Doing Larry Wrong
To the Editor:
I'm heartbroken to lose Larry Finch. I haven't yet heard good reasons for his dismissal. I've heard bad losses (but there are balancing great wins and an outstanding overall win-loss record). I've heard empty seats (wake up folks it's the downtown Pyramid vs. the Midtown Coliseum). Here are the factors I believe brought us to this ugly place and make me sad: racism, media which love negative stories above all and think that grousing is tantamount to depth of opinion, and a city which has a hard time recognizing what's good about itself.
I've loved the Tigers for a long time (even through the Wayne Yates tenure) but I've never been prouder of them than in the last 11 years. Having a local hero (how many of those do you get?) as head coach just seems right. Larry Finch is Memphis basketball. Even if we get Rick Pitino to replace him it won't be the same. I'll remain a University of Memphis fan, but one filled with deep regret. I'll miss Larry Finch. Dismissing him was wrong, wrong, wrong.
Corey Mesler
Memphis
To the Editor:
Larry Finch was right when he said the university's decision to leave the Mid-South Coliseum was the beginning of a lot of problems for the basketball program. My family had season tickets the entire time the Tigers played at the Mid-South Coliseum. How quickly the athletic department forgot about those faithful followers throughout all those years, including the Moe Iba era when Memphis hardly won a game and played the most boring style of basketball imaginable. Because my family and a lot of other fans could not afford the ticket surcharge, we were relegated to the top rows of The Pyramid, where you need binoculars to watch the game.
Just as the U of M athletic department deserted those faithful fans from the Coliseum days, they have now deserted Larry Finch. Is anybody really surprised? Sooner or later the athletic department will have to face up to some real problems that have nothing to do with Coach Finch. Skyrocketing ticket prices and televising local games will continue to have a negative impact on attendance regardless of who the coach is.
Thankfully, history has a way of balancing the scales of justice. Years from now, R.C. Johnson will be no more than a footnote in the history of Tiger sports and Larry Finch will rightfully be remembered as a true hometown hero who never wanted anything more than to play and coach in his town for his university. It's hard to imagine Tiger basketball without Larry Finch. I guess now we really don't have a choice. Thanks for the memories, Larry!
Murry Keith
Germantown
The Valuable Kevin
To the Editor:
I recently moved back to Shelby County after 24 years in the Washington, D.C., area where I was a meetings planner for a company that conducted 200-plus courses yearly in cities all over the U.S. I attended many hospitality-industry trade shows and met convention bureau representatives from many cities. I have often seen ["Best Memphian"] Kevin Kane representing Memphis with a very outgoing, persuasive, and friendly "bring your business to Memphis" attitude. I feel sure he has been the contact for many large trade shows that have been held in Memphis, but he also showed those of us who do small meetings (5-100 people) that Memphis also wanted our business.
He is an excellent representative for the city. His continuous endeavors in bringing conventions and meetings to Memphis must generate millions of dollars for the city. I feel sure the hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. would think he was good for Memphis.
Loretta A. Pitts
Arlington, Tennessee
The Artistic Kevin
To the Editor:
I am honored to have been voted second-best local artist by your readers, despite the confusion as to the proper definition of the best-artist category. Webster's defines artist as "One, especially a public performer, whose work shows great skill." Whether or not my work shows great skill is obviously subjective, but I'd rather be working than broke and hip, like other musicians.
You define my participation in the jingle business as "cheesy," which is defined by Webster's as shoddy or cheap. I beg to differ; it pays the bills, which affords me the luxury of being an artist.
Kevin Paige
Memphis
A Vote For Dr. Doherty
To the Editor:
I've always thought of the typical Memphis Flyer reader as a pseudo-intellectual coffeehouse-type who thinks he's hip but is actually out of touch with reality. The selections for "Memphian of the Year" confirm at least the latter part of my characterization. Hey, Flyer readers, in case you didn't notice, a researcher for St. Jude named Dr. Peter Doherty won the Nobel Prize for medicine last year. Inarguably one of the most important and respected prizes in the world, it represents a body of work that will benefit mankind for generations to come and brought international attention of the most favorable kind to St. Jude and Memphis. You did, however justify my vote for best reason to leave Memphis: stupid people.
Gary Shelly
Memphis
Another "Best Of" Idea
To the Editor:
I thoroughly enjoy reading the annual "Best of Memphis" issue. It's fun to compare my personal choices with the winners in each category and marvel at the collective ignorance of the paper's readership evidenced by some of the selections. I have a suggestion on how to set the record straight in cases where an obviously deserving winner was overlooked by the readers. Why not have the editorial staff make their own picks in, at least, the Food & Drink, Nightlife, and Memphian of the Year categories.
By doing this you can perhaps open some readers' eyes, ears, and/or mouths to a new or unfamiliar restaurant, club, or band. This can also allow your staff a chance to flash their hipster credentials, while possibly creating dual winners in certain categories. This should make even more local merchants happy, and could, in turn, help to boost that all important component that keeps successful alternative weeklies successful, namely, ad revenue.
Edward Hankins
Memphis
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