Columnist
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. 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 1165 articles by Geoff Calkins :
“I understand that it’s unusual,” Mike Perkowski said. “Some people might think, ‘What’s this weirdo doing?’ Or they think there has to be a catch.”
Memphis threw a celebration at FedExForum that was worthy of Fred Smith’s life. Of course, Smith himself might not have liked all the fuss. He would have told us to get back to work.
“This will be the first FedEx St. Jude Championship since the death of Fred Smith. Why did Smith embrace the tournament the way he did? It wasn’t about the golf.”
Grace Amgalan came to Memphis from Mongolia because her little brother was a patient at St. Jude. What happened next is a story about golf, community — and what can happen when we lift up those who come to our shores.
“Whatever you think of the members of this particular school board, even they couldn’t screw this one up.”
After 42 years of teaching tennis, Paul Sax is retiring. But he still has lessons to teach us about a well-led life.
“Memphis once again put together a lucrative offer that has been rejected by Big 12. Is that for embarrassment? Or cause for hope?” Memphis makes $200 million proposal to join Big 12, per reportRelated content:
Another iconic Memphis store bites the dust. Why is this happening? And how should we feel about it?
Two weeks after Jarmond Johnson was shot and killed at Memphis Rox, the gym reopened with a joyful, mournful — and ultimately hopeful — ceremonial climb.
Kennon Vaughan has been told that the insurance company’s survivability expert concluded there was a zero percent chance anyone could have survived the plane crash. But he did. Here’s how he makes sense of his story.
Jarmond Johnson died a hero, according to officials at Memphis Rox. The celebrated climbing gym is preparing to reopen with a memorial climb in his name.
Shane Young came to Memphis for the mountains. Hey, everyone makes mistakes. But he leaves a thriving MIRC.
One hundred and forty-one years ago, the first Sisters of Charity of Nazareth arrived in Memphis. On Monday, the last one left town. But Sister Trudy Foster left behind a legacy — and some words to live by.
It may be the best story of this basketball postseason. And one of the hardest stories, too. The former Memphis women’s basketball coach went to astonishing lengths to be with her Southern Miss team through it all.
It’s impossible to imagine Memphis without Fred Smith. So what happens next? Related content:
Ja Morant took on ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and his misperceptions of Memphis. But Smith isn’t the only one talking trash.
When you hear about the country’s “social safety net,” this is it: Hope House. Multiplied by thousands of small, committed organizations in cities across America. Federal funding cuts have Hope House’s leaders worried about Memphis.
Henry Douglas, age 8, decided to sing songs to generate contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So who should make a request? Santi Aldama, from Spain.
Archie Manning said Reggie Barnes “had a gift for bringing people together.” For the better part of five decades, Barnes — who died Monday — used that gift to promote Memphis sports.
Jes Shea leaned down to light the cookstove in her Sprinter van. Then the world went “BOOM.”
You know the Memphis NBA team is named the Grizzlies because they moved from Vancouver. But why did the Vancouver team have that name?
The Central High jazz band did it. They defeated bands from across the country — and around the world — to win the Essentially Ellington contest in New York. And, yes, there were many tears.
“John Calipari is game to return to Memphis this fall to play an exhibition game to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital? That sounds like an fine idea. It’s just time.” Calipari’s Razorbacks working to schedule exhibition game in MemphisRelated content:
Ollie Liddell, the director of bands at Central High, wasn’t sure how his jazz band would get to the Essentially Ellington contest at Lincoln Center. Then Memphians came through for him.
The Central High jazz band continued to blaze through New York, advancing to the finals of the Essentially Ellington contest. Said Ollie Liddell, the band’s director: “We play with the spirt of the city, man.”