Memphis Sport Jul/Aug 2007 by Mike Bullard

JULY/AUG 2007 VOL 2 NUM 1

ONTENT

4 STARTING FIVE 6

BRING IT ON

WHAT IF?

10 UNDER REVIEW 11

ALL IN

THE GREAT DEBATE

15 ALL-STARS 34

SPORTS BIZ

36 GET FIT 42 TAILGATING 44 JACK’S BACK

THE FIRST ANNUAL M AWARDS RAMPAGE 26 20

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Alive and Well. We were told over and over again that it couldn’t be done. Memphis won’t support a magazine dedicated solely to local area sports. There are too many other magazines in the market. Print media is dead. The reasons have varied, but the theme remained the same. They said we were destined for failure. Well, it’s one year later, and we don’t hear from many of those folks anymore. We’ve made it through our first year. We’ve produced a publication that we, and hopefully all of Memphis, can be proud. But, the real heroes behind the success of this magazine are the advertisers who supported us in this first year, many of which signed on before the first issue was ever published. Without these guys, you wouldn’t be holding the first issue of our second year in your hands right now. So, take a look at this list of businesses. Call them and thank them. Acura of Memphis At Home Tennessee Magazine AutoZone Liberty Bowl BA Framer Bank of Bartlett Big Kicker Gear Blue Planet Apparel Campbell Clinic Champion Awards Chris Montfort with Crye-Leike Comedy TN DAC ESPN 730 Evolv Pilates Fitness Together Germantown Centre Glass Entertainment Management Gossett Kia

Hadley’s Boxing Fitness Ha Lee’s Handyman Dan Harding Academy Holliday Flowers JAD Baseball Experience James Davis JoAnne Reinhardt with Crye-Leike Just Me & My Sister Lausanne Collegiate School Linda Arnold with Germantown Properties Mallie Jo Nagle with Crye-Leike Memphis RiverKings Mid South Krav Maga Midsouth Orthopedic Associates MidSouthPoker.com National Poker Challenge Pilates Centre of Ballet Memphis

Prairie Life Fitness Center Presbyterian Day School ProTech Systems Group, Inc PR Store Ronnie Lee & Associates St. Agnes Academy/St. Dominic School St. Benedict at Auburndale Southland Park Gaming and Racing SportClips Stickhead Lacrosse Tadporters Frame Studio and Art Gallery Team Training with Mandy Polk Tiger Bookstore Titan Home Mortgage Triumph Bank Turf King WHBQ Sports 56 Velocity

Mike Bullard, publisher

Publisher Mike Bullard 901.229.4749 mike@memphissport.net Editorial Directors Kevin Cerrito kevin@memphissport.net Ed Land, Jr. ed@memphissport.net

Contributing Writers Jen Andrews, Will Askew, Mindy Bush, Kevin Cerrito, Tim Duncan, Jack Eaton, Peter Edmiston, Jan Michael Hartelust, Elena Jenkins, Andre T. Johnson, Ed Land Jr., Tara Miller, Mandy Polk, Chris Vernon, Rob Weatherly

Contributing Photographers Mindy Bush Sean Davis Leigh Ann Williams Graphic Design A Bull in a China Shop www.abullinachinashop.com

Contributions Memphis Sportt will consider, but assumes no responsibility for, unsolicited proposals, photos, and illustrations. Memphis Sportt retains all reprint rights.

2 | Memphis Sport

CHATTER WE LOST ONE You guys lost me when you treated the University of Mississippi as a home team in your ‘M Awards’ last issue. Please remove me from your mailing list. - Scott F. PUBLISHER: Last issue, we felt compelled to give Ole Miss fans a chance in our M Awards ballot because of the schools close proximity to the city of Memphis. But as you can see by the M Award results in this very issue, most of our readers had similar feelings to Scott. They just voiced their opinions by voting. Message received.

STADIUM DEBATE

Memphis instead of taking the easy way out and bad-mouthing everyone as do many other publications. So, I read the book. It actually addressed some of the issues you brought up. The astounding number of high quality players he fed into college and the pro’s is undeniable. A lot of those kids that went on to college and the pros would have literally been on the streets had he not come along. Thanks for your email.

FANTASY FOOTBALL I really enjoyed the fantasy football article you had in your first couple of issues. Do you plan on bringing that back this fall? If so, could you add a weekly column on your website? - James H.

I nearly lost my lunch when I read your review about Tim Thompson’s book. Tim Thompson represents all that is bad in high school sports. Tim sold his players to the highest bidder to universities across the South. He even tried to package himself with some of these players. His story has been well documented in the local newspapers. There is a good reason why he has been unable to find another job locally. Tim is only out for number 1, himself. Please don’t glorify the bad apples that are around in high school coaching. There are plenty of good examples around that need promotion. - Bob C.

PUBLISHER: We have plans for both the return of the Fantasy Football column and a weekly column on our website, but we are going to do you one better. Memphis Sport is starting its’ own fantasy football league. The First Annual Memphis Sport Fantasy Challenge will pit 60 Memphis area fantasy teams against the Memphis Sport staff. Prizes will be given away to all entrants and special awards and prizes will be awarded to the winners. The deadline is August 1, so email ed@memphissport.net for more information or get on our website right now!

PUBLISHER: We have tried to keep an open mind over this past year and look at the good side of the sports world in

Do you love Memphis Sport or hate it? Send me an email at mike@memphissport.net and let me know what is on your mind.

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www.memphissport.net | 3

STARTING FIVE 5 Questions With...

Jenna Kubesch

University of Memphis softball graduate Jenna Kubesch was a two-year letter winner on the Memphis softball squad. She has recorded four no-hitters, including a perfect game in 2005. Among numerous national and conference honors, Jenna is the inaugural winner of the Favorite Female Athlete Award in the First Annual M Awards (see page 20).

1. How does it feel to pitch a perfect game? That’s one of the best feelings in the world, but you don’t really realize it during the game. You just live in it for about five minutes after the game once you realize what’s going on.

2. How did it feel to pitch eight and twothirds perfect innings against ECU in the CUSA Championship but lose the game? The most interesting feeling ever. I almost didn’t want to go and pitch the next day, because I knew I wasn’t going to do any better.

3. What kind of music do you listen to? I’m from Texas and love country music, but the whole music scene in Memphis is doing a number on me. I listen to rap and top 40 and usually latch on to a song and then wear it out. But I’m about as uncool as they get as far as rap/rappers and clubbing/dancing.

4. Can you sing the U of M fight song? I do know the fight song, but I’m a bigger fan of the “I’m so glad” song. I don’t sing... not even at Windjammer... ever.

5. What is something people don’t know about you? I love food. I love cooking and I really want to meet Rachel Ray from the Food Network. I try to eat at different restaurants and get the most unique thing on the menu.

4 | Memphis Sport

5 Days In Memphis Sports History Worse Than May 22, 2007, The NBA Draft Lottery Debacle 1. March 12, 2005 D-Wash free throws 2. November 30, 1993 Jacksonville awarded NFL team

5 suggestions to replace the ASU Indian mascot compiled by KAIT, a television station in Jonesboro

3. December 12, 1983 Rex Dockery plane crash

1. Fighting Farmers

4. November 24, 2001 4th and 26 (U of M vs. Cincinnati)

3. Mosquitos (Skeeters)

5. December 21, 1976 John Gunn dies

2. Gorillas

4. Tornados 5. Woodpeckers

Top 5 “West’s” Still In The Memphis Area 1. Tommy West 2. The West Clinic 3. Dan West Garden Center 4. West Street Diner 5. I-40 West

Top 5 “Jerry’s” Still In The Memphis Area 1. Jerry “The King” Lawler 2. Jerry “Lee” Lewis 3. Jerry Tate 4. Gerry Finney 5. Ben and Jerry’s (Paradiso location)

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BRING IT ON How long have you been a Diamond Girl? I was a Diamond Girl for all four years at Olive Branch High School. Next year will be my third season as an Ole Miss Diamond Girl. What does a Diamond Girl do? We get the bats, get foul balls, sell programs, help with the seventh inning stretch, throw out t-shirts to the crowd, and do lots of marketing things. Every three innings, we rotate to one of the different duties. What are three words that best describe you? Outgoing. Talkative. Friendly.

What is your major? Marketing with a minor in Pharmaceutical Sales.

Have you ever dated any of the players on the baseball team? No. What is your favorite sport besides baseball? UFC. I know more about UFC than baseball. I probably shouldn’t say that, but it’s true.

Are there any TV shows you like? Grey’s Anatomy. What is your favorite thing to eat? A steak and baked potato… or Olive Garden!

Do you get the unlimited salad or unlimited soup? Salad, for sure.

Is Batgirl your favorite superhero? No. I like Star Wars a lot, but I guess they are not really superheroes. I’d say Superman is my favorite.

What do you enjoy most about being a Diamond Girl? I like the social interaction with the fans. It is really cool to be a part of something so well known. I have so much fun. It is like being in a sorority, but you don’t have to pay as much. What would you consider your most embarrassing moment at a game? I was doing our home team’s bats one day when it was raining a little. The catcher missed the ball, so I ran to go get it. I slipped, dropped the ball, and fell on the ground in front of everyone. After I got back up, I tried to reach down to get the ball again, but I fell a second time. It was horrible.

Do you dress up more for church or football? Football. You look out of place if you don’t dress nice at the Grove. Dressing up is a tradition. It kind of makes the games more fun. I am so used to dressing up for football that it feels weird when I go to games at other schools and people are wearing t-shirts and things like that. Baseball is different; everyone dresses very casual. M

by KEVIN CERRITO • photo by SEAN DAVIS

6 | Memphis Memp Me mphi his SSp Sport por ort

WHAT IF?

What if...

The Logo never came to the Bluff City? by JAN MICHAEL HARTELUST • photo by MIKE BULLARD

debate has been raging in the city of Memphis and, its intensity has certainly been heating up. With the Grizzlies coming off a season that saw the team finish with the worst record in the NBA, Memphis fans were becoming more and more restless. There was hope that the NBA Draft Lottery would bring some sort of salvation in the form of a dominating center or an electrifying playmaker, but everyone knows how that turned out. Local sports writers and radio hosts have weighed in on the topic, and some have taken a “don’t let the door hit you on your way out” motto when it comes to Jerry West, but what if “Mr. Clutch” never moved to Memphis? As a player, Jerry West’s legacy is well documented, and being named one of the 50 greatest players in the history of the league certainly helps. He is “The Logo.” “Mr. Clutch.” He later carried the same type of focus he used on the court to the front office for the Lakers, and the results were almost as impressive. He was the NBA Executive of the Year in 1995. He was responsible for bringing Kobe Bryant to the Lakers for almost nothing. Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac is the type of trade people only pull off in video games! And of course, he put Shaq and Kobe together. The rest was history. Obviously, his resume was more than impressive. There was a full page ad in the Commercial Appeall welcoming The Logo to Memphis. Everyone in the city was excited at the possibilities, wondering if the Grizzlies could actually start winning games. The results were almost immediate. After Hubie Brown took the coaching reins eight games into the 02-03 season, the Grizzlies went on to win 28 games, a franchise record at the time.

The next year, the Grizzlies would go on to win 50 games. West would pick up NBA Executive of the Year, and Hubie Brown would be honored as the Coach of the Year. It is important to note that West’s selection of Brown to succeed Sidney Lowe was not met with much enthusiasm, but ultimately turned out to be one of the best decisions he made. Brown’s old-school philosophies and insistence on teaching the fundamentals turned Jason Williams into the point guard many thought he could be, and turned the Grizzlies into a playoff team. West made many changes after the 0405 season, sending J-Will and James Posey to Miami for veteran Eddie Jones, while also sending Bonzi Wells to Sacramento for Bobby Jackson. The addition of Chucky Atkins also helped the Grizz return to the postseason for the third straight year, but it also resulted in the team getting swept out of the first round for the third year in a row. (continued on page 8)

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(continued from page 7)

Winning a slew of regular season games was not enough for a lot of Grizzlies fans, who felt that something needed to change. Change came. West traded Shane Battier to the Houston Rockets for the rights to Rudy Gay and a disgruntled Stromile Swift. Many fans were unhappy with West for trading the “face of the franchise” for a young rookie. Shane Battier was great for this city and the team, but there is no question that Rudy Gay is a more talented basketball player, whose upside (a word every NBA exec uses often) is much higher than Battier’s. Jerry West realized that the team was going to have to go in a different direction and trading Battier provided the best opportunity to get the most talent.

Without Jerry West, Memphis would barely be a blip on the NBA radar.

t this point, the team faces two major challenges on the road to becoming the playoff team of the past: bringing the fans back to watch a team that has been less than exciting in trying to fix the salary cap issues. The team is developing a good young nucleus that includes Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, and Tarence Kinsey.. With Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, and a possible impact rookie also on the roster, this young team is not far off from contending again Jerry West has not been perfect. He has certainly made some questionable decisions (Brian Cardinal’s contract comes to mind), but without him there is no telling where this franchise would be. This team had never won more than 24 regular season games before West’s arrival. Before last season, the Grizzlies exceeded that total in every year under West. It’s not far fetched to say that turning the Grizzlies into a franchise that expects to be in the playoffs was almost as impressive as turning the Lakers into a near dynasty. Without Jerry West, Memphis would barely be a blip on the NBA radar. Thank you, Jerry. The door is always open.

8 | Memphis Sport

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UNDER REVIEW by KEVIN CERRITO photo courtesy of GAME TIME ATHLETICS

Everyone has a favorite team, and everyone wears shoes. So, why not have your favorite team represented on your shoes? Memphian Checliss “Big C” Rice was definitely thinking outside-theshoebox when he came up with the idea to show team pride on your feet. A little over a year ago, Rice’s Game Time Athletics struck a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies to create the first ever line of NBA team shoes. The Grizz shoes are available in three different colors and styles, each proudly displaying the blue

and gold logo of Memphis’ professional basketball team. The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks both liked the shoes so much that Game Time now makes footwear for the two fellow lottery losers. The NBA shoes are just part of what Game Time offers for your feet. The company’s colorful and comfortable M-Town collection features shoes with a cool looking “m” swoosh on the side (The orange M-Town is appropriately called “Tha Mound”). A line of Tigers footwear just recently became available for University of Memphis fans. City and county high school students can get shoes and cleats featuring their school logo. And, for those who want something even more personalized, Game Time will make you a pair of shoes with your picture on them. All of Game Time’s products are designed in Memphis at the company’s downtown headquarters.

PRICE: $60-$85 AVAILABLE AT: Select local stores, directly by calling 901.312.3160 or online at www.gametime-athletics.com GRADE: A

10 | Memphis Sport

ALL IN

ou watch it on TV. You know you do. Your sitting there in your pajamas dreaming about going “all in” and winning that mountain of cash. But you don’t ever play. Well you don’t havee any excuses any more. Poker has invaded Memphis mp and is as close as your local watering hole.

Time To Play

It may be illegal to gamble for cash in the Memphis area, but it certainly isn’t breaking any laws to play for fun. And you can still win great prizes and sometimes even cash. You will find friendly poker tournaments all over town, every night of the week. Almost all of them are free to enter. TJ Mulligans is one of the busiest in the Memphis area with more than 10 opportunities to play at three area

b MIKE BULLARD by

locations in any any ggiven week. Billiard parlors in the ar area r are ttaking a full advantage d t off M Memphians h hii appetite tit for poker. At High Pockets, poker tournaments are held every night except Saturday. Clicks Billiards holds tournaments seven nights a week. Clicks even has plans to give one lucky player a seat in the 2008 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. So quit your excuses. The cards are shuffled. The chips are stacked. Put some clothes on and get out there. You can’t win that mountain of cash unless you play. M

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THE GREAT DEBATE

ecause the Grizzlies were absolutely hosed in the NBA Draft Lottery back in May, everyone agrees (at least in Memphis and Boston) that the lottery should be changed. The lottery is a silly system that places the fate of NBA franchises in the fickle hands of Lady Luck, and luck shouldn’t be how the fate of franchises are determined. So what kind of system should the NBA adopt for the draft ?

Change the NBA Lottery Featuring Sports56 Personalities: Peter Edmiston of The Morning Rush and Will Askew of Chip Shots

WORST TO FIRST There is nothing wrong whatsoever with the traditional system used in so many leagues and in so many different sports. The worse you are, the better your pick. It just makes sense. The goal of these leagues is to promote parity–the more balanced the competition, the more hope each city has of producing a championship team. The NFL has parlayed this into a league where, thanks to the salary cap and the draft system, teams from markets as small as Green Bay and Indianapolis have joined the likes of New England and San Francisco as champions. Fans of those teams know that bad teams can get better more quickly because they get the best talent. There is no doubt that the Grizzlies needed a Greg Oden or Kevin Durant to energize the fanbase and sell tickets. Either one of those players could have immediately given a huge boost to the Grizzlies starting lineup. Teams need superstar talents to win, and getting those superstars is virtually impossible to do in small markets. Free agents don’t usually want to play for those organizations, and big NBA trades are few and far between. In addition, since the Grizzlies are in the Western Conference, the competition to get to the Finals is exceptionally hard. The Grizzlies need all the help they can get, and the NBA’s flawed lottery system just ends up making it harder to win long-term. That’s wrong. Would removing the draft lottery altogether encourage tanking? Maybe, but tanking was a big complaint last season with the flawed lottery system that is in place now. The last two months of the Grizzlies’ season were filled with discussions of ping-pong balls and maximizing lottery chances, and the last two months of the Celtics season were filled with accusations of tanking. Would removing the lottery make that situation worse? Of course not. For the good of the league and for the benefit of those teams that simply do not have the talent to compete on a regular basis, the lottery needs to be removed altogether. It is truly the only fair way to decide. —Peter Edmiston

12 | Memphis Sport

A DIFFERENT LOTTERY Edmiston will tell you that a simple solution is best... simply give the team with the worst record the first pick, and go on down the line from there. The NFL uses this system, and it creates equal competition around the league. Teams from small markets like Green Bay can compete with large markets like New York and Chicago, and the best players aren’t necessarily on the big-market teams. This system is a good one, but the NBA has made it clear that they have no intention of getting rid of the lottery. So how can it be tweaked? Well, look no further than the NHL. The NHL rarely does anything right, but their lottery system is quite good. Every non-playoff team has a chance to win the lottery. The difference is how high they can climb and how low they can fall. Similar to the NBA, the NHL lottery only allows the worst five teams in the league to have a chance at the first overall pick. No team can move up more than four spots, and no team can move down more than one. In the worst case scenario, the Grizzlies would have ended up with the second overall pick, Boston with the third, Milwaukee with fourth, etc. You still have a lottery system, but the worst teams aren’t penalized as harshly if you lose the lottery The only issue with this lottery system is tanking. Tanking would be a problem in any system, but especially with Peter’s idea, and especially in the NBA. In the NFL, one player will not make or break an entire franchise; there are more than 50 other players on each team. In the NBA, one man can make all the difference. Look no further than the two teams in the NBA Finals, San Antonio and Cleveland. So, let’s rewind a few weeks back to the lottery. In the NHL system, the Grizzlies lose, but still end up with Kevin Durant... and maybe a possibility of trading up for Greg Oden. In a system that relies on Lady Luck, and for a franchise that has had no luck, ever, wouldn’t that be nice? —Will Askew

ww w w ww w..me w .me mem mpph hiiss sspo port rt..n net et | 13

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 W

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

14 | Memphis Sport

CAMPBELL CLINIC Ortho p ae dic s w w w. ca m p b e l lc l i n i c . co m

ALL-STARS The Memphis Sport All-Stars section sponsored by Velocity Sports Performance features only the best in area athletics. From the pitching mound to the end zone and from the fairway to the ice rink, the Memphis Sport is always looking for new faces to highlight. If you have an achievement worth noting or know someone who does, e-mail your accomplishments along with a photo to allstars@memphissport.net, and you just may see your face here in an upcoming issue.

www.memphissport.net | 15

ALL-STARS The Memphis Sport All-Stars are proudly sponsored by Velocity Sports Performance. Velocity offers the most proven speed, power, and agility programs available, training more than 1,000 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 areano 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.

16 | Memphis Sport 16 | Memphis Sport

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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 Â&#x201E; 0OPLAR !VENUE -EMPHIS 4. Â&#x201E; Â&#x201E; 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

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18 | Memphis Sport

19 | Memphis Sport

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esy UFC on hotos court p O a, Quint IT i R f R a E M C x IN Si by KEV n Three e

m th is’ ow lete fro m Memph o h r t f a ” e s n a w nkno a phr come known u part of e has be t g w s a o o p r m “ r m o a e b R To ld be th 29-year-o son may e k h c t a J , e ” v yle e ti “Rampag ssive st e phis na r m g e g M a h s t ou he for hi ity. A S gnized ump to t o j c e e r h Bluff C t r e a mad rts st re in recently artial a t m s u d j FC), whe e e x (U i g a p i p a m h m s a ma. R mpion ization’s ing Cha e charis n t u a h q g g i r i n o F u e e and timat ome th ular Ul l to bec p l o e p d d y i l L g n role huck increasi his new ceman” C o I t “ n t i u s o e settl nocked n. As he o May he k i p m a h about C weight is Sport y h v p a e m e H M ames. t Ligh iddle n talks to m e d g n a a p , m r p, Ra mayo as cham BBQ, the , s t r a artial mixed m How has being the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion changed your life?

less rules. Boxing is the thing of old. The UFC is what the young people are watching.

You know, I don’t see a whole lot of change. Everything seems the same. All kinds of people have been coming up congratulating me. It is good to know you are the best in your sport.

Some say mixed martial arts is too barbaric to be a legitimate sport. What do you say to those people?

Can you take us through your victory celebration and the days that followed in Las Vegas?

They need to look closer and deeper. UFC is safer than boxing. It may look more brutal because we use knees, elbows, and stuff ; but about seven boxers die a year. No one has ever died in my sport. It is the safest full-contact sport out there.

(Laughs) What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

How would you explain Ultimate Fighting to those who have never seen it? The UFC in a nutshell is like boxing for youngsters and with

20 | Memphis Sport

UFC broadcasts always get high ratings in the Memphis area. Why do you think the UFC is so popular in Memphis?

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We like fights in Memphis. We are all fighters. We like that type of stuff. Man, what are you talking about? It is Memphis!

How was growing up in Memphis? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent most of my whole life in Memphis. I had to move to Southern California to advance my fighting career. I grew up in South Memphis. My neighbors were all real nice. None of my neighbors are very nice out in California. Summers in Memphis are real fun. There is so much to do. Everything about who I am comes from Memphis. The city built my character.

How did you get into mixed martial arts? It was destiny. A friend I wrestled against in high school at Raleigh Egypt thought it would be a good idea. I had my first match at the New Daisy against the best fighter in Memphis at the time, Mike Powell. I won by decision. One thing led to another and here I am.

Is it true that growing up, you wanted to be a professional wrestler? Yeah. Everybody knows pro wrestling is big in Memphis. I used to go to shows and watch it on TV all the time with my dad and brother.

Fight Club MINDY BUSH story and photos by

Several hund red spectators awaited the main even t at the Tupe lo Furniture Market. The di mly-lit showro om was abuzz with exciteme nt after ten ri veting bouts had already been fought. Individuals strained to se e Steven Comb 23, of Memphi s, s Judo & JiuJi tsu, make the long walk from the backstage area, past th free beer tubs e , past the ring gi rl s, through the anxious cr owd and fina lly, into the well-lit boxi ng ring.

22 | M 22 Memphis eem m mph ph his is SSport p rt po t

The may or is re ally tal l. He mi ght be able to put s ome jabs on me and whoop m e good. I wanted to be a wrestler, but I also wanted to be a stuntman and fireman too.

