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W W W . J A M E S D AV I S S T O R E . C O M
CONT TENTS SUPER SPORTS TOWN
18
t 4 6
22
10 14
SPORTS A to Z
30 32 34
26
MEMPHIS MOJO
37 44
2
Editor’s Note
8
The Great Debate
11
Memphis Sport Allstars
21
Boxing
37
Sports Medicine 101
40
Kidsport
42
Things To Do
HOT SHOTS
pics of area sporting events
BRING IT ON RedHot Aubrey
PRESS BOX
the Grizz make sweeping changes
THE INTERVIEW
Redbirds pitching coach, Dyar Miller
MEMPHIS MADE
former Memphis Tiger, Detric Golden
MEMPHIS MADE
Xplorers head coach, Danton Barto
GET FIT...
and defend yourself in today’s world
SPORTS MEDICINE a talk with Xplorers head trainer
TAILGATING
the fans take center stage
EDITOR’S NOTE Publisher and Editor Mike Bullard
Thank You!
Editor Laura Blanton
Thank you. Because you’ve picked this up, you’ve already validated my efforts. I suspected there were people out there— people like you—that were just like me. Sick of thumbing through local newspapers and television channels and radio stations in search of more about Memphis sports. Sure there are blurbs, there are stat charts, there are big names in the paper. But we’re greedy. We want more.
Contributing Writers Kevin Cerrito Michael J. Croley Peter Edmiston Edward Francis Danny Galvin Julie Green Jason Jones Ed Land, Jr. Randy Malone Eli Savoie Dr. Lawrence F. Schrader
We want to know more about what happens to the players and coaches when the game is over, the tournament is won and the medals are packed away. We want to know about the people who contributed to the Memphis sports world in the past and are now bettering our city’s future in new ways. We want to know about the “has beens,” the “are nows” and the “will bes.” That’s why Memphis Sport is here. From professional motorsports to high school lacrosse, there’s a lot more to be told. Beyond the heavyweights, and beyond the statistics, there are the stories of the people that make it all happen. There’s something about this city and its sports—something that runs deep in your veins. Something a little more visceral. And that’s what Memphis Sport is about. - Mike Bullard, Publisher and Editor
Contributing Photographers Brad Jones Leigh Ann Williams Blair Ball Contributing Illustrator Antone Wade Graphic Design Mike Bullard Account Executives Mike Bullard Kim Bullard Contributions Memphis Sport will consider, but assumes no responsibilty for, unsolicited proposals, manuscripts, photos, and illustrations. All such materials not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope will not be returned. Memphis Sport retains all reprint rights.
Memphis Sport 1138 N Germantown Pkwy Suite 101-176 Cordova, TN 38016 For advertising information please call Mike Bullard, 901.229.4749 www.memphissport.net ©Copyright 2006 Memphis Sport Magazine LLC All rights reserved sports fan since 1974
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Cover Photo by Brad Jones
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Send your photos to hotshots@memphissport.net We just may print them in our next issue.
photo by BLAIR BALL
Grand National Cross Country Hurricane Mills, Tennessee
4 | Memphis Sport
Grand National Cross Country Hurricane Mills, Tennessee
photo by BLAIR BALL
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BRING IT ON RedHot Aubrey How long have you been a Redhot? This is my second year. Are you a student? Yes, at the University of Memphis. What’s your major? Finance Do you have another job? Yes, I got my real estate license when I was 18, so I’m a real estate agent with Crye-Leike. How long have you been cheering? Ever since my freshman year of high school at Cordova High—I was on the dance team there. Do you like baseball? Yes, I love it! I played softball when I was little, but I really got into it when I was a dancer last year. Aside from the Redbirds, who’s your favorite local team? I love going to the U of M basketball games. I actually like basketball more than baseball; I’ve been a Tiger fan my whole life. What’s your favorite sports movie? A League Of Their Own is definitely my favorite—it’s such a great movie! I own Love & Basketball, too. What’s something a regular fan wouldn’t know about the Redhots or the Redbirds organization as a whole? The interns are the ones who are running everything before, during and after the games. There’s so much they have to do. Our manager is an intern, and he has to make sure that we’re all together, that we get where we need to be, et cetera. He tells us that after games sometimes he’s there until 3 in the morning! Which word describes you better: red or hot? You never want to call yourself hot, but I’d say that’s me more than red! What’s the best part of being a Redhot? Interacting with the fans, signing autographs for kids and making appearances. On June 17, a group of kids from Target House were in the suites, and we took a million pictures. They had a blast! You feel like you’re making someone’s day—that’s definitely the best part for me, and I’ll bet the other girls feel the same way.
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FANTASY FOOTBALL
by ED LAND, JR.
A
s NFL’s opening day approaches, you can’t walk past a magazine rack without seeing dozens of fantasy football magazines, each touting their version of the latest player rankings. Hundreds of websites provide fantasy football–related services, as well, such as up-to-date news and injury updates, team and individual performance predictions and entertaining commentary. If you’re not already up to speed, then it’s time to start learning. Get In the Game
by JULIE GREEN photography by BRAD JONES
You and your friends first form a “league” that you’ll compete within throughout the NFL season. Starting with a “draft,” where you select real players to build your own “fantasy” team roster, you accumulate individual points for your fantasy team based on your players’ actual game performance. Just to liven up the competition, you can make trades within your league during the season, and you’re pitted against another team in your league each week. If your fantasy team scores more points than the competing fantasy teams in your league, you win. Who to Watch For Think you might get into this fantasy football thing? Love your former Memphis athletes? Well, Carolina’s Head Coach John Fox recently declared DeShaun Foster his starting tailback. But fear not Memphis fans, as Foster is not
known for his durability. It’s just a matter of time before our DeAngelo Williams gets his annual 2,000 total yards! Well, that might be jumping the gun. But Carolina has a pro-bowl quarterback in Jake Delhomme, a league-leading receiver in Steve Smith, a go-to possession receiver in Keyshawn Johnson and one heck of a coaching staff. It won’t be long before Williams racks up 100 yards and two touchdowns against a dangerous Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Bottom line: Williams is worthy of a third or fourth round pick in this year’s fantasy football draft. For Isaac Bruce, let’s prepare for another year of reliability. Marshall Faulk will be totally invisible in this year’s Rams offense. Torry Holt is the number one receiver in St. Louis and will be double-teamed in most situations. The Rams traded their most consistent receiving tight end from last year, Brandon Manumaleuna. Overall, Bruce is a safe sixth or seventh round pick. Expect about 800 yards and six touchdowns from our former Tiger. And if you want him on your roster, get him this year—he might hang up the cleats prior to 2007. Pick up the next issue of Memphis Sport for more tips on which of your favorite former University of Memphis stars to keep an eye on as the NFL season approaches.
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e m a g l u f i t u a e b the
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Featuring Sports56 Personalities: Peter Edmiston of the Morning Rush and Eli Savoie of Middays with Greg and Eli
I’m a soccer guy. I love the sport. For 47 out of 48 months in a four-year stretch, this makes me an extremely rare specimen. But in that 48th month—the World Cup month—many others joined me in watching and following the beautiful game. No sport can replicate the grandeur and grace of soccer at its highest levels. Soccer requires great mental and physical ability; you need the vision and teamwork to pass the ball effectively, and you need the physical strength and speed to be successful at the game. Eli will tell you that soccer is boring. Eli is wrong, and not for the first time. In soccer, you’re getting 45 minutes per half of uninterrupted play. Maybe football is more exciting for the five seconds or so a play takes place, but then what happens? Thirty seconds of nothing—guys jogging back to a huddle, incessant replays of an inconsequential play, then five more seconds of action. And there are at least 60 minutes of commercials per half ! Soccer has none of that. Where else on television can you watch 45 minutes of sports without commercial interruption? That alone should make it more popular.
close calls, great saves and near misses. They are there in every match, and they’re spine-tingling, too. A 1-0 baseball game is considered by many to be exciting, and there’s virtually no scoring involved. One of the greatest games in University of Memphis football history is the 0-0 tie with Ole Miss in 1963. You think that wasn’t thrilling to those in attendance? Scoring points or goals isn’t the only viable measure of entertainment. If you give the game a fair chance and still don’t like it, fine. But I suspect if you open your mind and try it, you’ll find it’s not boring, like you’ve been led to believe. If for no other reason, give it a shot because it’s the most popular sport in the world— millions of fans can’t all be wrong.
