CONTENTS Holiday 2009 Volume 4, Number 3
PUBLISHER Mike Bullard 901.229.4749 mike@memphissport.net MANAGING EDITOR Kevin Cerrito kevin@memphissport.net CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jack Eaton Lauren Everhart Andy Fisher Doug Gillon Jan Michael Hartelust Andre Johnson Sarah Matthews Molly Okeon Dustin Starr Jeff White
Publisher’s Note 2 Nothin’ but Net 4
Power Train 30 Gym Class 32
Starting Five 6 Bring It On 8
Treadmill Tunes 33 Get Fit With... 34
Live Debate 10 FoodForum 12
Hot Shots 38 Fun n’ Games 40
All-Stars 14 Hall of Legends 16 Drop the Strap 28
Tailgating 42 Jack’s Back 44
16 Magic Man
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Katie Addcox Sharon Bicks Chase Gustafson
18 Allen Iverson
MEMPHIS SPORT 1138 N. Germantown Pkwy Ste. 101-176 Cordova, TN 38016 memphissport.net twitter.com/memphissport
©Copyright 2009 Memphis Sport Magazine LLC, All rights reserved
24 The Prodigy
Publisher’s Note The obligatory rant.
Mike is Gettin’ Angry. Nothing like a pitiful football season to get your blood boiling. Tommy West and the Tigers have produced one of the worst seasons since he became coach. Maybe it wouldn’t have hurt so much if he hadn’t filled us with so much hope before the season started. How is that depth working out for you now? The Ole Miss Rebels begin a dream season with a nightmare loss to South Carolina. Maybe if that top 5 ranking wasn’t hanging over their heads they would have played better? I can’t pretend that I am not happy about the Vols over on the other end of the state, but it takes all the fun out of hating them when the expectations are so low for this team. And the Tennessee Titans complete what is truly a miserable season of football. 59-0. Are you kidding me? The only thing worse would have been if Stephen Gostkowski had connected on his first field goal of the game (making it 62-0). The good news is that at least one of these teams will finish with a winning record. The bad news is that none will live up to their expectations this season. Without a doubt, this is the worst season of football for this area that I can recall. Who is ready for some basketball?
– Mike ike Bullard, publisher
PS. Speaking of angry... check my new blog at memphissport.net, “What I’m Angry About This Week.” There is always something new to be fired up about. And I intend to find something each and every week. Join me.
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www.memphissport.net | 3
Nothin’ but Net Highlights from memphissport.net.
549 South Highland Memphis, Tn 38111 (901) 324-5334
What I’m Angry About This Week
– From “I’m Angry About The Snuggie” by Mike Bullard:
In another bit of collegiate licensing news, the Snuggie is now being made in college colors and emblazoned with college logos. The University of Memphis is no where to be found. How are we supposed to root on our fabulous Tiger football team this winter? We will all freeze without a team Snuggie to wear.
Clash of the Titans – From
“Titans 0-5” by Kevin Buchanan:
We’ve spent so much time basking in the glory of 2008’s 10 game win streak and 13 - 3 record that we just assumed we’d be one of 2009’s Superbowl contenders. I think the Titans have fallen off of that horse. Nothing pretty about 0 - 5. Keith Bullock is always good for a quote...”We’ve had 5 tests and we’ve failed all 5, it’s like failing your favorite subject in school”. Post game press conferences aren’t a fun place to be when the team you are covering (and love as a fan) isn’t winning any games. The door opens and everyone gets quiet. Coach Fisher walks up to the podium and starts speaking...”You don’t have much of a chance to beat the Colts the way they’re playing right now, you have to play close to a near perfect game and it is clear tonight that we didn’t do that. The disappointing thing is the plan got flipped. The plan was to hold them to threes and instead they held us to threes.” Then he asks for
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questions. One of the local Titans’ beat writers proceeds to ask question after question. Fisher answers his questions and tries to move on. Then the same guy asks the same questions a different way thinking he’ll get a different answer. As if in some way he is going to further his career by antagonizing the man he is seeking answers from.
Five Minutes for Fighting–
From “Finally, the Kings Season Begins/Game Day” posted by Joe Sports:
The 64 games of the 2008-09 campaign were pretty heady stuff for the Kings, who delivered a magnificent 44 - 17 - 3 record - regularly making winning look easy and inevitable. The Laws of Puck probability suggest it is going to happen this season also, except this time the Presidents Cup will be ours. Don’t sweat it fans. The Kings will get “only” 100 points or so. Obviously the season we had last year was great, and we want to build on that. What we have to make sure of is - we’re ready for a long playoff run. I think we all learned a big lesson last year. We can use that this season, realize that wherever you finish in the regular season it doesn’t mean anything unless you make a deep run in the playoffs. The foundation has been put in place. Now all we have to do is watch how things unfold for 64 games, before the real fun starts. M
Read the latest M Reports, browse issue archives, listen to Memphis Sport Live and much more at memphissport.net.
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Starting Five Five lists of five.
FIVE things that would have been better for Jeff Fisher to wear instead of a Peyton Manning Jersey
1. Colt 45 costume.
5 QUESTIONS WITH
JACK MURPHY Murphy is an assistant coach for the University of Memphis basketball team. He served the past three years as an advance scout and video coordinator for the Denver Nuggets. Before that, he spent eight years at the University of Arizona, where he met and worked with Coach Josh Pastner.
2. A real Indianapolis colt (y’know–a horse). 3. A Tony Dungy Mask. 4. A “Shake the Haters Off ” t-shirt. 5. A thong.
FIVE things to make Memphis basketball better
You go way back with Coach Pastner, what can you tell us about him that we don’t already know? (laughing) I could tell you alot, but I would like to keep my job.... Well, we lived together for 4 years. I am sure his wife can attest to this. He doen’t like it if you leave a light on in a room. He conserves energy. As a coaching staff, what are the expectations you have for this year’s team? We are concerned about getting better every single day. As part of the Nuggets organization, you were able to work with Allen Iverson? What should we expect to see from him? You are going to see a guy who lays it all out on the floor every single night. Refuses to lose. Refuses to get beaten. He is an inspiring person and player. How much weight has Pierre Henderson-Niles lost since you got here. Since I have gotten here, I think, 40 pounds. Maybe even more. I think he had already lost 20 by the time I got here. He was maybe 310 and now he fluctuates anywhere between mid-260’s to 270. He looks fantastic. Preston Laird is now on scholarship, can we expect to see more of him this year? A scholarship doesn’t determine playing time. Whichever player, whether a walk-on or scholarship player steps up and proves in practice that they are better than the guys on the court than he will play.
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basketball game for charity. 2. Annual Tigers Hall of Fame game featuring former players on the court along with new players. 3. Other basketball games before or after men’s Tiger games–featuring women’s basketball, small colleges, or high school. 4. Grizzlies in the playoffs. 5. Completion (or start) of Anfernee Hardaway’s Memphis basketball Hall ofFame building.
FIVE Commercial Endorsements Coach Josh Pastner Turned Down 1. Maywood 2. Brady Bunch 40th Anniversary DVD boxed set. 3. Bosco’s 4. Ford Funeral Home 5. Memphis Grizzlies
FIVE things better than Memphis Tiger football for more, visit search.twitter.com and search for “thingsbetterthanmemphisfootball”
1. Posted by Brandon Harris twitter.com/bharris901 “diarrhea on a first date.” 10:57 PM Oct 8th 2. Posted by FantasyTillery twitter.com/FantasyTillery “My Grizzlies coverage” 11:35 PM Oct 7th from mobile web. 3. Posted by Brandon Harris twitter.com/bharris901 “Derrick Rose’s SAT score.” 7:03 PM Oct 5th from UberTwitter. 4. Posted by Ricky O’Rourke twitter.com/rjorourke “Chelsea Lately” 7:22 PM Oct 5th from UberTwitter. 5. Posted by Mark McCleskey twitter.com/bucsbaseball17 “Rhodes College rap battles” 8:46 PM Oct 4th from TwitterBerry.
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BRING IT ON
Brooke A simple formula - one cheerleader, questions and answers.
MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK PIT CREW GIRL
by KEVIN CERRITO photo by CHASE GUSTAFSON
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What does a Pit Crew girl do on a race day? We meet and greet with sponsors and fans, talk to the media, pose for photographs, do driver introductions, then we watch the race. When the race ends, we hand over the trophy to whoever wins and congratulate them.
What do you think about the Elvis themed trophy for the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250? I think it is awesome.
Do you have a favorite Elvis song? “Love Me Tender.� What do you listen to when you drive? Either rock music or hip-hop.
Have you ever talked your way out of a speeding ticket? Yes. When I was a Tiitanns ch heerleaderr, I got caught going 644 in n a 30. I gaave the police officerr an au utographeed Titans cheerleadeer poster. I got a verbal warning.
Fast and the Furious or Talladega Nights? Talladega Nights.
What is your favorite Brad Pitt movie? Fightt Clubb. What is your favorite thing about motorsports? Seeeing how w th he teams come toggettherr too make thee race happen.
What is the biggest difference between being at a race live and watching it on TV? Wattchiing on n TV, you u caannot feel the inteenssityy of th he race. Att th he race, you literalllyy feeel th he power of the cars.
If you drove a car, who would your sponsor be? Coach purssess.
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Live Debate Kevin and Jan Michael go head-to-head.
L L A B T E K S A B R E G I T D L WHO SHOU R FOR WHEN UT E E H C S N N FA I N O S A E S S I H T K U S Y PLA ? L L A B T E K S A B E G E L L CO f Memphis st, hosts o sport.net. lu te r a H l his ae Jan Mich e at memp rrito and WHB Q and onlin e C in v e K 6 Featuring undays on Sports 5 S , e iv L rt o Sp
fans will get to relish in seeing one of their least favorite opponents lose.
JM: As much as I hate to say it, Tiger fans should definitely be rooting for the University of Tennessee when they face off against Kentucky and Benedict Arnold Calipari. KEVIN: If the Tigers are your favorite team, your second favorite team is suppose to be whoever is playing Tennessee… no matter who the coach is on that team.
JM: That’s true, but they’ll also have to see one of them win. This argument is about who they should root for in the game and I just think–as vomit inducing as it is–UT is lesser of two evils here. KEVIN: I disagree. Ask this question one year ago and the answer is simple. You root against UT.
JM: Of course that would be your JM: Usually I would agree with that logic, but I think this is a special circumstance. You have a team made up of players that were supposed to be leading the Tigers to a NCAA Championship and coached by a man who had no problem misleading Tiger fans and nearly destroying the program. KEVIN: I think we both agree that Tiger fans are hoping there is some way both teams can lose the game. It is fun to watch your enemies beat up on each other, no matter the outcome. Tiger
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answer, but this isn’t one year ago. It’s now and in this sports reality, Benedict Arnold is leading a team of Tigers wearing a different shade of blue.
KEVIN: Which brings up a good point, it will be easier for Tiger fans to cheer on Kentucky. Their color is blue too and all their players were going to be Tigers, so Memphis fans already know all about them.
JM: Why do I even bother arguing with you? As awful as UT orange is,
it is not the sole reason to root against them. The similarity in colors should only enrage Tiger fans more. John Wall will only look more like a Tiger.
KEVIN: Sure what Benedict Arnold did was inexcusable. But it doesn’t leap frog his new team on the hatred scale above Tennessee or even Louisville for that matter. JM: Couldn’t disagree more. And I’m sure Tiger fans will agree with me when they see Kentucky in the Final Four. KEVIN: Calipari had too much control over ending Tiger traditions while he was here. Don’t let him try to mess with more now that he is gone. Hating UT is a tradition. JM: The damage is done. He rallied Tiger fans while he as here and he’s going to continue to do so now that he’s gone. But it didn’t have to be this way. KEVIN: Memphis fans have to see UT fans in their everyday life. Kentucky fans are all in the Bluegrass on message boards and paying $50 a month to be a member of Cal’s website.
JM: Not true. Kentucky fans have been coming out of the woodwork ever since Benedict Arnold went up there. I’ve seen them all over the place. There may not be as many of them as UT fans, but they are here for sure. KEVIN: Is there a way both UT and Benedict Arnold can lose? JM: Not in the same game. KEVIN: What if Cal gets ejected and UT loses… Or what if his kids have to sit next to Pat Forde at the game and UT loses. JM: Either of those scenarios would be pretty good, but UK can’t be led to victory by any former Tiger commits. KEVIN: What if the story breaks at halftime that Kentucky already has an NCAA violation and then UT loses. JM: Now that would be a win-win. M Kevin Cerrito and Jan Michael Hartelust can be heard every Thursday at 6pm on Sports 56 WHBQ. Podcasts of the broadcasts can be found online at memphissport.net
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FoodForum m Where sports collide with beer and food.
GASTROPUB
HEAVEN South of Beale by JEFF WHITE
S.O.B. That acronym usually has a negative connotation and is associated with someone who has gotten on your nerves. Yet, the S.O.B. I’m talking about is South of Beale, downtown’s firstever gastropub, and there is nothing negative about this place. I must admit, I am new to the gastropub experience. At first, I thought I was headed to a place where I could fill up my gas tank and get a beer, but I was gravely mistaken. A gastropub, by definition, is “a public house which specializes in serving high-quality food.” You are not going to find your typical bar fare here. The cuisine is chef-driven with a nice variety to suite any pallet. After only one visit, S.O.B. has become one of my favorite hang-outs in Memphis, and it is quickly becoming a favorite for many in the city.
AMBAmbience
When I walked in with my wife, she quickly commented, “This place feels really homey.” She was dead on. The intimate setting has the feeling of a downtown pub with the sophistication of an upscale gallery, featuring artwork by Daniel Tracker. We were very comfortable at the spacious bar and enjoyed Sunday Night Football on two high definition flat screens. If you’d prefer to skip the bar, there is also plenty of main room seating
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available. Music was piped throughout the pub during our stay and it wasn’t the loud, obnoxious pop noise that you get at your local chain. It was ideal, not too loud, and very eclectic.
F OFood O
I couldn’t believe that I was sitting at a pub and eating Five Spice Seared Duck, but I was! And it was incredible! I’ve never had duck in my life. I’ve seen ducks. I’ve fed them. I’ve never eaten them. But they are delicious at S.O.B. Served with duck fried rice and
I couldn’t believe that I was sitting at a pub and eating Five Spice Seared Duck, but I was! And it was incredible! I’ve never had duck in my life. I’ve seen ducks. I’ve fed them. I’ve never eaten them.
an egg prepared sunny side up, this dish is a spicy, rich carnival of flavor. Cooked perfectly and eaten promptly, I was in gastropub heaven. My wife opted for the vegetable lasagna (made with homemade pasta and a plum tomato sauce) and a side salad of garden greens, cherry tomatoes, and raspberry vinaigrette. She joined me in gastropub bliss as we sampled each other’s entrees. Here’s the best part though: the popcorn. Yes, popcorn. You get popcorn as a starter, and I’m not exactly sure what they do to it, but it’s completely addictive. I was told it had brown sugar and cayenne pepper, but the rest was a chef ’s secret. I wanted a fair-sized bag of it to take home.
D RDrinks I
Wednesday and Sunday nights are pint nights at S.O.B. so we were in luck. They had great beers on tap and I tried the Schlafly Pale Ale and Lazy Magnolia’s Southern Pecan. Super hoppy and super delicious, I had entered a beer drinker’s utopia. Great food, unbelievable popcorn, football, music and PINT NIGHT! But that’s not all. They’ve wines galore, many bottled beer selections, and a gigantic variety of liquors to prepare any one of your favorite libations. I also tried one of their featured mixed drinks called Honey Ginger, concocted with ginger
ale and honey bourbon; a perfect fall cocktail. There are drinks for the ladies as well. My wife had the Autumn Punch which was, as she described, “like iced spiked apple cider with fruit.” She also indulged in the sinfully-delicious Pumpkin Pie Martini. Whatever you’re drinking, S.O.B. is serving.
S EService R
S.O.B certainly doesn’t employ any s.o.b.’s. We were greeted with a friendly smile, and a knowledgeable bartender who answered any and all of our numerous questions. He kept the drinks flowing and the popcorn abundant. The food was promptly served, and our bartender was definitely intrigued at my first experience with duck. He and I now share an equal love for the Five Spice Seared Duck. We were treated like family and didn’t want to leave, so we kept the popcorn coming.
O VOverall E
Okay, just a secret between me and you, this is the best new joint in the city, but please don’t keep it a secret. Spread the word. South of Beale has only been open a couple of months, but with the food they are serving, the top notch service and the great libations, it seems like they’ve been a Memphis staple for years. Head down there on Wednesday or Sunday for pint night, take your significant other out for a great meal any night of the week, or hang out after you’ve been to a Tigers, Grizzlies or Redbirds game. You, too, will find yourself in gastropub heaven. Just save some popcorn for me! Jeff White is a contributor to Memphis Sport Live on Sports 56 WHBQ. Podcasts of the broadcasts can be found online at memphissport.net.
