Music Video Monday is coming at you live.
Brandon Kinder of The Wealthy West and producer Jonathan Thomason recorded this heartfelt acoustic version of Kinder’s song “Find You Somebody” live to tape. Think of it as a little something to soothe your troubled soul this stormy Monday.
Music Video Monday: The Wealthy West
If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
Larry Finch played his last game for the Memphis State Tigers 22 days after my fourth birthday. But if you looked at the current issue of Memphis magazine — and you can get over the Lester Quinones amount of leg players showed in 1973 — you’d swear the Tiger legend is alive, well, and ready for one more NCAA tournament run.
Among the joys of being a sportswriter is the rare feeling that I am in precisely the right place at precisely the right time. (No, this is not the Alcorn State game at FedExForum on a Tuesday night in November.) Most recently, when the University of Memphis football team won its conference championship and clinched a berth in the Cotton Bowl, the Liberty Bowl felt like earthbound heaven, at least for that moment, that night of fireworks and confetti, December 7, 2019. So many Memphians, so happy, and together, as one. This was Memphis Tiger football. The Cotton f’n Bowl!
This brand of euphoria doesn’t always require fireworks or confetti. It crept up and hugged me rather tightly over the course of several recent weeks in my day job as managing editor for Memphis magazine (the Flyer‘s sister monthly). It began with a business meeting at Spark Printing last December, in which a colleague and I were introduced to a machine called the Jetvarnish 3DS. The size of a computer from 1975 (smallish for the kind of press a magazine typically requires), this printer can apply foil and varnish — separately — to previously printed material. Like the cover of a magazine.
A few weeks earlier, I’d received a press release from the Pink Palace notifying the world that a special exhibit on Memphis Tiger basketball would open in March, one curated to celebrate the culture and impact of this city’s first true home team. It didn’t take long, upon meeting the good folks at Spark, for the staff at Memphis to realize, yes, a spark of inspiration. How might we help celebrate Tiger basketball culture with the new — literally shiny — technology available with that magic printer?
The question then became who might help celebrate Tiger basketball culture, and the answer was as swift as a Derrick Rose crossover, as resounding as a Keith Lee two-handed dunk. If we could find the right picture of Larry Finch in his prime, we had the chance to honor and salute the greatest Tiger of them all while bringing him to life in ways no print media ever had before.
You can now see — and importantly, feel — the result. And it took a village. The University of Memphis athletic department had the iconic image, back when media photos were the norm, before pregame videos became a team’s identifier. Printing the cover required more than Spark alone could provide. Toof Commercial Printing and LSC Communications took the floor in our multi-stage process, one that required well over 24 hours to complete.
Snags? Heck yeah, there were snags. Thankfully, all relatively minor. (I chose to ignore my dentist on a recent visit when he asked if I’d been grinding my teeth more than usual.) Printing to the standards of Memphis magazine is still as much art as science. Applying ink to paper — to say nothing of applying foil or varnish — can be precise, but it’s not a given, ever. Professionals, though, make this magic happen. They collaborate toward a reward that allows you to feel the fingers of Larry Finch’s left hand, to see the name “Memphis” shine as brightly as Finch himself did the night he scored 48 points in a single game.
I’ve missed Larry Finch since he died in 2011. The city of Memphis has missed his presence. An anonymous American once said of Franklin Roosevelt, upon the president’s death in 1945, “I didn’t know FDR, but he knew me.” Finch occupies that place in my heart, and in the hearts of countless other Memphians. I’m grateful to have played a role in bringing him to life on the cover of our March magazine. Stories — those we tell, and those told about us — are the closest any of us will come to immortality. By that measure, Larry Finch is indeed alive and well, among us even. Let him shine.
Memphis magazine can be found at Novel (387 Perkins Extd.). To subscribe, call 575-9470 or visit memphismagazine.com.
JB
Couny Mayor Lee Harris and Jill Biden at Loftin Yard on Sunday.
In the last few days before Super Tuesday, local voters were beseeched to vote for three presidential candidates. Two — Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden — were represented by surrogates. Speaking for Senator Warren on Wednesday at Makeda’s Cookies and Old Dominick, was actress/activist Ashley Judd. For former Vice President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, did the honors on Sunday at Loftin Yard. Mike Bloomberg spoke for himself at a Minglewood Hall rally on Friday.
