Adrian Rogers – Memphis Flyer

The Tigers finished Tuesday night’s game on a 16-8 run, erasing a three-point deficit with just under seven minutes to play to earn their fifth straight win, matching the team’s season high from the 2014-15 season. Southern center Jared Sam missed a free throw with 26 seconds left that would have tied the game at 68 and K.J. Lawson converted a driving layup from the left side with 17 seconds left to clinch the victory.

The older of the Tigers’ two Lawson brothers scored a game-high 16 points off the bench and Trahson Burrell added 15 points and eight rebounds (also off the bench) to lead the way on a night senior Shaq Goodwin fouled out in only 14 minutes of playing time. Freshman forward Dedric Lawson earned his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Memphis improved to 7-2 on the season despite committing a season-high 19 turnovers.

Larry Kuzniewski

Dedric Lawson

Senior point guard Ricky Tarrant Jr. struggled from the field (3 for 10) but managed to score 11 points, grab six rebounds, dish out four assists, and earn four steals. He knew it was the Tiger bench, though, that decided this one. “It’s something we expect [the reserves] to do,” said Tarrant. “It’s their mentality, to bring energy. They did a great job, picking up the pace of the game. Not just by scoring, but with defense and rebounding.”

Led by Sam (26 points and 12 rebounds) and guard Adrian Rodgers (18 points), the Jaguars battled the Tigers to a tie at halftime (29-29) and led for more than 14 minutes of the game (there were 10 lead changes). But in addition to dominating bench play (Memphis outscored the Jaguar bench, 32-6), the Tigers got to the free-throw line 42 times and made 28, compared with a total of 16 free-throw attempts (12 made) by Southern.

“In the first half, we weren’t taking our time,” said K.J. Lawson. “We had some jitters. But in the second half, we took it to the goal; they couldn’t stop it.”

“Overall, it was a good win,” said Tarrant. “They’re a hard-nosed team. There are things we have to get better at on both the offensive and defensive end.”

Asked about the Tigers’ next opponent, Ole Miss (Friday night), K.J. Lawson all but shrugged his shoulders. “At the end of the day, it’s just another game,” he said. “We’re gonna prepare for them just like we prepare for everybody else. We played Oklahoma . . . top 10. How did we prepare for them? We know the crowd will be there, and we’ll be prepared to play. We just hope they’re ready to play.”

About Bruce VanWyngarden’s article, “The Origin Story” …

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Memphis Flyer. Congratulations. However, I have to say, as a founding staff member of the Dixie Flyer, that I highly resent editor Bruce VanWyngarden’s reference to our publication as “a hippie paper that was published in Memphis for a time in the 1970s.”

It wasn’t a “hippie” paper, the inference being that it was an inferior product put together by a bunch of pot-smoking losers. In addition to myself as music editor, executive editor Sara Van Horn, and art director Eddie Tucker, we had many other talented people working very hard to produce a paper of which the community could be proud. And none of us got paid a dime. Contributors included Joe Mulherin, John Fergus Ryan, David Less, Phyllis Tickle, Gordon Osing, and many other fine writers, as well as photographers Ebet Roberts, Richard Sidman, Elbert Greer, and other talented people.

I would venture to say that a lot of our features and commentaries were much superior to anything the current Flyer had in its infancy. “Hippie paper” indeed. The truth is that the Flyer put big bucks behind our idea and, 25 years later, they are doing quite well. A little respect for the Dixie Flyer, Bruce. We blazed the trail in the 1970s and your organization turned it into an eight-lane expressway.

Gordon Alexander

Greg Cravens

About the article, “25 Who Shaped Memphis” …

I can’t believe you left out Adrian Rogers, given the religious and political effect that Bellevue Baptist Church has had and continues to have on many Memphians — religious, nonreligious, straight, gay, etc.

Brunetto Latini

Bellevue Baptist is emblematic of why I and so many others have disdain for the suburbanite mob. They hit that sweet spot between ignorance and righteous indignation.

MidtownOnly

You left out Jesus.

CL Mullins

About Chris Davis’ post, “Commercial Appeal Metro Columnist Wendi Thomas Has Been Reassigned” …

Perhaps we can now have a more balanced approach to race relations in the CA. The divisiveness that was Wendi’s M.O. was particularly unsettling to this northern transplant.

Smitty1961

Since when is pointing out the obvious being “divisive”? Oh, that’s right, when you want to pretend that we are in a post-racial world, got it! Oy.

LeftWingCracker

There is much prejudice in the hardcore white commenters in the CA, and it is hard to go against that tide. She will probably go and make an impact somewhere else within the next couple of years. What I can say with certainty is that she always treated me with respect and she helped me in my time of need. Wendi has helped Memphis in many ways and I hope one day she will be more appreciated in the community than she has been.

TruthBeTold

Every kid will be named “Trevon” in Wendi’s articles.

HomerSimpson

Is this only being posted to attract the CA comment trolls?

Nobody

About a visit to Memphis …

My wife and I, with our daughter and son-in-law, visited Memphis to celebrate my 70th birthday with a visit to Graceland, as I have always been a big fan of Elvis. While we were there, we decided to go to the BBQ fest. Having never seen it or even heard about it before, we didn’t know what to expect, but what a surprise! The contestants made us feel really welcome and even gave us T-shirts to remember them (along with a few beers and food). So, we would like to say a very big thank you to all the friends we made in Memphis that day. We truly have never met more friendly people.

Jack, Cindy, Mandy and Choo