Month: January 2024

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Rally in the Valley against the Suns

Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a shot during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 7, 2024. (Photo by: Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies were down 11 points going into the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns, 97-86.

Memphis rallied in the final period to outscore the Suns 35-18 to secure the victory, 121-115. The Grizzlies are now 2-0 on the three-game road trip.

Phoenix is ranked 30th in 4th quarter scoring while the Grizzlies are ranked 18th in the association. The 4th quarter has been Memphis’ best period all season long.

According to NBA.com, the Grizzlies have the second best defensive rating in the 4th quarter. They are first in opponent point per game allowed in the final period, second in point differential, and have one of the best net rating in the 4th quarter.

The second quarter has been a problem for the Grizzlies most of the season. However, in two straight games, Memphis has won the second quarter. A thing to look at, and it may be a key to winning more games going forward.

The Grizzlies are now 10-10 on the road and an abysmal 3-13 at home.

Memphis was without Ja Morant, who sat out due to shoulder soreness. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said soreness crept up on the road and that further evaluations are needed. He said that they will know more in a day or two.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 28 points, ten rebounds, six assists with a team-high +/- 25.

Kevin Durant gave praise to Jackson Jr. after the game: “He can shoot it, he can go left well, he’s got good floaters, strong. Just think he’s extending his game and it’s making it tough for people to guard him out there one-on-one, especially big players. He’s shooting the three well, you got to give him credit for expanding his game.”

“The first half looked pretty good but obviously we let it get away from us a little bit,” said Jackson Jr. “Momentum stayed on point going into the half and again that third quarter, they were just able to get separation. We never really found ourselves in solid footing on the offensive end. We got a lot of great shots, got to those places we wanted to be at, got downhill, we got to the rim, we got really good open shots, we got stops in transitions, but we just couldn’t convert the way we wanted too.”

Marcus Smart finished with 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals. “It is the formula [for] winning without him,” Smart said on playing without Morant. “It is the formula for winning with him. Ja is such a great player and he inspires a lot of guys to go out there to play. When he is out, that just means there are opportunities for other guys.”

Smart continued, “Big shoutout to Vince Williams [Jr.]. Big night for him. He has been going under the radar. He has been doing that for this organization, for us, and his teammates for a very long time. We appreciate it. Ziaire Williams coming off of the bench. He has been asked to play different roles and he is just excelling. Being able to just play and not worry about it has really helped us.”

The 10-year guard/forward has improved on three-point shooting after his hand injury.“It is healing,” he said. “I am starting to get into a rhythm. Guys do a good job of finding me and trusting me to take those shots. For me, sometimes I don’t want to take them, but they are screaming at me to do so. I just have to continue to believe in myself and continue to make those shots.”

Desmond Bane added 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists while reserve Williams Jr. finished with a career-high 19 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.

The Grizzlies look to prolong their win streak against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, January 9th, inside American Airline Center at 7:30 p.m.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Gun Violence Debate Likely to Continue as Legislature Convenes This Week

Credit: Rise and Shine Tennessee

Gun violence is still top of mind for a number of organizations as lawmakers from across the state convene in Nashville Tuesday for the next regular session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

In March, a shooter killed three children and three adults at Nashville’s Covenant School. Among the victims was a friend of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Thousands began to show up at the Tennessee State Capitol Building to demand action gun violence from lawmakers. 

Lee later proposed a series of laws to keep guns out of the hands of those who could be a threat to themselves or others. None of his Republican colleagues picked up the bills. Instead, they quickly passed the state budget and fled back to their home districts. 

However, Lee brought them all back to Nashville in August for a special session. The meeting was to yield some sort of meaningful regulations to curb gun violence here. None came, really. Though one bill did cut the tax for gun locks and safes. Republicans, it seemed, had sidestepped the issue with no political damage done to their Second-Amendment stances.

However, at least two groups are not yet ready to let the gun-violence-debate fade as the GOP would like. 

Rise and Shine Tennessee, a nonprofit group created during last year’s rallies against gun violence last year, will bring children aged 5-10 to Nashville to tell their stories to the media. The children will speak Tuesday morning as legislators prepare for the first day of the new session.   

