Memphis looks for college basketball writer

   As some of you may know, Gary Parrish is leaving The Commercial Appeal to become the national college basketball writer for CBSSportsline.com. We're sorry to see him go, but it doesn't exactly surprise us.

   Parrish covered Memphis basketball for our paper. The job has a way of vaulting aggressive, talented people into national prominence.

   The last four people to have the Memphis beat full time:
   1) Lynn Zinser, who now covers Olympic sports for the New York Times.
   2) Mike DeCourcy, who is the national college basketball writer for the Sporting News.
   3) Zack McMillin, who will be spending this year as a Knight-Wallace fellow at the University of Michigan.
   4) Parrish, who is off to CBSSportline.com.
   That's a pretty good record, by any measure. While we don't take credit for their successes, we do like to think their time on the Memphis beat helped them become better journalists. You can't relax when you cover Memphis for us, because it's simply too important. The Tigers outdraw the Grizzlies on TV. It's the highest profile sports beat in the city. All that, and you don't have to live in some dinky college town. Memphis is fun and funky.

    So send us a some clips and a resume, if you're interested. We're looking for a graceful writer who gets his biggest charge from breaking hard news. And if, four or five years down the road, you use us to springboard to a big national position, that's fine, too. We've had four straight stars in the job -- are you one for the thumb?

   Send your clips, resume and a cover letter explaining why you would stand out from an impressive list of candidates to:
Gary Robinson, Executive Sports Editor
The Commercial Appeal
495 Union Ave.
Memphis TN 38103

or e-mail questions only to:
robinson@commercialappeal.com

 

But Memphis doesn't have a college team.

It has two pro teams, the Grizzlies and Tigers ...

 

ANyone know what kind of credentials they'll be looking for here?

 

Good for Gary.

He's a good dude and knows his shit.

And he no longer has to deal with that slimebag Calipari.

 

Take the Kentucky opening in Louisville and apply that template, maybe dialed down a half-notch from there.

And HH, how can you forget about The Brothers? For shame.

 

I have covered the Christian Bros., as a matter of fact, at a GSC Tournament or two ...

 

Only those with major college beat experience need apply. And, no, the Gulf South Conference is not major.

 

I covered Summer baseball in Centralia (Mo.).
I don't think they'll pass on that.

 

It probably wouldn't hurt to have also spent some time working the cops beat news side.

 

What a great place to work.
I'm just making my required appearance in every C-A related thread to sing the praises of the guys in charge.
My 10-week internship was an amazing experience. The person landing this job is getting a great gig.

 

It's surely a great city! Whomever gets this job will be in one of the best places to live in America.

 

So bootlicking is a requirement of a Commercial-Appeal internship? I thought it was optional.