The Early Word: Letter Alleges NCAA Violations; Mentions Chef Kramer – Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News

Good morning, Memphis. It’s Thursday, September 5, and Collierville may be in a caffeinated state. The borough’s Planning Commission will consider a proposal today for the first Memphis-area Dutch Bros. coffee chain.

In Victorian Village, the neighborhood CDC is asking the public for input on how to better utilize a city park the size of a football field. Tonight, they’re hosting a gathering with music and drinks. You can go, or you can put on some slacks and curl up on the couch for “Fight Night,” a new Peacock TV series from Craig Brewer starring Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, and Taraji P. Henson. Pass the popcorn.

Phew, it’s been a week for the Memphis Tigers basketball program. After Tuesday’s news that coach Penny Hardaway was making major changes to his coaching staff, we learned Wednesday that an anonymous letter was sent to the NCAA accusing the Tigers of widespread rule violations, including paying someone else to do players’ homework and paying large debts to players. It’s unclear whether the allegations are related to Hardaway’s decision to fire coaches Rick Stansbury, Faraga Phillips, Jamie Rosser and Demetrius Dyson. Our own Geoff Calkins thinks the firings are pretty dramatic, calling the day they were fired “Black Tuesday.” But turnover seems to be rampant on Hardaway’s staff, and we’ve taken a look at everyone who ever worked under him and what happened to them.

“(Jackson Kramer) was an influencer before TikTok, a culinary leader and an inspiration to a lot of young talent…,” said Stephen Hassinger, a former restaurateur.

Hassinger and other friends and colleagues remembered chef and restaurateur Jackson Kramer, who died Monday at age 44 after four battles with cancer. Kramer became executive chef at Interim at age 28 and later opened Bounty on Broad in 2014.

Plus, new University of Memphis athletic director Ed Scott is worried about ticket sales, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office wants big money to renovate the jail, and you’re one step closer to buying the Beaver Nuggets in Fayette County.