What do you miss most about Memphis? I miss my little sister a lot. I miss lightning bugs. When you’re a kid, you would see lightning bugs, catch one, step on it, write on the ground with it, and it would still light up! What are those things anyway? Are they aliens?

Do you have a Favorite Memphis sports figure or team? I’m not a big sports guy, but I do support the Grizzlies and Titans.

Hole in the wall BBQ joints. I love smoke sausage BBQ with cold slaw, french fries, and lemonade. Woo boy!

Memphis Mayor Herenton boxed ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazer last fall for charity. Would you consider fighting the mayor? If so, for what charity? I’ll fight him for charity. I’d do it for any charity that needs help. The mayor is really tall, he might be able to put some jabs on me and whoop me good.

Who do you want to fight next in the octagon? Everyone who beat me. There are not many of those on that list. I got one down (Liddell), three more to go.

You are right on the verge of being in the heavyweight class, would you consider moving up to compete with the heavyweights? I like my weight class right now. (continued on page 24)

Where do you like to eat when you are in Memphis?

Combs, at 6 feet and 155 pounds, felt nervous for or the first time all evening. “I actually ally feel really confident walking w to thee ring. It’s only when I’m in the ring, right ght before the first exchange, exch that I feel nervous ervous because I don’t don know what to expect, xpect,” said Combs, who w is a nursing student udent and works as an orderly at Shock Trauma auma at The Med in Memphis, TN. Thee unpredictable nature of MMA is one Th o off the many reasons that its popularity has exploded in the past few yyears, and why the sport has overtaken bboxing. Boxing oxing is solely a stand up game g with two fighters hters relying on powe power and hand speed, throwing punches at each other for twelve rounds. Whereas, MMA incorporates both striking and grappling skills from a vast array of martial arts styles and specialties. pecialties. MMA fights are three rounds in standard fights and five rrounds for main event vent or title fights. The quick transitions from one style to the next and back again agai keep the crowd on its feet and the fighters ghter on their toes.

“MMA is much more dynamic an nd entertaining. When peoplee are spe spending their hard-earned dollars, whether on professional pay-per-view fights or a local ocal amateur event, they want to be b entertained. You might have the best figght of the night ht on the bottom of the fight card, but thee only time you’ll ever see s a good fight in n boxing is when it’s the main event,” said David Ferguson, Memph Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu’s owner who is also a professional fessional MMA fighter with a record of 8-2.

You can’t just be a thug. You h ave to be smart. One of Combs’ ombs’ corner co men, Joel Gingery, a black lack belt in Judo, Ju a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and one of the founding members of Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu, Jitsu, explained that MMA ccombines both h striking (such as kicks, knees kne and punches) nches) and grappling techniques techniq (such

as clinch holds, pinning holds, submission holds, sweeps, takedowns and throws.) All h successful fighters must have a strong base su in at least one of the styles and cross-train in the others. Combs holds a black belt in Judo and a purple urp belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, both of which are grappling arts that focus on whic getting an opponent to the ground and getti subm ubmitting him through various holds and chokes. In order to achieve MMA success, though, Combs also incorporates Muay Thai kickboxing into his training schedule. When training for a fight, he will train as many as three hours a day, seven days a week. Combs’ work ethic and dedication are not uncommon for MMA fighters, either at the amateur or professional level. “The sport of MMA is a competition between trained athletes. It’s not a street fight. It’s not to show who’s the toughest. It is a test to determine who is the most well-trained and the most well-balanced in martial arts. A successful fighter needs to have striking, grappling, good cardiovascular (continued on page 24)

www.memphissport.net | 23

(continued from page 23)

What do you do in the hours before a fight? Relax. Go over the fight mentally in my head.

You are a born-again Christian. Explain how that has changed your life? Every since I got on God’s team, He has been blessing me. He has been good to me. I don’t think I deserve it. But, everything goes back to Him. Praise God.

e. . . of peopl t o l a . I’ve met her day t o e h t him n, I met Lil’ Joh HH! AAHHHHH A A A A E E YEEE Any fun video games you been playing lately?

Since your recent fame, who are some of the coolest famous people you’ve met?

“I’ve been playing some real cool games. I like the shoot-em-up games, racing games, and motorcycle games.

I’ve met a lot of people. It’s hard to remember all the names. Adam Sandler. I just met Floyd Mayweather and Jamie Foxx too. And, Lil’ John, I met him the other day. YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

You have four kids. Two of your boys have the middle name “Rampage.” Your daughter’s middle name is “Page.” What is your other son’s middle name?

Where does your nickname come from?

Alexander. It may be “Rampage” soon though. My dog’s middle name is Rampage too. I can change your middle name to Rampage if you like.

My cousin named me that when I was a kid. It comes from the video game.

Sure, sounds good. M

(continued from page 23)

conditioning, strength th and flexibility,” said Ferguson. F Gingery echoes the sentiment. sentime “You can’t just be a thug. You have to be smart. It requires ires awareness, and it tak takes very hard work. Everybody wants to be an MMA fighter until they get punched unched in the face,” he said. Gingery also emphasizedd that MMA is a martial art in and of itself, aand as a result, it requires dedication, dication, respect and an control. “It’s nott just a bunch of brutes out there. The majority it are educated, d working professional, intelligent athletes.” Ferguson’s school has seen its membership skyrocket from a mere fifteen students when it opened in the basement of Memphis Martial Arts in 2003 to over 200 students by April 2007 when it relocated to a new, state of the art facility in Bartlett. He estimates that seventy percent or more of his student base is college educated or are currently attendiing college. MMA is often said to be the thinking

24 | Memphis Sport

man’s sport, but it also embodies dies a unique uniqu blurring of the line between individual effort and team spor sport, morphing training teams and schools ols like Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu into i pseudofamilies. “When we conceived of this school, we knew we had to build it on a family,” said Gingery as he recalled the start sta of Memphis emphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu. JiuFerguson erguson said, “MMA might be an individual activity, but iit takes a group roup effort. No one man alone can become a champion aat MMA. You have to have people to hit and to hit you. You h have to have ave people to choke and to choke you.” yo The ring in Tupelo wa was lined with Combs’s family. His training partners and friends crowded around to cheer him on, and they waited with bated breath when he took his opponent to the ground, mounted his back and secured a rear-naked choke to win by submission less than halfway way through thr the he first roun round.

You train, eat bleed, and sw together. . .

“You You train, bleed, and sweat together, and it brings you clos closer,” said Combs of the family atmosphere. “I proved myself in th the ultimate test of my skill. That they were there to see me win, w well, that just st makes it more sspecial.”

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19-Ê7 t www.memphissport.net | 25

compiled by MEMPHIS SPORT • descriptions by ED LAND, JR. Introduced in our May/June 2007 issue, The M Awards were created to highlight the best in all of Memphis sports. The method? Let the fans decide. And they did. Whether by online votes or mail-in ballots, Memphians voted in droves. Today, the polls are closed and the final results are in. On the next few pages you’ll find a breakdown of the top three finishers per M award, complete with fan voting percentages and related Memphis Sport commentary. Memphis Sport would like to thank the thousands of Memphians who voted in the 1st Annual M Awards. Memphis is the home of so many former and current sports superstars. The M Awards reveal that sports are thriving in Memphis. Now, let the debates begin. If you don’t like the way things turned out, rock the vote when the 2nd Annual M Awards are introduced in ’08.

Favorite Mascot Pouncer, University of Memphis

Favorite Concessions AutoZone Park

Pouncer is fun, active and inspiring. Tom II, on the contrary, epitomizes the essence of football and strikes fear in the hearts of all Memphis opponents. Memphis Sport must give a “shout out” to all the SEC “dawgs” (Smokey, Bully, Uga) for receiving write-in votes. Would a live grizzly mascot result in more Grizzlies wins?

Memphis Sportt is always researching the best ways to get fit. However, this award illustrates how much Memphians love BBQ nachos. AutoZone Park hit a grand-slam and won in landslide fashion. Strangely, a handful of crazy voters prefer White Castle for their concessions, although there isn’t one located within 200 miles of Memphis.

