Marcus Smart goes up for a rebound against the LA Clippers on December 29, 2023 (Photo credit: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
For the Memphis Grizzlies, winning this season hasn’t come easily. The team’s decline can be attributed to a wide range of circumstances.
Following Ja Morant’s 25-game absence, Memphis went 4-0. However, with their 117-106 home loss to the Clippers, they dropped two consecutive games.
The Grizzlies are now 10-21 on the season with 51 games left to play. Can the Beale Street Bullies save the season? That question lies within the team.
Injuries to key players has been one factor that caused the team’s fall from grace. Luke Kennard and Derrick Rose are scheduled to be back in the next few games or so. Maybe it will be a difference maker.
After the Clippers game, Marcus Smart said the approach moving forward is “one game at a time.”
He went on to say, “Control what you can control. You [are] looking ahead, that’s not going to do anything for you. We don’t have that luxury. We got to look at it like one day at a time and we got to be in the present and that’s the only way we’re going to fix it. At least give ourselves a chance anyway. It’s not going to be perfect but that’s the beauty of this game. Crazy things happen.”
Smart finished the game with 22 points, three steals, and two assists.
Right now, that’s the one thing the squad has to depend on. Get at it game by game.
“We’ve been doing that for a long time — building that everyday,” said Jaren Jackson Jr. on the team’s leadership and confidence. “We’ve been playing with each other for a long time. It takes everybody to lead. Everybody has a different role. We are learning more and more every game.”
Jackson Jr. ended with 22 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
With Morant healthy there will always be a chance for the team to win games.
“Yeah, I mean it’s a different ball game. when I’m out there,” said Morant after the game. “Teams gotta scout different and have defensive schemes when I’m on the floor which allow a lot of pressure to get off the rest of the guys on the team — allow them to be themselves.
“A little more comfort in my job as I go out there and make it easier for them. Find them easier looks, that’s just my role on this team.”
Morant sat out the night earlier against the Nuggets due to an illness and was still not feeling his best against the Clippers. But he still found ways to contribute, recording his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 assists in 37 minutes of play.
Up Next
The Grizzlies will embark on a three-game homestand beginning Sunday, December 31, against the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. CT. Memphis looks to improve on its 2-11 record inside of FedExForum.
Seth Henigan, MVP of the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl (photo by Wes Hale)
Under a sky as gray as the trim on their uniforms, the Memphis Tigers made some local football history at the 65th AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In beating Iowa State, 36-26, Friday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis reached 10 wins in a season for only the fifth time in program history (and the fourth since 2014). The 2023 Tigers go into the record books as only the second to win 10 games and finish the season with a bowl victory, joining the 2014 squad.
The victory in its home stadium was the eighth postseason win in 16 games for Memphis, and crowned the Tigers champions of the oldest, most prestigious bowl game among those eight. The win serves as a measure of revenge for a loss the Tigers absorbed against the Cyclones in the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
“108 years of Memphis football,” emphasized Tiger coach Ryan Silverfield after his third bowl victory in four years atop the program. “To be the fifth team ever to win 10 games . . . It’s been an absolute honor to coach this wonderful group of young men. They’ve gone through so many trials and tribulations, but they continue to persevere.”
Junior quarterback Seth Henigan earned MVP honors by tossing four touchdown passes and rushing for a fifth. His 70-yard strike to DeMeer Blankumsee on the third play of the game put the Tigers up in a contest they led for 58:41 out of 60 minutes of game action. Henigan’s 51-yard connection with Joe Scates made the score 19-0 before the end of the first quarter. The Cyclones closed within six points (19-13) late in the second quarter, but a Tanner Gillis field goal made it 22-13 at halftime. A pair of Henigan touchdown passes in the third quarter made the margin 36-13, enough to earn Memphis its first win over a “Power 5” program in 2023.
In passing for 364 yards, Henigan surpassed Brady White to establish a new career record for Memphis with 10,764 yards. He also became the first Tiger quarterback to complete 300 passes in a single season. Henigan intends to return for a fourth season in 2024.
“Our players expected to win the football game,” said Silverfield. “We knew who our opponent was. We cranked it up. Our players had full confidence in themselves.”
Both Henigan and the Tigers’ defensive player of the game — linebacker Chandler Martin — acknowledged aggravation at their team being a 10.5-point underdog against the Cyclones. “I took it personal,” said Henigan. Martin showed just how personal he took things by making five tackles behind the line of scrimmage, almost half his total (12) for the season entering the game. Martin’s heroics helped the Memphis defense hold Iowa State to zero rushing yards, a first for the Tiger program in 30 years. Memphis added another pair of zeroes to a remarkable postgame stat sheet: zero penalties and zero turnovers.
“Zero rushing yards [allowed] is a feat in any game,” noted Henigan, “but especially in a bowl game, against a good Big 12 opponent. The coaching staff preached the opportunity to have a 10-win season. That’s what we were playing for. Our guys knew that. This was a huge win, going into the offseason and recruiting.”
Silverfield likes to emphasize a word he put on the back of t-shirts way back in August, before temperatures cooled and the heat of a 12-game regular season rose: “finish.” Having finished the 2023 season as strongly as any team in the program’s history, the coach relished positive steps toward an “ultimate goal” he says the team still hasn’t achieved. “This season was unique,” he said, “as we found ways to win games that maybe in the past we hadn’t. We found ways to finish. College football has changed so much, but it’s still about building a program, and doing it the right way. My number-one job is to serve these young men. And that’s not going to change. This was a great way to put a ribbon on a fantastic season.”
Desmond Bane drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images
With a final score of 142-105, the Grizzlies lost to the reigning champions the Denver Nuggets and broke their longest winning streak of the season.
Let’s get into it.
Due to illness, Memphis was missing Ja Morant and Santi Aldama, and the Grizzlies had no answer for Nikola Jokic’s 26 points, 14 rebound, and 10 assists for a perfect-from-the-floor triple-double.
It was a stark reminder that the team without Ja Morant looks entirely different than the one that just won four straight games.
The Grizzlies managed an eight point lead to start the first quarter, but quickly lost that and would struggle to find an offensive rhythm in the second. Memphis went into the second half down by 17, and that number continued to grow.
Shooting was a struggle throughout, particularly from three-point range, where the Grizzlies shot 37 percent compared to the Nuggets 48.8 percent. Their overall field goal shooting also suffered as Memphis finished the night at 41.6 percent compared to Denver’s 57.3 percent overall shooting.
Another area that was lacking for Memphis was their performance in the painted area, typically a strong point for the team. But the Grizzlies were outworked in the paint by the Nuggets 46 to 64. Denver also beat Memphis on the glass, with 53 rebounds compared to 36 for the Grizzlies, and in the assists department – 43 to 23.
By The Numbers:
Desmond Bane had a team-high 23 points and 2 assists.
Marcus Smart followed with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Jaren Jackson Jr. finished the night with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
From the second unit, David Roddy put up 15 points, and John Konchar contributed 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Who Got Next?
No rest for the weary; the Grizzlies will play their final road game of the year tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers. This is a late game for those watching in Memphis, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice. Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m.
… and a Happy New Year. (Photo: DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash)
New Horror Movie Marathon: Best of 2023: Night 2 Black Lodge Thursday, December 28, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Was your 2023 a bit of a, err, poopoo show? That’s okay; maybe 2024 will be your year, or maybe it’ll be worse and this year will seem less poopoo in hindsight. But no matter what, at least your year wasn’t straight out of a horror movie — I assume, my God, I hope. So see what could’ve happened to you, but didn’t in some of the best new horror movies of the year. Black Lodge screens Totally Killer at 5 p.m., Sick at 6:45 p.m., Thanksgiving at 8:15 p.m., Infinity Pool at 10 p.m., and Skinamarink at midnight. The movie marathon is free to all and is for those 18+.
65th AutoZone Liberty Bowl Liberty Bowl Stadium Friday, December 29, 2:30 p.m. Watch the Iowa State Cyclones take on Memphis’ very own Tigers. This year, the legendary Bar-Kays will perform at halftime.
Mollie Fontaine Pop Up ft. DJ AD Mollie Fontaine Lounge Friday, December 29, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mollie Fontaine Lounge is throwing the final pop-up party of the year. DJ AD will be there all night keeping the party alive till the spirits go to sleep. Woooooooo … that’s my impression of a ghost. It’s good isn’t it.
New Year’s Eve for the Fam I’m gonna give you three events for the kids you want to trick into believing that midnight’s not a thing. I won’t judge you for lying to your children. Those are your choices.
New Year’s at Noon: Superhero Edition: two balloon drops, music, candy, face painters, themed activities, and more. | Children’s Museum of Memphis, Saturday, December 30, 10:30 a.m., $21.
New Year’s Eve for Kids: kids buffet, magic show, face painting, balloon drop, Railgarten. | Sunday, December 31, noon-3 p.m., $25.
Noon Year’s Eve: festivities start at 1:30 p.m., balloon drop at 2 p.m., light refreshments will follow. | Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Sunday, December 31, 1:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve for Grown Ups There’s like a million and one events happening in Memphis to ring in the New Year. I’m listing a bunch below because I’m a saint, but listen I might miss a few here and there because like I said a million and one events and I’m just one person, okay? Check out the full calendar on this very website for a more comprehensive list. I try.
New Year’s Eve on Beale Street| Beale Street, Sunday, December 31, 5 p.m. (PS: If you get a BSMA Fast Pass for $100 you can skip lines and bypass covers for more than a dozen clubs on Beale.)
Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Bash Featuring Loozin It | The Haystack Cafe, Sunday, December 31, 5 p.m., $15.
New Year’s Eve Dinner: featuring a special menu and a champagne toast at midnight, reservations available. | Bog & Barley, Sunday, December 31, 5 p.m.
NYE on South Main: live performances and celebratory cocktails as you journey from one bar to another all night long. | S. Main, Sunday, December 31, 6 p.m., $40.
The Flying Saucer Cordova’s New Years Eve Party: drink specials, lots of food, decorations, music, and fun. | Flying Saucer Draught Emporium Cordova, Sunday, December 31, 6 p.m.
New Year’s Eve at Beck & Call: views of the Mississippi River, live music, dancing, cocktails, and more. | Beck & Call, Sunday, December 31, 7 p.m., $99-$175.
Not Your Dad’s NYE Party with Your Moms New Boyfriend: with Angela Burton and DJ Benny T. | Hadley’s Pub, Sunday, December 31, 7:30 p.m., $20.
2024 New Year’s Eve Celebration by Grind City Brewing Co.: unlimited beer and wine, catering by El Mero Taco, desserts from Muddy’s Bake Shop, music by Elevation Memphis, and a champagne toast. | Grind City Brewery, Sunday, December 31, 8 p.m., $108.55
FreeWorld’s NYE Countdown Party | Rum Boogie Cafe, Sunday, December 31, 8 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Soul Celebration: a soul celebration featuring Marcus Scott, with a champagne toast at midnight and a balloon drop to follow. | Railgarten, Sunday, December 31, 8 p.m., $60-$75.
New Year’s Eve Party: Entertainment by Seeing Red, Southbound, and DJ A.D. | The Peabody Hotel, Sunday, December 31, 8 p.m., $65 – $250
NYE Party with Landslide: Fleetwood Mac Tribute | Neil’s Music Room, Sunday, December 31, 8 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball: dressing glamorously and/or wearing a mask isn’t mandatory but fun. | Blind Bear Speakeasy, Sunday, December 31, 9 p.m., $15.
Mother$hip NYE Free Drag Show | Hi Tone, Sunday, December 31, 9 p.m.
Gimme Gimme Disco: The NYE 2024 Disco Ball: a DJ-based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits, plus plenty of other disco hits from the ’70s and ’80s. | Sunday, December 31, 9 pm., $15-$30.
New Queer’s Eve: designed for the sapphic gaze. | Zebra Lounge, Sunday, December 31, 9:30 p.m., $15.
New Year’s with Louder Than Bombs: performing The Smiths and Morrissey. | Sunday, December 31, 10 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Weekend Party with Hairspray Nation | RockHouse Live Collierville, Sunday, December 31, 10 p.m.
Ski Freeze 2024 Mud Island Boat Ramp Monday, January 1, 10:30 a.m. Ready to waterski on New Year’s Day in the Wolf River? I mean, you don’t have to; you can also watch like a creep. Just kidding! You wouldn’t be a creep! There’ll be tons of other folks watching those on the water. They’re the crazy ones, and they know it. (If you’re a crazy one, you can sign up to water-ski for $30 here.) All proceeds benefit Dream Factory of Memphis, a nonprofit granting dreams to critically and chronically ill children ages 3 to 18 in the Mid-South.
First Day Hike T.O. Fuller State Park Monday, January 1, noon Nothing like a new year’s resolution to get outside, be active. So here’s to starting January off on the right foot with T.O. Fuller State Park’s First Day Hike. (Also, it’s at noon, so there’s no excuse that it’s too early, and you’re too hung-over, boo-hoo.) The hike will be on the four-mile discovery loop. All ages and well-behaved dogs are welcome. Though the ranger-led hike is free, be sure to register here. Donations are accepted.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Ja Morant dribbles down the court in the games as the Memphis took on the New Orleans Pelicans on December 26, 2023 at Smoothie King Center (Photo by Derick Hingle/NBAE via Getty Images)
With the ball in Ja Morant’s hands and seconds remaining for the game-winning basket after trailing by double digits, the Memphis Grizzlies faced the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, December 26, making it like a familiar situation from only seven days before.
Only this time, it took several reviews and overtime for the Grizzlies to walk out of New Orleans with a 116-115 win that stunned Pelicans fans again.
With the return of its superstar, Memphis has won four games in a row, including a pair of victories against the Pelicans. This season, the Grizzlies lead the matchup against New Orleans, 2-1.
Morant finished with a game-high 31 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Prior to the game, the NBA named the 24-year-old the Western Conference Player of the Week, who guided the Grizzlies to a 3-0 record averaging 28 points, 9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds.
“Obviously excited to be back,” Morant said after the game. “But being able to come back and win four games now and continue to take this momentum to the next game, and the next day, is big time for us.”
Desmond Bane continues to make his case for being selected to his first NBA All-Star appearance. Bane made his presence felt early for the Grizzlies with 17 first half points. He finished with 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded his second double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 boards. And he made NBA history in the process.
Marcus Smart returned to the Grizzlies lineup after missing the past 17 games due to a left foot sprain. Smart was a big reason Memphis erased a 15-point second deficit to secure the victory.
The tandem of Xavier Tillman Sr. and Vince Williams Jr. was a wrecking crew against New Orleans. The pair combined for 16 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Tillman Sr. had a career-high five blocks while Williams Jr. tied his career high with three blocks.
Up Next
Memphis heads to Denver to take on the Nuggets, Dec 28, at 8 p.m. inside Ball Arena.
More work for business owners (Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya| Unsplash)
Because business owners don’t have enough on their plates already, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) will add another reporting requirement to keep you all busy. The CTA, which goes into effect on January 1, 2024, will require a wide range of businesses to file a report providing information on their beneficial owners. The requirement is intended to improve transparency in entities and combat money laundering, tax fraud, and other illicit activities.
Who must file?
CTA applies to a wide range of businesses, including:
• Corporations
• Limited liability companies (LLCs)
• Limited partnerships (LPs)
• Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
• Business trusts
• Certain foreign entities that do business in the United States
What’s reported?
Information regarding each beneficial owner of the business is required to be filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). A beneficial owner is an individual who, directly or indirectly, either exercises “substantial control” over a business or owns or controls at least 25 percent of the ownership interests of a business. An individual exercises “substantial control” if they satisfy any of the following conditions:
• They serve as a senior officer of the business.
• They have authority over the senior officers or a majority of the board of directors of the business.
• They have the ability to direct the business’ financial transactions.
• They have the ability to exercise veto power over important business decisions.
For each beneficial owner, the following information will be required:
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Current address
• Unique ID number, such as a driver’s license or passport ID, as well as a photo of that document
When is the report due?
If the business is established before the CTA goes into effect in 2024, the first report will be due within a year. If a business is formed once the act is in place, the first report will be required within 30 days.
After the initial report, there’s no annual reporting requirement. However, any changes to the beneficial ownership of a business will require the filing of an updated report with FinCEN within 30 days. That includes a change of address of any owner.
If no report is filed, the CTA establishes criminal and civil penalties. The failure to file penalty is currently set at $500 a day (up to $10,000). These costly penalties make this an item not to ignore!
The CTA will have an impact on many businesses. Being aware of the required reporting will help your business comply with the law while avoiding costly penalties. You also still have time before the end of the year to clean up and close any existing unused LLCs that may have been formed for a potential business endeavor, thereby removing any filing requirement and preventing an unexpected penalty.
Gene Gard, CFA, CFP, CFT-I, is a Partner and Private Wealth Manager with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest Registered Investment Advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.
Tyre Nichols (Posted to Facebook by Dakarai Turner)
The Memphis economy bounced fully back after Covid-19.
U-Haul said Tennessee was a top growth state.
Tennessee tied Indiana for the most conservative legislature.
A new report found that hate crimes grew in Tennessee in 2021.
Nonconsenual pelvic exams remained legal in Tennessee with no legislation to change it.
Five Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers were fired after the violent beating death of Tyre Nichols.
Memphis experienced a turbulent week in the national spotlight in the aftermath of Nichols’ killing at the hands of the MPD. Many predicted violence after body cam footage of the event was released. However, protests were nonviolent and only closed traffic on the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge.
The Memphis Fire Department fired three employees for failure to adequately assess the medical needs of Nichols.
LeLe, one of the Memphis Zoo’s giant pandas, passed away.
Sterilization Services of Tennessee (SST) was well within its rights to emit cancer-causing ethylene oxide into the air, according to the Shelby County Health Department.
A Tennessee bill could (and ultimately did) ban gender-affirming care for minors in the state.
A state lawmaker wanted to add firing squads as an option for death row inmates.
A new bill would (but didn’t) decriminalize cannabis across the state.
Memphis was found to have the highest STD rates of any city in the country.
Juneteenth cleared a hurdle to become, ultimately, a state holiday.
A shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School left three children and three teachers dead. The event began a statewide debate on gun violence.
A new project was announced to revive Downtown’s Sterick Building.
No cancer clusters were found around SST’s South Memphis facility.
The Tennessee Three’s Gloria Johnson, Justin Pearson, and Justin Jones (Posted to Ffacebook by Blount County democratic party)
Three Tennessee legislators — Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), and Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) led a gun-violence protest on the floor of the Tennessee House. The GOP-dominated legislative body later voted to expel Pearson and Jones, both Black, and to keep Johnson, who is white.
The Hollywood Community Association was formed.
Gov. Bill Lee promised a special session on gun violence after GOP leaders failed to sponsor any of his bills on the matter.
Nichols’ family sued the City of Memphis for $550 million.
Details emerged about Ducks Unlimited Park, a 1,500-acre park on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River.
State officials worked on a plan that could possibly bring a statewide passenger rail line.
A project was underway to bring a grocery store to North Memphis.
Organizations and families challenged (but ultimately lost) a legal dispute against the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
A movement was underway to investigate or expel House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) for living outside of his district.
A new law allowed private schools to regulate trans athletes.
A man allegedly fired a single shot into FOX13’s station on Highland and hid in the Ubee’s bathroom. He live-streamed most of it.
The University of Memphis got more than $5 million for campus safety upgrades.
Tennessee tourism spending broke another record in 2022.
Lawmakers called for Lee to abandon his special session, calling it a “publicity stunt.“
Sexton gave mosque-fighting, anti-Black Lives Matter, anti-CRT, 9/11 Truther, Jan. 6 insurrectionist Laurie Cardoza-Moore a seat on a committee to review social studies books for public schools.
Lawmakers grappled with ways to regulate AI.
Data proved Tennesseans drank more after the pandemic.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti required a Nashville hospital to turn over personal medical records in a trans care case.
Thefts of guns from cars hit a record high in 2022.
Testing times for rape kits with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were cut nearly in half.
A new U.S. Department of Justice unit opened in Memphis to focus on hate crimes, civil rights violations, and domestic terrorism.
A state panel of experts recommended building a statewide railway system.
Federal legislation would have (but still hasn’t) made public some of the biggest salaries at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
The Memphis Zoo parking lot was redone, part of a larger project to end parking on the Overton Park Greensward.
State and local health officials warned of a new drug called xylazine, also called “tranq dope.”
Tennessee Republicans flexed their supermajority during a special session on gun violence. They shut down protesters, kicked the public out of public spaces, and did very little legislating.
Tennessee recorded 13 mass shootings in 2022, a new record.
Residents filed a lawsuit against SST for damages caused by toxic emissions. The company announced later it would close its Memphis facility in April 2024.
Memphis in May (Photo: Memphis in May)
Damages to Tom Lee Park by Memphis in May (MIM) events topped $1.4 million.
Memphis mourned the passing of food writer Jennifer Biggs.
Outdoors Inc. and Belly Acres closed their Midtown locations.
MPD reported that more than 70 percent of violent crime here involved guns.
FBI data found most hate crimes in Tennessee targeted Black people.
A report from Just City suggested Memphis judges needed more empathy toward victims and the accused.
The $63 million renovations to Tom Lee Park were unveiled to the public as the new park officially opened.
Downtown Memphis Commission president and CEO Paul Young was elected mayor.
MIM reported a record-low loss of nearly $3.5 million for its 2023 events and record-low attendance for Beale Street Music Festival.
Shelby County ranked high as an area most vulnerable to climate change, according to a new study.
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) proposed winter changes to some routes and to stop running buses after 7 p.m. Irked transit users said MATA “needs a complete do-over.”
A new study at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center aimed to unlock the links between genetics and the effects of cannabis.
Tourism in Shelby County topped $4 billion in 2022, a new record.
A project got underway to end Greensward parking and open up new areas of Overton Park for recreation.
A national study found the South’s “business-friendly” economic development policies are rooted in racism and failed most who live in the area.
State officials began drafting Tennessee’s first climate action plan.
Memphis held its first Trans Fest.
MIM announced it would not host Beale Street Music Festival in 2024 and would hold the Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest at Liberty Park.
Forward Momentum (the group that organizes Mempho Music Festival) and the Memphis River Parks Partnership announced a new, three-day music festival and barbecue competition at Tom Lee Park for 2024.
The Tennessee Innocence Project opened an office in Memphis.
Passenger rail planning moved ahead with a $500,000 federal grant.
Some of TVA’s salary information was disclosed following a lawsuit filed by the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis.
Jim Holt retired as president and CEO of MIM.
A man caused alarm and locked down a school as he walked through Midtown hoisting a gun.
Two unsuspecting visitors to Wortham Park in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 26 were the victims of a teenager’s scream for attention, KHOU-TV reported. Alford Lasean Lewis, 19, and 18-year-old Kingston Miker cooked up a scheme wherein Lewis first tried to rob a man, and then sucker-punched another man in the back of the head, as Miker filmed the actions. “They did this for fun and posted it on social media, which is simply unacceptable,” said Ashlea Sheridan, a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s office. Lewis was contrite: “You know, I just made a mistake, and everybody makes mistakes,” he told KHOU. “What people don’t see is that I shook his hand after and gave the man a hug.” Oh well, then. Case closed. [KHOU, 10/30/2023]
Buried the Lede
Joshua Dillon, 37, went on a drug-fueled rampage early on Oct. 29, forcing his way into two homes in Rush Township, Pennsylvania, WTAJ-TV reported. Dillon told homeowners he had been shot and was in danger. After barging in at the last house, he threw a television to the ground, dumped a CD rack, threw a lamp, BROKE THE HANDLE OFF A CAST IRON SKILLET (our emphasis), and rubbed frozen meat on his chest. Dillon had allegedly consumed a quarter-ounce of hallucinogenic mushrooms and now faces felony charges of burglary and criminal trespassing. But let’s talk about that skillet handle! [WTAJ, 11/1/2023]
Recent Alarming Headlines
• On Nov. 7, David Lassiter, 74, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, left his wallet behind when he voted, PennLive.com reported. Lassiter returned to the polling place and found his wallet, but $100 was missing. Police said he “made a scene inside … [and] made threats to come back with a firearm.” At home, he called police to report the alleged theft, but then said he would get a gun and handle it on his own. Officers arrived at the polling station before Lassiter arrived; in his car, they found seven firearms with ammunition. “Mr. Lassiter became aggressive and hostile toward the officers on scene,” police said. “He was detained for his safety as well as that of everyone on the scene.” [PennLive.com, 11/8/2023]
• Well, this escalated quickly. A man in Malaga, Spain, called a plumber on Nov. 4 to fix a broken pipe in his home, Oddity Central reported. After assessing the project, the plumber gave the homeowner an estimate, which sent the homeowner into a rage. He produced a firearm and threatened to kill the plumber; neighbors heard the disturbance and called police, but when they arrived, the homeowner would not release his hostage. Police got a glimpse of him and the plumber/hostage through a window and began negotiations; they asked the man to slightly open the front door so they could see that the plumber was all right. That’s when special forces stormed in and rescued the hostage. The homeowner is in police custody. [Oddity Central, 11/8/2023]
It Doesn’t Work That Way
On Nov. 1, at Canberra Airport in Australia, a woman who seemingly missed her flight ran past security and onto the tarmac, trying to attract the attention of the pilot, 9News reported. The QantasLink flight was headed to Adelaide. Witness Dennis Bilic said it was “weird” that no one stopped her: “People were a bit flat-footed … that was the weird part.” Another witness said the pilot was “warned or spotted her and killed the engine.” Flights were delayed for about 10 minutes after the incident. [9News, 11/2/2023]
Bright Idea
Workers at Arlington Auto Wrecking in Akron, Ohio, had had enough of 26-year-old Alexander Funk, who had broken into the facility three times, Fox News reported on Nov. 5. In the most recent incident in October, Funk broke into an SUV on the lot, but before he could drive away, a forklift driver hoisted the car about 20 feet off the ground with Funk inside. When they explained the situation to the 911 operator, they said, “Wonderful, that is the greatest thing I’ve ever heard.” Officers arrived and Funk was lowered to the ground and handcuffed. He was charged with criminal trespassing and possessing criminal tools. [Fox News, 11/5/2023]
New year 2024 concept, beginning of success. Text 2024 written on asphalt road and male runner preparing for the new year. Concept of challenge or career path and change.
What do you mean it’s almost January? If you’re anything like us, the encroaching new year has really seemed to have come out of left field. The churning news cycle means that we’ve had our heads down covering the arts, a mayoral race, the Tennessee legislature, and everything in between. But despite a packed 2023, there are plenty more stories on the horizon. With 2024 just around the corner, our writers take a look at what we can expect in Memphis news next year.
