Tag: Grizzlies

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day

Memphis inched closer to the return of Grizzlies basketball with media day on Monday. There were a couple of themes that ran throughout, including youth meshing with veteran leadership in the locker room, and the international media’s infatuation with Japanese basketball star and two-way signee Yuta Watanabe. Here are some major takeaways (both basketball-related and not) from some key players.

Dillon Brooks seemed relaxed and focused. He cracked a couple good jokes while saying everything you’d want to hear from a dynamic young guard looking to take the next step as a player.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day (4)

Asked about Marc and Mike getting older, Dillon Brooks said the Grizzlies have a lot of youth. “It’s like when grandma and grandpa get a new grandbaby: it gives them new life.” Despite literally calling them grandparents, Brooks expressed gratitude for Conley and Gasol. From Gasol getting drafted by the Lakers and traded to Memphis, and how he’s changed his bod, to Mike Conley getting drafted 4th overall and experiencing a slow start to his career (where often he’d only play in home games), Dillon said they’ve been like mentors, sharing the wisdom they’ve gained from their adversities.

Jaren Jackson Jr. opened his inaugural media day appearance by saying he’s excited for the new Young Thug album, and that casual ebullience characterized much of his interview and presence. When asked about his first post-contract luxury purchase, Jaren answered without hesitation: “Scorpion,” by Drake. He followed that up by saying he’s actually going to take it easy on luxury purchases.
Matt Preston

One thing that frequently bothers me in the NBA world is the lack of representation for Memphis in the league’s TV promos, League Pass commercials, etc. I know Memphis is a small market, but the Grizzlies just drafted a theoretical unicorn with the fourth pick, and he had an amazing Summer League outing. So why is Jaren Jackson conspicuously absent from promos that tease the incoming rookie class? When I asked Jaren about this, he was at a loss for words, and said he doesn’t pay much attention to sports on TV, lauding Netflix instead.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day (3)

I asked Jackson what he’s currently into on Netflix, and that kick started a lengthy aside about Ozark, and trying to remember a particular episode with another reporter. In some small way, I feel partly responsible for 40 percent of JJJ’s appearance being Ozark-related, but it was a fun glimpse into Jackson’s easygoing and easy-to-talk-to personality. But don’t let Jackson’s amiable spirit mislead you.

Leading up to training camp, Jackson says he’s focused on conditioning, improving his shot, and being aggressive and explosive. While he amicably interrupted a couple other player interviews to bust chops or crack a joke, you get the sense that he’s an open, positive, and constructive communicator, and the Grizzlies hope to see that translate into being a vocal leader and defender on the court. For what it’s worth, Conley said Jackson’s already a pretty good leader in his appearance. Speaking of…

Matt Preston

Conley appeared to be in good spirits, and there’s plenty of positive buzz about his health. Responding to questions about the Grizzlies’ dismal year last season, Conley said “last year was an anomaly,” remarking on the all the consecutive playoff appearances in years prior. Conley also talked about helping younger players in the locker room, giving them advice on staying out of trouble, and the importance of nutrition and adequate sleep

Gasol spent a decent amount of his time fielding questions about saving lives and helping refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea. He said his love for his young daughter motivated him to get involved with helping refugee children in the off-season, and truly seems to have experienced something that was bigger than basketball and bigger than himself. Gasol said he wants to sit down with someone in the media and have a longer conversation about the issue.
Matt Preston

Gasol also mentioned he’s heard the criticism that he’s too harsh on his teammates when they make mistakes, and plans to adjust his leadership to be more supportive in that regard. Just don’t ask him to be even slightly okay with lapses on defense.

Matt Preston

Kyle Anderson said he’s ready to take on more pressure and responsibility in Memphis, and showed the old grit-n-grind Grizzlies a lot of love and respect (having played against Memphis as a San Antonio Spur). He believes that playing with Pau taught him how to move off the ball, and prepared him to play with Marc. Maybe they’ll have quick chemistry?

Matt Preston

On an unsurprising note, Garrett Temple confirmed that he found out about his move to Memphis from NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski, with his agent calling to confirm minutes afterward. Temple said he’s excited to join a team that wants to win now, and expects the Grizzlies to make the playoffs. Temple came across every bit the well-composed veteran, which is interesting, because his locker borders Jackson’s. “Most of the time he’s smiling and laughing and telling us about rappers he likes,” Temple said of Jackson.

