Tag: Ja Morant

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall Short Against Suns

Jaren Jackson, Jr. against Kevin Durant on December 2, 2023 as the Grizzlies battled the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jaren Jackson Jr. played just 14 minutes and was benched due to foul trouble on Friday night in the Mavericks victory. He made amends by scoring a season-high 37 points in Saturday’s 116-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns. 

Jackson Jr. scored a game and season-high for Memphis on 13-of-21 shooting while adding seven rebounds, three steals, an assist, and a block. He was 6-of-6 from the field at the half. He has now scored in double figures in all but three games this season.

“Angles — it was all angles,” Jackson Jr. described what was working for him against the Suns. “That was all that was working. Just figuring out how to score tonight; just figuring it out and just driving. That is all I had going for me.” 

Although his offensive output has been off this season, the one positive aspect of his offense has been Jackson Jr.’s ability to get to the free-throw line. He is getting to the line for 6.1 attempts per game so far this season and has become one of the league’s best at drawing fouls. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins praised Jackson Jr. for his efforts against Phoenix. “I mean, this was a great game for him to bounce back from the other night, Jenkins said. 

“But I’m really impressed with him just playing with force, physicality, and getting angles on guys one-on-one. Touch, finishing ability — it’s always been there.”

Jenkins continued: “And then, obviously, he unleashed it tonight. He knocked down threes, so [with] that inside-outside game that he’s capable of — stepping up to the free throw line, he had 10 free throws tonight, which is really impressive.” 

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was not pleased, however, with how things got away in the second half. He said, “They started scoring a little bit. Sometimes, good teams just keep going. We have to figure out a way to cut that off — we did not. They just got a big lead late, and that was kind of the problem.”

Desmond Bane finished with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, five assists, and three rebounds for Memphis, even though he was limited in the first half due to foul trouble. Bane is averaging a career-best 23.8 points per game this season.

Vince Williams Jr. added 12 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes of action as a reserve. Williams Jr. nearly recorded his first double-double in a win against Dallas on Friday night, tallying 15 points (matching his career high) and a career-best nine rebounds.

For the Suns, Devin Booker (34) and Kevin Durant (27) combined to score 61, taking over the game for good in the second half. Durant said after the game, “That team over there (Memphis), they play extremely hard. They muddy up the game a lot. So from just playing them over the years, we knew it was going to be a back-and-forth game in the first half.”

He concluded, “Our defense was solid the whole game, and we were able to get out into transition and get some baskets to open the game up.”

The Suns used the free throw line to their advantage, getting to the line 19 more times than Memphis, finishing 35-for-43 while the Grizzlies finished 22-for-24 from the line. 

The Magic Number is Six

There are six more games until Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant is scheduled to return from his 25-game league suspension. 

Up Next

Memphis will head to Detroit to take on the 0-17 Detroit Pistons at 6 p.m. CT at Little Caesars on Wednesday, December 6.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Another Grizzlies Comeback Victory in San Antonio

Jaren Jackson, Jr. against the San Antonio Spurs on November 18, 2023 (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

On Saturday night, the depleted Memphis Grizzlies erased a 19-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 120-108. 

It was reminiscent of last season, when the Grizzlies completed a 29-point comeback as they defeated the Spurs, 126-120, in overtime.

Memphis dominated the final quarter by outscoring the Spurs 33-14 and held San Antonio to 28.6 percent shooting.

The Grizzlies have now defeated San Antonio 11 consecutive times. This is Memphis’ longest active run of victories against a single opponent, and their longest ever against the Spurs.

Despite only playing seven minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 27 points, five rebounds, and 11-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe. For the season, the 24-year-old is averaging 20 points, six rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks. 

Desmond Bane ended with 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists while going 8-of-15 from the field. Bane is averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.

Bismack Biyombo put up 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

Santi Aldama chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.

Ziaire Williams ended with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. 

Derrick Rose returned to the lineup after a nine-game absence with swift moves that led to the comeback. As a reserve, Rose contributed nine points. 

Injuries

Memphis has a long list of injuries, and only four players from the main roster have been available for all 12 games: Jackson, Bane, David Roddy, and Kenneth Lofton Jr. 

Marcus Smart would have been in that number, but he suffered a foot injury in the 134-107 thrashing by the Lakers on Tuesday night. 

Smart had trouble putting weight on his left ankle after landing awkwardly on Austin Reaves’ foot in the first quarter of the game in Los Angeles. He had to be helped off the court and did not return to the game. Smart appeared on the Grizzlies bench in a walking boot. 

The Grizzlies announced on Saturday that Smart had a left foot sprain and is expected to return within 3-5 weeks. 

Up Next 

No rest for the Grizzlies, as they will host the hot Boston Celtics Sunday inside FedExForum at 7 p.m. 

Return of 12

After tonight’s game the Celtics, it will be 12 more games before Ja Morant is eligible to return from a 25-game league suspension.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Notes From Memphis Grizzlies Media Day 2023

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

It’s about that time again – time for Memphis Grizzlies basketball.  

The Grizzlies held their preseason media day today, with general manager Zach Kleiman and head coach Taylor Jenkins available to answer questions.

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

There was also a brief media availability for each player, with the notable exception of Ja Morant.

Morant’s absence loomed large and unfortunately, that will be the case going forward. He will be serving a league-issued suspension for the first 25 games of the season.  

This means the focus, for the time being, will be on building chemistry without their star point guard.

The front office swung for the fences during the offseason, acquiring Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics as well as signing league veteran and former Memphis Tigers basketball star Derrick Rose to a two-year contract. 

All signs are pointing to another exciting season from your Memphis Grizzlies.

Derrick Rose (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)
Steven Adams (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

Here are a few things that Grizzlies fans can look forward to in the upcoming season:  

Per general manager Zach Kleiman, Ja Morant will be allowed to practice and travel with the team during his suspension. However, he will not be allowed to sit on the bench during that time.  

Forward Ziaire Williams feels confident heading into his third season. “No one has worked harder than me this summer,” said Williams. “I’m ready, you’ll see.” Williams struggled last season after missing extended time with right knee pain, attributed to patellar tendinitis.

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

Jaren Jackson Jr. is committed to being a better rebounder this season. “It’s on my mind,” he said. “I’m coming into my size and body, so it’s no excuses.” Jackson is the reigning defensive player of the year for good reason, but he acknowledges the need to improve in this area.  

Marcus Smart (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

Marcus Smart is already locked in, and among other things, said he’s “looking forward to helping keep Jaren out of foul trouble.”  

What a coincidence – I am also looking forward to Marcus Smart keeping Jaren out of foul trouble.  

Training camp begins Tuesday, October 3rd, and the first preseason game is scheduled for October 8th at home against the Indiana Pacers. 

 Stay tuned for our upcoming season preview and for all things Memphis Grizzlies.

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News The Fly-By

MEMernet: Meet Me in Memphis?, Classic Classic, and Draw Ja

Posted to YouTube by Talks at Google

Memphis on the internet.

Meet Me in Memphis?

Jimmy Buffett got real about Memphis way back in a 2009 Talks at Google event. An employee asked if he’d ever play the city again. Buffett first couched his answer saying that he was scaling back his tours. Then, true to form, he went candid.

“That place in Memphis is a little funky, to tell you the truth,” Buffett said. “That Mud Island place to play … But there’s a good chance I could be in a bar there any given time. I still do that.”

Classic Classic

Posted to X by Southern Heritage Classic

The Tennessee State University marching band honored the school’s Memphis-born president, Glenda Glover, during the halftime performance at the Southern Heritage Classic last weekend. Somehow the band also “threw in a little something about the Alabama riverboat incident.”

Draw Ja

Posted to YouTube by Cartooning Club How to Draw

Learn how to draw a cartoon-ized Ja Morant over on the YouTube channel Cartooning Club How to Draw, which has 4.2 million subscribers.

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News The Fly-By

MEMernet: Defaced, Tiny Bombed, and Ja 2K24

Posted to FAcebook by Jerred Price

Memphis on the internet.

Erasing the Hate

A Saturday-morning power-washing erased the hate at Cooper-Young’s Rainbow Crosswalk last weekend. A hateful someone scrawled a hateful word on the street in white spray paint. The act was all over the MEMernet and local television broadcasts. Jerred Price, the principal mover to get the crosswalks installed, and others washed the word away.