Breaking News
Paul Young
Paul Young taking the mayor’s seat will be the Memphis news story to watch in 2024.
Memphis hasn’t had a new mayor for eight years; hasn’t done things differently for eight years — for good or bad. So, Memphians can expect new ideas, fresh faces, and new approaches to the city’s same-old problems (but maybe some new opportunities, too).
Paul Young (Photo: Paul Young for Memphis)
Some could argue too much emphasis is put on the mayor’s office, much like the president’s office. But that office is where the city’s business is done daily, from police and fire to trash collection and paving. Yes, these ideas are later shaped by the Memphis City Council and, yes, the mayor is expected to carry out rules formed entirely by the council. But all of that is executed (executive branch, get it?) by the mayor and his team.
Young has already named a few key staffers. Tannera Gibson will be his city attorney and Penelope Huston will be head of communications, according to The Daily Memphian. Young told the Memphian, too, that he’ll keep the controversial Cerelyn Davis as chief of the Memphis Police Department.
Memphis in May
This next year could be make or break for the Memphis in May International Festival (MIM).
It ended 2023 with a whimper. The nonprofit organization posted a record loss of $3.4 million and record-low attendance for Beale Street Music Festival. Also, its longtime leader Jim Holt announced his retirement.
MIM leaders put Music Fest on hiatus for 2024. It also moved the Championship Barbecue Cooking Competition to Liberty Park.
Meanwhile Forward Momentum and the Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) announced a new three-day music festival at Tom Lee Park (called River Beat) and a new barbecue contest, both in May.
It’s unknown if these new events could supplant MIM. Speculation, though, has the future of the nonprofit in question. It’ll be worth watching.
Tennessee General Assembly
State lawmakers are hard to predict.
Last year, for example, one GOP member spent countless hours persuading his colleagues to add firing squads to the list of options for the state’s death row inmates. Another wanted to add “hanging by a tree” to that list.
However, one can easily predict Republicans will seek to make life harder for the LGBTQ community. One bill paused last year, for example, would allow county clerks to deny marriage rites to anyone they choose (wink, wink).
The little-known but hard-working Tennessee Medical Marijuana Commission may approach lawmakers next year with a plan to get a state system off the ground. Dead medical cannabis bills have become too many to count over the years. But the hope is that the group’s expertise after years of study may help tip the scales.
Easy bets are also on bills that mention “abortion” or “trans.” — Toby Sells
Politics
Oddly enough, the city’s incoming chief executive, Paul Young, remains something of an unknown despite his extensive exposure (and his consistently adept campaigning) during the long and trying mayoral race that concluded in October. Nor will the aggressive ballyhoo of his preliminary activities — parade, concert, and inaugural ball, no less! — have shed much light on his intentions in office, though his inaugural address will be highly anticipated in that regard.
Major changes may be in the offing, though so far the shape of them is not obvious. Young’s announced reappointment of police director C.J. Davis at year’s end may be an indication that, in the personnel sense, anyhow, there may well be a continuum of sorts with the administration of outgoing Mayor Strickland.
C.J. Davis (Photo: Memphis Police Department)
The newly elected council, meanwhile, is expected to be measurably more progressive-minded on various issues as a result of the election than was its predecessor.
A city task force already launched — GVIP (Group Violence Intervention Program), which involves an active interchange of sorts between governmental players and gang members (“intervenors,” as they are designated) in an effort to curb violence on the streets. It will be picking up steam as the year begins.
And follow-up readings will still be required in 2024 on an initiative sponsored by outgoing Councilman Martavius Jones and passed by the council conferring lifelong healthcare benefits on council members elected since 2015, upon their having completed two terms.
(News of that move prompted an astounded Facebook post from former Councilman Shea Flinn, who served back when first responders’ benefits had to be cut and a controversial pension for city employees with 12 years’ or more service was rescinded. Said Flinn: “Do I have this correct? Because I don’t want to be gassing up a flamethrower for nothing!”)
The Shelby County Commission, having worked in tandem with Mayor Lee Harris in the past year to secure serious funding for a new Regional One Health hospital, continues to be ambitious, hoping to acquire subpoena power from the state for the county’s recently created Civilian Law Enforcement Review Committee and to proceed with the construction of a long-contemplated Mental Health, Safety, and Justice Center.
The commission is also seeking guidance from the DA’s office on the long-festering matter of removing County Clerk Wanda Halbert from office.
At the state level, almost all attention during the early legislative session will be fixed on Republican Governor Bill Lee’s decision to push for statewide application of the school-voucher program that barely squeaked through the General Assembly in 2019 as a “pilot” program for Shelby and Davidson counties. (Hamilton County was later added.) The program was finally allowed by the state Supreme Court after being nixed at lower levels on constitutional grounds. Democrats are universally opposed to its expansion, as, for the record, are the school boards in Shelby County’s seven school districts. Prospects for passage may depend on how many GOP legislators (a seriously divided group in 2019) are inclined this time to let the governor have his way.
Also on tap will be a series of bills aimed at stiffening crime/control procedures, some of which may also try to roll back recent changes in Shelby County’s bail/bond practices.
Oh, and there will be both a presidential primary vote and an election for General Sessions Court clerk in March. — Jackson Baker
Music
No sooner does yuletide appear than it’s gone again in a wink, as we turn to face a new notch on life’s yardstick. Yet even before 2024 dawns, Memphis has great music brewing on this year’s penultimate day, December 30th, from the solo seasoned jug band repertoire of David Evans (Lamplighter Lounge) to the revved-up R&B-surf-crime jazz-rock of Impala (Bar DKDC) to Louder Than Bombs’ take on The Smiths (B-Side).
