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The 901 is your morning blend of Memphis news and commentary

Good morning from Memphis, where U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has joined the crowd that's calling for Memphis Light, Gas and Water to switch power providers. But first ...

This Saturday,for the first time, ESPN's popular pre-game show "College GameDay" will be in Memphis, on Memphis' most iconic street, talking about Memphis football.

It'll be a great day for the University of Memphis and a great day for head coach Mike Norvell, who with Justin Fuente (2012-15) gets much of the credit for bringing the Tigers to this moment in its history. Andit'll be an especially great day for the die-hard Tigers fans who have cheered on the hometown team through its highs and lows and especially through thedark, disappointing days of coach Larry Porter (2010-11).

But now, as "College GameDay" put it in a tweet yesterday, "THE WAIT IS OVER!"

Our Jason Munzhas the "College GameDay" news, our Evan Barnes looks at how it happened, and columnist Mark Giannotto explainswhy Tigers fans need to show up at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium onSaturday to see the No. 23 Tigers take on the No. 14 SMU onlythe second time ever that a ranked Tiger football team has hosted another ranked team.

But the meaning of "GameDay" coming to Memphis goes beyond sports.

For too many years, despite its rich history, Memphis was a nationalafterthought. We were that place whereElvis Presley lived and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died, seldom mentioned except in relation to basketball or as the home of global shipper FedEx. Our growth was stagnant, andour crime and poverty rates among the highest in the nation. In other words, instead of a "happening" city, Memphis was see as a "happened" city.

That's starting to change, and "GameDay" coming is another step in that direction.

ESPN's "College GameDay" is coming to Memphis Saturday.(Photo: ESPN)

Where Memphis' growth was stagnant before, Downtown Memphis now has more than $4 billion with a "b" in its development pipeline, our Desiree Stennett reports. Memphis is featured every Monday night on prime time thanks to NBC's locally filmedlegal drama "Bluff City Law." Overall, crime seems like it's trending downward and both mayors for the city and Shelby County are eyeing improvements to prekindergarten and public transit that could help lower the area's poverty rate in upcoming years.

I've also argued recently that Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland won reelection because he found a way to tap into the newfound optimism many Memphians feel about their city.

Here's the point: Memphis isn't just having a moment right now it's having lots of them. For all of its problems, there's a very real sense thatthe city has momentum. If this were the chase scene in a movie, Memphis would be at the point where the driver has to decide whether to go pedal to the metal to jump chasm or slam the brakes.

Memphis should floor it:The city should continue investing in itself in its football program, in its growth, in its citizens'safety and education, in its film industry, etc.

Because Memphians love Memphis. And it's time the rest of the world understandwhy.

Speaking of sports: Our Tigers basketball beat reporter Jason Munz has three takeaways from the University of Memphis win yesterday against LeMoyne-Owen. Also, check out our David Cobb's latest on the Grizzlies' 134-133 overtime win Sunday.

April 18, 2019 - U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen talks with media about the Mueller Report while in his office Thursday afternoon.(Photo: Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

Ending the city'slong-time contract to buy power fromthe Tennessee Valley Authority could be Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland's "lottery," U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen recently said.

To understand that sentence, based on this story from our Sam Hardiman, you need context:Cohen, a Democrat from Memphis, carried the legislation that established the state's lottery program when he was a state legislator.And the city is currently studying whether switchingpower providers couldsavehundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Jims got momentum. Jims gonna have the [Mid-South Fairgounds]. Theres going to be some other things that Jim does, but if he can save the people hundreds of millions of dollars on utility costs, thats his lottery, Cohen said.

That's all undoubtedly true if (and it's still an "if" at this point)leaving TVA will really save the citymoney. Strickland made that point in a statement in response:

"I have said since we formed the Power Supply Advisory Team that we would let them work, process all the information, and make a recommendation. That process is not complete, and it would be irresponsible to comment before they finish their work. At the end of the day, we want the most reliable service at the best possible price.

Cohenshould let the process work. Yes, several studies haveshown switching power providers would possiblysave theMemphis Light, Gas and Water Division money. And maybe that's what the Power Supply Advisory Team will conclude.

But until then, this is too important a decision to rush. Or to make political.

Speaking of Cohen: The congressman may have jumped the gun on switching MLGW power providers, but he's right on time with his emphasis on making Memphis streets safer. He recently convened a meeting on pedestrian safety, our Sam Hardiman reports.

"The All-American" Episode 106: Jimmy Smits as Elijah Strait(Photo: NBC, Katherine Bomboy/NBC)

NBC may pull the plug on its"Bluff City Law," but no one seems to have told the people behind the shot-in-Memphis legal drama: The show keeps getting better and better.

Our John Beifuss has the recap of last night's episode, titled "The All-American," about a former hometown football star who wants aphysician-assisted suicide and for the"Conference of Collegiate Athletes" to pay his medical bills. Perhaps even more interesting to Memphians, the show introduces several new filming locations, and included a references to the Memphis Tigers. From John's story:

Although the exploitation of athletes is condemned, football itself isn't criticized; a climactic scene involves a playful backyard game of touch football, with Elijah claiming the right to call his team "University of Memphis Tigers."

Memphis-based Black Bettie, the new project from Joshua Cosby, co-founder of the acclaimed folk duoStar & Micey,released its first self-titled album earlier this month. Fading us out this morning, here's "Poor Kids Millennia":

Like The Fadeout?The 901's Spotify playlist has all of the available featuredsongs from local artists.

Columnist Ryan Poe writes The 901, a running commentary on all things Memphis. Reachhim at poe@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @ryanpoe.

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The 901: Landing 'College GameDay' is another in a string of wins for Memphis - Commercial Appeal

This entry was posted on October 30, 2019 at 10:42 am and is filed under Stem Cell Tourism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |