Lunch at Walt s Smokehouse. Cheeseburger to die for.
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Month: September 2002
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DEAD LETTER BOX
Blue Canyon Productions in Santa Fe, New Mexico, recently sent us a notice about their sardonic Web sites. Their postcard was addressed to the Flyer s Political Horrors Editor. Sigh. Even in New Mexico, it seems, they ve heard about the sad state of local politics here.
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FILL ‘ER UP
Residents of downtown, HarborTown, and Mud Island will no longer have to travel long distances for gasoline and other items once a new convenience center is completed next spring.
Uptown Place, developed by Jim Curtis of Tri-State Contractors and built by Guy Payne & Associates Architects, will offer many of the conveniences of everyday life. The mixed-use building, planned at 150 Auction Avenue between Main and Second streets, will contain a ground-floor convenience store with a BP/Amoco gasoline island and retail outlets, including food chains like Subway and a drug store. The second level will consist of 10 loft-style apartments.
“We are trying for a quality development with this project,” says Curtis. “We’re trying to set a standard in downtown for high-scale developments.”
“The Center City Commission [CCC] is delighted to see the project, which is a larger part of the Uptown Memphis development project,” says Jeff Sanford, CCC president. “This will change a dilapidated area into a vibrant, mixed-income area.”
The 25,000-square-foot development is a $3 million project that Sanford describes as “more than your usual strip shopping center.” The CCC’s finance corporation has issued Uptown Place an 18-and-a-half-year property-tax abatement initiative.
“Many people have a misconception about tax abatements,” says Sanford, referring to questions that have been raised about what are usually called freezes for developers. “Since 1979, there are only 141 active downtown abatements, and there are 6,000 total commercial projects in the district. Every project does not receive an abatement, only those projects the [CCC] knows will be completed with or without the tax freeze.”
With the CCC’s support, Payne says there should be no problem leasing the retail and residential spaces. Curtis says construction is scheduled to begin in early October.
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FROM MY SEAT
GRAB YOUR SHOULDER PADS
Ahhh . . . September in the Mid-South. The temperature drops into the low 90s, kids hither and yon return to the classroom, and the spit-flying collision of helmets and shoulder pads can mean only one thing. Let’s play some football! (Word is, there were some college games that counted last month. I can no more pay attention to football in August than I can fat, bearded men wearing red suits in April. In the name of Knute Rockne, let these big men have a summer!)
Am I the only one who recognizes the seismic shift in expectations of Memphis Tiger football this season? An established (though young) quarterback in place. An offense with a higher performance ceiling than the defense. And a coach who has claimed his team will pass first and run, well, later. Is this the University of Memphis or the University of Florida? I’ll tell you one thing: I can’t wait to see them play.
Based on last Saturday’s drubbing of Murray State Ñ be they a I-AA opponent or not Ñ it’s going to be an intriguing season at the Liberty Bowl. The 52-6 victory was the program’s first season-opening win since 1993 and the most lopsided Tiger triumph in 33 years. Here are a few questions for the months ahead, based on the Tigers’ first 60 minutes.
Wimprine has only 10 games under his belt, but he’s a mature (for college) 21 years of age and appears to have a fire in his belly when it comes to moving his offense. If he continues to develop as a sophomore, imagine what the next two years might bring. Having slung five touchdown passes against the Racers, let’s just say the kid’s ahead of the curve.
that there is more to pigskins in the Mid-South than that SEC version of the Bermuda Triangle.
Memphis fans can either fill the Liberty Bowl for the most attractive home date of the season, or stay home for another episode of “Frasier.” Be sure of this: Danny Wimprine and Louisville’s Heisman candidate, Dave Ragone, will provide more fireworks than a season full of Niles and Daphne. See you at the stadium.
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monday, 2
Ernest Withers Tribute at the Holiday Inn Select Airport, where the legendary photographer will be honored by Ruby Wilson, Preston Shannon, David Porter, Isaac Hayes, Mayor Willie Herenton, and others.
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KENNY THE KING?