Pouncer, U of M 21.14 % ............................................................ Tom II, U of M 18.41 % ..................................................................................... Grizz, Memphis Grizzlies 15.55 % ................................................................ RiverThing, Memphis RiverKings 14.62 % ..................................................

AutoZone Park 49.93 % ....................................................... FedExForum 17.86 % ............................................................................. DeSoto Civic Center 15.78 % ................................................................

Faavorite Spirit Squad UUniversity of Memphis Dance Team Memphian ns like when cheerleaders cheer but love when dancers dance. Props dance Prop go out to Memphis’ Blue Crew for receiving multiple write-in votes. Is there a Blue Crew Dance Team on the horizon?

Memphis Dance Team, U of M 36.16 % ......................................... Memphis Cheerleaders, U of M 16.22 % .............................................. Memphis Grizzlies Dance Team 15.57 % ................................................

Faavorite Sporting Venue FeFedexForum Even visitin ng teams admire our awe-inspiring sporrting venues. FedExForum and AutoZone Park are two of the finest arenas FedExForu in the U.S. It should be noted, however, that Liberrty Bowl Memorial Stadium (4th place) and the Mid-South Coliseum (5th place) hold special places in the hearts of native Memphians. M By the way, where is the closest Bass Pro Shop?

FedExForum 31.97 % .................................................................. ..... AutoZone Park 28.61 % ........................................................................ ................ DeSoto Civic Center 15.17 % ................................................................ ................

Faavorite Sports Bar B Buffalo Wild Wings TV’s, winggs, darts and Golden Tee- a simple recipe for entertainment. e Though, some places do it better than others. T.J. Mulligan’s, The Sports Pub and Gill’s all fared well here, but the Brookhaven Pub tops the list of all homegrown Memphis establishments. For the record, the “Double Deuce” from Roadhouse actually received a write-in.

Buffalo Wild Wings 31.02 % ................... Fox and Hound 29.84 % .................................... Brookhaven Pub 13.09 % ..................................

SYMBOL KEY FIRST PLACE SECOND PLACE THIRD PLACE PHOTO FINISH SURPRISE RUNAWAY MOST OVERALL VOTES HONORABLE MENTION TIE

Favorite Annual Event Conference USA Tournament Given the Tigers’ league domination,, the C-USA Tournament will likely remain the fan favorite. Hoowever, continued exemplary efforts on the part of Stanford Financcial at the Stanford St. Jude Championship could make this awardd a yearly toss-up. One thing is clear: Memphis’ least favorite annuaal event is the NBA’s annual draft lottery.

Conference USA Tournament 28.25 % ....................................... Stanford St. Jude Championship 27.33 % .......................................... AutoZone Liberty Bowl 11.96 % ..........................................................

F Favorite Baseball Player A Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals Albert Memphian ns rejoiced when former Reedbird Albert Pujols won the World Series with the Cards. The painted outfield seat at AutoZone Park reminds us of how much we love Al. At the same time, no baseball player has everr inspired us quite like Stubby Clapp. Why not create a “Best Name in Memphis Sports” award? We already know whoo’d win.

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals 26.20 % ............... Stubby Clapp, Former Memphis Redbird 25.13 % .............. Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins 16.71 % ..................................

F Favorite Golfer JJohn Daly Daly’s incrredible golf skills and transpparent human frailties make him a nationwide favorite. Mem mphian Vance Veazey earned himself an award nomination next year by finishing in a career best 10th place at the ’07 Sttanford St. Jude Championship. This category remindds us that Memphis is the home of many of the world’s best golfers, but we couldn’t escape without receiving obligatory “Happy Gilmore” write-in votes.

John Daly 40.89 % ............................................................ Loren Roberts 20.38 % ............................................................. Shaun Micheel 16.19 % ...............................................................

28 | Memphis Sport

Favorite Football Player DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers We would rather not recall what happened to the Tigers after DeAngelo left, but obviously we’d love to have him back! Williams dominates, proving it could be a while before he has a true rival in this category. What? No Bobby Boucher write-ins? Slackers!

DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers 43.19 % ........................... Vince Young, Tennessee Titans 18.59 % ........................................ Eli Manning, New York Giants 13.22 % .................................................

Favorite Wo Women’s Basketball Player Ashley Shields, Houston Comets Next year, we’ll add “an ny woman who can dunk” to the list of nominees. For now, maaybe Ashley can celebrate her win with Shane Battier (Houstoon Rockets.)

Ashley Shields, Houston Coomets 35.77 % ............................................ Tamika Whitmore, Indiana Fever F 25.04 % ............................................ Devin Necaise, U of M 20.72 % ..............................................................

OTHER STATS Widest Margin of Victory 8. Most Memorable Moment Antonio Anderson Free Throws – 15.77% over DeAngelo’s 1st NFL TD

7. Favorite Spirit Squad U of M Dance Team – 19.94% over U of M Cheerleaders

6. Favorite Team U of M Basketball – 19.27% over the Memphis RiverKings

5. Favorite Golfer

F Favorite Menn’s Basketball Player CChris Douglas-Roberts, University of Memphis It’s no surpprise that CD DR and Jeremy Hunt take two of the top three sspots in this category. Even the “Jimmy Chitwood” (Hoosiers) write-in vvote was expected. On the other hand, who was prepared for a 2nd place finish by Shane Battier? He never played for the Tigeers and was traded from the Grizzlies to the Rockets last year, y yet he remains your 2nd favorite men’s basketball playerr.

Chris Douglas-Robberts, U of M 27.31 % .............. Shane Battier, Houuston Rockets 24.01 % ............ Jeremy Hunt, U of M 11. 48 % .......................................

John Daly – 20.51% over Loren Roberts

4. Favorite Coach John Calipari – 22.96% over Tommy West

3. Favorite Football Player DeAngelo Williams – 24.60% over Vince Young

2. Favorite Concessions AutoZone Park – 32% over FedExForum

1. Best Game U of M over Texas A&M – 33.33% over Vince Young’s Comeback

8. Favorite Mascot Pouncer – 2.73% over Tom II

F vorite Female Athlete Fav JJenna Kubesch, University of Memphis Jenna “chalk’s up” aanoother award for the Tigers. Who volunteers too inform the Roller D Derby stars of their 2nd place finish? Feel free, but watch for the flyingg elbows and forearm shivers from Lynn Sanity, Gwen Reaper, Demi D Automatic, Machine Gun Kelly, and Hustlin’ Flo!

Jenna Kubesch, U of M Softtball 24.47 % .................................... Any Roller Derby Girl 21.84 % ............................................................ Ashley Shields, Houston Coomets 18.55 % ............................................

7. Favorite Female Athlete Jenna Kubesch – 2.63% over Any Roller Derby Girl

6. Best Hair Gary Parrish – 2.34% over John Calipari

5. Favorite Sports Television Personality Jarvis Greer – 1.24% over Chloe

4. Favorite Sports Bar Buffalo Wild Wings – 1.18% over Fox and Hound

3. Favorite Baseball Player Albert Pujols – 1.07% over Stubby Clapp

2. Favorite Annual Event C-USA Tourney – .92% over Stanford St. Jude

1. Favorite Male Athlete DeAngelo Williams – .61% over CDR

Favorite Local Sports Radio Program The Chris Vernon Show Both Sports 56 WHBQ and ESPN 730 are well represented here, although The Chris Vernon Show does finish ahead of both h Sportstimee and The Sports Bar. Verno has contended publicly that Memphis Sportt wouldn’t “let him win” any awards because of our Tuesday morning air-time on Sports 56. Well, Verno - “Believe it… or not...”

The Chris Vernon Show 30.60 % .......................................................... SportsTime with Lapides & Calkins 21.75 % ......................................... The Sports Bar with Fischer, Woloshin, & Weinberger 19.87 % .........

Clearly the readers of Memphis Sportt are some of the most intelligent people to walk the earth. Why? I took home the two awards for which I was nominated! My prize? I get to comment on the others…

F Favorite Sports Radio Personality Chris Vernon, ESPN 730 Who know ws what Verno will tell his audience about his awardd showing. SSurely Memphis Sportt won’t end up on “the haters.” showing

Chris Vernon, ESPN 730 26.22 % .................................................. Dave Woloshin, U of M Play-by-Play 15.00 % ...................................... Jim Erickson, Memphis RiverKings 14.73 % ......................................... Marky B., 98.1 Sports Updates 13.99 % ........................................................

