HOW IT LOOKS

• by Bruce Plante

THE FEW, THE PROUD

DENNIS FREELAND: 1956-2002 So Dennis, today I spill one on the ground for you my fallen comrade, my friend and benefactor. If there are alt-weekly's on the other side perhaps we'll work together again some day. I can almost hear your voice now saying: "Sheesh Davis, thanks to me you got to spend a whole lifetime as a writer and you still don't know how to use a comma. Useless. Utterly useless. Don't change a thing."

• by Chris Davis

City Reporter

Attorneys plan to fight over Cordova Christal s in court, and other news.

• by Flyer Staff

DENNIS FREELAND: 1956-2002

"One of the last times he smiled was when he heard that Steve Spurrier had resigned...."

The first thing to reflect on is the smile in this picture. It beamed straight through from his heart to yours. Anybody who ever heard Dennis laugh was ennobled. Anybody who ever read Dennis -- who wrote wonderful sports columns during all the years he served as Flyer editor -- was privileged. Anybody who knew him was lucky. Anybody who was affected by his presence in the world -- which is almost everybody, whether they knew it or not -- was blessed.

• by Jackson Baker

SHOCKER: POLITICS DICTATES BOND FIRMS FOR ARENA

When a bond guy with 23 years experience in Memphis says the bond financing of the biggest public project in city and county history is also the most political deal he has ever seen, that's news.

• by John Branston

HOT PROPERTIES

HOT PROPERTIES

• by Chris Davis

FASTER THAN A SPEEDING DONUT

FASTER THAN A SPEEDING DONUT

• by Chris Davis

Grading the Grizzlies

Halfway through their first season, how is the city's NBA franchise doing -- on the court and off?

• by Chris Przybyszewski

DENNIS FREELAND: A LUCKY MAN?

Dennis claimed he was lucky in many... ways..., and it took a devastating illness for those of us who knew him to fully understand what he meant. Even while he was hospitalized, he kept his friends and co-workers apprised of his progress, but never failed to close any of his eloquent, often witty, e-mails with a paragraph thanking everyone for their love and support.

• by Chris Davis

HOT PROPERTIES

HOT PROPERTIES

• by Chris Davis

PORTRAIT OF A FRIEND

When I was down on my luck, panicked and depressed, Dennis gave me a job and then helped me do that job. When I had doubts about my abilities or questioned my judgment, Dennis reassured and reinforced me. He was my editor and my boss and he filled those roles superbly - but he did it all with a wry smile and a sense of humor - traits most writers can only dream their editors will have.

• by Rebekah Gleaves

MEMPHIS GOING AFTER TOURNEYS

The Sports Authority and the Memphis Grizzlies have delivered on their promise to give a hand to prep sports in Memphis. The Sports Authority announced this week it is confident Memphis will land Spring Fling, the annual spring sportsfest for Tennessee public and private schools.

• by Chris Davis

THE MODEL OF A MAN

What I''ll cherish most about the last six months will be the hugs. Dennis was a good hugger, and every time we visited during his battle I was sure to get at least one hug before I left. When you hug someone right, you can feel their spirit wrap around your heart.

• by Chris Davis

MEDICAL EXAMINER RULES WILEY DEATH 'ACCIDENT'

On the basis of an autopsy, Shelby County Medical Examainer O.C. Smith ruled out foul play or suicide and issued a "conclusive" finding Monday that the death here last month of Dr. Don C. Wiley, a renowned biochemist, was the result of an accidental fall into the Mississippi River from the Hernando DeSoto Bridge.

• by John Branston

'COMPASSIONATE, GIVING...AND IMPISH'

I last saw Dennis on Demcember 14th, during a brief trip to Memphis. He was tired, but he summoned the strength to talk to me for almost two hours. I knew he couldnt see me very well because the tumor had destroyed his sight. But at one point he looked at me and flashed that sly yet angelic smile, and for a moment the old Dennis was back again.

• by Debbie Gilbert

SHOCKER! POLITICS DICTATES BOND FIRMS FOR ARENA

When a bond guy with 23 years experience in Memphis says the bond financing of the biggest public project in city and county history is also the most political deal he has ever seen, that's news.

• by John Branston

THE 'A' WORD

DENNIS FREELAND: 1956-2002 Dennis was a humanitarian and he acted on his convictions. He married someone of a different faith and cultural identity from his. He was raising his daughter to be inquisitive, not judgmental.

• by Malcolm Aste

GOD BLESS AMERICA...AND ELVIS

GOD BLESS AMERICA...AND ELVIS

• by Chris Davis

CITY BEAT

FIELDS SAYS 'TIME FOR A DEAL' ON SCHOOLS At the age of 54, Richard Fields -- the genial champion of liberal causes in Memphis for the past 30 years -- seems to be moving comfortably into the mainstream. In a speech to the Memphis Rotary Club this week, Fields had kind words for the Hyde Family Foundation, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the daily newspaper. He took a hard line on standardized testing in contrast to black state lawmakers who have said the tests should be deferred or done away with.

• by John Branston

OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS

IN WHICH TWO CASE STUDIES ARE DEALT WITH Do you really love him? Because if so, a couple dorky cousins are nothing. Yes, they're going to be around until you get divorced or they move. But judging from how often you've seen them before and the fact that you've made no secret of your dislike, chances are you won't be waking up to coffee with them every morning. I think I would focus on who you will be waking up to coffee with every morning.

• by Mary Cashiola

A Novel Appraisal

Circa-1954 rancher on Shady Grove.

• by John Griffin

TRE HARGETT'S POWER PLAY

Hargett, who thought seriously last year of challenging Rep. Steve McDaniels of Parkers Crossroads for the post of House minority leader, let it be known that, as long as he was forced to compete with a fellow Republican, he might as well try to promote himself to the other chamber. He would, in short, run for the Senate against the no longer inviolable Curtis Person -- let the chips, and the votes, fall where they way.

• by Jackson Baker

Itineraries 2002

Ophelia may come, Bridget may go, Bakke polls on, and Willie may last forever.

• by Jackson Baker

MEMPHIS SPORTS SCENE

THE LOSS OF A STORYTELLER Dennis was the nicest guy you could meet, the least threatening, and the least obvious sports writer in the room. Of course, when he entered, you would notice that the entire press box turned his way.

• by Chris Davis

TIGERS MANHANDLE SOUTH FLORIDA, 81-62

Antonio Burks scored 16 points and handed out eight assists Tuesday night to lead the Memphis Tigers to an 81-62 victory over South Florida at The Pyrami

• by Chris Davis

MEMPHIS GOING AFTER TOURNEYS

The Sports Authority and the Memphis Grizzlies have delivered on their promise to give a hand to prep sports in Memphis. The Sports Authority announced this week it is confident Memphis will land Spring Fling, the annual spring sportsfest for Tennessee public and private schools.

• by Chris Davis

KOBE'S LAKERS SWAMP GRIZZLES, 120-81

Kobe Bryant has never been better, pouring in a career-high 56 points to avenge LA's prior defeat by Memphis.

• by Chris Davis

Dennis Freeland: 1956 - 2002

The former Flyer editor touched many lives with his kindness and integrity.

Character Witness

Dealing with a legend in Ali.

• by Chris Herrington

Fields Support

Attorney says it's "time for a deal" on schools.

• by John Branston

Dennis Freeland

Dennis Freeland

• by Editorial

Postscript

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

• by Flyer Readers

Some Deal!

It's time to count our blessings -- before they're ripped off.

• by Molly Ivins