Author: Brent Taylor

November 14th

“In my next life I want to come back as a sports writer.” –Richard M. Nixon

Just so you don t think my life is full of drudgery, last month I went to a University of Memphis football game and even got mentioned the next day in the Commercial Appeal sports section. Here, with permission of Scripps Howard, is a reprint of the blurb (okay, I didn’t get permission).

• [‘Former Memphis Flyer editor DENNIS FREELAND attended a Tiger game for the first time this season and sat in the press box where he has been a fixture for years. Freeland, of course, has had surgery for an incurable brain tumor and said that he felt strong enough to make it to the Liberty Bowl on Saturday.

  ‘When greeted by a friend who said he had heard rumors that he might make the game, Freeland responded, “Yeah I heard those rumors, too. I heard them before I even decided to come. That is why I am here.”‘ — Phil Stukenborg and Gary Parrish]

I have missed the camaraderie of the press box all these days. It was great to be back. One reporter suggested my wife must have dressed me because my colors matched and I even had socks on! He was right.

Thanks to Bob Winn and his staff for making me feel welcome. Thanks, also, to my Polish transportation team, Larry Kuzniewski and Chris Przybyszewski.

So, for the first time in my life I agree with Tricky Dick. I think I, too, would like to come back as a sportswriter.

All the best,

Dennis

If the Tigers had any hope at a winning season and a bowl bid, the squad needed a win today.

So they went out and got one.

And in the process, the Tigers broke records for a freshman quarterback’s numbers and the number of touchdowns in a game by a quarterback. Also, the Tigers tied the numbers for number of tackles in the season by a defensive back.

Tiger QB Danny Wimprine led the way, accounting for five touchdowns and 203 yards of offense. Wimprine found receiver Bunkie Perkins for a 38 yard touchdown pass, receiver Ryan Johnson for a three yard pass, and receiver Antoine Harden twice for touchdown passes from 12 yards and 67 yards out. Wimprine also ran in one of his own from the Army one yard line. Rounding out the score was running back Dante Brown with a six yard run to the end zone. Brown ended the day with 80 yards on 18 carries.

Wimprine’s performance broke two Memphis records, for the number of touchdowns by a quarterback in a game, and also for overall performance by a freshman quarterback for the squad.

In response, the usually affluent Army (2-8, 2-5) offense had little to offer in the way of scoring. Though the Black Knights racked up 321 yards of total offense (only fifty yards less than the Tigers), the only scores came from a 41 yard kick by Derek Jacobs and a one yard run from running back C.J. Young.

Army was without the services of starting quarterback Chad Jenkins, who sat with injuries. Back-up Curtis Zervic filled in with 16 pass completions on 33 attempts for 154 yards. Zervic was replaced in the game by Reggie Nevels who threw for no completions but did run for 65 yards.

The Tigers (5-5, 3-3) stopped Army from scoring on any number of occasions, most notably stopping a 13 play, 85 yard Army drive that resulted in no points. Tiger defensive back Glenn Sumter took a share of his own record with his seven tackles on the day. The Memphis coaches will officially grade the tape tomorrow, but if Sumter’s numbers stand, he has officially tied Jeremy Williams for overall tackles by a defensive back for a season with 123. Also, Sumter’s pulled in an interception and a fumble for the game. The interception ties Sumter for third in career interceptions for the Tigers.

Head coach Tommy West said that his team responded to his call early in the week. “I’m really proud of our guys,” he said. “If we look back from where we’re coming from, the win becomes important for us.” The coach is alluding to the Tigers dismal offensive performances earlier in the season where such heroics by the quarterback would be unheralded.

On the Tigers success in the air, West said that the Army squad didn’t play defense in a way that he had expected. “They walked up and pressed us,” he said. “We didn’t anticipate that. We’ve been pretty successful against press defenses and we got some balls past them.”

However, West also attributes his team’s success to an improving receiving corps. “We’re running routes,” West said, noting that the margin of error is only two yards. “These routes have to be precise. So now your quarterback knows where [the receivers] are going to be.”

On the defensive end, West said he wasn’t surprised of Sumter’s performance. “Sumter’s a guy who does his job all the time,” West said. “I think he’s got great vision. He’s sees [the field] well. And he understands the defense. He studies it.”