Jarvis Greer edging out Chloe, the Tiger Bookstore girl, rl for Favorite Television Personality was a shocker. I really thought she would take that award, especially considering her commercials are longer than almost every local sportscast. Jarvo doesn’t even need face time to take home awards. I love DeAngelo, but do that many people really remember his first NFL touchdown, or did they just vote because they saw his name next to an award? Sorry, but there is no way that was the second Most Memorable Moment. The Titans had more fans vote for awards than I would have suspected. Andre Allen not placing in the Best Hair competition is criminal. He had the Memphis logo shaved into his head for crying out loud! What does the guy have to do? All local athletes should take notice of Stubby Clapp and Shane Battier. Those guys are still beloved in this town simply because they became more than athletes; they became part of this community. Local sporting venues should take notice of AutoZone Park’s dominance in the Favorite Concessions category. Whatever it is, they are doing it right. Ashley Shields getting drafted in the top 10 of the WNBA draft is one of the greatest Memphis success stories you could ever hear. Props to our Memphis girl. Anything to do with U of M basketball will always win in this town. Well, almost everything; Gary Parrish’s hair is dominant. See ya at the Mensa meeting. Thanks for listening. – Chris Vernon

30 | Memphis Sport

Best Game University of Memphis over Texas A&M All season long, we heard the question, “Could the Tigers beat a top 10 team in the NCAA tournament?” Only 150+ miles from the A&M campus, the Tigers answered the question by ending the Aggies’ season. We “fought the Law (IV),” but he didn’t win.

U of M vs. Texas A&M 50.00 % ................................................... Vince Young’s comeback; Titans over Giants 24-21 16.67 % ............... U of M’s 78-77 victory over Gonzaga 8.00 % ................................... Grizzlies win over Warriors 144-135 8.00 % ...................................

Favorite Sports Television Personality Jarvis Greer, Action News 5 Results indicate you’ve seen Jarvis’ hilarious off-camera look and double do bl finger point as he takes Action News 5 to commercial. A native Memphian and CBHS graduate, Jarvo apparently has more of “what you need and what you want.”

Jarvis Greer, Action News 5 Sports Director 29.30 % .............. Chloe, The Tiger Bookstore Girl 28.06 % ..................................... Greg Gaston, ABC24 CW30 Sports Anchor 12.24 % .............................

B Hair Best G Parrish, CBSsportsline.com Gary After menttioning his nomination on hiss blog, Gary received enough votes vo for the #1 spot. Parrish (spik iked to the max) finished just ahead of Calipari (slick and gel elled). So, let’s get this straight: Andre Allen shaves a U of M lo logo onto his head yet he doesn’t place in the Top 3? Conspiracyy !

Gary Parrish, CBSsportsline.com 25.93 % ............ John Calipari, U of M 23.59 % ............................................. Mike Miller, Grizzlies 10.15 % .............................................

M Memorable Moment Most A Antonio Anderson Free Throws Recent hisstory suggests even the best of Tiger ballers have trouble converting con critical free throws in late season must-wi ust-wins. Apparently, Antonio Anderson couldn’t care less,, as he h “iced” this award with 2 of the biggest free throws in Tiger Tigers’ history. We love DeAngelo, but his first TD wasn’t in the NFL playoffs. We love Shane, but he plays for Memphis phis no n more.

Antonio Anderson Free ree Throws Thro vs. Texas A&M 28.91 % ............. DeAngelo elo Williams Will first NFL Touchdown 13.14 % ............................... Shane Battier Traded to Houston 12.03 % ..........................................

F Favorite Coach JJohn Calipari, University of Memphis Basketball Had Calippari left the Tigers for the Wolfpack of NC State, he might hav have become Memphis’ leastt favorite coach. As it stands, the U of M is primed for many more great seasons and Coach Cal remains our “fav.” Where will Marc Iavaroni place in next year’s awards?

John Calipari, U of M Basketball 39.63 % ............................ Tommy West, U of M Football 16.67 % .............................. Kevin McClelland, Memphis RiverKings 14.07 % ............. Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans 11.57 % ...................................

F Favorite Male Athlete DDeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers Including former Tigers, three of the top four finish hers are U of M stars. Surp stars Surprisingly, after only 1 year with the Titans, Vince Young tops the list of eligible non-Tigers. At only a 5% deficit this time around, could V.Y. actually win this award next yeaar? We wouldn’t think so, but then again we didn’t think Pac-Man Jones would receive 10 write-in votes!

DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers 20.27 % ........................ Chris Douglas-Roberts, U of M Basketball 19.66 % ............................ Vince Young, Tennessee Titans 15.23 % ........................................ Jeremy Hunt, U of M Basketball 11.73 % ...............................................

F Favorite Team UUniversity of Memphis Basketball On the heels of 2 consecutive Elite 8 appearances, the U of M was the clear favorite fa to take home this final award. Shoould the Tigers live up to the hype, we’ll expect them to defend this title next year. On the contrary, who expected the RiverKings to edge out the Grizzlies, Titans and Redbirds?

U of M Basketball 36.48 % ........................................................ Memphis RiverKings 17.21 % ...................................................... Memphis Grizzlies 8.97 % ...................................................................

32 | Memphis Sport

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SPORTS BIZ

“bullish on design!”

SPORTS BUSINESS by TIM DUNCAN

IN OUR BACK YARD

The people on the front-line of the Memphis sports business world are the teachers of sport business majors, the front offices of our local sports franchises, the athletic departments of our local universities, and the marketing departments of the local businesses, which are heavily involved with sports in Memphis and around the country.

brand identity print marketing

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There are so many relevant topics to discuss and debate regarding sports business. Here are some good relevant topics which spark debate, deep thought, and cause us to think about how the sports we love impact this city more than just on the playing fields.

• What will it take for the Grizzlies to survive in Memphis?

AutoZone Park & FedExForum to downtown Memphis

• How much revenue did Stu Jackson cost Memphis?

• Conference USA: Friend or Foe?

• Just how much is this franchise worth anyway? • Liberty Bowl Expansion • New stadium on Fairground site

901.229.4749 abullinachinashop.com

34 | Memphis Sport

• On-campus stadium • The Economic Impact of

• How does the SEC seem to almost print money? • Sports Sponsors: Why do they put their name of buildings and tournaments? • What could a NASCAR Sprint Cup date do for Memphis Motorsports Park?

So what do you think Memphis? Is there one topic that stands out in the mind of this community? Let me know what you think.

Grizzlies Honored For Giving: The Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation was honored by the Sports Philanthropy Project and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with the 2007 Steve Patterson Sports Philanthropy Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy. Since the team’s move to Memphis in 2001, more than $18.5 million in grants have been made to Memphis-area nonprofit organizations and schools on behalf of the Grizzlies Foundation.

New Naming Rights: BancorpSouth agreed to pay $300,000 to have the naming rights for the Snowden Grove 53,000 square foot complex. The facility was officially named BancorpSouth Center last month.

Free Sports Business Tip of the Month: The Grizzlies should market the heck out of the team’s new style of play. Call it “I-Ball”, named after the Grizzlies new head coach Mark Ivaroni.

Tim Duncan, a native Memphian and former Tiger basketball player, received his BBA in Marketing from Memphis State University and MS in Sports Administration from Grambling State University. He worked in sports marketing for Russell Athletic (NCAA, MLB) and RJ Reynolds (NASCAR, NHRA) and taught sport management majors as a Lecturer at Winston-Salem State University. He is now an owner of PRstore, a marketing retail franchise in Memphis, TN and a proud parent of four children (soon to be 5 in September). You can contact Tim at tim@memphissport.net

www.memphissport.net | 35

GET FIT

Browning Nagle page 34

The Skill of Speed page 35

by ED LAND, JR.

:JGOFAF? F9?D= STAYING HEALTHY WITH...