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All-Stars The very best of prep athletics.
TEAM PLAYER by JAN MICHAEL HARTELUST MUS senior quarterback BARRY BRUNETTI has thrown for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns this season as well as racking up 330 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He helped lead MUS to an undefeated state championship in his junior season and is now a 4-star prospect according to Rivals.com and has verbally committed to West Virginia University. All of those facts are impressive, but Brunetti is also proud of what he does off the football field as well. “My best attribute off the field is helping young kids in the community, in the classroom and on the field,” Brunetti says. Brunetti also says that the best part of his senior season so far is being able to spend time with his teammates every day. MUS head coach Bobby Alston seems to agree with that sentiment. “He puts the team’s interest above personal stats and recognition,” Alston says. “For a player who has accomplished what Barry has done, that is unusual.” Brunetti admits to watching West Virginia as often as he can when they’re on TV, but for now he can enjoy being with his teammates during another highly successful MUS football season.
With 25 tackles and three sacks so far this season, defensive end DEVIN SCATES is starting to draw attention from college programs. Scates, a senior at Westwood High School, has received letters from Middle Tennessee, Carson Newman and the University of Memphis. UT Chattanooga has already offered the talented lineman a scholarship. Though he has not chosen a college yet, Scates plans on majoring in Veterinarian Medicine or Criminal Justice. Using what coach Sloan Cooper has called “a repeatable, trustworthy swing,” Briarcrest eighth grader LAUREN WADE has played great golf on her way to the No. 1 ranking in the Shelby League. Lauren has won most of the tournaments she’s played in over that last two years including a 6th place finish at the Tennessee State Junior Amateur. Throw in a few holes in one and great sportsmanship and you have the makings of a future star. CLAYTON LEMONS, now a freshman for Harding University, was a team captain as well as a three-year letter winner as an offensive lineman at Harding Academy. He was also a key part of the Lion team that went to its first state championship game last season. Clayton was a First Team offensive lineman for the Tennessee Division II-A State team while also starting in the Memphis AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star Game. He is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is majoring in management.
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Officia l Prov ider of Rus sell Ap parel
GET SET AT...
Get set at...
3533 Walker, just off Highland | 324-2808 | www.tigerbookstore.com
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facebook.com at “Tiger Bookstore - University of Memphis”
Magic Man NEW LEMOYNEOWEN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR EXPANDING HIS DEPARTMENT
by ANDRE DRE JOHNSON JOH
W
illiam A Anderson d iinsists i h he did not anticipate ii matters to unfold f ld this way. But don’t expect any apologies from him. Anderson has been LeMoyne-Owen College’s athletic director for a little more than six months after carrying the interim label for 11 months. For someone who has always envisioned being involved in collegiate athletics in some capacity since graduating from the school in 1991, his presence as the chief executive officer of Magician athletics is being felt significantly throughout the program.
For starters, when LeMoyne-Owen president Johnnie B. Watson promoted Anderson athletic director after the longtime basketball coach guided the Magicians to an unlikely Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in March as a No. 4 seed, among Anderson’s chief objectives was to expand a department that was not thoroughly staffed, an issue that led to several coaches being burned out from overseeing multiple varsity sports. Such a procedure, in fact, proved detrimental,
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particularly for student-athletes who sought to establish a rapport with their respective coach. Anderson, of course, sensed that such an ineffective and outdated method could not continue, especially for an institution that, for years, has been devising ways to upgrade its athletic program, facilities, and compete with the top tier programs in the 13-member SIAC. “My biggest challenge was trying to look at what we were doing here at
LeMoyne-Owen College so that we could restructure and help studentathletes reach their educational goals and get them to focus in the classroom,” Anderson said. “I have been at LeMoyne coaching multiple sports and it does a disservice to the student-athletes because the coaches can’t dedicate themselves to two sports. One of the things I did was separate some of those sports.”
Anderson, in fact, hired four new coaches, all of whom have steady ties to the college. He added a new tennis coach in Garry Coleman, a LeMoyne-Owen graduate who served as a volunteer assistant for the men and women’s tennis programs for eight years and had been the interim coach for the past year. Coleman, a native of Memphis, is affiliated with the United States Tennis Association, Anderson said.
“Student-athletes are starting to see LeMoyne as a nurturing environment,” Anderson said. “The fact that we hired coaches who played in the program has created a family atmosphere. The college has embraced that. We’ve been getting great support from sponsors and the community. I’m taking calls daily from different groups and alumni in the community to see what they can do to get involved. A lot of those coaches have great ties to the community.
However, Anderson and LeMoyne administrators want to see it come back. He said a group comprised of several active LeMoyne alumni members is going through the necessary channels to add football to the athletic program. While he could not give a time table in terms of when --- or if --- football would return to the school, Anderson said the team would likely play home games at Booker T. Washington
He also hired former Northside High standout and LeMoyne-Owen player Myquita Mackey as head coach of the women’s basketball program. Prior to coming to the LeMoyne, Mackey played two seasons at Southwest Tennessee Community College, where she was a junior college AllAmerican. In two seasons with the Lady Magicians, she garnered Division 2 All-American honors. Her coaching stint includes working as a volunteer assistant and assistant for LeMoyne.
We’ve been getting great support from
Anderson named former LeMoyne multi-sport athlete Julia Jones the school’s volleyball coach earlier this year and hired LeMoyne-Owen alum JJohnny h Rudd R dd as the h head h d baseball b b ll coach. A former semi-pro player, Rudd replaced Ronald Watson, who coached three seasons at LeMoyne from 2005 to 2008 but resigned two weeks into the 2008 campaign. Rudd served as an assistant on two different occasions at the school in the 1970s and 1980s.
It’s been so much easier,
Also, the school named Jerry Dover, Jr. sports information director. Dover’s father, the late Jerry Dover, Sr. who, for years, ran the Bluff City Classic, is a former LeMoyneOwen All-American guard who is believed to have been the shortest player to play in the old American Basketball Association in the 1970s. While he insists that employing coaches with exuberant ties to the school was not a factor during his hiring process, Anderson believes such an interconnection could prove vital in terms of recruiting, particularly throughout the Shelby-Metro area.
sponsors and the community. I’m taking calls daily from different groups and
alumni in the community
to see what they can do to get involved.
A lot of those coaches
have great ties to the community. having been rooted in the Memphis community. It’s been so much easier, having been rooted in the Memphis community.” Considering he has cleared the lofty hurdle of fully staffing his department, Anderson is now faced with arguably his toughest challenge in his brief time as AD. Talks have surfaced for LeMoyne-Owen to possibly bring back football as a varsity sport for the first time since 1951. That year, the Magicians went undefeated, but was forced to do away with football the following year when the entire team was drafted to fight in World War II, Anderson said. The program hasn’t returned since, joining Claflin University and Paine College as the only SIAC schools without football, according to Ruben Perez, director of new media and communications for the conference.
Stadium. He also was quick to point out that if football resurfaces on campus, the school would have to consider assembling a marching band. Regardless, one advantage to implementing a development of this nature is that there would be a significant increase in male enrollment, something the school has struggled with in recent years, Anderson said. “In 1997, we had to drop track and field because we did not have enough male athletes to participate in the sport,” Anderson said. “By adding (football), that will definitely increase male enrollment by at least 100 to 125 athletes.” M
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ALLEN
by DOUG GILLON painting by DANIEL TACKER photos courtesy MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
IVERSON Allen Iverson may have spent more time in Tunica than in a Memphis barbecue restaurant, may have never been to Stax or Graceland, and probably can’t tell AC Wharton from AC Slater, but Memphians made him feel at home from the moment he arrived in Beale Street Blue, and he wanted to return that southern hospitality with a winner. Before the Grizzlies left on their now infamous five-game West Coast road trip at the start of the 2009-10 season, Memphis Sport sat down with The Answer for a one-on-one interview and listened to him talk openly about everything from the team, the city, his career, and even practice. We asked A.I. the questions that we wanted answered, and gave him a chance to speak his mind. One can only wonder how the Iverson era in Memphis would have unfolded had the Grizzlies brass done the same.