The win places Memphis just one shy of a winning season, the first for Memphis since 1994, and bowl eligibility. The Tigers face the University of Cincinnati at the Liberty Bowl, Saturday, November 24, at 1 p.m. West says that his squad’s biggest challenge is to play consistently throughout the game. “We played really well in spurts,” West cautioned. “We’ll have to do that for sixty minutes next week” in order to win.

Memphis, Tennessee.

Basketball hotbed.

Home of the Blues.

Racquetball capital of the world?

For a couple days, at least. Starting yesterday, the sixth annual Hilton U.S. Open Racquetball Championships will be held in at The Racquet Club of Memphis through Sunday, November 18. This is the grand-daddy of all racquetball tourneys, counting as the sports only recognized “grand-slam” and doling out $45,000 to the winner. The event will be televised on ESPN2.

“Memphis is a great site for several reasons,” says tourney director Doug Ganim. One of those reasons is the “rich history the sport of racquetball has in this city, including its being the birthplace of the USRA [United States Racquetball Association], the outstanding collection of facilities offered by The Racquet Club of Memphis, the University of Memphis, and Wimbleton Sportsplex, Memphis has an excellent central geographic location within the United States, [and] a very supportive community including corporate sponsors, fans, and media.”

In other words, this is a racquetball kind of town. Facing off in the tournament will be such top-ranked stars as Sudsy Monchik for the men and Cheryl Gudinas for the women. Monchik already has three of these titles on his trophy case. Gudinas is still looking for her first U.S. OPEN title.

This event is going to be just plain out cool. For those not familiar with the sport, racquetball places two opponents in a small area with an even smaller ball. One player knocks the crap out of said ball, bouncing the thing like crazy. All the other player has to do is catch up to the blazing little bit of rubber and send the ball back to the wall. Easy, right?

No. Not even a little bit. Imagine trying to imagine dodge-ball on crack. Now, take that scenario and tell the players to move toward the ball. Insane? Maybe just a little bit.

And here’s something more. The entire event supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Memphis as the event’s designated charity.

For more information, go over to the U.S. OPEN’s website at www.HiltonUSOPEN.com.

OTHER STUFF

NOTABLE

• Memphis RiverKings right winger Ben Gorewich has been named CHL player of the week on the strength of his seven point effort over three games which includes three goals and four assists. Not bad considering Gorewich joined the ‘Kings three games ago.

• What’s with all the panic over the Grizzlies’ 0-7 start? Everyone acts surprised, as if Memphis inherited a good team. We didn’t. We inherited a team that was pretty bad, got rid of the core of its talent, and is rebuilding. That said, this team will be alright. The Griz need guard Michael Dickerson back from the injured list, need more fourth quarter effort/concentration from its players, and more experience in two starters (forwards Shane Battier and Pau Gasol), but those will come in time, as will the wins.

QUOTABLE

• “We don’t have any days off.” Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams on the rigors of an NBA schedule. Williams was obviously forgetting those seven vacation days when the team had a game.

• “It’s tough. It’s real tough. We’re playing our hearts out and one person is slacking. If you have five guys out there and one guy is slacking, it hurts the whole team. Everybody is not working together.” Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright on why the team is losing.

• “We allowed so many open shots. They [the Golden State Warriors] made the shots. We missed one or two shots. So what? We lost.” Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol giving his take on the team’s loss Monday night.

• “At some point and time, you have to get angry. And just do something about it.” Grizzlies head coach Sidney Lowe on what it will take for the Grizzlies to win.

Rasheed Wallace ensured the Memphis Grizzlies set a new franchise low.

Wallace scored 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting as the Portland Trail Blazers handed the Grizzlies their eighth straight defeat to start the season, 101-85.

Wallace did most of his damage in the first half. But he had a big dunk in the final minutes and made a spectacular 3-pointer from the top of the key that sealed the Blazers’ fourth win in the last six games.

In six unsuccessful seasons in Vancouver, the Grizzlies never opened a season with eight straight losses. Their worst start had been 0-7 in the 1996-97 season.

The game was tied, 67-67, through three quarters and the Grizzlies stayed in it through the first six minutes of the final period.

Nick Anderson’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 83-81 with 5:16 to play, but on Memphis’ next two possessions, Jason Williams missed a six-foot jumper and a desperation 3-pointer that resulted in a shot clock violation with 4:26 remaining.