Ironically, DJ Devin Steele’s Kickback show at the Hi-Tone is keeping live music on the menu with a six-piece band alongside the wheels of Steele. Down on Beale Street, bass giant Leroy “Flic” Hodges and band will be at B.B. King’s, and the Blues City Café will feature solid blues from Earl “The Pearl” Banks and Blind Mississippi Morris.
Susan Marshall (Photo: Jamie Harmon)
While New Year’s Eve seems particularly DJ-heavy this December 31st, there are still some places to ring in the new year with a live band. Perhaps the most remarkable will be when three of the city’s most moving women in music — Susan Marshall, Cyrena Wages, and Marcella Simien ringing in midnight — converge at the freshly re-energized Mollie Fontaine Lounge. A more up-close, swinging time will be found at the Beauty Shop’s meal extravaganza set to the music of Joyce Cobb. Orion Hill’s Mardi Gras Masquerade will feature Cooper Union (with Brennan Villines and Alexis Grace), and Blind Mississippi Morris will hold court again at Blues City as a gigantic disco ball rises up a 50-foot tower outside on Beale. For that Midtown live vibe, Lafayette’s Music Room’s elaborate festivities will feature the band Aquanet.
For many Memphians, the new year will begin with a look backward as a smorgasbord of bands — from Nancy Apple to Michael Graber to Oakwalker and beyond — gather at B-Side to honor the late Townes van Zandt on January 1st. The revival of the 1970 musical Company, opening at the Orpheum the next day, also honors an earlier era’s muse, but its five Tony Awards suggest that even today it “strikes like a lightning bolt” (Variety). And the historical appreciations continue: On January 14th, Crosstown Arts’ MLK Freedom Celebration will feature the Mahogany Chamber Music Series, curated by Dr. Artina McCain and spotlighting Black and other underrepresented composers and performers; and on January 20th GPAC will host jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and composer Jumaane Smith’s Louis! Louis! Louis!, blending his own compositions with those of Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, and Louis Jordan — three giants of the last century.
Who knows, maybe reflecting on all this past greatness will teach 2024 a thing or two? — Alex Greene
Coming Attractions in 2024
2023’s dual WGA and SAG strikes disrupted production, so 2024 should be an unpredictable year at the multiplex. Studios are currently engaged in a high-stakes game of chicken with the release calendar, so don’t take any of these dates as gospel. In January, an all-star apostle team led by LaKeith Stanfield and David Oyelowo tries to horn in on the messiah game in The Book of Clarence.
February has the endlessly promoted spy caper Argylle, a Charlie Kaufman-penned animated film Orion and the Dark, the intriguing-looking Lisa Frankenstein, and Bob Marley: One Love left over from 2023, as well as Ethan Coen’s lesbian road comedy Drive-Away Dolls.
March is stacked with Denis Villeneuve’s return to Arrakis, Dune: Part Two; Jack Black voicing Kung Fu Panda 4; Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire; and Focus Features’ satire The American Society of Magical Negroes.
Monsters will collide in Godzilla x Kong.
April starts with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Alex Garland’s social sci-fi epic Civil War.
May features Ryan Gosling as The Fall Guy and Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in Back to Black. On April 24th, we have a three-flick pile-up with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Garfield Movie (animated, thank God), and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. ALL HAIL IMPERATOR FURIOSA!
Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
June brings us Inside Out 2, which adds Maya Hawke as Anxiety to the Pixar classic’s cast of emotions. There’s another Bad Boys film on the schedule that nobody has bothered to title yet. Meanwhile, Kevin Costner goes too hard with punctuation with Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter One. (Chapter Two drops in August.)
In July, there’s the horror of Despicable Me 4 and Twisters, a sequel to the ’90s tornado thriller that lacked the guts to call itself Twister$. Ryan Reynolds returns as the Merc with a Mouth in Deadpool 3, the first Marvel offering of the year.
In August, Eli Roth adapts the hit game Borderlands, which, if you think about it, could actually work. James McAvoy stars in the Blumhouse screamer Speak No Evil. Don’t Breathe director Fede Álvarez directs Priscilla’s Cailee Spaeny in Alien: Romulus.
September is looking spare, but Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Winona Ryder are getting the band back together for Beetlejuice 2, so that could be fun.
October looks a tad more promising with Joker: Folie à Deux, a psychosexual (emphasis on the “psycho”) thriller with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. There’s also the cheerful Smile 2, evil clown porn Terrifier 3, and a Blumhouse production of Wolf Man.
November sees a remake of The Amateur, Barry Levinson’s mob thriller Alto Knights, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 with Denzel Washington, and Wicked: Part One, led by Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo.
Then, the year goes out strong with Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, an anime Tolkien adaptation from Kenji Kamiyama.
This time next year, we’ll be gushing over Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King, Robert Eggers’ boundary-pushing Nosferatu remake, and an ultra-secret Jordan Peele joint. — Chris McCoy
Memphis Sports
Here’s a one-item wish list for Memphis sports in 2024: Ja Morant videos that are exclusively basketball highlights. The city’s preeminent athlete stole headlines this year with off-the-court drama that ultimately cost him the first 25 games of the Grizzlies’ 2023-24 season. Morant’s absence was more than the roster could take, particularly with center Steven Adams sidelined for the season with a knee injury. More than 10 games under .500 in mid-December, the Grizzlies must hope the star’s return can simply get them back to break-even basketball. If that happens — and with the rim-rattling displays that have made Ja a superstar — the new year will have brought new life to the Bluff City’s flagship sports franchise.