Matt Preston

Monday was JB Bickerstaff’s first Grizzlies media day as head coach, and he was dialed-in heading into his first training camp. He pushed back harder than anyone at notions of Gasol and Conley beginning their decline. It’ll be interesting to see how this team looks out of the gate and into the mid-season, especially if the Grizzlies manage to avoid the Injury Vortex.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day (2)

And finally, the one, the only, Yuta Watanabe. His presence was felt long before he even entered the room. It felt like half the media present at media day were reporters from Japan, solely there because of the 6’9″ international sensation. His name bled into almost every player interview, as the international reporters asked everyone on the team about their thoughts on Watanabe.
Watanabe went out of his way to thank his family and friends for their support. One of his favorite players to watch growing up was Shaq, he said, and while he hasn’t had any BBQ in Memphis, he has been to Sekisui.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day

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Film/TV Film/TV/Etc. Blog

Happy 4th of July from Music Video Monday

This week’s Music Video Monday falls on the 4th of July, and we’re here to instill you with pride. 

Last week, The Memphis Grizzlies released a video they commissioned from director Craig Brewer called “Mike Conley – Our Conductor“. The video was a tribute to the baller, who was up for contract renegotiation, and a plea to stay. It must have worked, because Conley signed a $153 million dollar, 5-year contract to stay in Memphis. 

To make “Mike Conley – Our Conductor”, Brewer enlisted a who’s who of Memphis film talent, including producers Morgan Jon Fox and Erin Freeman, cinematographer Ryan Earl Parker, assistant director Sarah Fleming, Brandon Bell, and Firefly Grip and Electric. Prolific composer Jonathan Kirkscey was tapped to write an inspiring score, which would be performed by musicians from the Stax Music Academy and members of local orchestras, and the Grizzline drummers. Dancers from Collage Dance Collective, joined jookers from the Grit N’ Grind Squad. The conductor is Dr. James Gholson. 

Editor Edward Valibus says the first step in assembling the video was to lay down the music bed and edit together footage from a shoot at the FedEx Forum. Before any of the interviews with Conley’s friends and teammates were added, a cut was circulated to the Grizzles PR team, who went bonkers for it. “The first rough cut got such a tremendous response, we wanted people to see it it so the individual artists could get some recognition,” Valibus says.   

So here it is, the “Artist Only Remix”, showcasing some of the best musical and filmmaking talent our city has to offer. Happy Independence Day! 

Happy 4th of July from Music Video Monday

If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com

Categories
Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said…

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

About Steve Steffens’ Viewpoint “Tear Down the Shelby County Democratic Party and Start Over” …

The current party is a bunch of jackals fighting over the scraps left over after the Republicans have torn the state apart. They have no desire to do their own hunting.

Jeff

About Kevin Lipe’s Beyond the Arc post, “Dave Joerger out as Grizzlies Head Coach” …

While I was initially shocked by this decision, after reading all the “behind the scenes” stuff, I agree with it. I’ve always thought coaching changes set back franchises, but obviously we had a coach who wanted no part of our team. He’d been here nearly 10 years. Thanks, Dave. It’s time to move on.

Midtown Mark

The shedding of tears was also a shot at front office, “Oh, woe is me, it was so hard, all the injuries, they traded Jeff Green, they traded Courtney, then had a carousel of D leaguers… and, oh yeah, they picked Jordan Adams instead of Rodney Hood ….”

It was a shot at front office, and I’m not saying he was totally wrong on everything, but that’s what it was.

His remarks the next day were actually in line with all his prior behavior, including the tear fest. He was thankful for his players, but had disdain for front office since his sponsor Jason Levien left.

Juce

About Frank Murtaugh’s From My Seat post, “Preferred Playoffs: Hockey” …

I am a hockey fan, not the best place to live for that. The Predators are having a good run. I am a Leafs fan. So that is the same as saying, ‘Hey, I am delusional,’ but I grew up in Ontario, so that is my excuse. The playoffs in the NHL are called hockey’s second season for a reason. Often all bets are off. Guys who bag it during the season suddenly come alive. Sometimes the big guns go silent. Always love watching.