Below are portions of their remarks:
Ashley Judd for Elizabeth Warren: “She is going to close the revolving door between lobbyists and government. She is going to shut down the conflict of interest that is Donald Trumps So the good people of Massachusetts notice what she did with the Consumer Protection Bureau. And they decided to elect her to the Senate. And that was quite a remarkable experience because at that time, more women had been burned alive at the stake as witches that had been elected to serve in public office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And she was running against a popular incumbent who they said could not be beat by a woman. Sounds familiar?. But she out hustled, she out, org
JB
Ashley Judd at Makeda’s Cookies
anized and she outsmarted the ball and she walked in by seven and a half points. And that’s what we’re going to do with this. campaign and with this election.”
Mike Bloomberg: “We all know the Trump strategy: Attack Democrats and make their plans look unrealistic and affordable and undoable. . But that won’t work against me because I have the resources to defeat him. I know We can do it. But to get it done, we need to nominate someone who at the top of the ticket can build a broad coalition of rallies democrats and attracts independents and moderate Republicans. I think the Hillary campaign shows that you’ve got to reach across the aisle, and that’s what I’ve done in all three races I won…. But, look, I’m not a typical politician. I have never worked in Washington. I don’t make pie-in-the -sky promises that I can’t keep. I don’t talk until the cows come home. … I’m not someone who just yells a slogan. … If you want someone who has the resources to defeat Trump, that’s me.
JB
Mike Bloomberg at Inglewood Hall
Jill Biden for Joe Biden: “You know, there is such power in kindness. It can pull us back to ourselves. It can build the bonds of community, and it can mend the fault lines of our broken hearts. We need a president who knows the power of kindness, we needa president who can bring this country back together again. And that’s why He has had this share of trials of tragedies, but it’s never made him feel cynical. It’s never made him want to use his power for personal gain. Instead, it’s made him more committed to serve, made him work for change, make him fight for civil rights and healthcare and gun reform. Joe has the character and the experience to turn this country around on Day One.”
via Memphis Grizzlies Twitter
Beatdown on Beale Street
This was a nice preview for what a potential first-round playoff series might look like. While still missing some key players due to injury, the shorthanded Grizzlies squad showed no fear as they put their collective foot on their opponent’s neck and didn’t let up. It wasn’t a true wire-to-wire win, but the largest lead the Lakers held was two points in the first quarter, while the Grizzlies led by as much as 22.
It was a much-needed win for a team that has been in a post-All-Star break slump and a powerful reminder of who the rightful Rookie of the Year should be. Morant had a game-high 27 points and was one of three Memphis starters to finish with 20+ points.
By the Numbers
Ja Morant: 27 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds.
Dillon Brooks: 24 points
Jonas Valanciunas: 22 points, 20 rebounds
Highlights and History-Making
Jonas Valanciunas registered his 29th double-double of the season. He also had a career-high 25 rebounds last night against Sacramento and became the first player in franchise history to grab at least 20 rebounds in consecutive games.
𝟐𝟎/𝟐𝟎 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 👀@JValanciunas finished with 22 points & 20 rebounds in last night's win.
JV is the first player in franchise history with back-to-back 20 rebound games. (shouts @grizzPR) #GrizzLights pic.twitter.com/9vAbsiz7aC
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 1, 2020
Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak
Morant leads all rookies in double-doubles and is the only rookie this season to achieve a triple-double. Last night was Morant’s 11th double-double of the season with 27 points and 14 assists to go with six rebounds. He also became the second rookie in NBA history (Oscar Robertson) to record at least 27 points and 14 assists in a game against the Lakers.
Tonight @JaMorant became the second rookie in @NBA history to record 27+ points and 14+ assists in a game against the @Lakers, joining Oscar Robertson. pic.twitter.com/3uojFdoZyE
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 1, 2020
Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak (2)
Morant also gave a good-natured, post-game shoutout to a twitter user whose comment he says spurred on his phenomenal effort.
https://t.co/cpEbd2L6PQ@DanielGreer appreciate you https://t.co/JD64V4Wbiv
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 1, 2020
Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak (3)
It was briefly the John Konchar show. The shortened roster allowed the two-way guard who has spent most of the season with the Memphis Hustle a chance to show out in his 10th career NBA game. Konchar finished the night with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 2-2 shooting, over 12:25 total playing time.
