April 9, 2025 – Verne Lundquist, one of the most recognizable and beloved sportscasters over the past 50 years, will be the guest of honor and will receive the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s most prestigious recognition, the Distinguished Citizen Award, on Aug. 24.
Lundquist will receive the award on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Hilton Memphis Hotel. A cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the award presentation at 6:30 p.m. A live auction and silent auction will also be held during the evening, with 100% of all proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The 30th Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl Golf Classic will be held the following day, Monday, Aug. 25 at TPC Southwind.
“Verne joins a decades-long list of renowned Americans who have distinguished themselves and reached the pinnacle of their chosen field,” said Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “We are proud to include Verne among the nationally known luminaries who have been honored by the AutoZone Liberty Bowl over our 67-year history.”
About Verne Lundquist:
Nicknamed “The Golden Throat”.
Lead play-by-play announcer for the “SEC on CBS” from 2000 to 2016.
Led CBS’s coverage of The Masters on CBS from 1983-2024 – 40 years!
Called the NCAA Basketball Tournament on CBS for 32 years.
Lead announcer for Olympic figure skating on CBS at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics.
Inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Won the Sports Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016.
Inducted into the Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016.
Had a cameo appearance in the 1996 hit movie, “Happy Gilmore” and in the sequel,
“Happy Gilmore 2”, which will be released in Summer 2025.
SCOREBOARD
Prep baseball
DeSoto Central 10, Southaven 2
DeSoto Central pitchers hold Southaven hitters to just two hits. Bridgewater strikes out five in the three innings pitched. Aiden Steht homers, earns two RBIs. Christian Newson and Ethan Carter each hit doubles.
JUCO baseball
Northwest 7, Coahoma 6
Northwest 2, Coahoma 0
JUCO softball
Northwest 10, Southwest 9
Northwest vs. Southwest 5, Northwest 4 (8 innings)
Walk off homer wins game for Southwest in the eighth inning.
SPORTS ETC.:
Former Southaven prep basketball standout Terence Davis, Jr. has signed with the Sacramento Kings, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. Davis has had previous stops in the NBA while playing this year in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd. The NBA website also posted the Kings’ press release announcing Davis’ acquisition.
The Sacramento Kings are signing guard Terence Davis to a deal, sources tell ESPN. Davis, who played parts of three years in Sacramento from 2021-23, averaged 14.3 points on 40.2% 3-point shooting for the NBA G League's Wisconsin team this season.
