My heart hurts this morning, and not because it turns out that free throws really matter. What I’m really sad about is that these kids, these Tiger basketball players, might think they’ve disappointed us. What they — and their wild-man coach, John Calipari — have done for this city in just a few short months is nothing less than remarkable. EVERYONE is a Tiger fan, old, young, black, white, Asian, Midtown, Southwind, everyone. And that’s a feeling I’d like to hold onto for more than just a few days. I know the national media have dissed us repeatedly, but it’s really up to us now. Can we keep talking to each other, even if not about the Tigers? Can we stay friends, focused on a similar goal? Maybe we should declare that a blue UofM flag on your car is a sign that you care about more than basketball. That you care about Memphis.

We love you, Joey, Chris, Derrick, Coach … Go Tigers.

I realize that the Tigers playing for the National Championship tonight may not be of all that much interest to the people who read here (*cough*women*cough*) but c’mon! Is there REALLY any other story in town today? These boys have made history with their 38-1 record and have brought so much pride and joy to a city that - let’s face it - can use a little esteem these days.

I was trying to think of a spin on this story - because I simply can’t think of any thing else today!!!!!1!! - that would interest us girls. But there are no photos of the boys in anything other than uniforms, so the fashion angle is out. They don’t wear make up so no critiques there. The only real hair story is the stars shaved into Doneal Mack’s hair and frankly, I kinda like them. So after the jump: THE GIRLFRIEND’S GUIDE TO THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. Read the rest of this entry »

After all of the great writing and speechmaking to mark 40 years since Dr. King was killed in Memphis (if you haven’t heard his daughter Bernice’s words from the balcony in front of Room 306, it would really be worth your time), I wondered if there was anything for me to add. My Sunday column tries to tell what a gift I think it is for me to have come to Memphis when I did. Read the whole thing by clicking here.

You can read my blog post about today’s game here.

Today is the day the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his amazing “Mountaintop” speech, 40 years ago, at the Mason Temple in South Memphis. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, surely you know that tomorrow will mark 40 years since King was assassinated in Memphis. (I agree with a comment I read recently: Let’s not call this an anniversary, which connotes celebration.)

As it was 40 years ago, today is a rainy day; those who were there that night at the temple talk about thunder, lightning, rain, wind. But, of course, many things are different, too. I was glad to hear Billy Kyles on Morning Edition this morning debunk the notion that things are just as bad as they were back then. People who say that, he said, weren’t there back then. Though, of course, the work King and Kyles were doing still goes on.

Still, it’s worth remembering — or learning, if you’re too young to remember — what was really going on in Memphis in 1968. And no one in town (so far) has done it quite as well as Memphis magazine, whose April issue contains a gem of a story from Memphian (and nationally famous writer) Hampton Sides about his experiences being a kid in 1968-69. After that, take time to read the recollections of those who were there. And, if you can stand it, read the timeline of events.

Then brace yourself for tomorrow, when the national spotlight turns on Memphis, to remember an event that changed the face of a nation.