Paula Langley

On J.D. Reager’s Local Beat column, “A New Booker in Town” …

Here’s hoping that he’s successful at broadening the mix of performers to appeal to a wider audience. And to appeal to folks truly interested in hearing good live music, not just in drinking and socializing with a live band as merely a backdrop. Much needed at Lafayette’s. (Special request: Please bring back Castro Coleman, aka Mr. Sipp, the Mississippi Blues Child!)

Strait Shooter

On the letter about “Madam President” in Last Week’s “What They Said” …

We elected a black man as president because people said that this country is more than ready for a black man to lead us.

They are and were right, but should we have ONLY one candidate of that sex or color represented?

Surely there are more qualified women to run for office than someone who is under federal investigation for mishandling of classified material and who has let an embassy be sacked and the ambassador murdered and dragged through the streets.

Besides,we have already had a woman president. When Calvin Coolidge had his stroke, his vice president did not want to assume the duties, so Mrs. Coolidge sat in the president’s place and made decisions for the country.

towboatman

Towboatman,

Pssst … it was Wilson, not Coolidge who had the stroke. And if Mrs. Coolidge took over after Mrs. Wilson poisoned the president, well, we got ourselves an HBO series!

CL Mullins

About Joshua Cannon’s News Blog post “Ghost River Requests $66,455 for Tap Room, Renovations”

I love Boscos and Ghost River. Corporate (and a lot of other) welfare, not so much.

ALJS

About zoo parking …

The parking problem will not go away with the Band-Aid proposed last week. Memphis artist Roy Tamboli’s suggestion to see the parking quandary as an opportunity to innovate and enhance the park landscape has been the only solution with a flicker of ingenuity. Surely we have enough great architects and civic-minded business leaders to turn this dilemma into a show-stopping solution. Don’t leave it to the clumsily thuggish zoo PR team or the big-business-indebted zoo board and City Council. Find a Tamboli-like solution that will enhance and resonate for decades.

P.Hall

Categories
From My Seat Sports

Memphis Sports 2016: Change is Coming

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

2016 will be a year of change in Memphis sports. Just as 2015 was, and 2014 the year before. If there’s a single, unifying reason any of us turn to sports on a daily basis, it’s the mystery of what’s to come. The changes happening — often in dramatic fashion — between serial tweets and highlights. A basketball game (or football game, or tennis match . . .) has long been the best reality show on television. The only thing consistent with sports prognosticators (including yours truly) is how much we get wrong. Change is coming.

Larry Kuzniewski

ZBo: Will he stay?

The Memphis Open is under new ownership (again). Kei Nishikori can’t possibly win a fourth straight title at the Racquet Club, can he? The FedEx St. Jude Classic has a new tournament director. Stephen Piscotty will open the next baseball season in the St. Louis Cardinals’ outfield, not that of the Memphis Redbirds. A year ago today, Austin Nichols and Nick King seemed like both the present and future of Memphis Tiger basketball. A year ago, we all wondered what more Justin Fuente and Paxton Lynch could give us. And few people on this side of the Mississippi River knew the name Mike Norvell. Change is coming.

The most significant change we’ll see this year on the local sports landscape? I’m convinced it will be with the roster of the Memphis Grizzlies, and I don’t mean the kind of change that yields Brandan Wright or subtracts Kosta Koufos. This is the year we could see the Beatles break up.

The Grizzlies’ version of the Fab Four — Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen — is playing its sixth season as a band, aiming for a sixth playoff appearance, and roughly six millionth smile generated in the Mid-South. Particularly in the modern NBA, such a run is epochal. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have set a standard for teammates by playing 14 seasons together (and winning four championships) in San Antonio. But who is their Ringo Starr? Bruce Bowen? Kawhi Leonard? (It’s actually their coach, Gregg Popovich.)

One of the greatest foursomes in NBA history was the one that took the Boston Celtics to four straight Finals in the 1980s. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson played seven seasons together, merely one more than the current Griz quartet have enjoyed. But that was an era when stars like Parish and McHale, let alone superstars like Bird, ignored the siren calls of free agency. It didn’t hurt, of course, to be contending for the Larry O’Brien Trophy every spring.

Allen turns 34 this month and has one more season ($5.5 million) on his contract with Memphis. Randolph turns 35 in July and likewise has one more year ($10.3 million) under contract with the Grizzlies. The franchise’s career games leader, Conley, will be a free agent. Since Gasol re-signed with Memphis last summer, the presumption has been his point guard will follow suit in the summer of ’16. Perhaps he will, and perhaps the Grindfather and Z-Bo will come back for one more tour in 2016-17.

