What’s not to like about a trip to Hawaii? If you’re the Navy Midshipmen, a lot. Despite going to Hawaii early to make the adjustment to the time change, Navy spotted the home team a 28-0 lead before losing 59-41 last weekend.

2. Slot Payoff? Anthony Miller Could Be Just That For Chicago - Thursday, August 16, 2018

Pretty much everyone seems to believe the Chicago Bears got a steal when they selected University of Memphis wideout Anthony Miller No. 51 overall in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

But Miller has been so impressive in training camp working out of the slot (and yes, that makes him attractive in PPR fantasy football leagues) that the Chicago Tribune speculated on the numbers he might put up in his rookie season.

3. Restaurant Plans Submitted For Old Windjammer Space - Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Plans have been filed for a new restaurant building to rise on the now-empty, East Memphis lot where the old Windjammer Restaurant stood for decades.

Building documents were submitted to the Construction Code Enforcement office as part of construction-permit application for 786 E. Brookhaven Circle.

4. Restaurant Iris Reopens; Permit Pulled for Former Windjammer Space - Friday, August 10, 2018

After a nearly three-month renovation, Restaurant Iris will re-open Aug. 22 with a new menu, a new interior, and a chef/owner entering a new chapter in his life.

“It’s my 40th birthday,” Kelly English said. “That’s a great time for a rebirth, right? Or maybe it could just be my midlife crisis.”

5. Grizzlies’ Front Office Makes Calculated Moves to Give Team Real Shot at Relevance - Friday, July 20, 2018

We will not be granting general manager Chris Wallace and the rest of the Grizzlies’ front office absolution. Can’t do it. Too many bad draft picks over the years, the bungled Tyreke Evans situation, and the failure to sufficiently vet Chandler Parsons’ health, make that impossible.

6. Redbirds’ Third Baseman Finds New Success By Staying In The Moment - Friday, July 13, 2018

He’s not a kid anymore. And that’s not being negative, that’s just an undeniable truth when you’re a 26-year-old baseball player in your third season in Triple-A.

But Patrick Wisdom also isn’t the same player he once was. Every hitter talks about taking the game one at-bat at a time. And every player struggles to do it.

7. Expansion Golden Knights Shine a Light on Hope - Friday, May 25, 2018

Las Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley had a plan. It was an ambitious plan, but not a crazy plan. His expansion NHL team would strive to make the playoffs in three years and capture the Stanley Cup in six.

8. Legal Sports Betting a Gamble for All - Friday, May 18, 2018

The most impactful sports score of the week was this one: a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the federal law prohibiting sports gambling everywhere but in Nevada.

Going forward, the states can decide if they want to enter the legal sports betting marketplace. Mississippi is one of the few that appears to be in position to make the move sooner rather than later. Allen Godfrey, Mississippi Gaming Commission director, has said sports betting could be in the state’s casinos before the start of football season.

9. Grizzlies’ Poor Draft History In Focus With Lottery Pick - Friday, May 11, 2018

When the NBA Draft Lottery is held on Tuesday, May 15, in Chicago, Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley will be watching on TV. The lottery show will air at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN, should you be inclined to join Conley and root along.

10. Bickerstaff the Grizzlies’ Best Option for Coach - Friday, April 20, 2018

Would keeping interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff be the easiest play for the Memphis Grizzlies? Absolutely.

Would keeping the 39-year-old assistant who was promoted after David Fizdale was fired amid a losing streak and conflict with star center Marc Gasol be the best budget move for the Grizzlies? Probably.

11. Under Hardaway, Memphis Again Can Have Hometown Heroes - Friday, April 6, 2018

Headline from the future: “Alex Lomax Leads Memphis Tigers into the Sweet 16.”

A certainty? Of course not. But it’s a possibility because Lomax has committed to Penny Hardaway and the University of Memphis. You know, as opposed to staying with his earlier choice of Gregg Marshall and Wichita State.

12. U of M Going for the Gold with Penny Hardaway - Friday, March 16, 2018

Finally, it was official. The University of Memphis had fired Tubby Smith. His presumptive successor, Penny Hardaway, was coaching his East High School team at the state tournament in Murfreesboro, blowing through a previously undefeated opponent in the quarterfinals.

13. Slip Sliding Away … Tubby’s Tigers And Season On Downward Plane - Friday, February 9, 2018

After his Tigers had suffered the ignominy of losing a college basketball game to East Carolina, Tubby Smith questioned his players’ sanity.

“We probably need some psychological help,” Smith had said after the 88-85 overtime loss at ECU on Saturday, Feb. 3. “Really, I’m serious. There’s some strange things.”

14. Two New Distribution Facilities, Southaven ‘Town Square’ In the Works - Monday, January 8, 2018

2481 Appling Road, Memphis, TN 38133: Salt Lake City, Utah-based aftermarket auto body parts distributer Certifit Inc. is planning to construct a 604,800-square-foot distribution facility at the southwest corner of Appling and Reese roads.

15. 228-Acre Development Planned For Southaven - Friday, January 5, 2018

The Southaven Board of Aldermen has approved developer Brian Hill’s ambitious plan for a 228-acre mixed-use development called Silo Square in the heart of DeSoto County.

16. Developer Planning 228-Acre Town Square in Southaven - Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Southaven Board of Aldermen has approved developer Brian Hill’s ambitious plan for a 228-acre mixed-use development called Silo Square in the heart of DeSoto County.

Hill’s company, Lifestyle Communities LLC, submitted the request to rezone the acreage on the west side of Getwell Road between Goodman and Nail roads from agricultural to mixed use at the board’s Tuesday, Jan. 2, meeting.

17. The Week Ahead: Dec. 4-10 - Monday, December 4, 2017

Good morning, Memphis! The holidays are in full swing, and several events this week aim to help you make a dent in your shopping list while also supporting local artisans and small businesses. Check out the details on those, plus our entertainment picks and more you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

18. For AAC Football Teams And Coaches Glass Ceiling is Real - Friday, December 1, 2017

Recently, UCF coach Scott Frost was talking about what a great job he has, and why he came to Central Florida in the first place. High on the list was all the talent in the state of Florida. And Orlando, he said, is a great place to live.

19. Anthony Miller: A Great Catch for Memphis - Friday, November 3, 2017

Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo watched Anthony Miller catch 10 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns this year.

20. Grizz Pay for Parsons And Fans Pay for Right to Boo Him - Friday, October 20, 2017

What is your definition of “tasteless?” Is it Grizzlies fans booing $94 million man Chandler Parsons on opening night, frustrated when he wouldn’t shoot open jumpers and when he could only make 1-of-5 free throws? All, by the way, when they were wildly cheering and giving standing ovations to former Grizzly and still adored Grindfather Tony Allen, the guy the organization let walk and sign for the veteran’s minimum with New Orleans?

21. Raising The Ceiling - Saturday, September 2, 2017

Here’s the thing about expectations: You either embrace them, turning them into some divine combination of daily bread and rocket fuel, or they crush you.

There is no middle ground. Not when the statistical mid-point – a .500 season – would be an undisputed failure.

22. Will Grizzlies Have A Leg to Stand On? - Friday, September 1, 2017

David Fizdale was eloquent as he again stated the city of Memphis should remove its Confederate statues. Chris Wallace appeared to have lost weight, an executive expression that this team will be ready for training camp in a few weeks.

23. A Season for Rethinking Options Makes Sense at This Point - Tuesday, August 22, 2017

After another first-round playoff exit this spring, a very direct question was put to All-Star center Marc Gasol:

Was he still dedicated to the Grizzlies, to seeing this franchise become the best it can be?

24. 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.

25. Grizz Front Office Has Tough Decisions to Make - Friday, June 30, 2017

To be an NBA general manager on the eve of free agency is to be asked a lot of questions you really can’t answer.

Better the media should ask you to weigh in on Trump and Russia. Or Serena and McEnroe. Those answers – whatever they were – would be safer.

26. For Grizzlies, a New Chapter About to Begin - Friday, June 16, 2017

The June 22nd NBA Draft will tip off without the Memphis Grizzlies. At least that’s the case almost one week out. The Grizzlies have no picks.

What they do have, in abundance, are free agents.

27. Memphis Hustle Just the Job for Glynn Cyprien - Friday, June 9, 2017

We can debate whether the Memphis Hustle is a good name or a bad name for the Grizzlies’ minor-league affiliate that will play in Southaven this season.

Not up for debate is that Memphis Hustle is a really good description of the job that belongs to Glynn Cyprien, the team’s head coach.

28. Tiger Football Team’s Offense Already Getting Rave Reviews - Friday, May 26, 2017

Could the University of Memphis really have the second most potent offense in college football next season? David Kenyon, a writer for bleacherreport.com, believes it’s possible. He just put out his predictions for the Top 25 offenses in 2017 and only the Oklahoma Sooners finished ahead of the Tigers.

29. Real Game Changer? MAM’s Randy Odom - Friday, May 12, 2017

Randy Odom’s story starts with a youth basketball coach back in Big Spring, Texas. An otherwise anonymous guy named James Collinsworth, who became everything to a boy trying to find his way.

Odom’s mother had died of cancer. His father worked a lot – “I was one of those latchkey kids,” he said – and bad choices were at his fingertips.

30. As Memphis Tiger Fans Fret, Can Tubby Smith Fix This Mess? - Friday, April 7, 2017

A few weeks ago, Tubby Smith stood in front of assembled media and admitted that the University of Memphis basketball job was a bit more than he had calculated.

“You’ve got a flavor here of expectations,” he said, the surprise evident in his voice and on his face.

31. Memphis a ‘Football School’ In Fuente-Norvell Era - Friday, March 17, 2017

The first time Darrell Dickey was an assistant coach at the University of Memphis, way back in 1986, current head coach Mike Norvell was 5 years old.

So it is not an exaggeration to say that it has taken a lifetime for Tiger football to get where it is today. 

32. 2 Memphis Football Players Invited to NFL Combine - Saturday, February 18, 2017

The University of Memphis has a pair of players invited to participate in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis as the full list of 330 invitees was announced this week. Kicker Jake Elliott and defensive back Arthur Maulet will participate in the process in front of NFL scouts from Feb. 28 to March 6.

33. 2 Memphis Football Players Invited to NFL Combine - Thursday, February 16, 2017

The University of Memphis has a pair of players invited to participate in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis as the full list of 330 invitees was announced this week. Kicker Jake Elliott and defensive back Arthur Maulet will participate in the process in front of NFL scouts from Feb. 28 to March 6.

34. Back-to-Back Dak? Dobbs Shines at Senior Bowl - Friday, February 3, 2017

To say Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs might be the next Dak Prescott is a stretch. Or is it? Prescott, the former Mississippi State quarterback, caught the eye of the Dallas Cowboys with his MVP performance in the 2016 Senior Bowl. The Cowboys chose Prescott in the fourth round (No. 135 overall pick) of the 2016 NFL Draft, and it proved a fruitful pick.

35. The Press Box: For Redbirds and Grizzlies, It’s Not Just Wins and Losses - Friday, January 27, 2017

Hang onto the past, the good parts – whatever stirs happy echoes for your fan base – but simultaneously press onward into the future. That’s what professional sports teams always need to do.

36. Distracted To Death - Saturday, November 26, 2016

When the Tennessee Highway Patrol began using a tractor-trailer on the interstate to catch people texting while driving, the troopers knew their view from above would help their cause. From that higher vantage point, they could see drivers holding their phones in their laps and typing.

37. Broke and Broken: Democrats Lose More Ground in State Legislature - Thursday, November 17, 2016

Tennessee House Democrats will have to start calling themselves the “Fighting 25,” down from the “Fighting 26,” after dropping a district in the battle to regain relevance statewide.

38. Cubs’ World Series Victory The Start of a New Narrative - Friday, November 4, 2016

You can buy into the goat, into the black cat that walked in front of Ron Santo in 1969, into infamous Steve Bartman and, well, into the whole notion that the Cubs were cursed for 108 years, if you wish. 

