NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Major League Soccer is expanding its presence in the southeast, awarding Nashville the first of its newest expansion franchises as MLS' 24th team .

Commissioner Don Garber made the announcement Wednesday at a news conference with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and John R. Ingram, head of the group that will own the team.

2. AP Source: MLS Plans to Announce Nashville Team - Wednesday, December 20, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Soccer plans to announce Wednesday that Nashville will be awarded an expansion team, a person with direct knowledge told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because a public announcement was not authorized.

3. Nashville City Council Approves Financing for MLS Stadium - Thursday, November 9, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Nashville's bid to land an expansion franchise from Major League Soccer now has $275 million in financing approved to build a new stadium, giving Music City a major boost weeks before a final decision from the league.

4. Nashville Mayor Presents Stadium Financing Proposal for MLS Bid - Wednesday, October 4, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Mayor Megan Barry has proposed a $250 million stadium deal as the final piece in Nashville's bid for a Major League Soccer expansion team.

5. Believe It: 61 and 755 Are Real Home Run Records - Friday, August 18, 2017

A few weeks ago I was at the Atlanta Braves’ new home, SunTrust Park. Predictably, the Braves were not up to the task of competing with baseball’s best team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But give the Braves credit for the in-stadium exhibits on the concourse honoring their greatest players. Especially the one dedicated to the true all-time home run king, Hank Aaron.

6. Nashville Joins Cities Seeking Major League Soccer Team - Wednesday, August 10, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Some Nashville investors and supporters are making a push for Music City to be among the communities awarded expansion franchises by Major League Soccer.

Bill Hagerty, a former state commissioner of economic and community development, and Will Alexander, the son of U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, are spearheading the effort called the Nashville MLS Organizing Committee. It includes a bipartisan group of former politicians and leaders of Nashville-area companies.

7. 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.”

8. MLB Commissioner Needs More Faith in His Game - Friday, July 29, 2016

Steph Curry, you’re too good. So as decreed by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, you are now limited to seven 3-point attempts per game and no more than two in the fourth quarter.

9. Italian Banks in Focus at Eurozone Finance Discussions - Tuesday, July 12, 2016

BRUSSELS (AP) — Italy's partners in the 19-country eurozone insisted Monday that new rules governing the rescue of imperiled banks will not be relaxed, especially at a time when Europe is dealing with the fallout of Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

10. A Swing – and a Miss – is More Common in Baseball All the Time - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

It’s obvious when there are a lot children at AutoZone Park. Even the most harmless infield popup prompts a collective shriek and the hope of a home run.

The long ball may not be what it was at the peak of baseball’s steroid era when Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were cartoon characters, but the game has not turned away from the notion of driving the ball.

11. Stubby and Bo Know First Big-League Hit Is Forever - Friday, January 15, 2016

They will always remember the first one because in baseball, there is no charity.

June 22, 2001, the St. Louis Cardinals are losing 10-5 to the San Francisco Giants when Stubby Clapp, back-flipping hero to Memphis Redbirds fans, leads off the bottom of the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter.

12. Mediocre Grizz, McGwire Gets It, NCAA Madness - Friday, January 8, 2016

Wednesday night, Jan. 6, Grizzlies at Oklahoma City on ESPN. It was, well, must-grimace TV.

With Mike Conley in street clothes because of a sore left Achilles, hopes were not particularly high from tip-off. But the Thunder closed the first quarter on an 11-1 run and the Grizzlies never mustered a threat, losing 112-94.

13. Redemption Unreachable as Pete Rose Keeps Screwing Up - Friday, December 18, 2015

In the TV commercial, banished Hit King Pete Rose is walking down a hallway lined with trophies and baseball memorabilia. His stated purpose: to promote Skechers Relaxed Fit shoes.

Anything for a buck, right, Charlie Hustle?

14. One for the Quipper - Thursday, October 8, 2015

For the guy who said, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” … it’s over. Yogi Berra – catcher, coach, manager and quip-coining character extraordinaire – died Sept. 22 of natural causes. He was 90 years old.

15. Hey Grizz Fans: Check Out Those Royals, Twins! - Friday, June 5, 2015

Is it now easier for an MLB team, regardless of market size, to seriously compete for a championship than for an NBA team from a similar type market (read: Memphis)?

Short answer: Yes.

As these NBA Finals get underway, with LeBron James and reigning MVP Steph Curry as the headliners, there is an accepted truth – be it in a flyover hamlet or a bigger city on one of the coasts – that no team can truly compete for a title without a superstar.

16. 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.

17. 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.”

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. Recession Hits Transit Budgets Despite Rising Need - Wednesday, July 6, 2011

BOSTON (AP) – Cash-strapped and debt-ridden, public transit systems across the nation are trimming service, raising fares and postponing badly needed upgrades just to maintain daily operations, even as rising gas prices increase demand and experts call modernization critical to cities' futures.

22. 12 Glankler Brown Attorneys Included in SuperLawyers - Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Twelve attorneys from Glankler Brown PLLC have been selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Mid-South SuperLawyers.

23. Barnes Elected Chairman of FedEx/St. Jude Classic - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Reggie Barnes was elected general chairman of the FedEx St. Jude Classic and president of Youth Programs Inc., the governing body of the PGA Tour event. Barnes previously served as treasurer of Youth Programs. He also is the former chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority and the team selection committee for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Barnes is managing director of Morgan Keegan & Co. and also works with Athletic Resource Management.

24. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, April 24, 2003
Alaska sues investment firms over WorldCom losses

Alaska sues investment firms over WorldCom losses

The state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against several major financial institutions to recover money lost in bonds issued by bankrupt WorldCom...