Soccer contains excitement beyond merely scoring goals. Of course scoring goals is quite rare, and for a good reason: it’s hard to do. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t many
Well here we go again. It’s that time. You know the time I’m talking about, the one that rolls around every four years. World Cup time. The time when the three Americans who really care about soccer try and tell the millions of us who don’t care one bit about it that it’s a beautiful game, that we should care, that it’s really not boring, that it’s the biggest sport in the world and so on. Well I have something to tell you soccer gurus like Peter Edmiston. Soccer may be
the biggest sport in the world, but it will never matter to the vast majority of Americans, because we like excitement from our sports, and soccer is just plain boring. We like offense in the United States and soccer doesn’t provide it. What Peter and his cohorts are confused about is why in sports like baseball you have 1-0 games and nobody complains, but when a soccer game has a 1-0, or (excuse me) 1-nill score, people call it boring. I would tell Peter that it comes down to a word we like to use a lot in this country— potential. Most sports offer a potential to score every time the ball is put into play. In baseball, while the game may end 1-0, every time the ball was pitched in that game, there was the potential for a run to be scored. In football, every time the ball
- Peter Edmiston
is snapped, there is the potential for points to be scored. In soccer, much of game time is spent with the ball around midfield where you know there is no potential whatsoever of points being scored. There are very few true scoring opportunities. The U.S. World Cup team got four shots on goal in three games this year. While that says a lot about the embarrassing performance of our team, it also says a lot about the lack of offense in the sport. If you want to increase soccer’s popularity in this country you need to do a couple things. First, make the field smaller. Then, make the goals bigger. Combine these two things and you could immediately add offense and excitement to the sport—maybe Americans would begin to watch and even care. - Eli Savoie
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Commentary by KEVIN CERRITO
E
very season has a story? Maybe, the Memphis Grizzlies’ slogan should have been “every season has a sweep.”
The Grizzlies took after the Rob Thomas song in the overplayed NBA Cares commercials and ended the 2005-2006 season “ever the same.” The Dallas Mavericks swept the Grizz out of the playoffs and into the NBA history books, making them the first team ever to be the victim of a first-round sweep for three consecutive years. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls made the three-peat famous. Pau Gasol and the Grizzlies are making the threesweep infamous. (If Gasol temporarily retires from basketball to play minor league baseball, he can return to the Grizz and three-sweep all over again.) This offseason, the Grizzlies are in a tough spot. The up-for-sale franchise needs to find a way to get better on the court without spending more money and without losing more fans. It sounds like an uphill battle for a team that was just recently accused of stealing the parking space of everyone in the city. On draft day, the Grizzlies significantly improved their talent level, but in the process lost fan-favorite Shane Battier. Jerry West already made the unpopular (but correct) decision to keep Mike Fratello as head coach. Considering the team’s financial situation, it would be a mistake to buy out the multimillion-dollar contract of a coach who is willing to make adjustments heading into the last year of his deal. Fratello claims he is ready to speed up the style of play and give more minutes to some of the younger talent. His recent appearances on local sports radio shows are evidence that he is making a considerable effort to be more outgoing like his TV personality, “The Czar.” And as long as Fratello is around, the Grizzlies will have a huge advantage if the NBA ever changes the jump ball rule to make possession decided by a game of bocce ball.
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So, how do the Grizzlies get people to stop thinking the team’s favorite sandwich at Subway is the Sweep Onion Chicken Teriyaki? After acquiring multiple athletic players on draft day, the Grizzlies appear only one important move away from erasing all their troubles. For the second summer in a row, the team needs to trade away the player who wears the number six on his jersey. Eddie Jones is in the last year of a contract that will pay him $15.6 million next season. This time next year, that hefty contract will come off the Grizzlies’ books and the team will have the salary cap space to sign one of the many free agents that will be available in the 2007 off-season. But, the team cannot afford to wait that long. Since arriving, J-West has been unable to find a big-time free agent who wants to come to the smallest market in the NBA. In order to build a successful play-off team, the Grizzlies are going to have to get their best players through the draft and trades. The team has to do more with Eddie’s contract than just trade for a superstar; they need a superstar who is so good that he has his own Zooperstar. The answer to the Grizzlies problems is the player whose has an animalistic inflated character named Stallion Iverson. How do the Grizz get more fans at FedExForum? How do the Grizz get that one playoff win? Allen Iverson is the answer. Coming off a bad season of their own, the Philadelphia 76ers are now—more than ever—considering trading their All-Star. Teams rarely trade franchise players within their own conference, giving the Western Conference Grizzlies the chance to make as good of an offer as anyone. A.I. would bring much-needed scoring and toughness, along with desperately needed merchandise and ticket sales. Despite missing the play-offs last season in the weaker Eastern Conference, Iverson is still one of the best players in the league. And, unlike Chris Webber, Gasol is young, has good knees and is humble enough to play sidekick to Iverson. The Grizzlies are 0-12 in the playoffs. They were the only playoff team not to win in this year’s post-season. The Grizz have until February to trade Jones, and what happens to the aging guard could play a vital role in the future of the franchise. If the Grizzlies waste E.J.’s contract on the likes of Jamaal Magloire, Carlos Boozer or Penny Hardaway, we might spend next summer wondering where we can buy “four-sweep” apparel.
Photo courtesy J.C. Ridley
Photo courtesy Joe Murphy
Photo courtesy Rupert Yen, Yen Studios, Memphis
Photo courtesy Rupert Yen, Yen Studios, Memphis
The Memphis Sport All-Stars sponsored by Velocity Sports Performance feature only the best in area athletics. From the pitching mound to the endzone and from the fairway to the ice rink, the Memphis Sport AllStars are always looking for a few new faces to highlight each issue. If you have an achievment worth noting or know someone who has, email your accomplishments along with a photo to allstars@memphissport.net and you just may see your face here in an upcoming issue.
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The Memphis Sport All-Stars are proudly sponsored by Velocity Sports Performance. Velocity offers the most proven speed, power and agility programs available, training over 1000 athletes a day. All coaches have a Human Performance related degree. Velocity specializes in semi-private, small group training in the only world class, climate controlled facility in the area - no matter what your age, gender, skill level, athletic or fitness goals. Call 901.756.7116, mention the Memphis Sport AllStars and get a FREE training session.
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Q&A with Dyar Miller Story by JASON JONES, Photos by BRAD JONES As he nears his fortieth year in professional baseball, the Redbirds pitching coach answers questions about coaching, steroids, his incredible likeness to Ray Sadecki and milking a cow. Minor league baseball players have the same objective— to make it to the big leagues. Is that the objective of every coach and manager, as well? I think in most cases, yeah. In my particular case, I was fortunate enough to spend eight years in the big leagues—six as a pitcher and two as a coach—so I’m more fortunate than most. But, my ambition is to get back to the big leagues, and I’m only 60, so I’ll be here until I do.