”It’s time to hear from the youth themselves about their desires and needs,” reads a statement from the group. “These youth are not pawns in a political game, but individuals impacted the most by inaction on gun safety.”

The group will return to Nashville Thursday with a group of high school students who have met with lawmakers, attended rallies, and sat in meetings of the legislature. 

Another group will convene at Legislative Plaza Tuesday to “address gun violence and safety while upholding gun rights.” The TN11 group is comprised of 11 Tennesseans “from all sides of the ideological and political aisle,” including a firearms instructor, a former state trooper, a teacher, and a Memphis college student and activist. 

”Gun violence is like a yarn ball — and not the kind that comes all rolled up and pretty — but the kind that is just everywhere,” reads a statement from the TN11 website from Memphis’ Jaila Hampton. “It’s so complex. There’s no overnight solution, and every day that we’re doing nothing, somebody is losing their life.”

This group used the online Citizens Solutions platform to help solve the divisive gun violence issue. Over the past few months, the group’s list of eight proposals on the matter were whittled down to five from more than 30,000 Tennesseans from all 95 counties. The group will present those proposals to lawmakers Tuesday.

The proposals include: 

• Temporary removal of firearms based on risk of violence

• Tools to support responsible gun ownership

• Expansion of the roles of School Resource Officers 

• Community investment to reduce trauma 

• Gun issue literacy resources for schools, communities, and media

Another group likely to continue to speak out against gun violence here is Moms Demand Action Tennessee (MDAT). Members of that group were ever present during the special session in August with some among those kicked out of a committee room by a GOP chairman. 

On Facebook Friday, MDAT posted a new ranking from the national Everytown for Gun Safety organization. Tennessee ranked 29th in the nation for gun law strength. The group said Tennessee had some of the weakest gun laws in the country with some of the highest rates of gun violence.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Dominate Lakers With Record Three-Point Shooting Display

Desmond Bane takes the ball to the basket against Anthony Davis.
Desmond Bane takes the ball to the basket against Anthony Davis. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images

With a final score of 127-113, the Grizzlies handed the Lakers their fourth consecutive loss. But more than that, they did it under the power of historic three-point shooting with a franchise record 23 made threes on the road, also the most three-pointers allowed by the Lakers this season.

It was a wild Friday night in the National Basketball Association. Those of us who stayed up late to watch the Grizzlies take on the Lakers in Los Angeles were rewarded with some of the best basketball Memphis has played this season.

Not even a 32-point performance from LeBron James and a 31-point one from Anthony Davis could stop the Grizzlies.

There was something for everyone in this win, including big performances from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Ziaire Williams.

And an All-NBA-worthy defensive move from head coach Taylor Jenkins that rightfully earned him a technical foul, because coaches cannot enter the court during gameplay.

Let’s break that moment down and what led up to it.

You can watch the video for yourself here:

Marcus Smart directed a pass to Jaren Jackson Jr., who briefly had possession of the ball but could not keep a hold of it. That led to a tie-up with LeBron James during which James elbowed Jackson in the chin (seemingly unseen by the referees) followed by an irate Taylor Jenkins stepping onto the court and in the path of Taurean Prince, protesting the lack of a call. Jenkins had to be physically restrained by one of his assistant coaches.

To keep it a buck, three fouls could have been called in that exchange: James committing a loose ball foul when forcing Jackson to the ground, Jackson committing a common foul when hooking James’ arm, and a flagrant 1 for James elbowing Jackson in the face in retaliation.

But since there was no review of the play, the only foul assessed for the whole mess was the technical Jenkins earned.

The messiness of that whole situation should not detract from the Grizzlies’ play and the exceptional shooting that propelled them to a resounding victory over the Lakers.

Heading into last night’s game, Marcus Smart had the lowest three-point shooting percentage of any player attempting five or more threes a game this season.

Apparently, he took that personally.

Marcus Smart finished the night with a season-high 29 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal on 8 of 14 three-point shooting. Smart put up 19 of his 29 points in the first half while shooting 5 of 8 from three-point range.

His teammates had a pretty good night as well.

Jaren Jackson Jr put up a team-high 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Desmond Bane closed out with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and a career-high 13 assists, also while shooting 5 of 8 from long range.

Ja Morant added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Bismack Biyombo finished with 6 points and 10 rebounds on a perfect 3 of 3 field goal shooting.

From the second unit, Ziaire Williams added 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

All in all, it was a soothing balm to ease the sting of a nasty loss to the Toronto Raptors two days prior.

Whether this success can be replicated remains to be seen.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will continue their three-game road trip, heading to Phoenix on Sunday to face off against the Suns. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Vigils Planned For One-Year Anniversary Of Tyre Nichols’ Death

Tyre Nichols (Photo: Family of Tyre Nichols)

Candlelight vigils on Sunday will commemorate the one-year anniversary of the killing of Trye Nichols by Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers.

A vigil will be held in Memphis on January 7 at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Castlegate Lane and Ross Road. Another vigil will take place in Nichols’ hometown of Sacramento, California at the Tyre Nichols Skate Park at 5 p.m. CST.

Credit: Google Maps

“During the vigils attendees will come together to reflect on Nichols’ life, share memories and stand united in demanding accountability and justice,” reads a statement from attorney Ben Crump’s office. “Candles will be lit in his honor, and as a symbol of hope and remembrance.”

Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for the Nichols family, also released a letter ahead of the anniversary of Nichols’ death.

“Our legal team is fiercely committed to fighting for justice for Tyre and vigorously restate our assertions that the Scorpion Unit officers involved acted at the direction of [an MPD] policy that violated the civil rights of innocent civilians and caused needless pain to many,” reads the letter.

The anniversary of Nichols’ death coincides with the release of information by former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, where he explained that he “actively avoided signing and enforcing the Driving Equality Act in honor of Tyre Nichols that the Memphis City Council passed in Spring 2023.” The law would have required Memphis police officers to skip traffic stops for offenses like temporary tags, damaged bumpers, or lapsed car registration.

 Both Crump and Romanucci said that they are “deeply disturbed” by this revelation and that this would have directed “meaningful reform in how Memphis Police should conduct and report traffic stops.” They have also vowed to hold Mayor Paul Young accountable for holding up plans to enact this reform.

“These types of commonsense changes to police policies and practices are essential to establishing trust between communities and police,” said the attorneys in a statement. “Had changes to law enforcement policies been enacted in 2020, we strongly believe Tyre Nichols would be alive today.”

Categories
Music Music Blog

Above Jupiter’s Big Beat Art Pop

Above Jupiter (Credit: Justin Burks)

What does “New Wave” even mean anymore? Unsure if younger generations even know the genre label, I asked myself that question recently as I spoke to the founders of Above Jupiter, a young band in every sense of the word. Instead of going retro, I asked them what they would call the choppy, stomping, synth-tinged, and hook-filled music they made — so reminiscent of sounds that captivated me in the 1980s. Graham Burks III, the group’s singer and drummer, didn’t miss a beat. “We’ve been calling it art pop.”

To clarify, he added, “We’re trying to make popular enjoyable music that doesn’t really fit into a category. It’s our own art. Other artists that used that label have been like, DEVO and David Bowie — artists that are hard to fit into a specific genre.”

Those two acts are perfect reference points for the fundamentals of their sound, as are influences they list on their website like Talking Heads, Beck, and Gorillaz. The end result is a beat-driven soundscape with equal parts slashing guitar, skronky synth, and cool singing that lives in a kind of timeless pop utopia. And it’s not only timeless, it’s literally ageless. One would never guess that these musicians are all between 14 and 16 years old.

Their debut single was celebrated only last month in Chris McCoy’s Music Video Monday column. “‘Details’ is a super catchy rock song about ‘going off the rails’ if you don’t have the basics nailed now, which these kids definitely do,” McCoy wrote, noting that the group’s bassist and co-founder Noah Hand directed the video, being “a recent Indie Memphis Youth Film Festival alum who learned to animate at Cloud901.”

“I do film,” Hand told me, “and the video was all directed and written by me. I’m really glad how that turned out. It’s all my vision.”