JOHN KONCHAR REJECTS DWIGHT HOWARD pic.twitter.com/hO8jSPN0qq
— Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) March 1, 2020
Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak (4)
GrzNxtGen = 1st Team all-defense? The Grizzlies held the Lakers to a season-low 88 points, and Lebron James and Anthony Davis to 19 points and 15 points respectively.
Last night’s win put the Grizzlies 2.5 games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the 8th seed in the West.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies hit the road again for the next three games.
They will face off against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, March 2nd. Tip-off is at 6:30 PM CST
The Tigers connected on 12 of 14 free throws in overtime to escape with a win Saturday night at Tulane. Memphis improved to 20-9 on the season and 9-7 in the American Athletic Conference, keeping hopes alive for a bye in the upcoming AAC tournament in Fort Worth.
The Tigers held what appeared to be a comfortable lead (57-49) with five minutes remaining in regulation, but scored only three more points — courtesy of a Tyler Harris trey — before the final buzzer. A goaltending call against Tiger forward Precious Achiuwa allowed the Green Wave to tie the game at 60 and force the extra session. Achiuwa had what could be considered his finest game of the season: 22 points and 22 rebounds for his 16th double-double. But the star freshman missed four free throws inside the game’s final two minutes, any one of which would have secured a Tiger victory without five extra minutes of play. He hit three of four free throws in overtime.
Boogie Ellis added 11 points for Memphis and Harris scored 12 off the bench. Christion Thompson scored 30 points for the Green Wave as Tulane dropped to 12-17 (4-13).
The Tigers could earn a top-four seed in the AAC tournament by winning their final two regular-season games. They will host Wichita State Thursday night (8 p.m.) with hopes of avenging a 76-67 loss in Kansas on January 9th. The Tigers will then finish the regular season at Houston on March 8th. Memphis evened its record away from FedExForum at 6-6 with Saturday night’s win.
Last week marked nine years since two women were found dead days apart in a South Memphis cemetery and a third barely escaped with her life. The killer is still on the loose.
On February 20, 2011, the body of 28-year-old Jessica Lewis was discovered by someone visiting a grave at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, at the corner of Elvis Presley Boulevard and Elliston Road. Four days later, the body of 44-year-old Rhonda Wells was found by a groundskeeper. Both women had prior arrests for prostitution. Both had been shot.
Jessica Lewis
On February 26th, the killer targeted another sex worker in the area, Katrina (last name withheld for anonymity), then 26 years old. Today, Katrina remembers the night she almost lost her life: The man pulled his car up to her, rolled down the window, and said something like, “You think you could handle this … ?” She says she declined his advances, and as she turned away, he fired his gun at her.
“It felt like half my face was gone,” Katrina says. “My ears were ringing. I just took off running.” As she ran, the man continued shooting. She zig-zagged to avoid the bullets, blood pouring from her face as she fled, and ran about four blocks before passerby saw her in distress. “I spit out a piece of the roof of my mouth,” she says. “There was so much blood.” The bullet entered behind her right ear and exited below her left eye.
Katrina was able to give police a description of the suspect, who she believed to be in his early-to-mid-20s, with braided hair, driving a dark Dodge Charger or Chrysler 300.
Investigators believe the three cases are connected. They retrieved shell casings linking two of the victims, as well as DNA samples from each crime scene. The DNA and ballistic information was entered into the system, but have not yet hit for a potential match.
A composite sketch of the suspect in the 2011 homicide cold cases
“Cases like this, where there are no eyewitnesses that we know of, they’re going to rise or fall on the DNA, and we’re hoping a match shows up in CODIS,” says Memphis Police Department (MPD) cold case investigator W.D. Merritt. “But we’re working on these cases. We have reinterviewed some of the people who were named back when this occurred. We’ve gone through photos of people who were arrested for rape or suspects in sex crimes in that area for that one-year period. We’ve looked at all the [firearms] and shell casings that were recovered during that time, and looked back at people who were arrested with guns.”
About a month ago, investigators submitted “something unusual” that was found at the murder scenes to the FBI’s ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program). “They put that info in and distribute a report to police agencies nationwide to see if there have been other cases like that,” Merritt says, noting that this information cannot be disclosed. “That would be something that only someone who was there would know.”
While investigators continue to work the cases, Lewis’ mother, Susan Miller, still mourns. “I pretty much stopped living [when Jessica was killed],” Miller says. “She was my only child, and I still cry every day. Jessica left behind two sons. My heart is broken, as are theirs. I pray to God that the killer is found and brought to justice.”
