen next year. Not if Memphis basketball is going to continue to be a dominant force in this city — or if Penny Hardaway is going to continue as the head coach.”
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Sports Time for Memphians to root for Kentucky. And Tennessee. And Kansas. Yes, really.
Kevin Kane, the president and CEO of Memphis Tourism, says he’ll be happy no matter which eight teams are assigned to Memphis for the NCAA Tournament. But if Kentucky, Tennessee or Kansas are included? He expects “a tsunami.”
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: She’s blind. She’s singing the anthem at the Grizz game. And she’s not to be missed.
Skyy Jordan will be singing the national anthem before the Grizzlies game Wednesday night. Unlike the anthem singers that preceded her, Skyy is completely blind.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: St. Jude’s arm is coming to Memphis. Maybe it’s just in time.
The arm of St. Jude is coming to Memphis Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know — about the relic, about St. Jude himself and about why it matters, especially, in this town.
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Sports Guess what’s coming, Memphis? More pickleball!
It was inevitable, wasn’t it? Pickleball is coming to the Memphis Sports and Events Center. It’s the first in a series of pickleball pop-up clubs that Pickleball 901 plans to open in multiple locations across town.
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February 2024
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Pat Halloran believed in a better Memphis. Then he made it come true.
Pat Halloran’s life was celebrated in grand style Monday. There was music! There was laughter! There were stories about a larger-than-life character who fell in love with Memphis — and then made it a better place.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Fowler brothers both have new hearts. So how about showing them yours?
Randy Fowler got a new heart in 1997. Wesley Fowler got a new heart in 1999 and another in 2000. Thanks to the generosity of donors, they’re both still singing, parachuting and otherwise living their lives. So on National Donor Day — also known as Valentine’s Day — how about becoming a donor yourself?
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The sweetest story in a lost Grizzlies season
Chuck Gallina’s mother, Mimi, has Alzheimer’s disease, but he still takes her to all the Memphis Grizzlies’ home games. And, even during this lost NBA season, those games have come to mean something more to this family — and it can teach us all about love.
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January 2024
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Geoff Calkins Calkins: Jackson Hughey will be laid to rest Wednesday — wearing a Memphis Tigers shirt
Jackson Hughey — who died Sunday after a six-year battle with cancer — was as devoted a Memphis Tigers fan as there ever was. Along the way, he reminded us not to take our games for granted.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Grizzlies have a plan for Beale? Great.
“In fact, here’s to all who are willing to lend a hand. That includes the local business people who sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee requesting help with the city’s crime crisis. It’s a moment for any and all to pitch in.”
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Spirit of Memphis Calkins: Jerome Wright knew Memphis better than anyone. He loved it better, too
Journalist Jerome Wright, 74, died Monday evening. He covered Memphis for more than five decades. He knew the place better than anyone else. But he became a beloved figure in the city because he treated everyone with kindness and respect.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The Tigers lost and the fans stayed home. But that wasn’t the worst part.
On a cold and miserable night — a night when fans were urged to stay home — the Tigers blew a 20-point lead to lose to South Florida. And then Penny Hardaway hinted at ominous chemistry issues within the team.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Skiing in Memphis — and other scenes from coldest MLK Day in history
The guy who was skiing through Downtown Monday? We found him. Here’s his story and more scenes from the coldest MLK Day in Memphis since it became a federal holiday.
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SportsCalkins: Laird Veatch on the stadium, the future, realignment — and the Smith family gift
Laird Veatch, the University of Memphis athletic director, is finally getting his hands on a football stadium and $120 million. Now all he has to do is raise another $50 million and figure out how to rebuild his new stadium on the fly.
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: Morant is done for the season — and all of Memphis is blue
Ja Morant is out for the season and Grizzlies fans are mourning a year that just keeps getting worse. As one Memphian put it, succinctly: “I give up.”
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: The new mayor offers ‘hope.’ And, yes, that’s a start.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young offered fresh “hope” at his swearing-in ceremony. And while that won’t solve the city’s many problems, it is at least a good start.
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December 2023
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: A story about best friends, marching bands, W.C. Handy — and the Liberty Bowl
Will Plenk and Christian Carichner were once college roommates. Friday, they’ll be directing the Memphis and Iowa State marching bands at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It’s a story about life, about friendship — and about tubas.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Ja Morant is back — and the Grizzlies are, too
Ja Morant was back at FedExForum Thursday. But you know what else was back? Fun! It suddenly seems like a whole new season for the Grizzlies. And in this season, the Grizzlies are a perfect 2-0.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Only in the movies and in Memphis? It was that kind of night for Morant.
Yes, Ja Morant really did that. He really did score 34 points — and the winning bucket — in his return to NBA basketball. It was a night already part of Grizzlies lore. And it should give Memphians real hope.
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Grizzlies Podcast Grizzlies podcast: Brooks boos, Morant in court and on court
Drew Hill and Chris Herrington wonder if Dillon Brooks should be booed in his return to Memphis, and Geoff Calkins joins to discuss the civil lawsuit against Ja Morant.
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Memphis GrizzliesCalkins: Morant says he’s been ‘counting the days’ — just like the rest of us
Ja Morant spoke to the media Friday. It wasn’t some raw apology press conference. But he said all the right things. He said he is learning to “protect his peace.” If the man can do that, good things will surely follow.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Will Ja win in court? Is a basketball a lethal weapon? Also, what in the world is going on?
It was a wild day in court for Ja Morant Monday. But it doesn’t matter if Morant wins or loses. This is a sideshow. The real show starts next Tuesday, when Morant makes his return.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Worry about the Liberty Bowl? Nah. But about that new deal for the Grizzlies ...
Save your fretting for the Grizzlies. That’s where there is work to be done.
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Geoff CalkinsCalkins: Mike Norvell got shafted by the system? Memphis knows exactly how he feels.
“Mike Norvell and Florida State got left out? Memphis fans understand how that feels. The entire system of college sports is based on leaving universities out, no matter how deserving. Fairness has nothing to do with it.”
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