39. More Black Students, and Memphis Students, Suspended in Tennessee Schools - Monday, October 31, 2016

Half of suspensions across Tennessee in the 2014-15 school year were handed out in just 8 percent of schools, many of which serve black students in Memphis.

Statewide, 20 percent of black male students were suspended at least once that year. Black students were also more than five times as likely as white students to be suspended.

40. For the First Time This Season, Vols Set to Play as Underdog - Friday, October 7, 2016

You almost can feel Tennessee is a football team of destiny as the most difficult games of the schedule loom Saturday at Texas A&M and Oct. 15 against Alabama at Neyland Stadium.

There aren’t many successful Hail Mary passes, but the Vols got one last Saturday and beat Georgia 34-31 in Athens. Tennessee trailed Georgia 17-0 in the first half.

41. What’s Worse Than Dating A Gator? Another Loss - Friday, September 23, 2016

If you’re a Tennessee fan hurting from the 11-game losing streak against Florida, put yourself in Corey Vereen’s shoes.

UT’s senior defensive end is from Winter Garden, Florida, and he’s 0-for-3 against his buddies back home. That’s not the worst part for Vereen.

42. Will We One Day Look at Lions Win as Turning Point? - Friday, September 23, 2016

Was Sunday’s stunning victory in Detroit the start of a turning point for the Tennessee Titans?

For a team that has just six wins since 2013, erasing a 12-point deficit on the road was certainly a sign of hope for a franchise that has experienced virtually nothing but despair for several years now.

43. Basketball Aside, Fizdale Belongs in Memphis - Friday, September 16, 2016

When he was growing up in South Central Los Angeles, a young David Fizdale couldn’t imagine that he would one day be in Memphis or an NBA head coach.

Sure, he played basketball. He had his dreams. But the real challenge was day-to-day survival. He saw friends shot and killed in the street. He once dove under a car to avoid stray gunfire.

44. High-Scoring Ohio Good Warmup for Florida Game - Friday, September 16, 2016

Tennessee football returns to normalcy this week, if you call a noon EDT kickoff normal.

The Vols survived a Thursday night scare in the season opener against Appalachian State in Neyland Stadium. Then they roared from behind last Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway and beat Virginia Tech 45-24 in the Pilot Flying J. Battle at Bristol before a college football record crowd of 156,990.

45. Good Cops Greater Than All Quarterbacks - Friday, September 9, 2016

I have read and listened to quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s reasons for protesting the American flag and the National Anthem.

He is not without some valid points – at least when looking through his chosen lens – and I give him much credit for voicing his concerns and for his recent pledge to donate $1 million and proceeds from his now runaway NFL jersey sales.

46. In Memphis, We’d Rather Move the 3-Point Line Up - Friday, June 10, 2016

While the Cleveland Cavaliers must be lauding NBA concussion protocol and the cover that gave them for keeping Kevin Love off the court in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, let’s look forward to possible NBA rule tweaks as soon as next season.

47. Fizdale May be Right Mentor at Right Time for Grizzlies - Friday, June 3, 2016

The press conference in the interview room at FedExForum for new Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale had just ended. Seated in the front row were his wife, his mother and his son.

I walked over to 23-year-old Kyle Jackson and introduced myself. And in the ensuing 1 minute and 32 seconds I had up against the shot clock before the Grizzlies’ public relations staff whisked the family members away, I asked a few questions.

48. Cyclist Lucky – And Better Than Ever - Friday, May 27, 2016

Phillip Poux smiles a lot these days. He laughs a lot and practically gushes about the Wolf River Greenway and the joy of riding his road bike in a safe and scenic environment.

He even says he wishes that he and wife Rhonda had moved to Memphis sooner.

49. Joerger Lands in Sacramento; Grizzlies Casting for Replacement - Friday, May 13, 2016

Future conversation in Sacramento between new coach Dave Joerger and franchise player DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins:

Joerger: “DeMarcus, do you get what we’re doing here, do you know what you’re doing on this play?”

50. Dave Joerger: The NBA’s Invisible Man - Friday, April 29, 2016

Congratulations to Golden State’s Steve Kerr. You can’t say he wasn’t a worthy recipient for NBA Coach of the Year.

51. USA Today Owner Gannett Bids for LA Times Publisher Tribune - Tuesday, April 26, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) — Newspaper publisher Gannett said Monday that it wants to buy Tribune Publishing for more than $388 million, in a deal that would give the owner of USA Today control of the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and several other newspapers.

52. Born Ready? Grizz Players, Brass Given No Choice - Friday, March 25, 2016

This is not a Grizzlies season to remember. It is a Grizzlies season impossible to forget.

For fans.

For Chris Wallace, who is living the life of “GM, The Bargain Hunter.”

53. Grizz in Full-On Survival Mode Now - Friday, March 11, 2016

Starting point guard Mike Conley remains out with a sore foot. His backup, Mario Chalmers, may have ruptured his Achilles. Chalmers left the locker room in Boston on Wednesday night, March 9, in a wheelchair. In context, perhaps so did the rest of the Grizzlies’ season.

54. Tigers Win Game, Larger Story Remains the Same - Saturday, February 6, 2016

After a much-needed victory, the embattled Tigers head coach opened the door and walked into the media room for his post-game press conference. Seated in the first row and sporting a blue University of Memphis cap was U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who offered up a grin and polite applause.

55. Fenced Out - Saturday, January 30, 2016

There’s a major problem in Memphis when it comes to minorities: African-Americans make up 63 percent of the population but garner less than 1 percent of total business receipts within Memphis, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.

56. Last Word: Out of Time, Brian Collins and Fear of Heights & A Different No Gang Zone - Thursday, January 28, 2016

I have a confession. Hillary Clinton is not happy with me.
I’ve seen the signs in recent weeks but didn’t want to accept the truth.
Then Wednesday evening, as I was about to put this column together, I got an email from the former First Lady and Secretary of State and Democratic presidential contender.
The subject line cut to the chase: “We’re running out of time, Bill.”
The message itself, on a backdrop of Blue State blue read:

57. University of Memphis Falls to Auburn 31-10 in Birmingham Bowl - Thursday, December 31, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Jeremy Johnson came off the bench to run and pass for a touchdown, lifting Auburn to a 31-10 victory over Memphis on Wednesday in the Birmingham Bowl.

Johnson sparked a sputtering offense that scored three touchdowns in a five-minute span starting late in the third quarter. Auburn (7-6) avoided the first losing season of Gus Malzahn's 11-year college coaching career.

58. Northwestern Defense Tough, But Give Edge to UT - Saturday, December 26, 2015

There’s nothing like spending the Christmas holidays in Florida, and Tennessee’s football team will savor every minute of it for the second consecutive year.

The Vols (8-4) board a flight Saturday morning to Tampa, Fla., where they will spend almost a week before the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl against Northwestern (10-2).

59. Tigers Open Season With a Win, Strong Performance From Dedric Lawson - Monday, November 16, 2015

For a night, at least, there was no angst. No unsettling talk of players transferring, no controversial talk of whether former Tigers coach John Calipari should be honored in Memphis.

No, on this night – Saturday, Nov. 14 – there was only basketball as the team returned to its FedExForum home court. The University of Memphis began the seventh season under coach Josh Pastner by breezing to a 67-49 victory over a Southern Miss team that was short on talent and long on turnovers (19, that led to 22 Memphis points).

60. North Texas Could Never Upset the Vols, Right? - Saturday, November 14, 2015

No way Tennessee’s football team can lose Saturday’s homecoming game against North Texas, one of the worst teams in college football.

Right?

Tennessee (5-4) was a 40.5-point favorite early in the week coming off a 27-24 victory over South Carolina last Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

61. Conference Aims to Spark Positive Change, One ZIP Code at a Time - Thursday, November 5, 2015

The world can be a big place, even within one city or a single ZIP code. But the world also can be made smaller when the right kinds of lines are crossed.

Steve Nash founded nonprofit Advance Memphis in 1999, beginning an ambitious project without end. His goal: bring economic sustainability to the people living in and around the Cleaborn/Foote Homes public housing developments in South Memphis’ 38126 ZIP code, the poorest urban ZIP in Tennessee.

62. Here’s How Vols Grade Going Into Second Half - Saturday, October 17, 2015

Order has been restored in Vol Nation, at least for now.

Tennessee’s football team restored it with a 38-31 victory over then-No. 19 Georgia last Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

UT’s rally from a 24-3 deficit has much of the fan base back on board with Vols coach Butch Jones and his staff after a precarious week leading up to the game.

63. Just Another Predictable SEC Football Season? Not Quite - Friday, October 16, 2015

The Ol’ Ball Coach resigned at South Carolina. No more Steve Spurrier fun and frivolity at SEC Media Days, no more jabs at opposing coaches, no more quips that make sports writers tingle.

And yes, Justin Fuente is one of the names being floated for the South Carolina job.

64. Shifting Memphis Media Market, Like Every Other, In Flux - Saturday, September 12, 2015

Lauren Lee never picks up a newspaper. Which isn’t much of a surprise because she’s 33 years old, works in marketing, and has the technological savvy and finger dexterity to operate a smartphone.

65. Tony Allen: Memphis Pitchman in More Ways Than One - Friday, September 4, 2015

He can turn up just about anywhere, do just about anything.

The NBA knows this because everyone has seen Tony Allen inside Klay Thompson’s jersey and Kevin Durant’s head.

66. Scheduled Good Times: The Next Grizzlies Season - Friday, August 14, 2015

Turns out, Marc Gasol was wrong.

“I don’t think LeBron is coming through that door anytime soon,” Gasol said after the end of last season.

But in fact LeBron James, albeit wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform, will come through the doors at FedExForum for the 2015-16 season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

67. Faith Rewarded: Tigers QB Lynch Delivers for Fuente - Friday, August 7, 2015

He stands 6-foot-7, has muscled up to 245 pounds, and is coming off an MVP performance in the Tigers’ Miami Beach Bowl victory when he accounted for seven touchdowns.

It’s easy to believe in Paxton Lynch now.

68. Taking Their Hacks? FBI Investigates Cardinals in Breach of Astros’ Database - Friday, June 19, 2015

One funny man posted a picture of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Luther Hackman, deeming him a “person of interest.”

Just about everyone took a swing at the Cardinals’ tiresome Best Fans in Baseball moniker by pointing out that “you can’t spell BFIB without FBI.”

69. Conquering Fear of Heights on Mt. LeConte - Saturday, May 16, 2015

I was standing on the edge of a cliff during a hike to Mt. LeConte about two weeks ago.

Holding onto a thin metal handrail cable, I was walking a path maybe two feet wide on jagged rock with some water running through it, on the side of the mountain, about 4,000 feet above sea level.

70. 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.

71. With or Without Conley, Grizz Face Pass-Fail Exam in Golden State - Friday, May 1, 2015

We will get to the looming challenge that is the Golden State Warriors in just a moment.

But first, something needs to be said.

No matter what it is in your favor, including a 3-0 series lead, you don’t just push a button for automatic passage to the next round of the NBA Playoffs. The Portland Trail Blazers reminded us of this truth when they rallied in Game 4 to bring the series back to Memphis.

72. Jones, Vols Make Honor Roll With Recruiting Class - Saturday, February 14, 2015

KNOXVILLE – Butch Jones has done it again.

Tennessee’s football coach has created a national buzz with his 2015 recruiting class.

UT finished with the No. 4 class in the nation as rated by 247Sports and ended up ranked No. 5 by Rivals when the Feb. 4 national signing day was over.

73. Campbell’s Gamble Finally Pays With Scholarship - Saturday, January 31, 2015

KNOXVILLE – Galen Campbell might get to play a minute here or there as the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team pursues its surprising run toward bubble status for the NCAA tournament.

74. Gasol An All-Star Starter; Conley, Z-Bo Just As Valuable - Friday, January 30, 2015

Center Marc Gasol has broken through the glass ceiling that forever has hung above Memphis and the Grizzlies.

The NBA’s fans, a global group to be sure, shattered that glass by voting Big Spain into the Western Conference starting lineup for the Feb. 15 NBA All-Star Game. Naturally, there is pride about that in every corner of the Grizzlies’ locker room and in every corner of the city.

75. A Better Sports Village Than We Knew - Friday, January 16, 2015

When the historic 2014 University of Memphis football season was just getting started, hope and doubt were still equally matched opponents.

The athletic department, as we all know now, had gone with a risky slogan: “Wait Til This Year.”

76. Gasol, Grizzlies Refuse Satisfaction - Friday, December 12, 2014

Odds are, Marc Gasol will not win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award this season.

But as Gasol would be the first to tell you, that doesn’t matter.

Neither does it take away from that moment at the end of a recent game here against the Dallas Mavericks. Gasol was at the free-throw line, scoring the last two of his 30 points as the Grizzlies secured a 114-105 victory and improved to 17-4, when the serenade started.

77. Tigers’ Season Starts as a Hoops Nightmare - Friday, November 21, 2014

The comments on Twitter during the Memphis Tigers’ dreadful season debut against No. 11 Wichita State were shallow, cynical and, yes, spot-on.

“So when Cal coined the term, ‘The Miserables,’ he meant this year’s guards?” tweeted one wiseguy.

78. Watching Kobe’s Empty-the-Clip Tour - Friday, November 14, 2014

For those first few minutes, Kobe Bryant was toying with us. He passed the ball and he passed up shots – open and otherwise.

The crowd last Tuesday night at FedExForum seemed unnerved by this. Let’s face it, whether you come wearing a white No. 50 Zach Randolph jersey or a purple and gold No. 24 Lakers jersey, you come to see Kobe be true to his DNA.

79. Once High-Flying Vince Carter in Different Role With Grizz - Friday, October 10, 2014

At this stage of his NBA career, there are a lot of euphemisms for Vince Carter.

Veteran. Elder statesman. Old guy. Those were Carter’s own words when describing his exit in Dallas this summer, after owner Mark Cuban put a three-year, $46.1 million offer sheet in front of 25-year-old Chandler Parsons. The Benefactor indeed.

80. 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.

81. Cardinals’ Influence Brings Change to Redbirds - Friday, September 26, 2014

You don’t have to be in uniform to get cut from the team. Several folks working for the Memphis Redbirds found that out a few days ago.

Multiple sources said several people lost their jobs, just as the Redbirds’ contract with management company Global Spectrum is expiring at the end of September. The Redbirds, of course, were purchased by their parent St. Louis Cardinals as part of the deal that had the city buying AutoZone Park and leasing it back to the Cardinals on a 17-year term.

82. Wade: NFL Has Addiction Problem - Friday, September 12, 2014

Wading in with thoughts on several topics … So a former FBI director will investigate how the NFL handled evidence in the Ray Rice domestic violence case – the tape that commissioner Roger Goodell says he never saw until recently – and here’s what I wonder about the state of our society:

83. Wade: College Football Returns With Passion - Friday, August 29, 2014

First off, I don’t believe everything that Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper says.

“Coach Lane Kiffin is a great coach and a great person to be around,” Cooper said of the Crimson Tide’s new offensive coordinator. “Coach is a likable guy.”

84. Teeing Off - Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Everyone was in a good mood. Not just normally affable Grizzlies players Mike Conley and Mike Miller, but former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown, a couple of hard-nosed throwback types.

85. Lots of Questions Remain Unanswered in Grizz Nation - Friday, May 30, 2014

We’re now going on two weeks since this whole WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE GRIZZLIES? saga started.

So, what do we actually know?

We know that Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera fired team CEO Jason Levien and player personnel director Stu Lash. We know that Pera allowed coach Dave Joerger to interview for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ head coaching job.

86. Pera’s Just Following Sports Owner Formula - Friday, May 23, 2014

Until recently, I figured if I ever won a huge lottery and became a gazillionaire, I would indulge my sports fantasy of owning a horse in the Kentucky Derby.

But everyone draws a line somewhere, and I don’t want to pay for the nasal strips on general principle. (California Chrome is just the frontrunner of this movement.)

87. Grizz Running in Mud - Friday, April 4, 2014

So the group text came in a little before midnight after the Grizzlies’ horrible excuse for a basketball game at Minnesota against the Timberwolves.

They were on the low side of a 102-88 score that wasn’t that close and they had played a starring role in Kevin Love’s free agency mix tape: Triple-Double Love.

88. Wins Come in Various Ways - Friday, March 14, 2014

One night at FedExForum, the Grizzlies beat Portland by 10 points as they shoot a season-best 56 percent, three players score 17 or more points, and energizer James Johnson never gets on the floor.

89. For Love of the Game, Indeed - Friday, February 21, 2014

“I’ve never been humbled by anything like baseball. And I’ve been humbled more coaching than playing.”  – Jonathan Lyons, former college and minor-league pitcher and now a coach of a 12-and-under competitive team

90. Time a Friend to Grizz - Friday, January 31, 2014

Sometimes, the NBA season feels too long. It can stretch on and on like a West Texas highway. Or the Grammy Awards.

But for the Memphis Grizzlies, time has been a friend. And somehow, most of us – maybe all of us – forgot how much time there really was.

91. Sherman Breath of Fresh Air for Sportswriters - Friday, January 24, 2014

I have waited for San Antonio point guard Tony Parker to take a shower, dress, whip a winter scarf around his neck and then say something so boring that my tape recorder yawned.

92. Can ‘Cardinal Way’ Improve Park Attendance? - Friday, January 10, 2014

To put it in the game’s terms, the Memphis Redbirds/AutoZone Park/St. Louis Cardinals defeated political skepticism and doubt by a score of 8-4 and saved baseball at Third and Union for many summers to come.

93. Levien Discusses Grizzlies’ Accolades, Offseason Focus - Friday, September 20, 2013

A day after the news broke that ESPN The Magazine had crowned the Memphis Grizzlies the best franchise in North American pro sports, team CEO Jason Levien sat down for a one-on-one interview with The Daily News.

94. In Due Time, Lynch Will Shine as Tigers QB - Friday, September 13, 2013

To understand the potential impact of redshirt freshman quarterback Paxton Lynch, you have to do two things up front: forget his numbers (for a while) and look at the numbers produced by other Tiger quarterbacks.

95. Johnny Football Ever-Elusive, NCAA Ever-Inept - Friday, August 30, 2013

While there is a paper trail from the sale of No. 2 jerseys back to Texas A&M and the NCAA, and a direct line to the word “hypocrisy” in your nearest Merriam-Webster Collegiate dictionary, there apparently is no paper trail here.

96. Countdown Begins for Grizzlies Tip-Off - Friday, August 9, 2013

Are you ready for some basketball?

What’s that you say, the word is FOOTBALL? Meaning it’s time to talk about walking through The Grove, running in space and snapping cell phone pictures of Johnny Manziel?

97. Grit ‘N’ Grind Lives On in Memphis - Thursday, July 4, 2013

With apologies to the Rolling Stones, the Grizzlies’ off-season is its own lesson on the difference between what you want and what you need.

As yet, that much-desired pure 3-point shooter has not parachuted into Memphis. But the Grizzlies did what they needed to do, retaining free agent guard and fan favorite Tony Allen; reportedly, they have agreed in principle to a four-year, $20 million guaranteed contract.

98. Coaching Hire Presents Risk/Reward for Grizz - Friday, June 28, 2013

So the Grizzlies finally made it official and promoted lead assistant Dave Joerger to head coach. This qualified as breaking news about as much as reporting that barbecue has been discovered in Memphis.

99. Hollins Move Latest In New Grizz Plan - Friday, June 14, 2013

Lionel Hollins repeatedly said more than he should have. So it is only fitting that the end of Hollins’ tenure as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies was marked by deafening silence from franchise CEO Jason Levien and then, finally, a press release saying the franchise was going to “move in a different direction.”

100. Hollins Move Latest in New Grizz Plan - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Lionel Hollins repeatedly said more than he should have. So it is only fitting that the end of Hollins’ tenure as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies was marked by deafening silence from franchise CEO Jason Levien and then, finally, a press release saying the franchise was going to “move in a different direction.”