How hard is it at this level to both mentor, coach and instruct the young arms, while at the same time giving the veterans something completely different? I like this level so much because you do have both [young players and veterans]. And what I like to do is what we did when I was pitching—rely on the veterans to help out with the young players. And in most cases, the young players love talking to and learning from the guys who’ve been where they want to be. The biggest difference in what they need is that the veterans need more tinkering, while the younger players need more discipline and someone to stay on them a little more about their work ethic.
What’s the most important thing in a pitcher’s makeup? I always talk about the four Ds, the biggest of which I think is desire. Determination is another very important part of it all, as are discipline and dedication. If you’ve got some physical tools and you get out here and grind it out every day and put in the work, you’re gonna get an opportunity somewhere down the line.
Who is more likely to make it to the big leagues—a guy with a great arm and less between the ears or a guy with less talent and a baseball IQ off the charts?
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Well, no doubt about it. The guy with the great arm is gonna get more opportunities. They’ll both eventually get opportunities if they stick to it, like I said, but the guy with the great arm will get more of them. That’s just the way it is.
Who’s the best prospect you’ve ever coached? I’ve had a lot of really good ones. In the Indians organization, I had [Alan] Embree, [Dave] Mlicki, [Chad] Ogea. Here, I’ve had guys like [Adam] Wainwright and [Anthony] Reyes. Bud Smith was pretty darned good when he was here. I’ve been around some good ones.
How good is Reyes? Stuart Pomeranz? Reyes is pretty good. He’s got a great arm. But I tell you what really separates him is that he’s a fierce competitor. I mean, he really competes. He can be up a run in the sixth and have men at first and third with no one out, and he buckles down and gets out of it. I haven’t seen too much of Pomeranz. I know he’s a big kid and has a great sinker. I’ll be glad to get him up here.
What’s your take on the whole steroids issue and what it’s done to the game? It’s gonna be a little black eye, but I think we’ll get through it. I mean, 10 or 15 years from now, it’ll be water under the bridge. You’ll still read about it, but I hope it will have come and gone, and I hope we stay on top of it. We need to make sure we do so that we can clean up the sport a little bit.
How is Bonds’ cheating different than Gaylord Perry or any pitcher that throws spitballs or uses an emery board or Vaseline?
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Well, that’s exactly right. I mean, for as long as guys have been playing baseball, they’ve been trying to get an edge. I’ve known guys that have scuffed the ball, and as a pitcher, if I get a scuffed ball, I’m not gonna give it back to the umpire. I’ll use it to my advantage. I know guys who have put foreign substances on the ball. If people can get an edge, they’re going to. I’d have never done anything that would harm my body physically, though.
Who’s the toughest hitter you ever faced? George Brett and Thurman Munson were a couple of tough outs. Now there was one guy who hit 1.000 off me—Hank Aaron. He hit number 743 off me. Faced me once, took me deep.
1981, playing for the New York Mets, you got your only big league hit. How much of it do you remember? I remember it well. The guy I got it off of is a pitching coach in this league, Burt Hooten. He was pitching for the Dodgers, and it was the very first time I ever swung a bat in a game. I hit a line drive up the middle right past him. I got to first base and Steve Garvey said, “Dyar, that was a pretty nice swing.” I told him, “Steve, that was the first time I’ve ever swung a bat in a game.” I was one-for-three for a long time and had to bunt one time and the dadgum catcher fell down going to second and it cost me an at-bat. Or else I’d have been a lifetime .333 hitter!
June 9 was the 31st anniversary of your big league debut. Tell me about it. I remember being called up on my 29th birthday. About 12 days later, I came in in the eleventh or twelfth inning in Memorial Stadium in Baltimore against the A’s and I came in to face Billy Williams, the hall of famer. Anyway, I struck him out on a 3-2 fastball and Dave Duncan, my catcher, said, “That’s a helluva good fastball.” I remember it well. Running from the bullpen to the mound was quite a thrill. I remember just floating across that field like I was on air. Not sure if my feet hit the ground.
What were you like as a kid? I was raised on a farm and just did what farm kids do. I actually went to school on a basketball scholarship. When I was 7 or 8, my dad bought a farm in southern Missouri. I grew up listening to Jack Buck and Harry Caray. That’s how I became a Cardinals fan.
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I heard there was a time in Cincinnati when you won a pre-game cow-milking contest. Yeah, won several of them, actually. We did those all the time. I still have the trophies!
When you get a day off each month, how do you spend it if you’re not in town or able to spend it with family? I’m a reading fanatic. A lot of times, I’ll just come on in to the ballpark and work out, get a good breakfast or lunch and read a lot. I read the paper every day and do crosswords. I love to read historical novels. I was a history major, you know. Got my degree in 2003. Finished up my last nine hours at the alma mater, [Utah State], doing some correspondence courses online. I just read Shelby Foote’s anthology of the Civil War. It’s three books. Really good. I always wanted to meet him, but he passed away.
What’s your favorite restaurant on the road? There are a number of steakhouses in Omaha we really like. Anthony’s Steakhouse. Omaha Prime. As far as chain restaurants go, we hit Outback a lot. New Orleans is always a great place to eat. There are so many places.
What’s your favorite stop in the Pacific Coast League? They all offer something. I mean, all the ballparks are just so nice nowadays. I like Albuquerque a lot—the ballpark’s great. Sacramento’s nice. Oklahoma City is nice. But you can’t beat coming back here to Memphis.
What’s the strangest conversation you’ve ever had on the mound? A lot of times, it’s pretty light-hearted. We’ll talk about the umpire, a nicelooking girl in the stands. I had a pitcher once, who, when he’d see a bird or an airplane in the air while he was standing on the mound during the national anthem, knew he was gonna have a great outing. I tried to get him traded to the Mets.
Do you think you look like Ray Sadecki? Yeah, somebody has told me that before. I haven’t seen Ray in a long time, though, and I don’t know of too many people who have aged as well as I have!
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Can Memphis continue to grow as a sports town?
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Illustration featruring: Shane Battier, Mayor Willie Herenton, Lennox Lewis, Shirley Raines, and John Calipari
by RANDY MALONE illustration by ANTONE WADE
O
n most nights, you can find Jarvis Young somewhere on Beale Street with an old Gibson electric guitar strapped about waist high, hammering out some vintage blues riffs for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of playing the music. “It certainly ain’t because of the tips,” Young says, offering up the Maxwell House can with the word “tips” emblazoned across it as proof. “Good thing I’ve got a day job.” As he places the can back on the ground in front of him, he pauses and corrects himself. “Actually, it’s a hell of a lot better than it used to be,” he says. “I mean, tonight there’s a baseball game down at AutoZone Park, the Grizzlies have a playoff game over at the Forum and just look at all these people on Beale Street on a Monday night. Man, it don’t get no better than this.” It’s hard to argue with that. But actually, could it get better than this? Rick Ankiel. Maurice Avery. Danton Barto. Hubie Brown. Antonio Burks.
In the past decade, a transformation of sorts has taken place in Memphis. One that few people in Memphis—or in the nation, for that matter—could have ever envisioned. Once considered a sports laughing stock, Memphis has become one of the elite sports cities in North America according to an annual ranking published by The Sporting News. Their ranking system is based on regular-season records; play-off berths; bowl appearances and tournament bids; championships; applicable power ratings; quality of competition; overall fan fervor, as measured in part by attendance; fan knowledge; abundance of teams; stadium or arena quality; ticket availability and prices; franchise ownership; and marquee appeal of athletes. In 2001, Memphis ranked 101 out of the nearly 400 cities listed in TSN’s ranking. Four years later, the city found itself
sitting in the 26th position, just behind Raleigh-Durham (23), Salt Lake City (24) and Nashville (25). That climb represents the largest jump of any city listed in the ranking between 2001 and 2005. John Calipari. Rodney Carney. Stubby Clapp. John Daly. Mike Fratello. Pau Gasol. David Gossett. Bo Hart.