“Jessica was my friend,” Katrina says. “If I could go back and trade places with her, I would. This needs to be solved — for the families and the people who loved Jessica and Rhonda. I’m blessed to still be here.”
Anyone with information on these cases is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH or the MPD Cold Case voicemail line at 901-636-2653. Tips can be given anonymously.
It takes a lot to get Harrison Ford out of the house these days. But really, who can blame him? He’s Han Solo. He’s Rick Deckard, the Blade Runner. He’s Bob Falfa, the hot rodder from American Graffiti. He’s Indiana freakin’ Jones. He’s got all the money he needs and nothing left to prove. At age 77, he’s still the coolest man alive.
If there’s a lesson to be learned from Ford’s career, it’s the power of just showing up. He was a background actor for a decade; when he struggled to get work, he took up carpentry. He met George Lucas when he was at work renovating Francis Ford Coppola’s office, and he got the part of Han Solo after being hired to read lines with the actors who were actually auditioning. When Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas saw him in Star Wars, she gasped and said, “That’s my pot dealer!” The man’s a hustler.
Maybe those early lean years made it harder to say no to bad roles during the 1990s. He was the most sought-after actor in the world, but he acted like just showing up was all you could expect from him. When he finds a project he decides to apply himself to, like The Call of the Wild, it’s a wonder to behold.
Han and Chewbacca in The Call of the Wild.
The adaptation of Jack London’s 1903 novel is part of a mini-boom of Lit 101 adaptations, coming after the $200 million success of Little Women and before upcoming versions of Jane Austen’s Emma and Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. Unlike Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, Call of the Wild does not seek to deconstruct the original text to draw out themes that resonate with the zeitgeist. Instead, Disney/Dreamworks veteran director Chris Sanders and Blade Runner 2049 screenwriter Michael Green pare down London’s story, picking out key incidents, eliminating minor characters, and introducing Ford’s character John Thornton much earlier in the story.
Even though it was produced under the rubric of 20th Century Studios (the former Fox), in many ways, this film seems like a throwback to the ’60s and ’70s era of Disney live-action kids’ lit adaptations like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It’s earnest to the point of being almost grating. London’s depiction of the rough edges of life in the gold rush Klondike have been sanded off. It’s so bloodless, only John Thornton’s passion for rotgut whiskey keeps the film from earning a G rating.
Yet, I liked it. It’s a grizzled Harrison Ford and a St. Bernard tromping through the idyllic Canadian wilderness. I may be a sardonic film critic, but I’m not made of stone.
There’s a reason The Call of the Wild is a staple of middle-school English classes. First, the protagonist is a dog. Second, London’s prose is clear and clean, ideal to help teach the fundamentals of good writing to students who are mostly interested in the dog.
Buck, the dog, starts out in the California household of a prosperous judge. He gets dognapped and sold to canine traffickers shipping dogs off to pull sleds in Alaska. The big guy is first sold to Perrault (Omar Sy), a French-Canadian musher tasked with delivering the Royal Canadian Mail. Buck learns the joy of being part of the pack and rises to head dog by defeating his rival Spitz. He becomes the most relatable hero of 2020 by losing his gig to a startup technology (in this case, the telegraph) and being left adrift in a shrinking job market to support his pack with any employment he can find.
Employment comes in the person of Hal, a rich dandy seeking gold with his city-slicker companions Charles (Colin Woodell) and Mercedes (the great Karen Gillan, inexplicably stuck in a bit part). Where Perrault was a kind and just master, Hal has no business in the wilderness. Buck barely escapes the misadventure with his life, thanks to John Thornton, and the pair strike up a lasting friendship. “You’re not my pet,” says Thornton — more like his Chewbacca.
Buck is brought to life thanks to the same computer animation techniques that sucked all the fun out of The Lion King. But here, it works much better — probably because canines have much more expressive faces than felines, and Buck never tries to sing. His arc, from pampered pup to heroic sled dog to trusted companion to leader of his own wolfpack, is kind of a distillation of the classic Western hero’s story of finding one’s true nature on the frontier. For a story of high adventure, The Call of the Wild takes no risks, but when you’re whitewater rafting with Indiana Jones and a big fluffy dog, you won’t mind at all.