Elvis Week has come and gone, and the devoted fans of the King of Rock-and-Roll have returned to their homes from all over the globe. Their devotion always makes us ponder Elvis everlasting fame, because what other entertainer has fans who try to make themselves actually resemble their hero? Are there Frank Sinatra look-alikes? Liberace impersonators? God, we hope not. So Elvis, and Elvis alone, was the only one with hoards of impersonators.
Or so we thought, until one of our hardworking interns stumbled upon a curious Web site devoted to men who resemble country crooner Kenny Rogers, MenWhoLookLikeKennyRogers, a dot com. Now, it s true that some of these folks aren t shown here because they really want to be — let s just say some of them are involuntary impersonators — but the very notion just gives us the shivers.
We ll take the King over the Gambler any day.
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sunday, 1
Opening reception at Memphis Jewish Community Center for items from Jack and Marilyn Belz s Judaica Collection. Latino Night at Melange with Los Cantadores. The LaFevor Brothers at Old Zinnie s.
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THE SCOOP ON SPORTS
SEASON OF SUCCESS LOOMS FOR TIGERS
The 2001 Tigers football season will be remembered as a rebuilding year by those Memphians who hold Conference USA football close to their hearts. After walking away from the gridiron with a loosing record of 5 wins and 6 losses at the hands of Cincinnati Bearcats at Liberty Bowl by a final score of 36 – 34 the Tigers had a better understanding of what it will take to win games.
“I feel if we can compete a full game with special teams, defense and offense playing together and put a complete game together than we’ll be fine,” says Wade Smith a senior offensive tackle from Dallas, Texas. “It’s really the small things that enhance the chance of big things happening.”
For big things to happen in the 2002 season the Tigers may be hard-pressed not to showcase their new and improved potent offensive game which is coming along like a young Tiger Cat growing bigger, faster, and stronger while sprinting through the wild kingdom. Even the coaching staff is impressed with the players who are making to commitment to U of M football. “We have come 100 miles from a talent level at skill positions on offense to the point where we are going to be the kind of team now I think that can strike at any time,” said Head Coach Tommy West with the eye of a tiger.
In fact, coach West is using his defensive expertise and prowess to enhance this Tiger football team on both sides of the ball and if all goes right the system will begin to pay off against Murray State when the pig skin is kicked off into the sky inside the Liberty Bowl.
“We’re a much more explosive offensive team right now than probably any I’ve been around. Defensively were inexperienced but I think were talented,” says West.
The elusive dream of earning a bowl appearance will be an ongoing conversation throughout the season for University of Memphis football Tigers. As far as players are concerned if they take care of business on the field then the bowl game will be the icing on the cake of success. “I’m more excited about this season than any season in the past and I think this year will be the year,” says Wade Smith.
The so-called season tone-setting game against Murray State will be a great opportunity for Memphis to build momentum and prove those wrong who are unsold on the Tigers. The contest is a home game for Memphis, which is a plus. Murray State finished the 2001 season with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses and will compete this season without 13 lettermen from last year. If any team is favored it must be U of M and if this is the case Memphis must hold serve and get the job done on both sides of the ball to be successful.
Coach West maintains this years Tigers have more confidence, and even a swagger as they walk around campus, workouts, and the weight room. “I feel a lot more confidence about our team. And when you ask around I think we’ve got a little bit more respect within this league this year than we’ve had,” says West.
Tigers football fans will get an opportunity to watch U of M play at least two television games this season. The first so-called TV game will be on Saturday, September 7th when the Tigers travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on the Rebels from Ole Miss. This contest will be televised regionally by Jefferson Pilot Sports whom as you may know carries several SEC College football games annually. Apparently, the game will be scheduled to air around 11:30 a.m. check your local listings for details.
Another so-called TV game will be played here at the Liberty Bowl as U of M plays host to the Visiting Defending Conference USA Champion University of Louisville cardinal. The Louisville game will be carried by ESPN2 on Tuesday, October 8th at 7 p.m. Check your local cable provider for particulars as it relates to the dates and times of Tigers football during the 2002 CUSA Season.
For Coach Tommy West and the 2002 University of Memphis Football Tigers the season opener can’t come soon enough. “We’re excited, I can’t wait to get started and get out on the field and do what we love to do.”