Memphian and Former NFL Quarterback for the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Atlanta Falcons

e hear acronyms all day every day. We crank up the “A.C.” We report to the “V.P.” Some of us are kind enough to “R.S.V.P.” for upcoming “B.Y.O.B.” gatherings. “F.Y.I.,” the acronyms simply never end. There is one acronym in particular that serves as an important life motto for former NFL QB Browning Nagle. Nagle, a Memphian for the last 14 years, lives in accordance with the following term: Positive Mental Approach, or “P.M.A.” It’s this mindset, Browning believes was the key factor in successfully dealing with the extreme challenges that accompanied playing quarterback for the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons throughout the 90’s. It is also this mental approach Nagle believes is the primary foundation for getting and staying in great shape. In his words, the first pre-requisite for obtaining better health and fitness is to “get your mind right.” According to Browning, “Optimism, confidence and belief are the core elements of success, whereas pessimism and doubt will ensure failure. This is true not only with our exercise and nutrition objectives, but with all selfimprovement goals.” Many of us subconsciously approach

34 | Memphis Sport

No one is perfect, but everyone has strengths and talents. We all have a reason to be confident and feel great. Nagle’s Nutritional Notes: “Use common sense! Keep track of ‘Input vs. Output’ and ‘Calories In vs. Calories Out.’” “Cook out! There’s nothing wrong with grilled chicken. More importantly, it’ll get you out of the house!” “Eat foods that contain protein, good carbs and the right kind of fat. Stay away from foods which contain sugar and saturated fats.

endeavors carrying self-doubt, as though our mere state of imperfection makes us unworthy or incapable of challenging ourselves and improving our lives. However, that mentality certainly doesn’t lead to fulfillment. As Nagle contends, “We cannot eliminate our imperfection, but we can choose to reach our fullest potential. No one is perfect, but everyone

has strengths and talents. We all have a reason to be confident and feel great.” Browning’s opinions on health and fitness don’t stop there. Once someone recognizes his need for self-improvement and establishes a positive mindset, constructing a complimentary life-style becomes his second order of business. “All too often,” Nagle points out. “People feel like they have to join a gym to get fit or lose weight, but that’s not the case. It’s not that complicated; simply living an active lifestyle is more than half the battle.” For example, Browning’s personal activities include coaching his son’s competitive baseball team (Memphis Red Sox) and playing golf, both of which involve a good amount of physical exercise. As he illustrates, “Involving yourself in an assortment of social activities is a more natural and more easily maintained method to achieving health and fitness.” Sure, Nagle also hits the gym from time to time, but as he puts it, “It’s not an ‘all or nothing’ thing. Many times people scrap their workout plans if they don’t have time to make it to the gym, but there’s plenty you can do right at home. You don’t have to go the gym to gain strength, endurance and flexibility. You don’t have to throw away your exercise

Kid’s Fitness page 36

Personal Training page 37

Just For Men page 38

Just For Women page 38

The Skill of Speed by ROB WEATHERLY

goals just because of rush-hour traffic.” As a Regional Business Development Manager for Medtronic, Browning travels often, but always finds time to stay active. His workout activities include jumpingrope, doing push-ups and sit-ups, riding a bike and using core/medicine balls. According to Nagle, knowing yourself is the third factor in achieving health and fitness success. As he details, “Knowing yourself allows you to set realistic goals and build an exercise routine that plays to your strengths.” What bothers Browning is that so many people spend inadequate time identifying who they are and what exactly they hope to accomplish. Consequently, those people hastily join a gym and commence a work-out regimen that may not correspond with their true fitness aims. Predictably, a short time later, those people are no longer visiting the gym and they’ve resorted back to their old habits. As Nagle concludes, “Setting realistic goals based on who you are ensures you’ll have the patience it takes to remain committed to your health and fitness aims. On the contrary, unrealistic goals simply test your patience and lead to disappointment.” Browning breaks down the essentials: “Be positive. Live a healthy life. Participate in activities you enjoy. Keep things simple. Be patient. Lastly, don’t give up!” M

ith sports becoming more popular among youth and collegiate athletic scholarships becoming harder to obtain, athletes are looking for ways to enhance their abilities and stand out above the rest. For many individuals, the most crucial skill that determines their success as an athlete is speed. Speed is a pre-determined genetic factor that we have little control over. However, speed—not unlike other athletic skills like throwing a ball properly, swinging a club, and passing volleyball—can still be taught. With proper coaching, every athlete possesses the ability to become faster. The three main factors of speed are force, time and direction. The goal of sprinting is for the athlete to apply as much force as possible, in a short amount of time, and in the proper direction. With improper technique, not only can the force be misdirected, but it can take a longer time to produce, which means overall power and speed is diminished. Coaches become a huge asset when it comes to teaching how to control these factors of time and direction. When studying exercise physiology and the biomechanics of the human body, coaches will go through years of learning the concepts and the science behind speed. They will study the factors that determine an individual’s optimal stride length and stride frequency, as well as which muscles should be used at what time during the stride. They also learn how to teach these concepts and sprint techniques to athletes as a way to elicit their true genetic potential. Using knowledge about the science of speed, coaches have developed drills that if taught and practiced correctly, will help to create proper movement patterns of the legs, arms, and torso. An athlete’s overall force production can be enhanced by performing optimal sprint mechanics. With proper strength and power development through the use of weights and other forms of resistance training, athletes can enhance this even more. Training in the weight room is also a very scientific matter that can be extremely beneficial if done correctly, but can also be devastating if done incorrectly. With the right coach, athletes will learn to use their muscle groups in ways that mimic the same neurological patterns and timing used while running with the newly learned techniques. M Rob Weatherly is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and is the Sports Performance Director at Velocity Sports Performance

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Kid’s Fitness TAEKWONDO by TARA MILLER

he benefits of taekwondo far exceed what any beginner could ever imagine. The most obvious effects are an increase in physical fitness and an understanding of self-defense. Both of these are positive outcomes of committing to a taekwondo program, but the payoff is far greater than that. Unlike other sports, taekwondo has a mental element that helps the practitioner lead a balanced life. The structure of the class helps improve focus, self-control, and self-discipline. Parents of children who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD often notice a vast improvement in their child’s focus that almost always carries over to their schoolwork and family life. Respect for others is another value instilled in all practitioners that becomes incorporated into their everyday lives. Taekwondo is one of the more dynamic martial arts because there are no “bench warmers.” Unlike in team sports, each person’s success is based on his or her own efforts. All students can fully participate, and therefore can reap the rewards that accompany their achievements. Taekwondo training has so many great physical and mental benefits that everyone can profit from, including increased self-defense skills, selfesteem, and respect for themselves and others. It’s no wonder taekwondo has become one of the most popular activities for both children and adults. M

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Personal Training

STAY STRONG IN THE SUMMER by MANDY POLK

ummertime is a fantastic season and reason to dive into your training. If you’ve been following along, then so far you have decided that you are truly ready for change, and you have set aside the time to work on improving your fitness level in whatever direction you choose. You are in the frame of mind to move forward, you have found the means necessary to take you there, and you have appropriated a portion of your busy schedule to focus on your goals. You are all set so...where do you go from here? The challenge now is to not slip back into your comfort zone. In order to meet your long-term goals, you need to focus on the very short-term goals—these are your daily objectives. Each and every day, aim to have the best training session possible and to eat within the guidelines you’ve set for yourself. It is the sum of consecutive “really good” days that will yield your exceptional results. “Kinda bad” days add up fast. Do not constantly weigh or check the mirror, which will lead to obsession and impatience. Place emphasis on habits, behaviors, and performance, and the scale and mirror will take care of themselves. You may wonder how to know if what you’re doing is working. If you are doing something different, it has to produce

some sort of result. If you do better than you did, you will be better than you have been. Every time you break a commitment to yourself, you lose self-esteem and selfrespect. Conversely, every time you follow through, you gain strength, discipline, fortitude, and focus. Do not skip your training session because the garage door will not open. Do not go get a pint of ice cream because you had a hard day at work and lost your composure. Now go meet your training partner. People often want to find the ideal training program and they want to do the most scientifically advanced nutrition plan. I have news: there is no such thing as perfect, so choose something liveable and stick with it. Perform your training sessions without distractions and stick to your nutrition guidelines nearly every single day. You do not have to live the same day over and over again, but ensure that you are consistent with certain habits. Emphasize your ability to uphold your commitment to yourself, and you will always come out on top. Happy training! M Mandy Polk is a professional fitness competitor and personal trainer

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Just For Men: Pilates by ELENA JENKINS

ll men out there with limited flexibility, weak backs, and poor balance—listen up! These issues can and will lead to injury. There is a growing trend of men attending pilates and yoga classes. Many professional football, tennis, basketball and golf players are incorporating pilates into their workouts. For the most part, men work their bodies from the “outside” rather than from the “inside,” neglecting their core muscles. It is not simply a matter of building up the muscle; it is the process of training your neuromuscular pathways to engage the correct groups of muscles at the correct times, for the correct types of movements. Most men have tight hamstrings and hip flexors. Though strength training is very important, lengthening the muscles is just as important in order to avoid injury and regain range of motion.

