Memphis Tiger athletes have graced some of the most famousplaying venues in the world, learned from influential coaches andplayed against some of the fiercest competition in the 20thcentury.
Current Memphis baseball coach and former Tiger standout DaveAnderson played 10 seasons in the major leagues.
The third year coach is just one of the examples of astudent-athlete donning the royal blue and gray, moving up theprofessional ranks and having success.
Anderson said his eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers andtwo with the San Francisco Giants were filled with wonderfulmemories and important lessons he shares with his team.
"I tell them basically the experiences I had, the players Iplayed against and some of the great players I had a chance tocompete with and against," Anderson said. "I had an opportunity totalk to them and kind of get an idea of what they thought about,how they prepared themselves and what they did to become successfulplayers."
Anderson said in his big league career, the all-time singleseason home run king is for certain the greatest he ever faced.
"In the big leagues, Barry Bonds -- without a doubt the best,"Anderson said.
Anderson was part of a defense that tried to shutdown Bonds, astudent of Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda and part of a World Serieschampion in 1988 with Los Angeles.
Other Tigers have moved on to the pros to enjoy triumph.
Former Lady Tiger basketball star Tamika Whitmore moved on tothe WNBA in 1999 and helped lead the New York Liberty to twoEastern Conference championships in her brief career.
The previous year, LaTonya Johnson made the leap to the WNBA andjoined the Utah Starzz.
On the men's side of the basketball court, four Tiger standoutsare currently in the NBA.
Cedric Henderson is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, andLorenzen Wright calls his old college arena home again with theMemphis Grizzles.
Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway has the destination of having theshortest wait of any Tiger on draft day to hear their namecalled.
Hardaway was selected third overall in the 1993 NBA draft by theGolden State Warriors. He was traded a few minutes later to theOrlando Magic for Chris Webber. The 6-7 guard now calls Phoenixhome, playing with the Suns.
The newest member of the Tigers in the NBA is Dajuan Wagner.Wagner was selected sixth overall in the draft last year by theCleveland Cavaliers.
Several Tiger warriors of the gridiron have also made the leapto the professional ranks in the last decade.
Memphis football has sent 14 players to the NFL in the last tenyears, including the school's highest football draft pick indefensive back Jerome Woods. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Woodsin the first round as the 28th pick.
In 1994, the most successful quarterback and receivercombination in Tiger history was drafted into the NFL.
Signal caller Steve Matthews was selected by the Chiefs and wideout Isaac Bruce was drafted by the then Los Angeles Rams.
After a move to St. Louis, Bruce and the Rams won Super BowlXXXIV. Bruce caught the game-winning touchdown on a 73-yardreception.
Tiger defensive standouts Idrees Bashir, Michael Stone andMarcus Bell were taken in the second through fourth rounds of the2001 draft.
Memphis baseball has seen a dozen players drafted by the MLB inthe past seven years.
Anderson said along with basketball, Tiger sports has a richtradition of sending athletes to the pros.
"This school has always produced a lot of football players inthe NFL -- we got our share of baseball players, still have someplaying now," Anderson said. "There have always been some greatathletes coming to this University and had a chance to play proball."
Junior catcher Kurt Welch said having a person in charge thathas been to the pinnacle of your chosen sport is a luxury andmotivation for a player.
"Everybody on our team wants to be in the same shoes he has wasin," Welch said. "It is a pleasure to play for somebody who hasalready been up there and knows the ropes real well. It is a greatopportunity for us to learn what he knows."