The band, which also includes Zariya Scullark on guitar and Desmond Coppin on keys, was started by Burks and Hand. “We were in fourth grade or fifth grade when we put together our first project, which was going to be a duo called the Breeze,” Burks noted. “That didn’t end up working out, but around that time we recorded four songs as demos. And as time went on we got our two other band members and the songs have just evolved into what they are now.”

As it turns out, all four of the musical wunderkinder attend the Stax Music Academy, but that’s been peripheral to the band’s formation. As Burks explained, “We all happen to attend Stax Academy but I wouldn’t say that the band was formed through Stax Academy. I mean, I’ve been playing with Desmond since I was four, and we were in our first band together. So really, it’s just a coincidence that we all ended up at Stax and I think it’s just because that’s a really amazing music program.”

Hand added, “I feel like the music of Stax and all that stuff that we play over there correlates with our music and affects us. The way we evolved was through that music. And I’m very glad that we have that outlet, because it helps us learn the basics.”

Certainly there’s some serious training and talent behind the group’s home-recorded tracks, which will soon be available Friday, January 12, when Above Jupiter release their debut EP, Demo. There will be a release show at the Hi-Tone (Big Room) that night with Shorty and The Grooves and The Contradictions also playing. Given the polished final product, and the futuristic shimmer of tracks like “Meteor Beach” and “Midnight Sun,” the EP’s title is somewhat ironic.

“The title track, ‘Demo,’ is something that we would show aspiring members of the band when we were trying to recruit them,” Burks noted. “‘Demo’ was always the working title of that piece, because it’s a demo of what we’re trying to go for. We were running with that title for long enough that it just kind of stuck. And I feel like it was a pretty interesting choice to make the title track of the of the EP an instrumental song. That means we can go in more directions with the EP instead of being locked into the style of a title track. Not everything has to be the same.”

And, with that sentiment as a mission statement of sorts, expect a lot more not-the-same music from these young folks in the future.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Buster’s Liquors East to Open February 1st

An early rendering of the facade of Buster's Liquors East (Credit: designshop)

Buster’s Liquors will open its second location February 1st at 5851 Poplar Avenue in the Ridgeway Trace Shopping Center.

Their location at 191 South Highland Street will now be known as “Buster’s Liquors University.” The new store will be known as “Buster’s Liquors East.”

The new store is 18,000 square feet as opposed to 16,000 square feet at their Highland store, says Josh Hammond, one of the owners of the Buster’s stores along with his brother, Morgan Hammond, and their mother, Gay Hammond.

The location of the new space, which once housed a Staples store, has three times the amount of car traffic, Josh says. 

“From, basically, the Clark Tower on down to Kirby, is a huge retail corridor. We feel like we’re finally over here in this major retail core of the city.”

The new location will feature a “tasting kiosk” — a “four-sided tasting area where we can host events,” Josh says.

Buster’s Liquors East also will include “a walk-in cigar humidor and a walk-in climate-control room for fine wine. And then we’ll have two conference rooms where we can conduct private and intimate tastings.”

According to a release, Buster’s Liquors was founded by R. M. “Buster” Hammond Jr. in 1954 on South Bellevue. “In 1968, Buster and his son, Rommy, moved the store to the corner of Poplar and Highland,” the release states. “And they finally reached their current location in 1970 with the completion of a new adjacent retail center, Dillard Square, that’s since been renamed ‘The University Center.’”

As for opening a new store at this time, Josh says, “The timing was just right. Everything seemed to come together.”

And, he adds, “This part of town is definitely in need of a larger retail wine and spirits shop that can literally carry everything. So, the industry is trending that way to larger stores. I think everything just came together quite nicely for us to get this place.

“A lot of our dear customers and friends have moved further out east,” he says, “and just don’t venture back in town as much as they used to. So, it will be nice to come out to East Memphis and see our old customers again.”

They gave their store on Highland a facelift almost 10 years ago. “We renovated the store entirely in 2015 on Highland.”

Last August, they opened Buster’s Butcher next to the Highland location. According to the release, Buster’s Butcher is “a full-service meat and cheese butcher shop” that “features professionally skilled butchers and stocks a curated assortment of meats, beef, pork, and international cheeses along with a number of made-in-house sausages, prepared sides, spices, and more.”

For now, the new location will be a “specialty liquor store,” Josh says. As for putting in a butcher shop at the new location, he says, “There is a space next  to it. The landlord knows we’re interested. But first things first. We have to make sure these two new ventures — Buster’s Butcher and the new Buster’s East — are ‘ginning.’”

Grinder Taber Grinder was the contractor on the new location. Designshop was the architect and interior designer. Old City Millwork did the millwork. DataComm Services Corporation and Pomeroy IT Solutions Inc. handled all the computer and network needs.

“As far as colors and finishes, I would say a lot of what you see at the butcher shop is a little bit of what you’ll see at the new store.”

Would the Hammond family consider opening more locations down the road? “I’ll never say never. First of all, it’s taken us 70 years to get here.”

Asked how he felt about his family opening another location, Josh says, “My dad and my grandfather, all the effort they put into establishing a brand name for themselves in this city, and the legacy my brother and I get to carry on is a tremendous honor.”

He and his family have the opportunity to “serve the Memphis area” and “do it with a friendly nature and provide great customer value with our selection, pricing, and expertise. And it allows us to give back, which is also important to do in our family.

“We know the old adage: ‘The first generation creates it, the second generation grows it, and the third generation destroys it.’ We’re the third generation and we’re growing it. So, I think we’re doing something right.”

“And we’re welcoming our fourth generation with my nephew, Morgan’s son, Bear Hammond, who is coming into the business.”

They currently are in the process of hiring about 25 employees to work at either location, Josh says.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Poor Play Leads to Another Grizzlies Home Loss

Ja Morant goes up for a layup against the Toronto Raptors inside FedExForum on December 3, 2023 (Photo credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Historically, when an NBA club has played at FedExForum in Memphis, they knew they were in for a fierce battle. That’s no longer the case. Last season, the Grizzlies dominated on the home floor, this season they have struggled mightily.

The squad dropped to 3-13 at home after a fourth quarter rally fell short against the Toronto Raptors, 116-111. Memphis just can’t seem to put together a complete game for 48 minutes.

The second quarter is the biggest culprit. According to NBA.com, Memphis ranks dead last (30th) in the league in scoring during the second period, with 24.7 points, while shooting 41.3 percent from the field.

Something has to change with the rotations in the second period if Memphis wants to start winning consistently after falling to 11-23 on the season.

After the game, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins took responsibility for the loss. “I’ve got to get this team better prepared,” Jenkins acknowledged. “We were flat tonight — that’s on me.”

Did that really come out of his mouth about getting the team better prepared after a whopping 34 games. In the words of WWE legend Booker T, “Tell me, he didn’t just say that!”

Former Grizzlies assistant and first-year head coach of the Raptors, Darko Rajakovic, certainly had his team prepared to take down his former team.

That’s an indictment of Jenkins’ coaching, if he doesn’t have the team better prepared after nearly half of the season is gone. There have been key injuries, and a 25-game suspension, but that’s the card that has been dealt. Some of the losses have been on Jenkins, even though his players wholeheartedly disagree with that sentiment.

“At the end of the day, he’s not the one out there playing — it’s us,” said Ziaire Williams. We should already be self-motivated, he shouldn’t have to yell at us or scream at us when we’re down by 15 or 10, or playing lazy and lackadaisical on the defensive end, not sharing the ball. That should already be a given.”

He concluded, “We got to find ways to do that for 48 minutes straight. That was cool for coach taking the blame, but, it’s not much he could do about that. It’s on us to come out and do what we need to do. Be professionals, do what we are paid to do.”

Williams had a great game off the bench, with 18 points, putting up 12 in the final period by converting on 5-of-8 from the field.

Desmond Bane who finished with 22 points, eight assists, and four rebounds put the onus on the players to take responsibility and accountability. He said, “As a coach you can only do so much. You don’t put a jersey on, you don’t run up and down the court. It has nothing to do with him honestly. We are all grown men. It’s on us, we have to be better.”

Ja Morant led the team with a near triple double with 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Morant on the team coming out flat: “I don’t want to make excuses. You just got to be better, come out with more energy to be able to get a win on a home floor.”

Jaren Jackson, Jr. had a slow start but ended with 13 of his 24 points in the final period. Jackson Jr. also grabbed four rebounds and blocked four shots.

With the loss, Memphis is now 7-1 when Bane, Jackson Jr., and Morant all score 20 plus points.

Where does Memphis go from here

The blame lies with the players, the coach’s decision-making, and the front office for the roster construction at this point in the season.

The time for excuses is over. There has to be energy and effort from the players in all facets of the game. Jenkins has to make better coaching decisions, and the front office needs to make moves at the deadline in order to right the ship.

Things don’t get easier. The Grizzlies head to California to start a three-game game road trip beginning Friday, January 5, against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena at 9 p.m. CT.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

On the Fly: 1/5-1/11

Elvis turns, like, really old this weekend, so celebrate at Graceland with a weekend of events, including free cake. (Photo: emrecan arık | Unsplash)

Elvis Presley’s Birthday Weekend
Graceland
Friday-Monday, January 5-8
Haaaappppyyyy birthday, dear old Mr. Presley. He’d be 89, if I’m doing my math correctly. Fingers-crossed. I did all that adding and subtracting in my head, so if I’m right, congratulations might be in order. In any case, Graceland’s celebrating his b-day whether it’s his 87th or 79th. The four-day hoopla will have live music, special tours, conversations, bus tours, and more. On Monday, there’s the Birthday Proclamation Ceremony featuring a birthday cake cutting and an official proclamation of Elvis Presley Day. Learn more here. 

Company
Orpheum Theatre
Performances through Sunday, January 7
Is your resolution to see our writer Michael Donahue in the wild? Well, you just missed him. Sorry. Legally, we’re not allowed to announce his current whereabouts, mostly because we have no idea where he is at any given time. But rumor has it he was at the Orpheum this week seeing Company, and he took a liking to it. So the best we have to offer is that you, too, see Company and breathe the same air that he breathed, walk the same carpet he walked. Oh, Donahue. Company runs on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets ($29-$125) can be purchased here. 

Speed of Sound
CANVAS of Memphis
Friday, January 5, 9 p.m.
The speed of sound is 343 meters per second in dry air. Fun fact, you’re welcome. You can pull it out at the Speed of Sound event put on by the Memphis Association of Dance & Dubstep this Friday. The lineup covers a broad range of electronic music — Open Decks (9 p.m.), BlazeBunny (debut set! 10 p.m.), Lost Cypher (11 p.m.), Nodus Defect (midnight), and P for Parker (1 a.m.). The event is 21+.

Super Saturday: Music in Art with Opera Memphis
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Saturday, January 6, 10 a.m.-noon
Join Opera Memphis singers to celebrate the arts and hear the sounds that inspired the art in the special exhibit “Black American Portraits,” which closes this weekend. Bring the whole crew to go on a tour in the galleries with talented opera singers, make art in the studio, and discover how artists are inspired by music, music is inspired by art, and more. Admission to the museum is free. 

901 Wrestling New Year’s BANG
Black Lodge
Saturday, January 6, 7 p.m.
Wrestling with your New Year’s resolutions? Why? Why wrestle at all when you can watch the professionals do it? This Saturday’s show(?) — er, match(?) — is sure to be an action-packed with “Live Wire” Bobby Ford vs. “King of Memphis” Hunter Havoc(c) as the main event. I know who neither of them are but hell yeah! Also appearing are a bunch of others, who I also don’t know because I, personally, am not into wrestling, but I’m not here to yuck your yum. Tickets ($11-$85) can be purchased here. 

Adeem the Artist
B-Side 
Saturday, January 6, 7:30 p.m.
Adeem Maria (they/them) is a seventh-generation Carolinian, a makeshift poet, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and blue-collar artist. Imbued with the ancestral traces of Southern music and colored by a palette ranging from lo-fi anti-folk to post-punk, their songs traverse the vast compass of human emotion.

