Tigers ride winning roll into C-USA

The energy that the University of Memphis displayed against Tennessee's Vols seemed to flow right through the first half of the Tigers' Conference USA opener against the East Carolina Pirates on Wednesday night.

For the first 20 minutes, overwhelmed would be the best word to describe the Pirates.

Memphis ran out to a big lead. And between the Pirates' terrible shooting (30 percent and as low as 15 percent with six minutes remaining in the half) and costly turnovers (12), the Tigers were able to mount a 39-19 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

Baylor, Ewing and Brown set for Grizz/King Day salute

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was 5 years old when Elgin Baylor was born, 7 when Jim Brown entered the world and 33 when Patrick Ewing came along.

Baylor was 33 years old when the 39-year-old Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4. 1968. Brown was 32; Ewing was 6.

On Monday, Jan. 21, those timelines will intersect in Memphis as the Memphis Grizzlies host their 11th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Day. NBA Hall of Famers Ewing and Baylor and NFL Hall of Famer Brown will be honored for their contributions to civil and human rights when the Grizz play the Indiana Pacers at noon.

Oprah nets interview with Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong will give his first television interview since being stripped of his Tour de France titles to Oprah Winfrey, her network announced Tuesday.

A news release from the Oprah Winfrey Network said the 90-minute "no-holds-barred" interview will air at 8 p.m. (CT) January 17 and will be simulcast on Oprah.com.

Winfrey will ask the disgraced cycling star to address the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's report, which said there was overwhelming evidence he was directly involved in a sophisticated doping program, the statement said.

C-USA honor for Joe Jackson

University of Memphis' Joe Jackson is the Conference USA Player of the Week for Dec. 31-Jan. 6.

It is the first C-USA Player of the Week honor of Jackson's career. He was named C-USA Rookie of the Week Dec. 27, 2010, during his freshman campaign.

The league honor is his second weekly accolade of the 2012-13 season, as he was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Player of the Week for Dec. 10-16.

Timing & a coach’s demise

The woman who had a romantic relationship with the head coach of the Texas women's track team 10 years ago reported the affair to the university about the same time the head coach was negotiating a significant raise and contract with the university, the coach's attorney said Monday.

Derek A. Howard suggested it was no coincidence that the now 30-year-old woman who was involved with coach Bev Kearney in 2002 came forward in October while Kearney was discussing a $150,000-a-year raise and a new 5-year deal.

Redskins should have stopped RGIII

One night, back when I was Robert Griffin III's age, I drank six glasses of grain alcohol mixed with grape-flavored Juicy Juice. My roommate Anthony said it was a bad idea. My other roommate, Chris, also said it was a bad idea. My closest friend, Daniel, insisted it wasn't merely a bad idea but the worst idea ever. "You barely touch booze," he said. "This won't end well."

"Quiet," I replied. "I can handle it."

Memphis roll flattens two

With two recent wins that looked fairly routine, the University of Memphis Tigers now have a 9-3 record, but have yet to showcase the team's true potential.

Memphis' conquests last week included Oral Roberts (72-57) and Loyola (78-64).

Grizzlies fall to 76ers

Zach Randolph grabbed an offensive rebound and was shoved. The ball left his hands and went out of bounds. Randolph shook his head in frustration.

It was just that kind of night.

On Wednesday (Dec 26), the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Philadelphia 76ers (99-89) at the FedExForum in front of 16,055 fans.

Grizz add ‘ice’ to Mayo’s return visit

O.J. Mayo received a warm welcome from Grizz fans when he walked onto the floor of the FedExForum for the first time since he signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Some even gave him a standing ovation.

His former teammates greeted him with handshakes and a few hugs here and there before the game (Dec. 21). Although his welcome was hearty, his time on the floor was ice cold. And Grizz guard Tony Allen led the charge.

Cliff Brown: A Notre Dame pioneer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – On Jan. 7, sophomore Everett Golson will attempt to tie a Notre Dame record by winning his first 11 starts as the Fighting Irish quarterback (originally set by Bob Williams from 1949-50).

Maybe the most refreshing aspect of this potential milestone is Golson is known as a quarterback – not "a black quarterback."

Grizz ‘D’ tough on the Bucks

The Memphis Grizzlies improved their record to 17-6 on Wednesday night, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 90 to 80 at the FedExForum during a nationally televised game.

Defense once again was the key to victory.

"The last two-and-a-half games, our focus, our intensity and intelligence on defense... we've helped, we've switched, and we've done all the things it takes to be a good defensive team," said Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.

Grizz push past Bulls’ tough ‘D’

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins sat at the podium late Monday night during his post-game conference and explained that his team's bumpy first half and the low scoring was due to defense.

"I said it before the game it was going to be a slugfest between two pretty good defensive teams," Hollins said. "They don't take a possession off on defense, you have to go and earn everything you get against them and we did."

The "they" were the Chicago Bulls, who were in town minus their star player and University of Memphis, standout Derrick Rose. The NBA's former MVP is recovering from knee surgery.