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Your Grizzlies introductory press conference was pretty unique. Have you been through anything like that before? No. I had a press conference in Detroit, and honestly, because the fans were great to me in Detroit, that was special and really different. But the one in Memphis – it was hands down the best. There were so many people - it made me feel like I was home. One thing about being traded or being a free agent and going to another team, the main thing, and I don’t know about other players but for me, the main thing in my heart is wanting to be accepted and wanting to be wanted. So once I saw the way they embraced me, I was happy and I felt like I was home. All the nervousness that I had and all the jitters went out the door once I seen the response from those people. I felt like I was home and like I made the right decision.
Speaking of that, no one can find the hat you wore at that press conference. Where did you get it? I got it in Atlanta. Our trainers have been sayin’ that too, and our equipment guys saying they haven’t seen that hat either, but I got it from Lids in Atlanta. I better start wearing that hat around here if nobody got it.
Did you learn to play the blue guitar Kevin Kane gave you? I haven’t been playing it at all yet. I’m kinda skeptical about havin’ it in my house with my kids when we move in because, bad as my kids are, it might not be a guitar after a week’s end.
So the concert is a ways off? (Laughs) No, that won’t be for a while.
To this day, many people associate your name with “practice,” or lack thereof, and that infamous press conference. How has that affected you over time? That was something that made people laugh, something people enjoyed and something people had a ball with. But I think that when people talk about it in a negative way, they just want to speak about it in a negative way and they anti-Allen Iverson people. I was wondering why we were having that conversation about practice in May, or whenever it was. I know it wasn’t basketball season and it was the summertime. And I kept getting that question over and over and over again in the press conference when we were supposed to be talking about me staying in Philadelphia and not being traded. But that’s all they harped on. Out of that whole ordeal, the thing that only upset me about the whole thing was that I didn’t want people to glamorize that the way they did, for kids that might feel like Allen Iverson felt like he didn’t need practice to accomplish all the things that he accomplished in his life. The things that I’ve accomplished on the basketball court, I don’t think no man could accomplish without practicin’
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– without workin’ on. You can’t score 24,000 points in the league without practice, you can’t be an MVP, you can’t be a ten-time All-Star, you can’t be a four-time scoring champion. You can’t do all those things without practice. So I wasn’t saying that I didn’t like practice. I was saying that I didn’t understand why we were having that conversation about practice when the press conference had nothing to do with that. That was the only part of the press conference that I was upset about. I didn’t want kids around the world to think I was saying that I didn’t like practice, because without practice you can’t become the player that you want to be.
You tweeted about bringing a championship to Memphis. How serious is that? How serious do I think it is? It’s very serious. I’m at the point in my career that – that’s the only thing I’m concerned about now.
Do you write your own twitter? I do sometimes or I’ll relay it to my manager and he’ll do it. But I’m not big on that anyway. That’s not something that I’m into.
What can you bring here to make the Grizzlies a championship team? Leadership. My knowing how to win and the experience that I have on the basketball court and the different wars I’ve been in during my career.
You’ve said the reason you were successful in Philadelphia was due to a strong team identity – that being that you were “going to shoot up all the balls.” What kind of identity does this team need to be successful? Just knowin’ how we going to play every night, and always play that same way – live and die with it. Concentrate on the defensive end first, and on the offensive end just take the best shot that’s available – taking what the defense gives us.
Are you going to be the guy who “shoots up all the balls” here? I doubt it. You got a lot of scorers on this team. It’s different from other teams that I’ve been on, so I doubt that’ll be my responsibility. You know, I’ll get up my shots too, but it’s so many other guys that can score the basketball. We gotta rely on the guy that has it goin’ on on different nights and ride his coattail regardless of who that may be. Like I said, we gotta take what the defense gives us.
What do you think about the team so far, especially the rookies? They’re young. They’re young. They’ve got a lot of talent, but don’t understand the professional game – and that’s expected. It’s early in they careers and it’s gonna take a while for them to understand the pace of the game and what it takes to win basketball
games. But there’s a lot of talent, a lot of offensive talent. Thabeet has a great defensive presence and the more ore he learns the game, the better he’s goin’ to be as a defensive player.
If the Grizzlies are down two at the e end of a game, who takes the final shot? Whoever got the best look I guess. I don’t know. That’s something ething that you would have to ask the coach. When you down n two, you look for who has the best shot. It depends on how w much time is left. Obviously it’s matchups that you might ht want to exploit. You might want to look at the guy who has as the hottest hand throughout the game. I would think that wee would go to our best option matchup-wise. When you’re a basketball team then obviously you gotta be able to trust the guy who the play is called for. That’s what being a team is all ll about because that guy might not have a shot, and they might take him away, and then he’ll have to depend on somebody body else.
You’ve said that as a young player, you didn’t care as much about winning as you do now. When did that change? I think nk after my first year, not goin’ to the playoffs. It didn’t bother ther me that much, and then the second year – anotherr year go by and not going to the playoffs and havin’ to watch the playoffs and see how more exciting it was than n the regular season, that was the point that it touched me.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get to that point? I would say Derrick Coleman. leman. Which of the young guys here can you help bring up? Probably all of ‘em. I think most of the young guys in here probably grew up watchin’ me play. I know I probably have that affect on them. I’m pretty retty sure that a guy that I watched and comin’ up if I was on a teammate with him, I would have that respect for him, and look up to him the same way I did with Derrick Coleman.
So they’ll learn by example? Yeah they ey can learn by example, but from the information that I give them as well.
Are you a point guard or a shooting g guard? Guard. I’m a basketball player. I can pretty much do whatever it takes on the basketball court. I can play both positions. ositions. I’m just a basketball player. I don’t consider myselff a one guard or a two guard. I can get it done. I can run an offense, I can score, I can create for other people. I’m just a basketball player. I don’t label myself as a one or a two guard..
Which nickname do you prefer? Chuck. ck. Who does your hair? This girl from Philadelphia. delphia.
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Do you go back to do it? Naw, she come to wherever I’m at, whether it’s on the road or here in Memphis.
Who would play you in a movie? I would think nobody could play me but myself, but if I could pick anybody, it would be Wood Harris (Avon Barksdale from The Wire).
What do you think about Memphis? The city has a great personality. It’s so out going, and it’s just a fun city. I came here every summer, even before I started playin’ here. I came here twice or three times over the summer. Music’s great. My wife just came here from Atlanta with the kids, and it was kinda tough on them because they got the music playin’ all day long, so you never get a chance to have a good night’s sleep without hearing all the music. It’s an exciting place though, and for people that want to have any type of fun in their life, this is the place to be. Which of your previous cities is most like Memphis? Most like Memphis? I would say – none of ‘em. Every city has its differences. It’s the same as far as wanting a winner. All those cities I played for wanted a winner and loved their team. I think it’s the same thing with Memphis. These people are waiting to get up out of their seats, they’re waiting to cheer us on and help us have a successful year. They’ve been waiting for it for a long time. Hopefully, by me arriving here, it excites them even more and makes them that much more anxious for the season when it’s underway.
Do you pay attention to the Memphis rap scene? I know there’s Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball MJG, Yo Gotti, lot of guys out there.
Could you pick a favorite between Three 6 and Yo Gotti? I wouldn’t pick. They both talented and I’m a fan of both of them.
You pay any attention to Memphis politics? No, and I’m not gonna speak on anything I don’t know anything about. That’d be ignorant.
Do you read or watch any of the local coverage about you on TV or in The Commercial Appeal? The what? The Memphis paper. Oh. No, I used to do that early in my career, but I don’t do it anymore. I think 99% of the times what people write about me is not true and it only frustrates me to have it on my mind. So my whole thing is that I’ve read enough articles and seen enough TV to see all the praise that I’ve gotten over the years and I’ve seen enough negative things written about me or put on TV about me that I’ve seen
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both sides of it and it’s no big deal to me now. I don’t watch it all. Regardless of if you sayin’ I’m the greatest person since sliced bread. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to see it.
Church’s – Kentucky Friend Chicken, that’s about it. I ate some Chick-fil-a out at the mall, and Subway.
Have you been to Stax? No. Then let’s clear up a few things that have shown up recently. First, it’s been said that your recent injury shows that your body can no longer take the abuse of your style of play, and that you’re finally starting to break down. (Laughs) Yeah, they gonna say that one because that’s the last injury! Before that, it was another injury, and they said that, and then before that, it was the injury before that, and it was the injury before that! As long as I keep getting injured, they’re gonna say that’s the injury that shows that I’m breakin’ down. That’s easy for anybody to say once somebody get hurt. Say, “Yeah I told you.” But they were saying that years and years ago and I’m still here.