It probably will not come as a shock to most Memphians to learn that our city has not always been considered a sports mecca by the rest of the nation. Mike DeCourcey, college basketball analyst for The Sporting News, wrote from 19931996 for the Commercial Appeal and says that until he moved to the city, he knew very little about Memphis from a sports perspective. “I knew something of the college basketball history, but Memphis as a sports city had very little impression on me until I moved there,” DeCourcey says. No surprise there. Until the mid-90s, the greatest sports accomplishments Memphis had experienced were the 1972 Tiger basketball team’s run to the NCAA Championship behind Larry Finch and the 1983 Tiger hoops appearance in the Final Four behind Keith Lee. However, that all began to change in the late 90s, fueled by several visionaries who all had one thing in common. Risk. Dean Jernigan and Ali Prescott took a risk by building a new baseball stadium in downtown Memphis. Skeptics claimed that the team’s East Memphis fan base would never travel downtown to watch a baseball game. Those skeptics couldn’t have been more wrong. Six seasons later, the Redbirds are still one of the top drawing teams in all of minor league baseball. “The response to Triple A baseball and AutoZone Park has elevated Memphis as a sports town,” DeCourcey says. R. C. Johnson, University of Memphis athletic director, took a risk by calling John Calipari and offering him the job of
men’s basketball coach. Calipari took a risk by taking Johnson’s call. Micheal Heisley took a risk by moving his NBA team from Vancouver to Memphis and then promptly took another risk by hiring Jerry West as team president. West took a risk by hiring Hubie Brown and then another by hiring Mike Fratello. The city of Memphis took a major risk by building FedExForum a block south of Beale Street at a cost of more than $200 million. “Getting into the NBA changed things a lot for Memphis,” DeCourcey says. “That and putting a successful team on the court.” Brian Young and the posse at Prize Fight Boxing took a risk by bringing in a washed-up Mike Tyson for a championship fight at the Pyramid. Lennox Lewis took a monstrous risk by stepping into the ring with Tyson. A running back from Arkansas named DeAngelo Williams took a risk by signing with Tommy West at the University of Memphis and then led the Tigers to three consecutive bowl appearances. Micheal Heisley. Dean and Kristi Jernigan. R.C. Johnson. Mike Miller. Don Parsons. Gaylen Pitts. Ali Prescott. Albert Pujols.
Still, the question of how Memphis can become a better sports town persists, or rather, if Memphis can become a better sports town. Lynn Zinser, another former sports writer for the Commercial Appeal who now writes for the New York Times, isn’t sure that we can do any better than where we are now. “I think Memphis has done very well to reach #26 [in the TSN ranking], and I’m not sure there is a ‘next level’ for it, ” Zinser says. “There are natural built-in ceilings as far as population size, economics, corporate support.” On the other hand, DeCourcey thinks it’s possible for Memphis to become a better
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sports town, but a lot will have to happen. “A lot of it depends on the fans themselves,” DeCourcey says. “The city didn’t do itself any favors with the whole NFL experience. That really hurt the perception of Memphis nationally. The NFL is the biggest sport we have, by far, and Memphians should’ve embraced the Titans as Tennessee’s team. However, if more people were to embrace Tiger basketball and football, or if Memphis were to get into a bigger, better college conference, that would be a huge benefit.” Shirley Raines. Loren Roberts. Mike Rose. Jimmy Sexton. So Taguchi. David Toms. Darius Washington.
There is, of course, no magic formula that will propel the city to the proverbial next level. However, there are two essential factors to Memphis becoming a sports power with a national reputation. First, Memphis teams are going to have to become consistent winners. Someone, and it wasn’t Vince Lombardi, once said, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” Deep down, most sports fans feel the same way. “Team success is a very important component,” DeCourcey says. “If the Tigers were to win the NCAA or the Grizzlies were to win the NBA Championship, the impact would be astronomical.” This means winning at the highest level. For the Tiger football team, it means winning a Conference USA title and playing in the Liberty Bowl. For the Tiger basketball team, it means winning not only a conference title, but also a national title. For the Grizzlies, it means advancing far into the NBA play-offs. For the Redbirds, it means going to the Pacific Coast League play-offs—something the team hasn’t done since 2000. For the RiverKings, it means winning another Central Hockey League title and, perhaps, educating more people about the game of hockey.
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For the newly renamed Stanford St. Jude Classic, it means luring a handful of the PGA’s Top 10 players to its event in 2007. For the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and Cellular South Cup, it means bringing in the ATP’s top players. Tommy West. Jerry West. DeAngelo Williams. Jason Williams. Danny Wimprine. Brian Young.
Although winning would certainly go a long way toward increasing Memphis’ stature as a sports town, the responsibility doesn’t fall completely on the shoulders of the teams, players and coaches. The second factor to making Memphis a better sports town is that Memphis fans must step up to the plate, as well. Not only by purchasing tickets, but by attending the events. “Memphis fans, it seems, don’t value going to games,” DeCourcey says. “In general, Memphis fans aren’t motivated to attend.” The University of Memphis football team plays seven home games this season, yet only one of those games (against Tennessee on September 30) will be a sellout. The U of M basketball team regularly plays before a less-than-capacity crowd at the FedExForum, unless a Top 25 opponent is in town; even then, a sellout is not guaranteed. The Grizzlies attendance figures reside in the bottom half of the NBA annual attendance statistics.
MEMPHIS SHINES by ED LAND, JR. photo by BRAD JONES
n June 17, 2006, Memphis played with the big boys when it hosted the World Middleweight Championship fight between Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (25-0, 17 knockouts) of Little Rock and Ronald “Winky” Wright (50-3, 25 knockouts) of Tampa, Florida. On the line? The WBO and WBC Titles.
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Local media personalities from news stations in Memphis, Little Rock and the Mid-South shared press row with journalists from The L.A. Times, New York Daily News, Washington Post and espn.com. Sports radio hosts from ESPN 730 and Sports 56 WHBQ Memphis were also there. HBO even covered the match.
The nationally televised match brought famed boxers to the Bluff City, such as Tommy “The Hit Man” Hearns, Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver, Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and even Lennox “The Emperor of Boxing” Lewis. Now how many cumulative world championships have those men earned? 25? 30? You could feel the presence of greatness, no doubt.
Memphis has longed for a big-time sporting event like the Taylor vs. Wright fight. Although the match was called a draw, it didn’t stop entourages from swelling on the Forum floor and it didn’t keep the crowd of 10,000-plus from chanting at top volume.
Apathy among Memphis sports fans is commonplace. Then again, it’s commonplace in most major cities. The only difference is that teams in most of those cities can pull from a larger fan base.
NFL players stood ringside at the Forum as well, like Richard Seymour from the Patriots, Cadillac Williams from the Buccaneers, Chris Chambers from the Dolphins and Lee Evans from the Bills.
For the city of Memphis, it seems the one group that can make the biggest impact on Memphis’ status as a sports town isn’t the group of guys wearing the uniforms. It’s those of us who are cheering for them.
Grizzlies in attendance included Hakim Warrick, Eddie Jones, Dahntay Jones, Lorenzen Wright, Damon Stoudamire, Chucky Atkins and even Jerry West. Even celebrities like Paul Walker (Varsity Blues, The Fast and The Furious) and talk show guru Montel Williams were there.
We can look at cities like Dallas, Miami and Chicago, hoping to justify any defeatist attitudes regarding the quality of our sports outlets in Memphis. Like the judges in the fight, we can sit off to the side and deliver our own lukewarm split decision about Memphis’ sports industry. But think, how many cities host an NBA franchise? How many cities can boast about their local Elite 8 basketball program? How many cities will host a World Championship Bout in 2006? Memphians, take note—we’re moving onward and upward.
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All restaurant owners enjoy generating more business, but for O’Sullivan, it’s not all about the profit. This Irish native is ecstatic to see the amount of interest locals are showing in his favorite sport. It’s a big year for O’Sullivan, between the World Cup and his latest career move—in May, he was selected to be head coach of the new indoor professional soccer team, the Memphis Mojo.
“We have been getting big crowds for most games,” says Celtic Crossing co-owner Gareth O’ Sullivan. “Sure, we have our regulars, but a good amount of soccer fans are coming out to watch the games. There is a definite interest in soccer around here.”
Almost a year after opening for business in the Cooper-Young district, Celtic Crossing has become the Irish pub of choice for many Memphians. This summer, the pub declared itself: “Your Memphis home for the 2006 World Cup.”
by KEVIN CERRITO photography by BRAD JONES
University of Memphis soccer fans may remember O’Sullivan for his recordsetting offensive play during his years as a forward for the Tigers from 1989-1992. The Irishman is still U of M’s third alltime leading scorer with 37 goals. After college, O’Sullivan went overseas and played for the Irish Sligo Rovers, until the Indiana Twisters of the now-defunct Continental Indoor Soccer League drafted him.
“Memphis Mojo is going to be unlike any professional franchise this city has seen”
”I was starting there, playing in games, having fun,” he explains. “Then, I was offered a position I could not pass up. Christian Brothers University wanted me to be their men’s and women’s soccer coach.”
O’Sullivan returned to Memphis as CBU soccer coach from 1997-2003, where he led the Lady Buccaneers to win the NCAA Division II women’s championship in 2002. Although he left CBU to take over the women’s program at the University of West Georgia, the formation of the Memphis Mojo lured him back to the Bluff City. “The combination of coaching a professional team and being in Memphis was a good fit,” he says. “I was getting tired of traveling back and forth from Georgia to Memphis, coaching in one place and running the bar in another.” Whether it is running a restaurant or a soccer team, O’Sullivan believes one similar key to success is being able to “get the most out of your workers and players.” Coach O’Sullivan was hand-picked by Mojo General Manager Bobby Fox, who is a former goaltender for various international teams and a former University of Memphis assistant soccer coach. Team owner Chris Talley has complete confidence in his team’s personnel. “Bobby Fox and Gareth
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O’Sullivan are going to produce a winner here,” Talley says. With a team name that Austin Powers would love and a logo somewhat reminiscent of the XFL’s Maniax, the Memphis Mojo will kick off their inaugural season as part of the American Indoor Soccer League on December 9. New York City joins Memphis as one of the two new expansion teams for the AISL’s fourth season. The three returning squads are the Massachusetts Twisters, Team Chicago and the defending champions Cincinnati Excite. Memphis has been without a professional indoor soccer team for more than 16 years. During various periods from the late 1970s through 1990, the Rogues, the Americans and the Storm all represented Memphis in different leagues. Like arena football, indoor soccer is a higher scoring version of its outdoor original. “The premise for the game is the same: get the ball into the goal,” says O’ Sullivan. “Though, the field is smaller, the ball is smaller and players have to learn to use the boards to their benefit.” Even though O’Sullivan helped turn the Glass Onion into an Irish pub, he says Talley will be the one leading the transformation of the Agricenter Showplace Arena into an indoor soccer field. The first four home games will be played at the 4,500-seat Shelby Farms facility, which is also home to events like the Tennessee High School Rodeo Finals, the Fortune Five Barrel Race and monthly Equestrian Alliance Meetings. Due to scheduling conflicts, the second half of the season will be played at the DeSoto County Civic Center. “We are starting small and growing,” explains Talley. “There is no need to start playing in the FedEx Forums of the world. The Agricenter will look and feel like a soccer facility. The majority of the players will be from the Memphis area and most of the other players will have ties to the Memphis community.” The Mojo encourages anyone to speak directly to the owner about the team, tickets or advertising. Talley plans to run the team like a “family business” and have everyone in the Memphis soccer community feel like they are part of the new organization. A promotion planned for this season will give two fans the opportunity to travel with the team for an away game and be treated like a member of the Mojo roster. The winners will ride with the team, be in the locker room, eat meals with the group and stay at the same hotel. In August, the Memphis Mojo will hold open tryouts. Local area soccer coaches from every level of play will be invited to help assist in the selection of the official team roster. “We have got some work to do,“ says O’Sullivan. “But, we will be ready. Memphis Mojo is going to be unlike any professional franchise this city has seen.”
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Golden Opportunity by RANDY MALONE photography by BRAD JONES
Former basketball star Detric Golden helps kids get a new lease on life
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oom #2 at Greenlaw Community Center, just north of downtown Memphis, is rather inconspicuous. Looking in from the outside, you wouldn’t be overly impressed with the décor. Just a cinder block room with a drab paint job. A few tables and chairs. Four antiquated computers and three equally ancient television sets and video game consoles. But at 3:30 p.m. each weekday during the school year, something magical happens in Room #2. The echoes of children laughing, playing and learning fill the air. These are children who have come in search of something. Something for which most don’t even realize they are on a quest. Hope. And hope is exactly what Detric Golden is giving them. You remember Golden, right—the University of Memphis basketball player? Then again, saying Detric Golden was a basketball player is like saying Ray Charles was a piano player. Starting his career with two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Junior College, Golden averaged just over 18 points and 9 assists per game and was named to the NJCAA All-American 2nd Team. He then spent one season at the University of Memphis, where he averaged 14 points and 3 assists per game and earned 2nd Team Conference USA honors. Transferring to Troy State in Alabama for his final season, he led the Trans America Athletic Conference in both scoring (17 average points per game) and assists (6 average assists per game) and was named the TAAC Player of the Year in 2000. After an amazing collegiate career, the next logical step for Golden would’ve been professional basketball, and there was a time when that was exactly what he wanted. But as the old saying goes: that was then, this is now.
“If my father had been around, I’d probably be playing professional basketball somewhere,” he says. “Then, who’d help these kids?” In just over three years, more than 120 children have been helped by the Golden Child program, which emphasizes grades and character above all else. Golden also makes each participant wear a badge that sports their name, age and what they want to be when they grow up. “A lot of the kids will say they want to be in the NBA or the NFL,” Golden says, “and while I don’t necessarily discourage that, I do ask that they list a second career choice, as well. I tell them that very few people make it to that level and they should have another goal in mind, too.” For many children, like 16-year-old Jeffrey Jackson, the program is working. Jackson has been enrolled in the Golden Child program for just over three months and has already seen a dramatic change in his own life. “Since I’ve been in the program, my overall grade point average has risen to a 3.8, and my conduct grades have improved a lot,” Jackson says. Jackson’s name badge states that he would like to pursue a career in the NBA, and one would be hard-pressed to dissuade the young man whose body resembles that of former Arkansas Razorback and NBA player Oliver Miller. But, as per Golden’s stipulations, Jackson also lists a second career.
“I was faced with the choice of either playing basketball or being significant in the lives of these kids. It was a no-brainer.”
