Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt loosened up a bit as the Vols went through spring practices last week, talking at length about individual players for the first time.

Big deal? Yeah, probably for media and fans starved for information about Pruitt’s first team of Vols.

2. Football Can’t Arrive Soon Enough for Vols Fans - Friday, March 30, 2018

Thank goodness Tennessee spring football is here. Vol Nation needs a diversion with all that’s happened the past couple of weeks, like the men’s basketball team losing to Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament’s second round, and Loyola advancing to the Final Four.

3. Memphis, By Design - Thursday, January 25, 2018

For local fashion designer Xavier Winston, getting out of Binghampton was always his motivation growing up, but today he proudly represents the community as a successful entrepreneur and evidence of what you can accomplish with dedication and hard work.

4. Pay for No Play: Paying Millions to Former Coaches - Friday, December 8, 2017

Tennessee’s bungled search for a football coach will come at a cost for the university. A big cost.

There are buyouts everywhere. A potential lawsuit looms. And a rift between boosters caused by the botched search may be the costliest item of all for the university long term.

5. UT Motivation? Bowl Game, Saving Jones’ Job - Friday, October 27, 2017

Butch Jones will be Tennessee’s football coach Saturday night against Kentucky in Lexington.

It could be his last as the Vols’ coach.

Jones is on a sizzling hot seat after the Vols (3-4, 0-4 SEC) were dominated by No. 1-ranked Alabama 45-7 last Saturday. Speculation is rampant Jones will be fired or already is on his way out.

6. UT QBs, Receivers, Coaches Struggling So Far - Friday, October 6, 2017

Tennessee’s football players are on fall break this weekend during the open date. You’ve got to wonder how many players fifth-year UT coach Butch Jones will get back after the break.

Fallout from last Saturday’s 41-0 loss to No. 5 Georgia is massive. Fans were leaving Neyland Stadium by halftime with the Vols trailing 24-0. Jones took a beating from fans on social media and sports talk radio all week.

7. All Eyes on Shoop’s Defense Against Gators - Friday, September 15, 2017

Butch Jones will coach one of the biggest games of his Tennessee career against Florida on Saturday.

It’s an even bigger game for UT defensive coordinator Bob Shoop.

Shoop was hired Jan. 9, 2016, from Penn State to fortify Tennessee’s defense, arriving with much hoopla and great expectations. So far, he has not delivered like he did at Penn State (2014-15) and Vanderbilt (2011-13).

8. Breather for Vols Before Traveling to Florida - Friday, September 8, 2017

Get ready for another thrill ride, Tennessee fans. Your football team is at it again, just like last year.

Tennessee needed a comeback and overtime to beat Appalachian State in its 2016 season opener. The Vols needed comebacks to beat Virginia Tech and Florida and got a Hail Mary touchdown pass as time ran out to beat Georgia.

9. Freshman Impact: Vols’ Best Rookie RBs - Friday, August 18, 2017

Butch Jones let us in on a little secret recently when he said his freshman running backs will play for Tennessee this season.

That’s plural – running backs.

Jones’ plan is to use all three freshman backs – Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and Trey Coleman – in some sort of rotation behind junior John Kelly. Given the nature of the game, putting the football in the hands of freshmen is risky business. But Jones is taking the plunge.

10. Wolf, Offense Look To Prove Predictions Wrong - Friday, August 18, 2017

It’s championship or bust for Tennessee senior tight end Ethan Wolf.

Bowl victories are nice. So are nine-win seasons. But Wolf wants a lot more in his final season with the Vols.

“Our goal here at Tennessee every single year is to win a championship, and that’s going to remain the goal,” Wolf says. “Yeah, there may have been a little bit of excitement the first year, maybe the second year winning the bowl game. It’s always exciting, but that’s the bare minimum right now.”

11. Wide Receiver U? That’s So 20 Years Ago - Friday, May 26, 2017

At the 2015 SEC Media Days, Tennessee coach Butch Jones referred to his school as “the original Wide Receiver U.”

The reference goes back to the days when the Vols were loaded with fast, talented pass receivers on the perimeter. In a heady stretch from 1982-91, UT had six wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft – Anthony Hancock, Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, Anthony Miller and Alvin Harper.

12. Dream a Baseball Dream - Saturday, May 20, 2017

Memphis is Hoops City, a hotbed of premier basketball talent. That’s why University of Memphis basketball coach Tubby Smith is under pressure. The best of those hometown players on his team, Dedric Lawson, has transferred to the University of Kansas and everyone’s worried Smith won’t get the elite local talent going forward.

13. Vols Need a Good Spring With So Many No. 1 Players Gone - Friday, March 17, 2017

Butch Jones is about to embark on his most crucial of five seasons as Tennessee’s football coach, and it begins with spring practices starting Tuesday, March 21.

Jones is coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons capped by bowl wins, but has fallen short of the SEC East Division title both years. He was the preseason favorite to win the East in 2016, and the previous year had a team with potential to win the division.

14. You Gotta Have Heart: UT’s 2017 Recruiting Class - Friday, February 10, 2017

Butch Jones did it again. The Tennessee football coach gave opponents press conference fodder with another one-liner while putting his spin on the Vols’ 2017 signing class.

It happened a day after the Feb. 1 National Signing Day when UT’s class was rated No. 17 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings.

15. Editorial: Sports Remains Part Of Memphis’ Pulse - Saturday, January 21, 2017

When we talk about the culture of Memphis, you probably think music first, then maybe food. Perhaps church.

But is that really the sum total of the city’s pulse, or are the big three the expression of a cultural mix that is more diverse and more complex?

16. IRS Chief Tells House Panel He Does Not Deserve Impeachment - Thursday, September 22, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – IRS Commissioner John Koskinen expressed regret to Congress on Wednesday for his agency's past mistreatment of tea party groups, but said he has cooperated with congressional investigators and does not deserve to be impeached.

17. Grizzlies Have No Answers for Machine That Is The Spurs - Tuesday, March 29, 2016

To find 31 point and 13 rebounds in the Grizzlies’ locker room, you would have had to gather two or three players together. But in the locker room of the San Antonio Spurs, all those points and rebounds were in one place, in the person of forward LaMarcus Aldridge after the Spurs had defeated the Grizzlies 101-87 on Monday, March 28 at FedExForum.

18. Almost Gone: Kobe, Carter and an Era - Monday, December 28, 2015

There were moments. For the great ones, for the future Hall-of-Famers, there are always moments.

So yes, Kobe Bryant can still occasionally cross somebody over and run toward the rim. Sunday night at FedExForum, he even did it to Tony Allen.

19. Gasol Back in Fold, Grizzlies Still In Thick of Tough Western Conference - Friday, July 10, 2015

There were a few mildly uneasy days between the arrival of Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera in Spain and the news that, yes, All-Star center Marc Gasol would indeed re-sign with the team. And not just for a short-term deal, but a five-year max contract (about $113 million) with a player option after the fourth year.

20. Apple Wants a Lead Role in Streaming Music - Tuesday, June 9, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Apple's iTunes helped change the way music-lovers bought their favorite songs, replacing plastic discs with digital downloads. Now the maker of iPods and iPhones wants to carve out a leading role in a revolution well under way, with a new, paid streaming-music service set to launch this summer.

21. Sports Betting 'Socially Acceptable' on Super Bowl Sunday - Friday, January 30, 2015

The statement seems self-evident. Whether you just fill out an NCAA Tournament bracket in the office pool every year, make a bet on the Super Bowl, or buy the occasional scratch-off lottery ticket.

22. Grizzlies Part of Crowded Western Conference Race - Monday, October 27, 2014

Calling it the Wild West just doesn't do it justice anymore.

The NBA's Western Conference is brutal. It's loaded with talent. And the eight teams that make it through a gruelingly competitive regular season to reach the playoffs will only find slugging their way to the NBA Finals even more daunting.

23. Is This the Year the Vols Stomp the Chomp? - Saturday, October 4, 2014

KNOXVILLE – Much has happened since Tennessee placekicker James Wilhoit booted a 50-yarder with seven seconds remaining and the No. 13-ranked Vols beat No. 11 Florida 30-28 at Neyland Stadium.

24. ‘Pop’ at Top of His Game One More Time - Friday, June 20, 2014

Numbers rarely lie, and in Gregg Popovich’s case they finally piled up in a way too compelling to ignore.

Five NBA titles spread over 15 years is a dynasty, even – maybe especially – in this era of short attention spans. It’s long past time Popovich got the credit he deserves.

25. Finals Presents Intriguing Question About Coaching - Friday, June 6, 2014

So if the Miami Heat win a third straight NBA championship, it’s all about LeBron James and a cast of future Hall-of-Famers that includes Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen and, in a lot of people’s view, Chris Bosh.

26. McBroom Joins Indie Memphis as Director of Operations - Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Mandy McBroom has been named director of operations for Indie Memphis, the first full-time staff member to hold the position. In her new role, she will oversee festival operations, shorts programming, volunteer opportunities and membership growth.

27. Hoover Joins Agape As Director of Development - Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Brian Hoover has joined Agape Child & Family Services as director of development. In his new role, Hoover will be responsible for leading Agape’s development efforts, such as fundraising and special events. He will also oversee the organization’s marketing, public relations and volunteer initiatives.

28. Plan Would Lift Wages of Home Care Workers - Friday, December 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Workers in the home health care industry – one of the country's fastest growing professions – would be guaranteed minimum wage and overtime protections under new rules proposed Thursday by the Obama administration.