It has also been said that you can’t finish with your left hand. They’re right
Graceland? No. Any of the popular tourist destinations? No. So what’s the main place for you to hang out in Memphis? We used to always just be in the Westin, across from the arena. I didn’t go out too much. I usually just came here for parties and stuff like that. I used to go to the casinos while I was out here but that was pretty much it.
What’s the best spot in Tunica? What’s the names of the casinos there?
about that (laughs). I don’t have the greatest left hand in the world. I can’t do too much with it.
Horseshoe, Goldstrike… Horseshoe, yeah.
Will you be living in town?
You play blackjack? No.
Definitely. The reason my wife and my kids haven’t moved here yet is that they’ve been in school so long, like a month, before I was signed here, and they had already gotten acclimated there. They’ve been having to deal with this for the last couple years, being in Denver and Detroit and then here and running around and having to leave their teachers and their friends and it’s kinda been hard on them. So I kinda bit the bullet this time to make it easier for them. It’s kinda hard being away from my family, I never did it with all the trades. But after you have a bad game, you always have them to come home and be that crutch, and make you forget about what happened if you had a bad day at practice or a bad game, they would make you forget all about it. Now I don’t have that. That’s the toughest part for me, but I think this will be easier on them. It’s gonna be rough on me, but I feel like I can handle it, and hopefully next summer I can sign up a little longer term deal here and finish out my career here, and then they can be assured that they’ll be here for a little while and not having to run all over again.
Have you had any of our barbecue? Naw, not yet. Matter of fact, it was the craziest thing because, my wife just got here yesterday and she brought barbecue ribs from my cook back in Atlanta. I’m so stuck on those I haven’t had a chance to go out and get any in Memphis.
So where does Allen Iverson eat in Memphis? Did I go anywhere? I think that the
What do you play? Three card poker. Who were the most challenging or fun players to play against in your career? I would say the most fun to play against was in my earlier years – my first three or four years – was Stephon Marbury. When we came in, we were just compared so much and people would talk about who’s the best and this that and the third, and who was going to go first and who was going to go second. After that kinda died off, it was just anybody. I enjoy playing against the best players and I enjoy playing against the mediocre players. Obviously if you’re able to make to the NBA, then that says something about who you are as a player. Nobody’s a sorry basketball player if you’re in the NBA. Obviously you have some talent if you’re able to be on a level like that. I don’t underestimate anybody. I approach the game the same way if I’m playing against an MVP or playing against a guy who’s the 12th person on the bench. I approach it the same way because it helps me be consistent. I never underestimate nobody.
Which team do you most enjoy beating? All of ‘em. It’s not one team that I hate more than the next. I think I really hate losing more than I like winning.
Does that apply to poker too? That’s probably with anything (Laughs).
couple spots that I did eat at, I don’t know the name of ‘em, one of my friends went out and got it, but I eat
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BJ PENN
THE PRODIGY by ANDRE JOHNSON photos courtesy UFC
The bad news for B. J. Penn is that this year did not start off the way he would have liked. The good news, however, is that he seems to have selective amnesia. “It was this year?” Penn, in a recent telephone conversation, said of his first of three fights this year. “I thought it was a while back. I figured we weren’t still in the same year. I went in that fight and got my butt kicked.” One of the world’s most renowned mixed martial arts fighters and a fixture on the Ultimate Fighting Championship circuit, Penn (14-5-1) will fight in Memphis, December 12th against Diego Sanchez at UFC 107. A setback in his much-anticipated rematch against French Canadian George St-Pierre this past January in Las Vegas, where he was beaten senseless before a corner stoppage that was ruled a technical knockout, gave him his first defeat in nearly three years. This setback, in fact, resulted in Penn, 30, undergoing weeks of depression and soul-searching. It was a brutal, lopsided beating that left the native of Kailua, Hawaii bloody, scared and bruised over almost his entire 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame. It was a devastating shellacking that prompted Penn to board the first plane out of Vegas and head to the soothing, relaxing islands of Hawaii. “I was kind of depressed,” Penn said of the loss to St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight championship bout known as St.-Pierre vs. Penn 2: Declaration. “But it was one of those things where I knew I had to get up and defend the (light heavyweight) title. Regardless of the profession, there are a lot of ups and downs. And a successful person has to keep climbing and standing up on their feet.”
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Penn, who admittedly never contemplated calling it a career after what he described as the most disappointing loss of his nine-year UFC career, returned to San Diego, his training site and began conditioning for his clash against fellow American Kenny Florian. The fight (see photos below), which took place August 9 in Philadelphia, ended in the fourth round when an apparently frustrated and livid Penn emerged victorious by submission for his 14th win, thanks to an emphatic rear naked choke. It was, at least according those affiliated with the Penn camp, a confidence-building, grudge victory, given the situation that surrounding the Penn-Florian bout. Weeks prior to Penn’s rematch against St-Pierre, Penn was tipped off by Florian, who sent him emails and text messages, saying that St-Pierre had been using Vaseline in numerous parts of his body as an advantage, of sorts, against his opponents. However, after the Penn-Florian fight was announced, Florian was seen working out with St-Pierre and eventually denied that he told Penn such news. Penn, as result, felt betrayed by Florian, calling him a liar, cheater, and two-faced, among other things. Penn, much to his delight, eventually took his frustrations out on Florian when the two collided in Philly’s UFC 101: Declaration. “It was just good to beat Florian because he was the one who called and told me St. Pierre was a greaser,” Penn said. “And then he came back and lied and said he didn’t say it. But everybody in this camp knew he said it. He texted it to everybody. I guess everybody thought I was whining about my loss to Pierre. But I’m not the kind who worries about what people think.” Penn, in fact, felt he got a raw deal after his bout against St.Pierre. The fight was met with an array of controversy when the eventual champion, according to Penn, was seen between rounds applying grease to several parts of his body. Even now, Penn knew St.-Pierre, UFC’s current welterweight title holder, had been busted, given the immediate response by a member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
NSAC officials came into the octagon and wiped down St.-Pierre’s torso although, according to numerous reports, there were significant amounts of Vaseline discovered. Consequently, St-Pierre appeared on ESPN’s MMA show hours after the fight, claiming that the grease rub down was part of a routine to control his energy for improved breathing. He also apologized to Penn for any grease that may have transferred to his body. Penn, matter-of-factly, refused to accept St.-Pierre’s apology and, instead, sent a formal request to the NSAC, as them to investigate. Despite all the complaints from the Penn camp, the commission took no action. Today, however, Penn insists all of the hoopla surrounding what has been a tumultuous year for him is where it belongs: behind him. “I never think about it anymore,” Penn said. People ask me about it. It’s not really something on my mind.” But preparing for Sanchez, it seems, is his only objective at this point in his career. He said he has been training since the UFC, which will be on display in Memphis for the first time, announced he will defend his light heavyweight title against Sanchez, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, who recently moved from the 170 to 155-pound class and enters his third fight this year having won four consecutive bouts. While Penn believes Sanchez is worthy of a title shot because his recent success in the 155-pound division has led to him becoming the top contender, he said capturing his 15th win in the Bluff City would go along away in terms of him enduring a better year in 2010. Stopping a streaking and resilient Sanchez (21-2) will certainly could result in a Beale Street celebration for Penn. The featured bout takes place one day before his birthday. “We could be fighting around 11, 11:30 at night,” Penn said laughing. “So I could be in the ring when I turn 31. When I’m flying home to Hawaii, I will be celebrating my birthday.” With all the negativity surrounding what has been a disastrous year where it belongs: behind him. M
“One of the commission members said he, ‘He’s greasing! He’s greasing!” Penn recalled. Even while we were walking out of the arena, one of the members said he caught him greasing in the corner.”
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Hall of Legends The very best of Memphis sports.
Reggie White:
by ANDRE JOHNSON photo courtesy GREEN BAY PACKERS
Minister of Defense On the field, he was considered one of the most-feared and electrifying defensive ends in NFL history, an offensive coordinator’s nightmare, unquestionably one of the most fierce and dominant pass rushers of his generation. Off the field, he was a true ambassador of the league, a gentle giant, a warmhearted humanitarian with a wellpublicized and sometimes controversial ministry, one that extended beyond the pulpit and oftentimes, unraveled on street corners in rundown neighborhoods. Reggie White, the NFL’s second-all time sacks leader whose death one day after Christmas in 2004 stunned virtually the entire sports world produced a professional football career comprised of a parade of accolades. Nicknamed the “Minister of Defense” during his senior season at Tennessee because of his Christian ministry as an ordained minister and football smarts, White orchestrated an illustrious 15-year stint that was climaxed with his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame two years after his demise. While the 6-foot-5, 300-pound native of Chattanooga was widely known for his tenure as an NFL star, White launched his pro career in Memphis as a member of the Memphis Showboats of the defunct United States Football League. Even before the USFL was forced to cease operations in 1985 after only three seasons, his career appeared headed for being a propitious one. In two seasons with the Showboats, he started 34 games, amassing 23½ sacks, 198 solo tackles, and seven forced fumbles. Though the USFL struggled to duplicate the success of the NFL, its strongest competitor, White’s career never faltered, despite the league’s sudden collapse. He was taken fourth overall in the NFL’s supplemental draft in 1984 by Philadelphia, where he spent the next eight seasons. During his days in Philly, his presence undoubtedly was felt on and off the field. “Back when he was in Philadelphia, he would always be on the street, with downtrodden people and dealing with the homeless,” says USA Today national NFL reporter Jarrett Bell, who has been covering the league for nearly thirty years.
26 | Memphis Sport
“That was his thing, finding a way to minister to people and trying to get them to realize that he was one of them. For a superstar player, he was an approachable person.” Bell, who came to know White personally, particularly after the 13-time Pro Bowler signed with the Green Bay Packers in 1993, credited White for helping lure most African American players to Green Bay during a time when playing there wasn’t a popular trend. White played six seasons for the Packers, leading them to back-to-back Super Bowls, including a 35-21 victory against New England in Super Bowl 31, where he registered a record three sacks. “He was a signature and dominant player,” Bell says of White. “He was versatile. He could play inside and out. When the Packers won the Super Bowl (in 1997), Brett Favre was the quarterback. But I bet you Brett will tell you Reggie was the leader of that team. A lot of players, particularly black players, didn’t want to go there. You couldn’t even go to the barber shop and get a haircut. You had to go to Milwaukee or have a barber come in.”
That was his thing, finding a way to minister to people and trying to get them to realize that he was one of them. White, in fact, proved he was the missing piece to Green Bay resurfacing as an NFL standout. The Packers ranked 23rd in the league in defense the year before White joined the club, but improved to No. 2 the following year. By 1996, the Packers’ championship season, Green Bay held the league’s top-ranked defense for the first time since 1967. Additionally, White posted the most sacks in Packers history from 1993-98 with 68, and is responsible for dropping 75 different quarterbacks. His most-frequent victim was former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl 21 MVP Phil Simms, whom he roughed up 15 times. His 198 sacks are currently second all-time behind recent Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Smith, who retired with 200 after 19 seasons. The epitome of a team-leader, White
was voted by ESPN Sportsnation as the greatest player in Eagles’ franchise history. He is believed to be the first athlete other than Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky to have his number retired by three teams in the same season (Green Bay, University of Tennessee, and Philadelphia in 2005). In 2000, White ended a one-year retirement and started 16 games for the Carolina Panthers. He garnered six sacks and one forced fumble before calling it a career for good at season’s end. His playing days, nonetheless, were met by an array of off-the-field controversy, in large part because of his religious activities. In 1998, his comments before a Wisconsin state legislature sparked a stir when he invoked racial stereotypes of Latinos, Asians, whites, blacks, and Native Americans. And, in his final pro season, a friend gave White a CD from Messianic teacher Monte Judah. Upon his retirement, he began studying Torah and Torah-observant Messianic theology and Hebrew under Nehemia Gordon. Three years later, he consented to an interview by Messianic teacher and televangelist Michael Rood that was aired on the Sky Cable channel. After his death, the Messianic magazine Yavoh paid homage to White, acknowledging him as a “Messianic Believer.” That ultimately led to confusion regarding his religious beliefs. Numerous reports, as a result, surfaced indicating that White, an ordained Baptist minister since he was 17, had abandoned Christianity and was studying Judaism. In spite of his dreadful comments and tactics, the news of White’s passing at 43 sent shock waves throughout the league. In December 2004, White was rushed from his home in Cornelius, North Carolina, to a nearby hospital in Huntersville, where he was pronounced dead. It was discovered that he had suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. “I was in Indianapolis, covering the Colts,” Bell recalls when hearing of White’s passing. “It was just devastating. I talked to Tony Dungy (former Colts head coach) that day and he was shocked. It happened so sudden and it just hits you like a ton of bricks.” Subsequently, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year was a first ballot Hall of Famer. His widow, Sara White, delivered her husband’s acceptance speech after being introduced by her son, Jeremy. Last December, a portion of an intersection in White’s hometown was named Reggie White Boulevard --- a reminder, of sorts, to the sports world that White’s extraordinary legacy essentially began in the small town of Chattanooga. M The M Awards continue all year long with the addition of the Hall of Legends. Each year six new Legends will be inducted into the Hall, an honor given to a local sports icon whose athletic contributions and public influence have had perennial affects on Memphis and the Mid-South.
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Drop the Strap It’s on like Donkey Kong!
INJURIES
FROM THE
by DUSTIN STARR
I have a respect for WWE superstars that grows larger and larger by the day. Many of you think, “well, wrestling’s fake anyway… they know how to fall…” I’ve never been one to really be offended by comments like that. But each time I step inside a WWE wrestling ring, I get a little more aggravated each time I hear it. It really is offensive and I’ll tell you why. It’s plain and simple: I get my butt kicked every time I step foot in the WWE. Enough said. Period. It’s serious stuff in there. You think this business is fake? You need to step in there with the big boys. You’ll have a totally different perception of what really goes on inside that wrestling ring. Injuries? I couldn’t imagine how many injuries one full-time WWE superstar gets all year round. Those guys are constantly on the road. Constantly wrestling. Constantly training. House shows and television shows… these guys are getting it done and they’re getting it done the hard way. In June, I commented about exactly how sore I was from the training in the ring (at dustinstarrblog.com), the wrestling and just the constant grind from the two days of activity. Well, it wasn’t any different this time around. I’m walking away from my September performances with several tweaks and injuries that I would never complain about… but they DO exist. Imagine doing this on a daily basis in Florida at Florida Championship Wrestling (WWE’s developmental territory). If you saw the ECW match, you’ll understand why I came away a little banged up. Let me walk you through these tweaks and sorenesses: On day one, while working out in the ring – I was roughed up a little bit during training. It seems that WWE works a lot rougher than I thought. Wrestling is real. No matter what you’ve thought about in the past – it’s very real. Especially, to those that have wrestling jobs. So, during the first day of training, my front teeth were nearly broken out by a forearm that had me in a chinlock. I would say it was more like a teethlock, instead of the chinlock… but however you put it, my teeth were screaming for relief. Then, I was whipped into
28 | Memphis Sport
the corner turnbuckle with such force, I received a major rope burn on my hip / pelvis region. (check my Twitter account and see the pic - twitter.com/dustinstarr) My feet hurt, my legs hurt, I was winded and I was scarred for life from the burn. Day two, I came in with a little more of an idea of what to expect. I performed much better in training and was able to have my way with a few of the other wrestlers. I also did my very first dropkick inside of a WWE wrestling ring. Yeah… I know. WAY overdue! Upon training, I was informed that I would be wrestling on the ECW telecast. I was stoked… and then, I found out who I would be wrestling. I immediately knew I’d be in big trouble. I knew the deal. Big bumps from big guys. From the match I received multiple small injuries. Everything was fine, as I’m healthy and not injured in any way. I was just banged up a bit, like I said. When I hit the corner post, I slammed my face into the mat and was nearly knocked unconscious. When I was picked up from the match, I heard my hair rip. Yes, that’s right. He pulled some of my hair out of my head. The clothesline? That’s what everyone’s been talking about. Well, that clothesline was so devastating that I did not want him to pick me back up. That’s the truth, folks. I didn’t want to get back up. My collarbone hasn’t felt the same since that blow. It doesn’t HURT… it just feels a little off. A little different, if you know what I mean. I’ve been lifting weights… but not as heavy as usual because of the sensitive feel. Then, the finish came. The “Rock Bottom” I received in the end. Let me just say this – that’s a tough move to take in the first place… but with the force of a two hundred and eighty pound guy doing it – it hurt THAT much more. So, the one word to sum up the WWE trip is OUCH. Not complaining at all here. I just wanted to let you all in on the wear and tear that’s just a typical day at the office for a WWE superstar. Check out the match I’ve been talking about, pictures and much more at www.dustinstarrblog.com! M
I'm giving the gift of GOOD HEALTH this year with a Gift Card from
POWER LIFE FITNESS. A gift card to Power Life makes the perfect gift for anyone wanting to look and feel better in 2010. Gift cards can be used for group training, personal training (starting at $25.00 per session), nutritional coaching or gym memberships (starting at $21.95 per month.) Take care of everyone on your Christmas list this year by giving them the gift that truly keeps on giving– the gift of GOOD HEALTH.