But be prepared for change. On January 1, 2015, the Grizzlies were 23-8 and heading toward what looked like the franchise’s first division title. Today, Memphis is 18-17, sixth overall in a weaker Western Conference. It’s a team that should reach the postseason, but is it a team that appears able to win a series? To win two and return to the conference finals?

Sentiment can be deadly, both in reality TV and sports. Teams that get old together inevitably lose together. In their last season as a band, that famed Celtics foursome blew a 2-0 lead and lost their first-round series (then a best-of-five) with New York in the 1990 playoffs.

Change is coming in 2016. How it impacts this city’s only big-league franchise remains to be seen. Let’s keep watching.

Categories
Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said…

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

About Frank Murtaugh’s Sports column and Richard Alley’s Books column …

I really enjoyed the “Heroes Return” story by Frank Murtaugh and “Good Friends” by Richard J. Alley. Great writing that struck a chord with me this holiday season. Thanks for all the great articles, all year long. Happy holidays.

Elizabeth M

About Ted Rall’s Viewpoint column, “Bern Unit” …

Ted Rall’s hilarious screed about socialism and American ignorance was almost as entertaining as it was uninformative. Rall is appalled by “political ignoramuses” and wonders whether we “idiots” are “qualified to vote at all.” He’s upset that even Democrats are too stupid to understand the socialist “tradition of Western European electoral politics,” much less the Republican right, which is plagued by “colossal dumbness.”

It must be sorely difficult to be so doggone educated, intelligent, and right when so many people are uneducated and just plain stupid. Perhaps Bernie Sanders should belittle Americans for their ignorance of “basic political and economic terms.” That’ll win over a bunch of swing voters!

It seems pretty obvious that Rall isn’t interested in democracy, socialism, or even communism at all. What he wants is a type of fascist totalitarianism in which he and a few other “well educated elites” get to tell everyone what to do, how to act, and, most importantly, what’s “good for them.”

You can always count on a leftist to reveal his or her true intentions when it comes to governance and public policy. To paraphrase Madge the manicurist: What’s that smell? You’re sitting in it, Mr. Rall!

Greg McIntyre

About Kevin Lipe’s post, “Grizzlies 112, Wizards 96: Five Thoughts” …

I love the Grizzlies, but I really think age has caught up with us. We aren’t the defensive team we once were, and Allen looks disgruntled. I think Z-Bo can be really effective off the bench, playing 25 minutes a night, but the question is how long will he settle for coming off the bench. Gasol has had his moments, but the consistency has not been there, and Conley has not been as good this year.

We have to beat a quality opponent with their full lineup intact, and we don’t look like we can do that.

Ray

About Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter From the Editor, “Wondering Where the Lions Are” …

The charter school industry is not unlike the for-profit prison system, which requires a steady influx of money, er, prisoners, and so laws are written to keep the prisons full. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the same gangs don’t run both operations.

Jeff

About the GOP debate …

The men and the woman vying for the GOP presidential nomination want us to believe that America under President Obama is the ultimate wimp nation; that when it comes to the Islamic State, we’re busy zoning out on Netflix and letting ISIS run rampant. The way Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and their minions put it, you’d think the Obama administration is doing nothing.

Turns out, the United States is dumping tens of thousands of bombs on Islamic State strongholds, so much so, the U.S. has been running out of bombs. Since the air war kicked off last year, we’ve unloaded more bombs on ISIS than we have in Afghanistan any time during the past five years. In fact, when it comes to ISIS, we’ve averaged more than 2,000 air raids a month since the military mission began. We’re spending some $10 million every day bombing the Islamic State. So far we’ve spent more than $4 billion!

And it’s gotten us nowhere. Just like increased military action and Ted Cruz’s “carpet bombing” will get us nowhere. So, when you hear the Republican warmongers and know-nothings pop off, be happy President Obama is living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and taking care of business.

Arthur Lewis

Categories
Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said … (May 14, 2015)

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

About Toby Sells’ post, “Man Indicted in Theft of Elton John’s Glasses” …

What a stupid thing to go to jail for.

OakTree

“So,” his new friends ask, “whattya in for?”

“I stole Elton John’s glasses.”

crackoamerican

“You’re my tiny dancer now, bitch.”

Dave Clancy

About Jen Clarke’s Viewpoint, “Sit! Stay!” urging Griz fans to stay to the end of games …

As a season ticket holder, I don’t think crowds leaving early is that big of an issue. The bigger issue is the late arrivers. The arena isn’t full until almost the 2nd quarter.

Clyde

I couldn’t disagree more. The Grizzlies, like every other NBA team, are a business. We enter into a business contract when we pay to enter FedExForum; they don’t let me in to be nice. Because I’m paying for their entertainment, I’m free to leave whenever I’m satisfactorily entertained. It has nothing to do with the Griz’s “due” or doing them “the honor.”

Daniel

I concur with the author. Daniel, do us all a favor and let someone else have your ticket — someone like a real Griz fan.

Grizz>Daniel

About Les Smith’s column, “Lives That Matter” …

Freddie Gray’s prior record is irrelevant. Nobody deserves to die for making eye contact with the police and running away. And that is what happened to Freddie Gray.

Our society does not rise and fall based on how we treat the best of us. It rises and falls on how we treat the least of us.

B

About Toby Sells’ post, “MLGW Approves $240 Million Smart Meter Purchase” …

MLGW is trying to sound benevolent and caring but there is an ulterior motive: Once they have the majority of homes converted, you will start seeing MLGW charge different rates depending on the time of day. As it is now, they can only see how much usage you have each month. But the smart meter will show your usage all day every day. Be prepared to pay more for energy usage between the hours of 3 to 10 p.m. (for example). Sure they will try to justify this by having cheaper usage after midnight, but who is going to do all their daily chores after midnight? This is nothing more than a money grab by MLGW.

FireFox

We used the smart meters in Southern California, before I moved to Memphis. After the meters were installed, everyone I know, including me, had lower utility bills. I think this is a great idea.

Memphian

If they try to install one on my home, I will put up a refraction metal sheet plate against the wall, so that the meter will send all my info to a neighbor’s meter, giving me no reading at all.

Chris.Riley

The sooner they do this the better. I don’t like having to put my dogs in the house so someone can intrude in the sovereign nation that is my backyard. Both my dogs are of Moorish ancestry.

Smitty1961

And where is MLGW getting the money for all these? The United Nations, of course! This is an Illuminati plot.

Jeff

About Toby Sells’ post, “Memphis City Council Wants Lunch” …

Adjust the schedule and allow an hour for lunch for everyone. Taxpayers should not be paying for council members/staff lunches. And cut the travel allowance in half. Sign up for webinars instead of hitting the road.

It disgusts me that these issues are coming up again when this city’s budget is so tight. Most council members have a full-time job in addition to the part-time pay they get for sitting on the council — part-time pay that is more than what a lot of their constituents make in a year.

Pamela Cate

Categories
From My Seat Sports

Grizzlies, Cavs, Cardinals: Wounded Hopes

Injuries in teams sports are like pages ripped from a book you haven’t yet finished. The more significant the player, the more pages are shredded. The later in the season a player goes down, the closer to the book’s end you discover the missing pages. It’s maddening, disappointing, vexing . . . as many negative descriptors as you choose. Bottom line: When players are sidelined by injury, the story we read — the one that enters the history books — is altered permanently.

Maybe the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, or St. Louis Cardinals (or a combination involving one of the NBA teams) wins a championship in 2015. More than likely, though, these three teams will fall short of the goal every pro team lists above all others. Fan bases for each franchise will find significant pages missing from this year’s metaphorical book.

The Grizzlies seemed to be peaking at precisely the right time after a lackluster conclusion to their regular season. On their way to a 3-0 lead against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Griz had the 67-win Golden State Warriors in their sights for a second-round battle that would test the entire concept of “grit and grind” basketball. Then C.J. McCollum’s elbow met Mike Conley’s face. The Memphis point guard left Game 3 in the third quarter and underwent surgery to repair facial fractures last Monday.

The Griz finished off the Blazers in five games to land that slot opposite Golden State in the bracket. With Conley in street clothes (swelling still visible on his face), Memphis traveled to Oakland and took a beating in Game 1 of it series with the Warriors Sunday afternoon. It’s hard to imagine one player — not named Jordan or Bird — erasing the Grizzlies’ 15-point margin of defeat, but the story would have read differently. It would have been the story as intended.