“My plan was to play overseas for a couple of years, make a little money, then go into ministry,” says Golden, who at the tender age of 29 says he can still regularly drop the bomb from 25 feet and out. “My mistake was that I came home and was around all these kids. After that, I knew I wasn’t going to play professional basketball. I was faced with the choice of either playing basketball or being significant in the lives of these kids. It was a no-brainer.”
Although he sacrificed his athletic career, Golden still was able to indulge his religious passions when he founded Golden Child Ministries in 2003 for the purpose of providing spiritual, educational and social guidance to at-risk children, most of whom have little or no contact with their natural fathers. “I see myself in all of these kids,” Golden says. “I grew up over in Hurt Village and, like a lot of these guys, my father was not very involved in my life. In fact, he saw me play one game at Northwest and one game at the University of Memphis. That’s it.”
“I’d like to own my own construction company,” he says. “I’d like to be able to build houses for people in this area and give something back the way Detric has.” Jackson, who has a very good relationship with his own father, still looks at Golden like a parental figure. “He’s a really nice guy,” Jackson says. “A little strict, but that’s what we need. He’s like a father for most of us.” That fatherly role is not one that Golden takes lightly, nor shies away from.
“I want that role. I know how important a father is in the lives of these kids,” says Golden, who has four daughters of his own. “Heck, I love it when they call me ‘Dad.’” Having grown up in Hurt Village and returning to the area to help children experiencing childhoods similar to his own, Golden seems to have come full circle. “I’m just trying to find other Detric Goldens out there,” he says, “and give them hope.”
For more information on how you can help Golden Child Ministries, visit their website at www.goldenchildministries.org
Golden encourages the children in his program to turn negatives into positives, which is exactly what he has done with his own life.
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Eyes on the Prize by MICHAEL J. CROLEY photography by BRAD JONES
The Memphis Xplorers coach leaves his mark before heading to Vegas When Danton Barto takes his new position as coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators arena football team in January, fans in the desert should know their new leading man is not a riverboat gambler from Memphis. The Gladiators are picking up a coach whose career actually moves forward by stopping, or rather, by stopping opposing team’s offenses. In the pinball-like frenzy of arena football, where literally dozens of points can be scored in a matter of minutes, Barto has made a name for himself by devising a defense intent on slowing down the other team. In his five seasons as head coach of the arenafootball2’s (af2) minor league Memphis Xplorers, Barto’s teams improved each year, the capper being last year’s 13-3 Arena Cup championship win coupled with Barto’s naming as the af2 Coach of the Year. There has been little fall-off this year for the Xplorers. Currently first in their division, they are holding their opponents to under 40 points a game, and in the arena world, that’s comparable to holding Michael Jordan to 20. But when you talk to Barto, he seems less surprised by the path of his success than anyone else. For him, it’s a simple philosophy of assessing what he’s willing to give up, knowing that, eventually, points will be put on the board. “In this game, you can leave your seat for a Coke and by the time you get back, two touchdowns might have scored,” he says. “What we try to do is test the patience of the offensive coordinator by giving up short passes and punishing receivers on the catch. We’re a physical team.”
It’s a style that Barto employed himself on his way to being named a three-time AllAmerican at the University of Memphis from 1990-1993 and becoming the school’s leader in tackles. Later, Barto went on to a successful career in the Canadian Football League (CFL), as well as in the Arena Football League (AFL), before making the transition to coaching. And it was that playing career that heavily influenced Barto’s own approach.
“They have to make plays, I have to win games.” “I had good and bad coaches all the way through,” he says. “When I decided to be a coach, the one thing I was sure of was that I was always going to be honest. Good or bad, I tell the guys the truth, and in the end, I think they respect that.” His methods have served him well in a league where the players and coaches are all trying to get somewhere else—a fact Barto doesn’t hide. In the af2 and AFL, players can come and go on a weekly basis. Contracts are unstable and many of the players, Barto says, make huge sacrifices for their dream of achieving a shot at the NFL. “I tell our players all the time: we picked a bad business to get into. My dream is to coach in the NFL, and my players want
to play in the NFL,” he says. “Somebody always wants our job and we have to fight for it, week in and week out.” Barto compares his role as coach to that of a dog chasing people around. “I try to stay after the guys, letting them know that none of us going anywhere unless we perform,” he says. “They have to make plays; I have to win games.” The Xplorers have responded to Barto’s nips at their heels, and the team’s huge success in the past two seasons is what will make leaving for Las Vegas such a bittersweet ending to Barto’s run in the Bluff City. “Ever since I came to Memphis in 1989, I’ve never really left,” he says. “Even when I played in the CFL, I kept an apartment here. My wife Rachel is from here, and our son Will was born here. But the next logical step is for me to coach in the AFL and, hopefully, move up to the NFL afterward.” The Niceville, Florida, native says playing and living in Memphis for so long has come to feel like a security blanket at times, but he knows that he has to “keep moving and keep pushing.” Self-motivated and focused, Barto leaves little doubt that his next stop will be his last. “I really believe that if you set the bar high for your players, they’ll rise to the challenge,” he says. They certainly have in Memphis, and when Barto rolls the dice in Vegas, rest assured that nothing will be left to chance.
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and
defend yourself in today’s world by ED LAND, JR. photography by BRAD JONES
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ou already know about Memphisarea parks like Shelby Farms and Meeman-Shelby Forest. Those are great places to walk, run, ride or just spend time with friends and family. There’s nothing wrong with hitting the gym or taking a body-blast class. But are you taking advantage of all the opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle? According to Men’s Fitness magazine, Memphis ranked as 2005’s fifth unhealthiest city for men in the United States. Memphis Sport wants to inspire you to overcome that statistic. We want you to experience new challenges en route to reaching your physical potential. Remember that we grow by exploring unchartered territory and expanding our horizons. In the first “Get Fit” segment, we recommend looking no further than krav maga, a self-defense system similar to a martial art. Many people turn to the martial arts as a method for physical, psychological,
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philosophical, intellectual and social progression. All of those facets of personal development should be incorporated into our lives, and where better than in our workout? You may already be familiar with some of the more popular martial arts. Qigong, an ancient Chinese art, involves movement, meditation and breathing. Tai Chi, also originating in China, is easily recognized by its slow and graceful movements; your goal is to exercise the body, mind and consciousness. The Korean art of taekwondo involves punches and blocks but is heavily oriented toward the use of kicks. If you’re looking for something different from all the others, however, then krav maga may be the choice for you. Started in the 1930s by Imi Lichtenfeld, krav maga (meaning “contact combat” in Hebrew) is the official combat system used by the Israeli Defense Forces and has been taught in hundreds of law enforcement agencies and to thousands of civilians worldwide. Its growth throughout the Middle East, Japan, Canada and the United States can undoubtedly be credited to its unique style. Krav Maga is a simple, yet effective, self-defense system emphasizing instinctive movements, practical techniques and realistic training scenarios. “Average men, women and children can learn these useful techniques quickly, with a focus on effectiveness rather than artistic expression,” says Patrick Terry, a krav maga instructor in Memphis. Krav maga utilizes the practitioner’s basic physical instincts as the very foundation of selfdefense. Rather than unlearning normal reaction habits and committing new awkward techniques to memory, krav maga works with your instincts.
