2008: The University of Memphis Tigers play Kansas at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, for the NCAA men’s basketball championship. The Tigers, led by coach John Calipari and Derrick Rose in his one and only year of college basketball, lose 75-68 in overtime. It marks the first time the Tigers have played in the NCAA championship since the 1973 finals won by UCLA, and it is Calipari’s first time back at the championship since his University of Massachusetts team won in 1996.
The NCAA stripped UMass of that title after star player Marcus Camby admitted he took money and other gifts from an agent during the season. The Tigers’ entire 2008 season was vacated by the NCAA after its investigation concluded Rose had someone else take his SAT to attend the University of Memphis. By then, Calipari had left Memphis to become Kentucky’s head basketball coach.

2. Tennessee Titans Have Rarely Found Success With Drafted SEC Players - Friday, April 7, 2017

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, which raises an interesting question: Is this the year the Titans finally shop locally and target Southeastern Conference talent?

If history is any indicator, the answer: No.

3. Last Word: A Rainbow's Tale, The Two Holiday Peaks and Crosstown High Plans - Tuesday, January 3, 2017

I saw it all so clearly on a very cloudy and very rainy Monday in the city. A strong rainbow with bold colors across town from the setting sun on the river. Not some play rainbow that you create with a garden hose or some alleged double rainbow that depends on where you stand. As we were fond of saying in these parts in the 1980s and the 1990s – this was a “world class” rainbow.

4. Gangster Disciples Case Alleges Attempted Murder, Threats - Wednesday, May 11, 2016

When reputed members of street gangs are indicted on federal charges, the indictments are usually brief and technical.

They will allege that the accused had a firearm and was a felon and thus could not legally carry a gun. Or they will allege the defendant was dealing an amount of drugs that exceeds the threshold for federal charges.

5. The Week Ahead: April 4-10 - Monday, April 4, 2016

Let’s get this week started, Memphis! Here’s our roundup of local happenings you need to know about in the coming days, from an observance of the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to your first chance to visit Mud Island River Park this season.

6. Rotten to the Core: Titans Fail to Develop Talent - Saturday, December 19, 2015

As the Tennessee Titans sink toward the end of another lackluster season, they head into the off-season with still more holes to fill for 2016.

Some of that, of course, is inevitable with any team as an NFL roster. Even on the best teams can have a 20 percent roster turnover in the off-season due to injuries, free agency and new draft picks coming on board.

7. Out of Bounds - Monday, November 16, 2009

The August report from the NCAA calls him “student-athlete 1.” Everyone but the NCAA and the University of Memphis calls him Derrick Rose.