There is also the issue of prostate cancer, which usually affects men over age 50. It is believed that the atrophy of the pelvic floor muscles is a key factor in this disease. Because pilates works the deep muscles of the lower abdomen, not only does it give you a flattened, stronger center, it also pulls up and tightens your pelvic floor muscles (which certainly can’t hurt your love life!). Also, pilates may not thin out your birthday candles, but it is an effective antidote against aging. As people get older, the body gets weaker unless you do something about it. Gravity takes its toll, the body begins to shrink, and the spine loses length. Joseph Pilates used to say, “you’re as young as your spine is flexible” when he taught students of all ages to lift the spine from the pelvis and articulate the spine, one vertebra at a time. His ideal form was mirrored after the ancient Greek man: well tuned in body, mind, and spirit. In order to synchronize those three areas, his popular

Just For Women: Heart Disease by JEN ANDREWS

t’s often considered a “man’s disease,” but try telling that to the more than 8,000,000 American women living with heart disease. Recent studies show that cardiovascular disease—which includes heart disease and strokes—is the leading cause of death in American women, claiming six times as many female lives as breast cancer each year. Tennessee is on the dangerous end of the spectrum of national heart-related death rates for women, and Memphis has one of the highest death rates in the state. According to a Center for Disease Control study conducted from 19962000, Shelby County loses between 531644 women over the age of 35 to heart disease each year. The national rate is 492. “It’s all about the risk factors,” said Dr. Sutherland, a retired cardiologist and project coordinator for Healthy Memphis Common Table. “The MidSouth area has an extremely high rate obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and those are all risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease.”

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Mid-Southerners simply aren’t getting enough exercise and aren’t eating properly, and the results are frightening. Women are developing blockage in coronary arteries at much earlier ages. Dr. Sutherland explained that the first phase of coronary artery disease can take 20 or 30 years to develop. The second phase—angina pain, heart attack or heart failure—only

takes a matter of seconds. The trick is treating women at risk years before they develop the disease to help them lower or eliminate their risk factors. These scary statistics don’t mean women are doomed. A healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, greatly decreases a woman’s risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. The measures you take to lower your risk of heart disease provide collateral benefits such as

program produces a sense of wholeness and integration commonly associated with eastern meditative and movement practices. Perhaps the anatomical perfection of the pilates body is only the beginning. M

Elena Jenkins, MBA, NASM-CPT, is the Director of Evolv Pilates & Personal Training

improved quality of life, decreased stress levels, and weight loss. Working women know it’s difficult to find time in busy schedules to exercise and plan for healthy meals while trying to juggle jobs and family. But even small changes to your routine can increase your life expectancy. You’ll be surprised by how a good workout can take the edge off the daily grind. Try taking the stairs instead of elevators, or commit to a brief walk around the block each day. You can even bring the kids or pets to create a fitness routine that’s a family affair. If you like the outdoors, explore great Memphis hiking spots like Shelby Farms Park, Tom Lee Park or the Wolf River Trail. Make good decisions when grocery shopping, and take a few minutes each morning to plan meals for the day. Not only will your heart be healthier, but you’ll be setting a good example for sisters, mothers, daughters, and friends. M

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TAILGATING photoos by MIKE BULLARD

Memphis Roller Derby Wit Witness the Carnage! Che Cheer the Mayhem!

Jun ne 16, 2007 Nikki C Cave (left) 1. Katee Paylor and Jerry Tuurner 2. Haydden and Candicee Wiseman 3. Chris O’Rourke and Leslie Mayo M

7. Kristen Peoples, John Key II, and Rebecca Key 8. Sarah Whaley, Julian Upchurch, and Devin Frost 9. Annie Freres 10. “Madmartigan”

4. “Blow wn Fuse” 5. Lauren n and Aren Long

11. Alyssa and Amber Kusler 12. Maggie Louie

6. Shelly and a Brian Kee

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JACK’S BACK

by JACK EATON

riting poems is my hobby. It all started many years ago when I was the sports anchor on Channel 5. It was my buddy, the late Dick Hawley, who read my first poem on the air. He was doing the weather at the time and I had written a poem about the Tigers beating Louisville. The viewers liked it and many requested that I read it again on the late news. Bingo – my poetry career was launched. My favorite role model was the great Ogden Nash. He was a popular humorist and poet who left a body of work that staggers the imagination. Nash was truly in a class by himself and the work he just rolled off like an assembly line made me determined to have at least one or two “near Nash experiences.” My favorite happened at the Grand Casino in Tunica. We were waiting for the elevator to take us to the second floor when this man approached me and asked, “Do you write those poems or does someone write them for you?” “No,” I said. “I write them myself.” “OK,” he said. “Write one now.” “My gosh,” I replied. “I can’t write one here.” He got this sarcastic look on his face and said, “I thought so.” By that time the elevator had arrived. The door opened and we all got on board. It was a short ride to the second floor. The door opened and we all stepped out. He looked at me and said, “Well?” I looked him right in the eye and said, Whatever will be shall come to pass, So I went to Tunica and lost my... bankroll.

He reached out and shook my hand, turned and vanished into the crowd. Looking back that was truly an Ogden Nash moment.

art of my act on Channel 5 was to make predictions. I predicted everything; World Series, Super Bowl, Tennessee vs. Alabama and everything in between. I will say this; it was not unusual for my predictions to be wrong. Mason Granger, the news anchor and my favorite foil was always around to note my failures.

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The 1980 Kentucky Derby was to be the highlight of my predicting career. A horse named Rumbo was the second choice. I reasoned that since the favorite rarely won the second choice was a natural and besides I liked the name Rumbo… But the Boston marathon is also involved in this. The race was held a few weeks before the Kentucky Derby. A woman named Rosie Ruiz came in first in the women’s division of the Boston marathon. However, it was determined that Rosie only ran a few miles and when that was found out she was disqualified and sent packing in disgrace. Now back to the Kentucky Derby. There was one filly in the race named Genuine Risk and as the horses headed down the home stretch it was a duel between Rumbo and Genuine Risk. Come on Rumbo don’t let a girl beat you. Come on Rumbo. In spite of all my urging Genuine Risk won the race; only the second filly to do so. I knew I would be in for some serious kidding on Monday, so I set out to blunt it as much as possible. So I wrote: My horse came in second and that’s a fact But I say my prediction is still in tact. I’m not sure that filly ran the whole course. I think it was Rosie Ruiz dressed up as a horse…

I was kidded unmercifully but I also go a big laugh from my Ogden Nash “like” poem. I had other stuff that was amusing and sometimes even funny but those two stand out. Now back to Mason for just a minute. He inspired many poems: Welcome Back Mason While you were away, how your fans did persist They wanted you to know how much you’ve been missed The Mason Granger fan club held a meeting And for the first time ever we ran out of seating. Three guys showed up and that’s the truth So we had to move it from the telephone booth. But now that your back I’ve heard nary a peep Both your fans are as happy as kitten asleep.

There is only one Ogden Nash and as I have said many times: I salute guys who are good at what they do. Mr. Nash, I salute you.