Physical Benefits: improved balance, increased flexibility, heightened stamina, Better posture, increased weight loss, improved body fat and lean mass percentages, lower blood pressure, lower resting heart rate, increased oxygen levels, strengthened immune system, increased cardiovascular endurance, prevention of osteoporosis Psychological Benefits: improved relaxation, increased selfconfidence, lessened aggression and hostility, lowered anxiety, decreased insomnia, heightened moral character
“These techniques are less complicated and more natural, preparing you for an assortment of different scenarios,” says Terry, who has more than 20 years of varied martial arts experience. You train for real-life confrontations with actual simulations. You train in street clothes. You workout and you sweat. You push through fatigue and find motivation to perform. “It’s about learning how to defend yourself in today’s world,” Terry says. Typical classes consist of a combination of warm-ups, stretching, calisthenics, punching, blocking, kicking, sparring and various strength-training routines. Students get a wide variety of exercise, including both aerobic (cardiovascular, fat burning, muscle toning) and anaerobic (strength and muscle building). Such workouts impact us not only physically, but also psychologically and mentally. “Some people come here for martial arts training and get in tremendous shape as a result,” says Terry. “Some look to get in shape and end up learning how to defend themselves. It works both ways here.” You don’t memorize “forms” or “katas,” as you would in most martial arts. You don’t earn belts, but as you develop, your simulated training challenges become more difficult. Success and progression in krav maga is directly related to your actual ability to overcome the adversity in simulated confrontations. You begin with blocking punches and kicks, then learn to counter them—even gain experience with chokes, grabs, grappling and ground maneuvers. Eventually, students learn techniques involving knives and guns. Although you can move up in levels, instructors aren’t trying to fill a quota of promotions.
Each level is earned by executing under pressure. “It’s about solving problems, not scoring points or winning a trophy in a tournament,” Terry says. As a result of its real-world applicability, krav maga is being utilized by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, including here in Memphis and the Mid-South. And because of its exciting environment, the KMX Youth Program is booming. The bottom line is, if it’s good for kids and cops, it’s good for everybody! So, if trips to your local gym or to Shelby Farms are providing you with forward physical progress, then stick with it. But if you’re looking for something new and exciting in which to participate, look no further than your nearest krav maga training center.
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MEDICINE
by JASON JONES photography by BRAD JONES
TRAINER TALK With Ben Crapps, Memphis Xplorers Head Trainer What’s the bottom line on supplements—safe or unsafe? Well, it depends on what you’re taking and how you’re using them. The stuff that’s illegal, I most definitely wouldn’t recommend. But, if you’re using them the right way and as part of a healthy diet and a good workout regimen, they’re fine. They can and do help you recover faster.
What’s the most common injury you see in arena football? Dr. Lawrence F. Schrader
Ankles and head injuries. Ankles, probably, are more common. We grade them from one to three, depending on severity, and we get a lot more ones than threes. We see a good deal of head injuries because of the confinement of the wall and the speed of the game.
What’s a typical day like for you? My day starts around 8:00 or 8:30 during the season. I knock out all of my administrative stuff in the morning—reports, treatment logs, notes on players and doctor visits. Those take up a lot of my time during the week. Late morning and early afternoon I’m usually getting ready for practice, which means getting the training room ready. I’ll also see the guys who are doing rehabs. We usually tape [ankles, et cetera,] around 5:00 and are on the field by 6:00 for around two hours. Then, it’s back to the training room for more treatments and rehab. Keeping guys healthy and on the field is especially important in arena ball. Since we only have 19 players, I have to give every player the absolute best opportunity to be on that field.
How has your industry changed? It’s more regulated for liability issues. Athletic trainers have become a visible and very important part of the staff. With athletes becoming more highly paid and a bigger investment for owners, it’s more important than ever to get guys back on the field and keep them healthy. And them being on the field is important to a number of different people for different reasons. That said, we have to protect the organization, too. In athletics, sometimes guys may not be as injured as they claim to be, or they may want to have a surgery they don’t necessarily need. The other side of that is, many times, a guy tries to come back sooner than he needs to and, in doing so, could injure himself further. It’s a fine line to walk.
What are the biggest challenges facing trainers today? Keeping guys on the field. You have to, in pro sports, deal with not only coaches and GMs but agents. So I suppose just trying to keep everyone happy. And many times, that’s, as I mentioned earlier, a fine line to walk for a number of different reasons. And I’m sure to a certain degree, that’s on every level of competition.
Do you have any websites to recommend for weekend warriors or athletes? There is a lot of good information available at [The National Athletic Trainers Association website], www.nata.org. Yeah, good stuff for the weekend guy.
M.D., F.A.C.S
Suffering a Shoulder Injury The Inside Scoop
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he shoulder is the most mobile joint we have, making it the most commonly injured joint, as well. Just swing your arm around and you can see and feel your shoulder move 180 to 360 degrees in most directions. To enable the range of motion, the connective elements or ligaments are very loose. Small rotator cuff muscles surround the joint and control the position of the upper arm so that the bigger rotator cuff muscles can work. There is a cap of bone at the top of the shoulder called the acromion, where some of the bigger muscles originate. The acromion limits overhead motion and is padded by a special cushion called the bursa. What’d You Do Most shoulder injuries are from too much overhead use of the arm or poorly controlled swinging of the arm, often when throwing a ball. The shoulder and the rotator cuff muscles become repetitively stretched or pinched against the acromion, which causes swelling and
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pain. The bursa also becomes inflamed, causing severe pain with even small motions of the arm. If the injury worsens, the inflamed muscle no longer works in a balanced fashion, exacerbating the damage even more and possibly causing the rotator cuff muscles or tendons to tear. Play It Safe First, stop the offending activity, whether it is from sports or heavy lifting. Pushing through the pain will just lead to further injury. Next, relieve inflammation by resting. For more severe cases, go to the doctor, who may prescribe an antiinflammatory medicine or inject a local anesthetic and cortisone. Once the pain subsides, it is vital to retrain your rotator cuff muscles to work normally; otherwise, the problem is sure to recur. Many of the exercises can be done at home after proper instruction, although occasionally formal physical therapy is required. Most of the time, surgery can be avoided. Some problems can even be treated arthroscopically. If your symptoms persist, then further evaluation with an MRI scan may be necessary to see if a tendon has completely torn. Finally, you must figure out how to correct the offending activity. Usually, getting proper, professional instruction for your throw or swing does the trick. Take it slow and steady when you’re recuperating. It may be frustrating to stay off the links or the court, but letting the injury heal properly will be your quickest way to get back in the game.
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KIDSPORT What have your kids learned about sports? Memphis Sport is looking for short stories like these. The authors must be age 15 or younger. Email your stories to kidsport@memphissport.net
Co importanatches are the most person on any team.