“But this small act of hate was trumped with the outpour of love today from all those who helped clean it up,” Price wrote on Facebook. “Thank you [Memphis Police Department] for your help and investigation into this as well as to all those who helped clean this mess up.”

Tiny Bombed

Posted to TikTok by Sarah Galyean

Sarah Galyean put beer — Wiseacre’s Tiny Bomb, to be specific — in her hair. The TikToker was testing a conditioning method used by Catherine Zeta-Jones, mixing beer with honey. The two-part post had Galyean joking as she mixed the ingredients in a NutriBullet before pouring the mix in her hair in the shower. Verdict?

“Does my hair smell like the floor of a Dave & Buster’s? Yes,” she said. But, “this is the first celebrity beauty secret I might actually do a second time because it really does work. I’m shook.”

Ja 2K24

Posted to Instagram by @jujueditzzz on NBA Showcase 

Not official or anything. But who are we to argue?

Categories
At Large Opinion

Whooped?

Al Kapone performing “Whoop That Trick” at BSMF 2022 (Photo: Chris McCoy)

The latest Ja Morant contretemps has been batted around so much by sports pundits that it’s almost old news. The Grizzlies’ star point guard has been involved in a troubling series of incidents in the past year, including a near-fight with a teenage kid at his house, threatening a sales clerk at a mall, an incident with a laser beam being pointed at an opposing player’s vehicle, and the now-infamous Denver strip club lap dance/gun-waving scenario that got him sent to counseling and suspended for eight games by the NBA. Finally, there was the recent Instagram Live clip that showed Morant bouncing to hip-hop with a friend in a car and briefly flashing a gun. Morant issued a statement saying that he took “full accountability” for his actions.

As I write this, Morant’s fate with the NBA is in limbo, with most predicting a multi-game suspension at the beginning of next season. Is that a fair ruling, given that GOP legislators and politicians all over the country routinely run ads brandishing guns to demonstrate their love of the ammo-sexual culture? Or given that Kid Rock and other culture-war morons are now joyfully shooting cases of cross-dressing beer? Not really.

Morant did nothing illegal in that IG clip. He lives in a state where anyone can buy a gun and wear it into the nearest Arby’s — or wave it around in his car while listening to hip-hop. He lives in a state where Johnny Cash sang that he “shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.” This incident isn’t troubling to the NBA because it’s illegal. It’s troubling because what Morant did is contrary to the image the league wants to present, which does not include the gangsta rap culture of drugs, strip clubs, gang fights, and hookers.

So maybe the Memphis Grizzlies front office ought to do some soul-searching of its own on this subject. I’m referring to the team’s embrace of the gangsta rap song, “Whoop That Trick” — which it uses as its anthem when the Grizzlies are closing out a win at home. It’s an inclusive, joyous scene, as kids, adults, and senior citizens — Black, white, and brown — chant those inspirational words about whooping someone in a strip club.

You may recall that the song was written by Memphis rapper Al Kapone for director Craig Brewer’s 2005 film, Hustle & Flow, which chronicled the rise of a Memphis pimp/would-be rapper named DJay, played by Terrence Howard. There’s a scene in the film where DJay is sitting in a studio pondering his potential hit, which he’s calling “Beat That Bitch.” His associate wisely suggests that the song wouldn’t receive much radio play, so they change the name to “Whoop That Trick.” The lyrics are still about going into a strip club and beating someone. Man or woman? Google the lyrics and decide. (And check out the words to “Fresh Prince of Utah,” another hip-hop song that became an unofficial victory anthem with its line, “It’s a parade inside my city …”)

On Twitter, when I said that “Whoop That Trick” was about a pimp beating one of his girls, many were quick to assure me that the song was “actually” about DJay whooping up on a dead-beat john and was therefore an inspirational Memphis fight song about overcoming obstacles.

So, I guess when the L.A. Johns whooped the Memphis Pimps in the playoffs last month, that was hella embarrassing, right?

The Grizzlies adopted a variation of the song (“Whoop That Clip”) during a playoff series during the team’s Grit ’n Grind era. But that was a team with a notable mean streak. Nobody messed with Z-Bo or Tony Allen. The current Grizzlies roster, with the possible exception of Canadian performance-villain Dillon Brooks, looks about as dangerous as a bunch of young Rotarians. The New Zealand center raises sheep. Brandon Clarke (another Canadian) talks like a surfer. Morant acts tough, but at his size, he’s not scaring anyone.