Call or drop by
TODAY!
901.454.0003 2858 858 Poplar Avenue www.powerlifefitness.net
www.memphissport.net | 29
Power Train Personal training with power.
CERTIFIABLE
TRAINING by LAUREN EVERHART photo by KATIE ADDCOX
Most training certifications require only that you pass a standardized exam in order to become a personal trainer, but that’s not how it is at Power Life Fitness. The trainers here have gone through a mentorship program in addition to passing a certification exam. The goal is to ensure to the clients that the trainer has an extensive background and understanding of nutrition and physical fitness beyond what can be taught in a normal training certification program. During my interview at Power Life, Kelvin “York” Brown, the master trainer at Power Life, explained to me that we will never ask our clients to do anything we haven’t done. That impressed me more than anything. In order to become a trainer at Power Life, you are required to do two things: pass a nationally accredited and proctored personal training exam and complete a 15 week mentoring program with York. During the mentoring program we train and learn all the different facets of nutrition. The mentoring program opened my eyes to a new level of training. I have been working out since
30 | Memphis Sport
my freshman year in high school and have never looked forward to training like I did when I started training with York. The level of knowledge and experience that is offered by our trainers here is second to none.
WE WILL NEVER ASK OUR CLIENTS TO DO ANYTHING WE HAVEN’T DONE Fun, is not a word most people think of when they think of training, until they train here. You hear the phrase “never a dull moment;” at Power life, there is never a dull workout which is important when you are trying to create lifelong changes. I’ve learned so much more from my mentorship with York than I ever could have in a certification course. He taught me above and beyond the basics of weight lifting, and encouraged me to ask questions so that when I became a trainer I could offer the same knowledge to
my clients. Not only did I go through the workouts, but I went on one of the many nutritional programs we offer to our clients so that I would have a better understanding of the effects of a clean nutritional regimen. Again, if we want to gain the respect of our clients we have to look and play the part and that’s what every trainer here does. It is important for people to understand why we ask them to eat certain foods and stay away from others and why they should lift a certain number of days a week and do cardio on the others. It isn’t a lifestyle change if you don’t understand and believe in what you’re doing. Becoming a part of the training staff here and being around people that believe and live what they preach has been in itself an amazing experience. I love working at a great place with incredible people while helping others reach their goals toward a healthier life. M For more details, call 901-454-0003, or visit Power Life Fitness’ website at powerlifefitness.net.
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Gym Class Learn about the best fitness opportunities in the area.
ANYTIME YOU WANT IT
Get your keys to the cluband start working out on your schedule. by JAN MICHAEL HARTELUST With an incredible number of gyms already gracing street corners all over Memphis and more popping up at an alarming rate, how are those wanting to lose weight, stay in shape or build muscle supposed to choose? Steve Heard, owner of Anytime Fitness in Germantown, has a key for them – literally. “Every member of Anytime Fitness gets a key to the club so they can have access to anything they need at whatever time suits them best,” Heard says. Not only will the key get each member into Heard’s Germantown location, but it will also work at any Anytime Fitness around the country through Anywhere Club Access. It’s clear that the folks at Anytime Fitness have taken the idea of 24/7 workout facilities to another level, but Heard wants to make sure that people understand that his club is about more than just access. “We have state-of-the-art cardio and weight machines– always have,” Heard says. Heard also says that Anytime Fitness realizes that 7580 percent of people who frequent gyms do so mainly to get in some cardio, some weights and maybe get a shower. It is for that reason that Anytime Fitness focuses on those core workout avenues by providing the best equipment, including treadmills, elliptical cross-trainers, exercise cycles and circuit/selectorized free weights. Anytime Fitness keeps with the theme when it comes to offering its clients the best amenities as well. Not only does the club offer personal training but also cardio TVs,, private restrooms and showers, wellness programs and 24-hour security to accompany the 24-hour access. With the impressive array of amenities offered by Anytime Fitness as well as personal training and stateof-the-art equipment, it is clear those looking to shed a few extra pounds or to just start living a healthy lifestyle have a great option and it starts with a key. M For more information visit anytimefitness.com or call Steve Heard at the Germantown location at 758-6188.
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Treadmill Tunes Music for the stationary run.
ZACH’S TRACKS by ANDY FISHER There were alot of questions about the Grizzlies and what they would look like on the court this season. Off the court, though, I am sure that the top question had to be about Zach Randolph and the top ten songs on his iPod. Whether that is true or not, here they are in no particular order.
1 Gucci Mane Photo Shoot
If you need a new facebook pic, and you’re rollin’ wit at least 20’s- this may be the song for you!
2 Lil Boosie Top Notch
“Hold up wait a minute let me think for a minute”- hey Lil Boosie- what you need to be doin’ is thinking about a better hook- also maybe a better name?
duet with Alicia Keys! Holla! Thank goodness Kanye wasn’t spitting on this track- you feel me J?
6 Mistah Fab 2MPH
Yo Mistah Fab- you’ve released 15 albums in 4 years!- let me impart a little wisdom here- it’s quality, not quantity we’re looking for. ‘Nuff said.
7 The Commodores Sweet Love
I might say it better with “Easy”- but hey - it’s all good! Can someone tell me why the Commodores aren’t touring with Nicole Richie’s Daddy Baby? C’mon Lionel-nobody wants to hear “Dancing in the Streets” anymore.
8 Earth Wind and Fire September
Hey, Yo Gotti! Lil’ Wayne wants his keyboard back. Are we still in 2007?
This is one of those very rare songsdisco music that’s actually good- alsothese guys are a killer funk band- check ‘em out!
4 Rick Ross All I Really Want
9 Con Funk Shun I’m Leaving Baby
3 Yo Gotti Let’s Vibe
Now this is the shiznizzle (sorry Snoophad to do it) The Dream produced and does not disappoint. This is rap music for 2010. Don’t worry Rick- I got your back- even though you were a cop (ok, prison guard).
5 Jay- Z Empire State of Mind
Say hello to the Hova! Back from yet another retirement, this killer track is on his “Blueprint” trilogy- I wanna
Hey Zach, wake me up when this one’s over. I’m gonna catch some shut eye.
10 Mano I’m in Chicago
Hey Mano, what you need to do is come back home and get yourself on iTunes (reviewer could not find Mano on iTunes) For questions, comments, suggestions, or hate mail, fish@memphissport.net.
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Get Fit With... The pros tell you how to do it.