29. Cash-Strapped Cities, Schools Say: 'Your Ad Here' - Wednesday, November 23, 2011

CHICAGO (AP) – Seven vinyl banners draped this month along one of Chicago's most iconic bridges, advertisements some have dubbed "a visual crime" and "commercial graffiti," are reviving a debate about how governments raise money in tough economic times.

30. Waiting For The Tip - Monday, October 31, 2011

Great seasons end.

Great cities endure.

That’s not just one of the Memphis Grizzlies’ new marketing slogans. Capitalizing on last season’s success and building an enduring franchise are aspirations for the organization as it copes with the reality of the NBA lockout and the ongoing dry spell of professional hometown hoops.

31. Crye-Leike Inks Car Dealership, Industrial Deals - Friday, October 14, 2011

Bill Caller with Crye-Leike Commercial has brokered a pair of sales in recent weeks that enable the new users to occupy second-generation space.

Nihal Khwaja with Best Deal Motors purchased the 2-acre former car lot at 5648 Summer Ave. for $150,000.

32. Cable Service Provider Signs New Lease - Friday, June 3, 2011

A Madison, Tenn.-based cable service provider is taking advantage of lower rates in a competitive leasing environment.

FTS USA has signed a 4,002-square-foot lease in East Pointe Business Center, 3915 S. Mendenhall Road.

33. House to Reject Debt Limit Increase Without Cuts - Wednesday, June 1, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans lined up to reject their own proposed $2.4 trillion increase in the nation's debt limit Tuesday, a political gambit designed to reinforce a demand for spending cuts to accompany any increase in government borrowing.

34. Banks Find Time Right to Repay TARP - Monday, February 1, 2010

President Barack Obama made an effort to show his disdain for the taxpayer-funded bank bailout during his State of the Union address Wednesday night, likening its popularity to that of a root canal.

35. Buena Vista Apartments in Frayser Foreclosed, Sold to Atlanta Company - Monday, January 18, 2010

3431 N. Trezevant St.
Memphis, TN 38127
Sale Amount: $1.3 Million

Sale Date: Jan. 12, 2010
Buyer: Tritex Real Estate Advisors Inc.
Seller: Emily Bowman, successor trustee

36. Ex-NBA Player Gets $1.5M in RMK Fund Dispute - Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A retired professional basketball player has won what may be the largest award yet from a financial industry panel hearing claims involving a group of former Regions Morgan Keegan mutual funds.

Four-time NBA champion Horace Grant has won almost $1.5 million in an arbitration claim he filed over his losses in the RMK funds.

In his statement of claim, Grant said he suffered losses of almost $1.5 million in some of Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc.’s “highly speculative proprietary funds, which were not in (his) best interest.” A Morgan Keegan spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Grant, who retired in 2004, played as a power forward for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s alongside star players Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers when he retired.

Grant’s attorney, Chicago securities lawyer Andrew Stoltmann, said Grant had wanted a stable place to park his money so it would provide a steady income for his retirement years. His statement of claim says Grant was familiar with Regions Bank and “trusted the Morgan Keegan name.”

Memphis-based Morgan Keegan is a subsidiary of Alabama-based Regions Financial Corp.

Offense and defense

New York-based Hyperion Brookfield Asset Management last summer took over the troubled RMK funds, several of which lost the majority of their value in a staggering fall beginning in 2007.

“What (Grant) got was a derivative-laced, hedge-fund-like investment that lost 90 percent of its value,” Stoltmann said. “He’s a guy who retired from the NBA and wanted conservative, stable investments so he could live off of that money.”

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) panel made the decision in Grant’s case. Generally, the FINRA panels don’t explain their decisions.

FINRA panels have announced several big dollar RMK-related awards this year, with some of them going to prominent investors.

Memphis native and baseball broadcaster Tim McCarver was awarded $100,000 in compensatory damages in February stemming from his RMK losses.?A former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs, Memphis native Jerome Woods, won $950,000 this year after filing an arbitration claim over his RMK losses.

Referring to a FINRA panel’s decision about Woods’ claim, Morgan Keegan spokeswoman Kathy Ridley said in April: “Overall results support our belief that there were no improprieties in the management of these funds. We plan to continue a vigorous defense of all claims.”

37. Former Employees Sue Cargill For $3M in Damages - Wednesday, February 13, 2008

A group of former and current Cargill Inc. employees has filed a $3 million federal lawsuit against the Minneapolis, Minn.-based company claiming they've been subjected to a hazardous work environment, racial discrimination and retaliation.

38. Archived Article: Attorney Graph - Tuesday, February 16, 1999
Attorney Attorney Judgments Amount ------------------------------------------------ ----------- -------------------------- Gordon & Feldbaum 226 $220,174.79 Baer Baer & Baer 220 $348,622.30 Mccullough Law Firm ...