Luke Null
Growlers
Tuesday, January 9, 8 p.m.
Luke Null, a former featured player on SNL and now a regular at the Hollywood Imrov, brings his standup to Growlers. Luke Null began performing comedy the moment he picked up a guitar in Chicago. During his stay in the Windy city he developed his signature musical comedy style, blending witty humor with catchy earworms. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here.

Letter From Birmingham Jail – Panel Discussion
Cossitt Library
Wednesday, January 10, 6 p.m.
Join Memphis Public Libraries for a panel discussion of Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” with Earle Fisher, adjunct instructor of contemporary theology at Rhodes College and pastor of Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church, and Charles McKinney, director of African studies at Rhodes College. The discussion will include a brief summary, critical analysis and the letter’s relevance in contemporary society, plus a special performance by Elizabeth King.

Drag N Drive Viewing Party
Evergreen Theatre
Thursday, January 11, 7 p.m.
Mid-South Pride presents an evening of dazzling performances, laughter, and community spirit as you watch last year’s Drag N Drive at Memphis Pride Fest video. Stay after the show to ask questions of the director and producer of the show. Open to all ages.


There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.

Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Wizard’s, Iconic Midtown Head Shop, to Close

Credit: Wizard's

Wizard’s will close next month. 

The “world famous” Memphis head shop announced the news on Instagram Thursday morning. 

“After many decades of serving Memphis and the Mid-South, it’s time for us to close our doors,” reads the post. “Thank you for all of your support over the years. Come see us for our closing sales every weekend now through February 4th. EVERYTHING MUST GO!” 

A phone call to Wizard’s was unanswered Thursday morning. 

This story will be updated with details as they emerge.

Credit: Wizard’s via Instagram
Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Ja Morant Leads Grizzlies To Win Over Spurs

An aerial view of Ja Morant dunking on Victor Wembanyama.
An aerial view of Ja Morant dunking on Victor Wembanyama. Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE for Getty Images

The Memphis Grizzlies have won their first basketball game of the new year after beating Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, 106-98, snapping their three-game losing streak.

It marks the Grizzlies’ 12th consecutive win over the Spurs, their longest active streak against any individual team, and puts them 2-0 in the season series against San Antonio.

Let’s get into it.

After a low-scoring first quarter, the Grizzlies entered the second down by three points and then outscored the Spurs 27-17 in the second to head into halftime with a 7-point lead.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well from three-point range, but Memphis still managed to pull off an eight-point win even having five fewer field goal attempts than San Antonio.

Three-point shooting has been a struggle for Memphis this season, with the Grizzlies ranked last in the league in three-point shooting at 33.2 percent, despite Desmond Bane being third in the league in made three-pointers with 103. Only Steph Curry (146) and Luka Doncic (124) have made more threes.

Their big three were more of a big two and a half as Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled offensively, and finished the night with only 10 points on 3 of 14 shooting but did add a game-high 3 steals and 4 blocks.

This was the second meeting of these teams this season, but the first one for Ja Morant.

You would be correct if you thought that Morant would dunk on Wembanyama, the 7’4” rookie out of France. That magic moment happened during the fourth quarter, and predictably hyped up fans and the internet.

Your point guard doesn’t dunk on the tallest guy in the league? Can’t relate.

And again in slow motion:

Morant was a bit modest postgame, regarding the moment, saying: “I was just rim grazing. You know your first high school dunk. … My pops calls that a hard layup. … That’s what everyone wanted. That was my gift. A late Christmas gift or a ‘Happy New Year’ gift.”

Desmond Bane was not:

By The Numbers:

In addition to having five players finish the night with double-digit scoring, as a team, the Grizzlies were able to grab more rebounds than the Spurs (46 to 40) and more second-chance points (13 to 8).

Ja Morant closed out the night with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his 3rd double-double of the season.

Desmond Bane put up 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Jaren Jackson Jr had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 blocks.

From the bench –

Santi Aldama contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds on 5 of 6 shooting.

Luke Kennard added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.  

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will finish up their three-game homestand tonight against the Toronto Raptors. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.