The Grizzlies aren’t alone. With Kevin Love sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers will find what amounts to a chapter missing from their 2014-15 book. And turning to baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals will tear out every fifth page this season with ace Adam Wainwright shelved by a torn Achilles’ tendon. Maybe LeBron James is enough for the Cavs to reach the NBA Finals anyway. And the Cardinals have a precedent for winning the World Series without Wainwright (2011). Missing pages don’t necessarily mean a book ends sadly.

Here’s hoping Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger concocts a scheme to steal a win when Game 2 is played Tuesday night. (Anyone seen Jordan Adams recently?) His team’s fate rests on how those missing pages are replaced.

• In evaluating the eight remaining teams in the NBA playoffs, remember the Superstar Rule. Since 1980, every champion except the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons has featured a player with multiple first-team All-NBA selections on his resume. Only three teams vying for this year’s title qualify: the Cavaliers (James), the Clippers (Chris Paul), and the Rockets (Dwight Howard). The Warriors’ Steph Curry has multiple first-team selections in his future, but this year’s will be his first.

• With San Antonio and Dallas eliminated, the Western Conference will be represented in the Finals by a team that hasn’t been that far in at least 20 years, if ever. (Houston won the 1995 title.) This is healthy for a sport dominated in June by a precious few brands.

Categories
Editorial Opinion

A Mixed Bag in 2014

If you’re standing up, sit down; if you’re sitting down, stand up — whatever you need to do to take stock of the year that just passed or get ready for the new one. Frankly, we don’t know whether to be shocked, bemused, or encouraged.

There was a rush of things at year’s end regarding which we’re just going to have to wait and see.

To start with, it was one of the most satisfying: Yes, considering how often we’ve been on the short end of the stick in matters having to do with our relations with our sister city of Nashville, it does feel good to have something to gloat about. Folks up that way may not have noticed how well our NBA Grizzlies did in 2014 compared to their NFL Titans, but they dang sure noticed when the Swedish furniture giant IKEA chose to locate its newest mega-store not in the Middle Tennessee environs of the state’s capital city but on a generous stretch of land along Highway 64 in our own Shelby County bailiwick — within the city limits of Memphis, in fact. We know from things we read or saw on TV or picked up online that Nashville had been competing pretty hard for that honor. 

The folks there had let it be known that they were tired of having to truck the 250 miles or so to Atlanta to shop for the nifty, lightweight, modernist stuff that IKEA makes. Well, the good news for Nashvillians is, they won’t have to drive quite so far to get to the IKEA store in Memphis. And, in season, they’ll be able to take in a Grizzlies game while they’re here, and, you know, get that sense of what it’s like to be a winner.

Along with the news that Target intends to locate a fulfillment center here, the news about IKEA would seem to provide some justification for the high hopes that had been invested in the joint city/county EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) board, as well as to allay some of the doubts about that board’s incentives policy.

We still think, though, that the policy of attracting new business and industry through the liberal use of PILOTS (payments-in-lieu-of-taxes) needs careful oversight, lest it be abused. We don’t have much of a tax base for public purposes to start with, and to squeeze it much further could be counter-productive — and regressive. Surely nobody needs to be reminded that the city’s first responders are aggrieved by changes wreaked in their health-care and pension options as a result of austerity measures in local government. Nor has memory faded about the recent outbursts in public violence that caused such concern about our ability to counter or contain them. 

We are ending the 2014 year with a nice seasonal glow, thanks to some successes like those mentioned above, and we’re grateful. But we’re well aware from the all too obvious disturbances and discontent that have also manifested themselves that we have continuing and grave problems that have not gone away. It’s a mixed bag, but Happy Holidays is still the right thing to say. So we do.

Categories
Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said (November 13, 2014) …

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

About Kevin Lipe’s post “Next Day Notes: Grizzlies 93, Pelicans 81” …

Tayshaun’s swagger was turned up to 11. It was amazing and terrifying to watch #TheTaykeover.

Youngblook_901

About Toby Sells’ story, “Study Says Bicycling Boom Could Bring Gentrification” …

I would refer the authors of the study to Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs.” If people are worried about how to pay their rent or feed their families, they won’t benefit as much from quality of life amenities as someone whose basic needs have been met. Gentrification can never be a bad thing. It rebuilds decaying neighborhoods.