And how about a first regular-season American Athletic Conference championship for Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers? The AAC is a watered-down version of the league we knew a year ago (no more Houston, no more Cincinnati), with Florida Atlantic now the Tigers’ primary obstacle for a league crown. A controversial loss to FAU in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last March created an instant rivalry, one that will take the floor at FedExForum on February 25th. David Jones is an early candidate for AAC Player of the Year and sidekick Jahvon Quinerly gives Hardaway the best collection of new-blood talent since “transfer portal” became a thing.
Seth Henigan (Photo: Wes Hale)
With Seth Henigan returning to quarterback the Tigers for a fourth season, Memphis football should also compete for an AAC title and an 11th consecutive bowl campaign. AutoZone Park will hum with Redbirds baseball and 901 FC soccer throughout the warm-weather months, and the PGA Tour will make Memphis home when the FedEx St. Jude Championship tees off on August 15th.
But let’s hope 2024, somehow, becomes the Year of Ja in this town. The heart of Memphis sports echoes the sound of a basketball dribble. And one player speeds that heartbeat like no other. — Frank Murtaugh
Oscar Jimenez will suit up for 901 FC next season. (Photo: Courtesy USL/Louisville City FC)
Meanwhile, 901 FC can look forward to welcoming some unfamiliar opponents to the confines of AutoZone Park next season. A restructured United Soccer League means Memphis will bid adieu to the Eastern Conference and kick off its 2024 season as part of the Western Conference. That means that 22 of 901 FC’s 34-match schedule will be against Western Conference opponents, starting with a March 9th home season opener against Las Vegas Lights FC. There’s a new COO in Jay Mims, while we can expect plenty of new players to suit up before Stephen Glass leads the team out for its first game.
One thing that soccer fans will not be looking forward to, however, is a new stadium, with plans for a soccer-specific Liberty Park arena scuppered after $350 million in state dollars earmarked for sporting renovations did not include any provisions for 901 FC. — Samuel X. Cicci
How will 2023 be remembered by Memphis sports buffs in, say, 2033? What will stick on the ever-growing timeline of games we play and cheer in the Bluff City?
Let’s start with the good stuff. The Memphis Grizzlies posted an impressive 51-31 record on their way to a second consecutive Southwest Division championship. (How about a banner or two at FedExForum? Let’s get this done.) Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. led the NBA in blocks for a second straight season and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, only the second Memphis player to take home that prestigious piece of hardware.
On the college level, Penny Hardaway’s Tigers reached the NCAA tournament a second straight year and made some history on the way. In beating Houston to win the American Athletic Conference tournament, the Tigers earned their first victory over a team ranked number-one in the country. Guard Kendric Davis should stick on that timeline of memories having led the AAC in both scoring and assists in his lone season as a Tiger.
Kendric Davis led the AAC in scoring and assists. (Photo: Larry Kuzniewski)
Those who follow Memphis Redbirds baseball will remember 2023 for one of the top prospects in the sport, shortstop Masyn Winn. The speed demon with a cannon on his right shoulder set a franchise record with 99 runs scored before a late-season promotion to the St. Louis Cardinals. Then there was slugger Luken Baker. The big first baseman slammed 33 home runs and drove in 98 runs in only 84 games, figures so eye-popping that Baker was named International League MVP at season’s end, the first Redbird in franchise history to receive a league’s top honor.
Alas, none of those news items stole the national spotlight in the way Ja Morant managed … and it wasn’t the All-Star’s heroics on the hardwood. After a Grizzlies loss to the Nuggets in early March, Morant flashed a handgun on social media from a Denver nightclub. The images were disturbing enough to cost Morant the next nine games on the Memphis schedule.
Morant returned to action and put up 45 points in a playoff loss to the Lakers, a reminder of just how high his ceiling could be, but he fell back to Earth, and dramatically, when another gun-toting video surfaced shortly after the Grizzlies’ season ended in Los Angeles. After weeks of deliberation, NBA commissioner Adam Silver handed Morant a 25-game suspension, punishment that would delay the start of Morant’s fifth professional season until late December. Minus Morant and injured center Steven Adams, the Grizzlies went 6-19 over the course of the suspension. For Mid-South NBA fans, 2024 can’t get here soon enough.
Sports are unique in the way our favorite teams and athletes so directly impact a day’s mood. There are football fans in Memphis who gained from the return (after 38 years!) of the USFL’s Memphis Showboats. Affordable tickets to pro football — even in the heat of June — are mood-lifters, to say the least. Our soccer outfit, 901 FC, put together another playoff season in the USL Championship, even as attendance at AutoZone Park sagged from the heights of the club’s 2019 debut season. But a mood-lifter on game night for soccer buffs? Check.
All of this makes Morant’s off-court troubles the kind a fan base suffers most, because Morant the basketball player takes us places no other man in Grizzlies history has taken us. (Recall that Morant made second-team All-NBA before his 23rd birthday.) When poor decisions weigh down Morant the human being, it shifts the fan/athlete perspective into one centered more on compassion than any form of adrenaline-fueled elation.
Let’s remember 2023 for the victories we had, and we had a few. And let’s hope we remember 2023 for the year this town’s most famous athlete became a new kind of hero.
Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis Magazine. He writes the columns “From My Seat” and “Tiger Blue” for the Flyer.