They te ach the game to coaches all the , but o players thers h on the ate the team. M ir coac My favo any peo hes. Ye rite co ple lov t a , c h E v ever is eryone the win e their has a f ter of m y d ad. He avorite 2005 an coached d taugh coach. my bask t me ma Coach G etball ny life alvin, t e am, the as ever lessons our gam yone in Flames, that se es. He cluding ason. in yelled m overwhe y self ca and che lming c l l e e r d e d him, wa onfidenc from ou off nig s very e in ou r bench ht. We’ active r team. but mos ll beat in E tly yel v ery tim them ne led. He e we lo xt time Win or had an st he w ”. He k lose, t ould sa new we hough, over an y, “We could s practic d over had an u e c s c eed. w e a re brut gain ma game. I al. He king su f we ha would m re we w d messe ake us ould no we’d ru d up a run a p t mess n it un p l a y lay up in a t i i n our l l he be hour of ast gam came ti practic e r , e d . i ng play Then, a shootin s, ball fter an g, we s handlin crimmag forty-fi g moves e d again ve minu , and st each tes of read to other. scrimma A us from f ter ge, he a book would s coach e written top to ver, Jo b y h n the bes Wooden. a chapt t NCAA Coach G er and alvin w ask a p by Edward Francis, age 12 Finally ould re l a yer wha , we wo ad t h u e l d thought pray. M Christi of it. y dad w an role ut of all the great as and model. is a gr e at Most of sports we participate my team mates d but I w in here in the United i s liked C as usua oach Ga lly fur he anno l v i States, I believe i o n u s at hi at time unced i m. When s, t to th he anno I e m t baseball is one of the greatest. essed u eam. Wh unced i p, en I mi t to th why I w s s e e d t eam. I a lay-u as the Americans have been playing was enr p, example son and aged! I for the he didn the sport since the Civil War. k n e t w eam, th ’t want him for ough. I complai yelling w It is known to many people as a s n ing par his at thei ents an r child gry wit Looking . “America’s Sport”. You don’t have h back, I ’m glad pushed to be very athletic to master this I was y me to d elled a o bette and I c t. His r. I wa great sport. Baseball is a game ould do w ords nted to what ev prove h Galvin, e r that is just as much mental as it is e h e my dad, was wro said I ng, pushed couldn’ me to m t . physical. Also, unlike many other Coach ake I c an’t un He also a cceptab sports, you can fail seven out of ten taught le. me to n basketb o times and still be considered a Hall t l e t all use me. I s use it h of Fame player. Lastly, baseball o u ld by doin g proje like th c t is such a great sport because it s is. He is a gr coach a e a t teaches you important lessons nd fath er. about life. You win some, and you By Dann y Galvi n, age lose some. You get knocked down, 12
Why I Love Baseball
O
but what really matters is how you respond. Baseball is a beautiful sport that will always be known as “America’s Sport”.
40 | Memphis Sport
BU I L D I N G B OY S , M A K I N G M E N F O R O V E R 5 0 Y E A R S .
In an era when boys are underperforming and disengaging from schools around the country, the boys of PDS are excited about learning, developing critical and creative thinking skills, and gaining a vision of what it means to be a man. 0RESBYTERIAN $AY 3CHOOL „ 0OPLAR !VENUE -EMPHIS 4. „ „ WWW PDSMEMPHIS ORG 0$3 IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN GRADES 0RE+ TO &INANCIAL AID AVAILABLE 0$3 MAINTAINS A NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY WITH REGARD TO RACE COLOR AND NATIONAL OR ETHNIC ORIGIN
www.memphissport.net | 41
THINGS TO DO
July 15 Mike Catlin, White Station High School bowling coach, and a group of his students will be attempting to break two world records for the most pins knocked down in 24 hours. Proceeds will be raised to help underpriviledged kids obatin proper equipment and coaching. For more information, visit kcbfoundation.com.
July 17
August 26-27
Tony Delk, Detroit Pistons guard, will present his annual Golf Classic. The tournament raises funds to support sickle cell research, as well as aid the Taylor Delk Sickle Cell Foundation in providing life-enhancing programs and services for children with sickle cell disease. For more information, visit tdscf.org.
Kick off your fall season with a great boysonly event at the lush fields of The Mike Rose Complex in Memphis. This inaugural kickoff event is sure to become an annual classic. For more information, visit mikerosesoccercomplex.com.
July 3 Eighth Annual Time Warner Road Runner Firecracker 5K Run/Walk to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 7:30 p.m. at the Racquet Club of Memphis.
July 4 Memphis Redbirds vs. Nashville Sounds. Stay after the game for the Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza sponsored by Cellular South. 6:40 p.m. at Autozone Park.
firecracker5k.com
memphisredbirds.com
July 3 Monday Night Coed Fun Run. 6:00 p.m. every Monday at Fleet Feet Sports.
July 23 24th Annual Road Race Series 5K. 7:00 a.m. at OvertonPark. memphisrunners.com
fleetfeet.com
July 15 Sports Ball Big Brother Big
42 | Memphis Sport
Sisters of Greater Memphis, Inc. 7:00 p.m. at the Cannon Center.
Motorsports Park.
bbbsmem.org
July 15 Memphis Xplorers vs. Amarillo Dusters. Last home game, 7:00 p.m. at Desoto Civic Center.
July 15 Breaking the Record Weekend to support Memphis and surrounding area youth bowlers. Events begin at 11:00 a.m. at Winchester Lanes. kcbfoundation.com
July 15 NASCAR Craftsmen Truck Series O’Reilly 200. 7:00 p.m. at Memphis
memphismotorsports. com
xplorersaf2.com
International 5K. 8:00 AM at Graceland. www.elvispresley 5k.com
August 18 U of M Women’s Soccer Team plays an exhibition at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. www.gotigersgo.com
July 17 2006 Tony Delk Charity Golf Classic. 10:00 a.m. at Colonial Country Club. tdscf.org
August 12 24th Annual Elvis Presley
August 18 - 20 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing (continued on next page)
Series. Memphis Motorsports Park. memphis motorsports.com
August 26-27 2006 Boyz Fall Championship for boys U9 -U18. Mike Rose Soccer Complex. mikerosesoccer complex.com
August 27 Memphis Redbirds vs. Nashville Sounds. Last home game. 2:10 PM at Autozone Park. memphisredbirds.com
September 1 U of M Men’s Soccer vs. Clemson Tigers in Memphis Diadora Tournament. First home game. 7:30 PM at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. gotigersgo.com
September 2 U of M football vs. Ole Miss. Season opener. ESPN-televised. 3:30 PM at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. gotigersgo.com
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photography by LEIGH ANN WILLIAMS
Memphis Redbirds vs. New Orleans Zephyrs june 3, 2006 1. Allan and Cindy Grittman 2. Avian Veals, Tanara Teal and Barbara Teal
8. (back row) Seth Belk, Jason Sawyer, Ariel Hicks, Joseph Hill, and Hunter Messer; (front row) Daniel Janes, Seth Roland, Danny May and David Janes
3. Arifa and Dr. Ahsan Kathawala with son Farhan and daughter Amy
9. Megan Britt, Chuck Denton, Gabby Denton and Colby Denton
4. Redhots Katie, Sharika and Candice with Camrey Ingram
10. Paul and Jennifer Hale
5. 4-year-old Tanner Wooley
11. Carroll and Christi Andre with sons Austin and Alex
6. Rachel Koch and Whittni Barner
12. Redhot Lana with Austin Williamson
7. Pamela Foster and Andrew Lococo
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photography by LEIGH ANN WILLIAMS
Memphis Xplorers vs. Birmingham Steeldogs june 17, 2006 1. Xplosion Cheerleader Holly and McKinzie Armstrong
WR/DB #5 Terrance Quattlebaum)
2. Demarcus Battle and Jatavius Keys
9. Bridgette Rushing, Jack Lunn (as Elvis) and Jessie Rushing
3. Xplosion Cheerleader Jennifer
10. Jason Pope and son Dawson
4. Brandi and Kristi Davidson and Lauren and Joe Rocconi
11. Greg Lacki and son Jacob
5. Eric Pike, Logan and Noah Pittman
12. Todd and Hunter Halford
6. Al and Allison Spencer with sons Connor and Ethan 7. Ronni Deaton, Kristi Jamison and Terri Nickols 8. Brandon, Patricia and Charlie Quattlebaum (relatives of
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photography by LEIGH ANN WILLIAMS
Coins 4 Kids 2006 5K Run & Walk june 17, 2006 1. (back row) Tess, Phillip, Steve, Francis, Tim and Steven; (front row) Margaret, Martin, Helen and Vincent 2. Mia Kemmons, Terrence Johnson and Melanie Posey 3. Pam and Abbey Dixon 4. Sarah and Amanda Cleves 5. Tom Prestogiacomo and Austin Wright 6. Jenni Doyle and Zach Doyle
48 | Memphis Sport
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