Jenna S’ais Quoi

Jenna: “Gentrification can never be a bad thing.” I assume you’re talking about Memphis and not those cities like NYC and San Francisco where natives are forced out in droves.

Mia S. Kite

About Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter from the Editor, “Talking Heads” …

The flip side is that artists now have fewer barriers to reach an audience. If you make good music, you can get discovered without having to go through a record label and without having to have some record exec agree to promote your music. You can record it at home, post it online, and create your own following, which you can then use to generate profits.

I know everyone hates him, but Justin Bieber is a prime example. He got famous due to YouTube videos, and he was discovered and channeled to make it big. Before, he would’ve had to go to numerous record labels and just hope someone felt he was worth their time.

The term “starving artist” exists for a reason. Only the best of the best (or sometimes the luckiest) make it big. That hasn’t changed, but the barriers between someone and their audience are gone now.

GroveReb84

About Wendi C. Thomas’ column, “Teen Makeover” …

As an African-American male in his 50s, I find this article somewhat perplexing. The behavior of those students at that Kroger indeed was barbaric and savage. It was the worst of an out-of-control mob that gained more and more power from those who were made helpless from the swarm.

The following statement concerns me: “None of the victims’ injuries were severe.” That certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying. They didn’t care whether the young man who was being stomped would be injured permanently or not. And of course, your statement does not include emotional damage. I hope that the young boy who was assaulted can recover emotionally. I think his dad is a hero. He has what I do not have, grace. I would not be as patient and understanding as he was. His son had the right to be left alone, and wasn’t.

As a community, specifically the African-American community, in this case, we should make it clear that this type of behavior is unacceptable and barbaric. It is not the behavior of civilized people who were the first to walk on the planet. There should not be any ambivalence in that regard.

Memphomaniac

It is a sad place where many of today’s black youth are. Some people think that this is a new type of violence, but it is not. It has always been around, but smartphones make the world a different, more exposed place.

TruthBeTold

Nice grab there, Bruce and the Flyer. [With Wendi] you brought some real quality journalism to what is generally one of the better alternative newspapers I’ve read.

Smitty1961

About Bianca Phillips’ story, “Sierra Club Proposed Alternatives to Shelby Farms Parkway” …

I live north of Shelby Farms. Farm Road in the current alignment and in the alignment proposed by the Sierra Club is inadequate. The current alignment is a scar across the park. It places those using the amenities of the park in undesired close contact with those using Farm Road as a thruway. Construction of Shelby Farms Parkway, as designed, will separate traffic and provide safer conditions for those using the park. I support construction of Shelby Farms Parkway as designed with the stipulation that it be made a “No Trucks” route. This stipulation has been discussed, endorsed, and will require approval.

Enrico Dagastino

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizz Win Another Thriller in OT, 98-95

For the second game in a row, the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled a four-point play to force overtime against the Memphis Grizzlies. And for the second game in a row, the resilient Grizzlies found a way to win in the extra period.

The Grizzlies slowly and methodically built a lead throughout the first 40 minutes of the game, and were seemingly in control with seven and half minutes left, leading 81-64. That’s when the Thunder dialed up their defense and the Grizzlies got tentative on offense. It was a combination that enabled OKC to erase the lead, and was helped in no small measure by a foul on Russell Westbrook by Tony Allen on a three-point shot with less than 30 seconds left. Westbrook made the free throw and the Grizzlies couldn’t score before the buzzer.

In overtime, the Thunder scored first, but the Grizzlies gritted out another win with a relentless, harassing defense and clutch shooting in crunch time. Allen was his usual trick-or-treat self, making vital plays on both ends, but also making a couple of bone-headed moves, including fouling Westbrook on a three-pointer again, with less than a second left in OT and the Grizzlies leading by five.

The Grizzlies had six players in double figures, including another vital 12 points from backup point guard Beno Udrih and strong minutes from second-string center Kosta Koufos, who came in when Marc Gasol got into foul trouble. The two Thunder stars, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, each scored 30 points, but shot a combined 35 percent.

Game Four in the series takes place Saturday in Memphis.

Note: Kevin Lipe’s analysis of Thursday’s game is here. — bv