The Grizzlies never threatened thereafter as Portland closed with a 17-1 run.

Vancouver wasted an outstanding performance from rookie Shane Battier, who scored a season-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Memphis, Tennessee.

Basketball hotbed.

Home of the Blues.

Racquetball capital of the world?

For a couple days, at least. Starting yesterday, the sixth annual Hilton U.S. Open Racquetball Championships will be held in at The Racquet Club of Memphis through Sunday, November 18. This is the grand-daddy of all racquetball tourneys, counting as the sports only recognized “grand-slam” and doling out $45,000 to the winner. The event will be televised on ESPN2.

“Memphis is a great site for several reasons,” says tourney director Doug Ganim. One of those reasons is the “rich history the sport of racquetball has in this city, including its being the birthplace of the USRA [United States Racquetball Association], the outstanding collection of facilities offered by The Racquet Club of Memphis, the University of Memphis, and Wimbleton Sportsplex,É Memphis has an excellent central geographic location within the United States, [and] a very supportive community including corporate sponsors, fans, and media.”

In other words, this is a racquetball kind of town. Facing off in the tournament will be such top-ranked stars as Sudsy Monchik for the men and Cheryl Gudinas for the women. Monchik already has three of these titles on his trophy case. Gudinas is still looking for her first U.S. OPEN title.

This event is going to be just plain out cool. For those not familiar with the sport, racquetball places two opponents in a small area with an even smaller ball. One player knocks the crap out of said ball, bouncing the thing like crazy. All the other player has to do is catch up to the blazing little bit of rubber and send the ball back to the wall. Easy, right?

No. Not even a little bit. Imagine trying to imagine dodge-ball on crack. Now, take that scenario and tell the players to move toward the ball. Insane? Maybe just a little bit.

And here’s something more. The entire event supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Memphis as the event’s designated charity.

For more information, go over to the U.S. OPEN’s website at www.HiltonUSOPEN.com.

OTHER STUFF

NOTABLE

• Memphis RiverKings right winger Ben Gorewich has been named CHL player of the week on the strength of his seven point effort over three games which includes three goals and four assists. Not bad considering Gorewich joined the ÔKings three games ago.

• What’s with all the panic over the Grizzlies’ 0-7 start? Everyone acts surprised, as if Memphis inherited a good team. We didn’t. We inherited a team that was pretty bad, got rid of the core of its talent, and is rebuilding. That said, this team will be alright. The Griz need guard Michael Dickerson back from the injured list, need more fourth quarter effort/concentration from its players, and more experience in two starters (forwards Shane Battier and Pau Gasol), but those will come in time, as will the wins.

QUOTABLE

• “We don’t have any days off.” Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams on the rigors of an NBA schedule. Williams was obviously forgetting those seven vacation days when the team had a game.

• “It’s tough. It’s real tough. We’re playing our hearts out and one person is slacking. If you have five guys out there and one guy is slacking, it hurts the whole team. Everybody is not working together.” Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright on why the team is losing.

• “We allowed so many open shots. They [the Golden State Warriors] made the shots. We missed one or two shots. So what? We lost.” Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol giving his take on the team’s loss Monday night.

• “At some point and time, you have to get angry. And just do something about it.” Grizzlies head coach Sidney Lowe on what it will take for the Grizzlies to win.

Rasheed Wallace ensured the Memphis Grizzlies set a new franchise low.

Wallace scored 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting as the Portland Trail Blazers handed the Grizzlies their eighth straight defeat to start the season, 101-85.

Wallace did most of his damage in the first half. But he had a big dunk in the final minutes and made a spectacular 3-pointer from the top of the key that sealed the Blazers’ fourth win in the last six games.

In six unsuccessful seasons in Vancouver, the Grizzlies never opened a season with eight straight losses. Their worst start had been 0-7 in the 1996-97 season.

The game was tied, 67-67, through three quarters and the Grizzlies stayed in it through the first six minutes of the final period.

Nick Anderson’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 83-81 with 5:16 to play, but on Memphis’ next two possessions, Jason Williams missed a six-foot jumper and a desperation 3-pointer that resulted in a shot clock violation with 4:26 remaining.

The Grizzlies never threatened thereafter as Portland closed with a 17-1 run.

Vancouver wasted an outstanding performance from rookie Shane Battier, who scored a season-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting.