INSPIRING WORDS FOR OUR NEW TEAM. “Sometimes they write what I say, not what I mean.” – former Cardinal, Dodger and major league MVP Pedro Guerrero, who obviously could have been president.

2. Lilly King Performs Like an American Hero; A-Rod More Like a Russian Drug Cheat - Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The NFL would not like Lilly King. Major League Baseball also would be uncomfortable with the U.S. Olympic gold-medal-winning swimmer.

King, 19, not only defeated Russia’s Yulia Efimova in the 100-meter breaststroke in Rio, she took on doping – Efimova was banned twice and reinstated just before the Olympic Games – and then noted after her victory that she won “clean.”

3. Life’s Unfair to the SEC. Right, Nick? - Friday, May 29, 2015

There’s a lot of injustice in sports these days.

From the FIFA scandal to serial PEDs cheat Alex Rodriguez passing Ruth and Gehrig on the all-time RBI list, from whatever the New England Patriots do with air pressure in footballs to what the Golden State Warriors do to opponents when launching basketballs from behind the 3-point line.

4. The Joy of Tony Allen; Inflategate Worse Than Deflategate - Friday, May 8, 2015

Wading in with a few quick takes …

If I had the money and the inclination to open up a bar on Beale Street, the name is set: One-Eyed Charlie.

Mike Conley’s masked-man performance in Game 2 as the Grizzlies defeated Golden State to even their Western Conference playoff series at 1-1 now stands atop the list of true grit-n-grind moments. And for the record, playing point guard with a broken face > than pitching with a bloody sock.

5. Pastner Rumors Part of 2014-15 Season Narrative - Friday, January 9, 2015

Wading in with some quick takes on everything from Josh Pastner to Jameis Winston to Baseball Hall of Fame voting …

An acquaintance approached me this week to say that, while he couldn’t vouch for the validity of the story, someone close to him had heard from someone else close to the University of Memphis administration that a “big booster” had delivered the message that “something needs to be done about Josh Pastner.”

6. Espitia Joins Michael Hatcher as Chief Financial Officer - Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Ed Espitia has joined Michael Hatcher & Associates Inc. as chief financial officer. Espitia comes to the Memphis-based landscape services firm after serving since 2010 as finance manager for Schulz Xtruded Products, a Germany-based pipe maker with operations in North Mississippi.

7. Baseball Can’t Shake PED Drama - Friday, July 26, 2013

You know that baseball is nowhere close to solving its PED problem when on the same day the Ryan Braun 65-game suspension story breaks, one Manny Ramirez is playing at AutoZone Park for the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A team.

8. Despite Stats, Some Aren’t Worthy of Cooperstown - Friday, December 28, 2012

The rules state that you have to be a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) for 10 years before you are granted the privilege of voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I could hardly wait.

9. Athletes as Frauds: The Fall From Grace - Friday, October 19, 2012

A cycling wreck leaves scars, layers of flesh skinned by rough pavement, a broken bone or two, maybe a concussion.

So maybe that explains why Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace seems so much farther – and the landing so much harder – than the decline and fall of the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez.