James Wiseman has been declared "likely ineligible" by the NCAA

James Wiseman, a star center on the University of Memphis men's basketball team, has been declared "likely ineligible" by the NCAA.

That news came out shortly before the game started Friday evening against UIC.

Wiseman played anyway, awaiting his day in court.

The story has been picked up all over the country. I was shooting the game for the Associated Press. Here is what they all are saying along with a photo gallery from the game. (Photos ©Karen Pulfer Focht/Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/9f0a07b772214dc1946281b5f9b1df66

https://dailymemphian.com/section/sports/article/8747/james-wiseman-ineligible-according-to-attorney

https://dailymemphian.com/section/sports/article/8764/calkins-memphis-declares-war-on-the-ncaa

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/sports/basketball/james-wiseman-memphis.html

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/11/08/sports/ncaabasketball/bc-bkc-t25-illinois-chicago-memphis.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/11/08/court-allows-memphis-star-james-wiseman-play-shortly-after-ncaa-rules-him-ineligible/

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28036639/for-3-making-sense-james-wiseman-eligibility-issue-cole-anthony-shines-again

BELOW-

JAMES WISEMAN WITH HIS FAMILY DURING A PEP RALLY, CELEBRATING HIM, AT EAST HIGH SCHOOL HIS SENIOR YEAR.

ALL PHOTOS by Karen Pulfer Focht ©

Memphis Tigers/ James Wiseman Debut

THE MEMPHIS TIGERS IN PICTURES

The Memphis Tigers Mens Basketball Team beat South Carolina State 97-64 at the Fed Ex Forum on Tuesday night, Nov. 6, 2019.

Memphis Tiger fans finally got to see James Wiseman play. It was the season debut for James Wiseman. Fans were not disappointed.

Photo gallery above.

So great to see the coaches supporting each other, although who wouldn’t want to watch the Tigers play? The crowd rose to their feet and gave Memphis Tigers Football Coach Mike Norvell an extended standing ovation. (below)

Not really a Memphis Tiger fan yet? Talented sports writer Geoff Calkins can fill you in. He says James Wiseman was even better than imagined.

https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/sports/article/8659/calkins-james-wiseman-is-back-and-even-better-than

MY GIFTS HIGHLIGHTED IN MEMPHIS MAGAZINE

Special thanks to Memphis Magazine for including my art in their 2019 gift guide!

My 8 x 8 “Scenes of Memphis” canvases are featured in their Holiday Gift Guide this season. These can now be purchased at A. Schwab’s on Beale Street in downtown Memphis or from my website (www.karenpulferfocht.com).

These are perfect for grouping.

Schwab’s is a really fun place to visit, shop, and have an ice cream drink at their soda fountain. A. Schwab is the oldest surviving business on Beale Street. The store also has a few of my cards and a large selection of my Blues Coasters, always popular Memphis gifts.

https://a-schwab.com/

RIP MARILYN, MY FAVORITE GIRAFFE AT THE MEMPHIS ZOO

RIP MARILYN:

On Oct. 30th, 2019 Memphis Zoo officials have announced the sad news that its oldest giraffe has died at the age of 26. Marilyn was a favorite of zoo visitors; she gave birth to six calves.

Zoo officials said in the post that the giraffe's "strong maternal instincts and experience made her a regular 'auntie' and 'midwife'" for other new mothers and young giraffes in the herd.

I’d like to celebrate her life! So, I built a photo gallery here of some of my pictures of Marilyn, her babies and some of the other giraffes. As a photojournalist in Memphis, I photographed Marilyn often and also many of her babies at one time or another over the years. Watching and photographing giraffes is one of my favorite pastimes.

Reticulated giraffes are endangered, but Marilyn did her share to reproduce this beautiful creature. The Memphis Zoo’s breeding program has been very successful. For several years here in Memphis, we’ve enjoyed baby giraffes each spring. The gestational period of a giraffe is over a year and their babies are usually born at about six feet in height.

Reticulated giraffes are native to Somalia but they are also found in Northern Kenya. It is estimated that there are less than 9,000 Reticulated Giraffes left in the wild.

The first video below is of Marilyn and her baby. I made other short videos of the giraffe’s at the Memphis zoo and I will share them here too because giraffes, especially baby giraffes, are such a joy to watch.

VIDEOS BELOW:

Thanks for the memories.

CENTRAL STATION HOTEL OPENS!

Memphis developer Henry Turley and Kemmons Wilson Companies have developed a 105 year old property in the South Main neighborhood of Memphis. Together they renovated and reopened The Central Station, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, this week.

Turley, who is known for developing “livable neighborhoods” said he wanted people who travel into Memphis by train to have a nice place to stay.

The hotel, which will showcase Memphis music, has a Listening Lounge/Bar— Eight and Sand, which contains an expansive collection of curated vinyl records spun by a local DJ.

The location is in the artsy South Main neighborhood of Memphis which hosts a street festival the last Friday of every month called Trolley Night.

The Arcade Restaurant and Earnestine and Hazels, a famous dive bar, and many other bars and eateries are within walking distance of the hotel. Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market next door spring to fall.

Within a mile guests can visit the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, a movie theater, The Orpheum Theater, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, The Blues Hall of Fame, Old Dominick Distillery and many other Memphis attractions.

http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/central-station-memphis

A Look at Memphis Tigers Preseason

PHOTO GALLERY OF MEMPHIS TIGERS OCT. 24, 2019

The Memphis Tigers defeated Christian Brothers in an exhibition game on Thursday night in the Fed Ex Forum.

While number one recruit James Wiseman sat out with an injury, fans got a glimpse of the chemistry between the rest of the players, on and off the court.

This season is highly anticipated with hometown hero and former NBA star Penny Hardaway coaching the Memphis Tigers. He has drawn in top talent. The Tigers have the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and also the No. 1 recruit, James Wiseman along with many other top recruits.

To see photos from Memphis Madness see link below-

http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2019/10/4/memphis-madness

James Wiseman celebrated by East High School link below-

http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/james-wiseman-pep-rally

Uncommon Friends

A pig, Miss Betty, and a goat have become inseparable friends at a farm in Mississippi. It is unusual as pigs can be aggressive when it comes to their food, they have also been known to eat anything, including goats.