Campbell Clinic:
DEALING WITH COMMON FALL SPORTS INJURIES
by MOLLY OKEON
The number of injured young athletes is on the rise as football season begins in Memphis. While football is commonly called a “contact sport” like basketball or baseball, in truth, football is a “collision sport,” says Dr. Fred Azar, a sports medicine physician and orthopedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic. “In basketball or baseball, contact is incidental, it’s not the goal,” he explained. “In football, the players are purposely running into one another.” Azar said the most common injuries he sees this time of year are to the knee, specifically, sprains and strains, ligament and cartilage tears and bruises. Other areas that are routinely hurt are shoulders and ankles. We see shoulder separations and dislocations,” he noted. “Most ankle injuries are sprains but there are some fractures.” He said a good way to determine if an injury is serious – for example, a sprain vs. a break - is the level of pain, the amount of swelling and the presence of deformity. “The inability to ‘walk it off ’ is a determining factor,” he added. Of course, the best way to know what kind of injury you have is an X-ray. But until you can get to that point, Azar said, treatment prior to being seen by a specialist includes an anagram often used in sports medicine: R.I.C.E. This stands for “Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.” “The ice is for the swelling – you should never use heat in these situations,” he said. “An Ace bandage is recommended for compression.” These types of injuries are exactly why Campbell Clinic recently opened its After Hours Clinic, which is open from 5 to 8 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, at its Germantown location, 1400 S. Germantown Rd. No appointments are necessary – patients are seen on a walk-in basis. “The After Hours Clinic was set up for these types of patients with acute injuries of the musculoskeletal system,” he said. “The wait
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is less, and there is more expertise. We have X-ray machines and the equipment to make casts. And, you don’t have the high costs of emergency rooms and minor medical centers.” In addition, patients with fractures or sprains who come into ERs and minor medical clinics are often put last on the list to be seen by a doctor. Meanwhile, they can be exposed to contagious illnesses while sitting in the waiting area with other patients. Right now, the Campbell Clinic After Hours Clinic is averaging about 20 patients a night. “We have very appreciative patients, and it’s very gratifying for us because we can be available to them after normal business hours,” Azar said. “More patient access is a major goal for us. We also see some patients who are sent from minor medical clinics to come see us because these clinics simply don’t have the musculoskeletal expertise.” But in order to avoid painful injuries altogether, Azar recommends four things for young football players: conditioning, proper equipment, good technique and supervision. In fact, according to SportsInjuryClinic.net, about 75 percent of football injuries are preventable. “The best protection from injury is correct warm up and conditioning which can help you avoid unnecessary injury that can ruin the season,” the site notes. “The warm up should last between 15 and 30 minutes. Do not warm up too early. The benefits are lost after about 30 minutes of inactivity.” M Dr. Fred Azar is a sports medicine physician and orthopedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic. For more information on Dr. Azar, Campbell Clinic or its After Hours Clinic, call 901.759.3100 or visit www.campbellclinic.com.
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HOT SHOTS Everyone has a camera.
Send your photos to hotshots@memphissport.net We just may print them in our next issue.
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Fun ‘n Games Play. Play. Play.
PICTURE PUZZLE Do these two photos look the same to you? Look again. We made seven changes to the second photo. Time yourself to see how long it takes you to find all seven.
TIME SCORE
OUT OF 7
photo by CHASE GUSTAFSON
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Connect all 99 dots in the picture below to reveal Speedy’s car of choice.
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Tailgating Sports was happening and you were there.
Twelfth Annual
SPORTS BALL August 29, 2009 Minglewood Hall photos by KEVIN CERRITO
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1. Jon Roser and Adrienne Bailey 2. Rudy Gay and Marcy Epperson 3. Mike Bullard and Jeff White 4. Ben Hogan and Anne Albrecht.
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5. Gary Parrish’s mom and Kevin Cerrito 6. Josh Pastner, Mike Bowen and Suzie Bowen 7. Jan Michael Hartelust and Amy Whiteside 8. Michael Donahue and Ashley Crawford
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KROGER On Track for the Cure 250 September 24, 2009 Memphis Motorsports Park photos by CHASE GUSTAFSON 1. Tamra Clark and Danielle Cook
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3. Joe Tucker and Terry Bagley 44. Natasha Crismon and Kami Kick 55. Bingham Frayley, William Daniel, Sa Sarah Drawdy and Kevin Perry 6. Elaine and Missy Darby 7. Mary Clare Griffin, Ariel Scott, Tiffany Collins, Brooke Veteto and Ash Ashley Castille
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Jack’s Back A Memphis legend takes a look back.
It All Started Here by JACK EATON
The 1964 season was my first one as the “Voice of the Tigers” in football and the first game was in Oxford against Ole Miss. It seemed like every Tiger fan in Memphis went to the game. I 55 was bumper to bumper and all of a sudden–CRASH–a horrible accident. Traffic was backed up almost all the way back to Memphis. Fortunately, I got an early start and when the accident happened I was in the Ole Miss press box. The game was a disaster–for the Tigers. MSU took the opening kick-off and went three and out. The Rebels got the ball and BANG, BANG, BANG–TOUCHDOWN. Ole Miss won the game 30-0 but it could have been 300-0. Coach Vaught took pity on the Tigers. The 1964 schedule was unique. The Tigers had to play Southern Mississippi twice. Because of our reputation as winners (undefeated in 1963) we had trouble getting a schedule. No one wanted to play us and Southern Miss was in the same predicament. So the Tigers and Golden Eagles played twice. And we lost both games. The first game was played at Crump Stadium and the Tigers lost 20-14. The second game was played in Hattisburg and I’m a son of a gun we lost againthe score was 20-18. We settled for a 5-4 record that year. I remember 1965 for it’s high’s and low’s. The high had to be the game against Mississippi State. Great Scott, the Bulldogs were 4-0 and ranked, as I recall, 7th or 8th in the country. They had a little “scat back” named Marcus Rhoden and a big strong full back named Hoyle Grangier and a quarterback whose name I don’t remember. Anyway they were an overwhelming favorite–three or four TD’s. I almost called in sick. But the Tigers were ready and waiting. Billy Fletcher, our quarterback, played the game of his life. He had 351 yards of total offense. Remember, that was 44 years ago and that number is still in the top five all time. Billy and wideout Bob Sherlag had ten completions. The Tigers turned them every which way but loose. Final score 3313 and my recollection is the Bullies didn’t win another game until the next season. Serves them right.
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The lowlight was the Quantico Marines. During the pre-season TV show, Coach Murphy and I were discussing the upcoming games. The Quantico game was the last one on the schedule and I remarked, “suppose we are undefeated at the time, and if we should lose to those ‘clowns’ would it only count as an exhibition game?” Murphy jumped on the “clowns” crack. “Don’t call them clowns. It will make them mad, and I know what a mad Marine can do.” He went on and on. I wished he would stop, but no. The Marines were upset and I found out later that they searched the Marine Corps for the best football players they could find-brought them to Quantico and got ready for the Tigers. Me and my big mouth. The game finally arrived and Quantico’s stadium was what we used to call–a dump. I remember I had trouble seeing the entire field and when the play-by-play guy can’t see the field–well, there is heck to pay. So, there I am, in a pill box for a booth and everybody pointing at me and saying, “wait til our clowns finish with you.” Fooey. Why was I born? The game went badly for us right off the bat. Their quarterback, an All-American from Texas ran and passed us silly. He was all over the place and–sure as God made little green apples–we lost. The final was 20-14 and to this day I am blamed for that defeat. Tiger football–we have had our moments and they will be back again. Just be patient Tiger fans-somewhere up there Spook Murphy is saying, “Those boys will get theirselves together. They’ll fight like Tigers and we’ll go to Oxford, Starkville, Atlanta and points in between and we’ll bang some heads together and Tiger football will be back!” M Big Jack’s new book, “Jack Eaton: Great Scott, I Rhyme A Lot”, is available for purchase in both autographed and non-autographed versions at memphissport.net. Big Jack can also be heard every Wednesday and Friday at 8am on KWAM 990 alongside former County Commissioner John Willingham.
Not that long ago, a man looking somewhat ragged and having what appeared to be
asked his doctor where the foremost orthopaedic specialists in the world could be found. Without hesitation, the doctor recommended Campbell
his family in tow, walked through the
Clinic. So the man immediately boarded his private jet,
doors of Campbell Clinic and made his
flew non-stop to Memphis, and proceeded directly to
way directly to the nurse’s station. Raising
Campbell Clinic.
his heavily bandaged hand high in the air, he declared
So of all the medical resources available in the
in a thick South American accent that he had just
world, why did the doctor recommend Campbell
arrived in Memphis that morning after flying 3,000
Clinic? It’s simple — we wrote the book on
miles and would like to see Dr. Campbell immediately.
orthopaedics. Literally, the textbook used by
Having been deceased nearly 30 years, Dr. Campbell
nearly all medical students and referenced by
was unfortunately not available. But the nurse assured
all orthopaedic physicians was first written by Dr.
him that the physicians who were in the office that day
Willis Campbell in 1939. It has since been
were more than qualified to treat him.
revised 10 times, expanded to four volumes by
When asked about his insurance, the man laughed incredulously. When asked about his prior medical history, the man gave the nurse a phone number of an
the experts on our staff, and been translated into six languages. It is, for the lack of a better word, the Bible of orthopaedics.
It follows then that all orthopaedists in one way
office in Peru.
A little background check seemed to be in order. It turned out that the phone number was for the man’s personal physician. And the man turned out to be the
or another learn their craft from Campbell Clinic. And whom would you rather have as your doctor, the teacher or the pupil?
largest exporter of bananas in the entire world.
Frustrated with the fact that his injured hand was not healing properly, the Peruvian Banana King had
CAMPBELL CLINIC Ortho p ae dic s w w w. ca m p b e l lc l i n i c . co m