I get that “Whoop That Trick” is performative and part of the team’s historic ethos, but it glorifies a dead-end culture that suckers in way too many of our city’s kids — including our All-Star point guard. So maybe it’s time for everyone — from the top of the organization down to its soon-to-be-disciplined star — to do some image reassessment.

Categories
Letter From The Editor Opinion

On Ja and Guns

When guns are involved, no one is invincible. (Photo: Tom Def | Unsplash)

You’ve all heard by now that Grizzlies star Ja Morant has been seen, once again, on a social media live stream flaunting a gun. Back in March, Ja, looking a bit intoxicated, flashed a small handgun on an Instagram Live from a nightclub in Denver, Colorado. He was suspended for eight games following that incident and entered a counseling program in Florida, issuing a statement saying he needed “to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being.” On May 13th, another video surfaced of Ja and friends having a big time in a car, with Ja swinging a gun to and fro in the passenger seat.

A few notes: The man is 23 years old. He’s from a small (small) town — he attended high school in Sumter, South Carolina, whose population was just over 43,000 in the 2020 census; for perspective, compare that to the just under 55,000 in Southaven, Mississippi, and 628,000 in Memphis. In 2019, at the age of 19, Ja signed a four-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies worth $39.6 million. Last summer, he signed a five-year extension, a deal worth a guaranteed $193 million, with a potential $231 million if selected for All-NBA. I’m not an avid basketball fan and couldn’t tell you what All-NBA means without googling it. But this isn’t about basketball, Ja’s talent, or even the specifics of these and other reported events (an alleged confrontation with Indiana Pacers players in January, another with a teen at his home in March). This is about a young man, just past the age to even drink alcohol or buy cigarettes, who, like most young men his age, probably wants to have a good time. But unlike most young men his age, he has risen to fame quickly and has millions of dollars to play with, and that could arguably lead to a bad decision here and there, perhaps even a sense of invincibility. With enough money, you can get away with a lot (or think you can). But — especially when guns are involved — no one is invincible.

My issue with all of this has less to do with Ja Morant — who hasn’t broken a law that I’m aware of — having a gun. My issue is that he’s recklessly brandishing a gun.

To bring it closer to home, I’ll share this. Sixteen years ago this summer, I lost a close friend in a similar incident. It was 4th of July, and he and some peers were joyriding, intoxicated, and he was in the passenger seat waving a gun. I have no idea why he’d do that. Other than he was always a little wild, the life of the party, doing crazy stuff like eating live bugs or walking across fires to see people’s reactions. But one bump in the road, a slip of the finger (we’ll never know exactly) caused the gun to go off, and he shot himself in the head. I can tell you that his sister, one of my very best friends, did not want to see her brother in that condition in a local ER. Nor did she expect that night that she’d be by his bedside as he took his last breath. In the blink of an eye, a good time turned tragic — and this is what I’m reminded of when I see people handling guns without regard.

Ja Morant is a role model for countless youth. Waving guns around in public spaces or while jamming tunes in a car with your buddies is not “cool.” And yes, I know the probability of a gun going off on accident is low, but it is never zero. Add alcohol or inexperience to the mix, and it’s a recipe for disaster — especially for young folks who’ve never been properly trained on gun safety but sadly could likely get their hands on one with little effort. Guns are for hunting, for protection — not for showing off on a live stream to thousands of impressionable followers. Unfortunately, some will want to emulate this behavior. And they will.

According to Gun Violence Archive, as of May 21st, there have been 597 unintentional shootings in the U.S. so far this year. The most recent in Memphis happened on May 17th, in which a 5-year-old was accidentally shot and injured by a sibling.

This isn’t just about Ja. It’s about a culture in which people don’t respect the fact that a gun can end a life in a split second. Promoting reckless gun use has got to stop. So many lives depend on it.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Déjà Vu for Ja Morant

Ja Morant (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

On Mother’s Day, we woke up to the news that Ja Morant was playing with a gun on Instagram Live. This was not the incident that happened in March. It was something new. 

Just over two months after being suspended for similar behavior, the Memphis Grizzlies guard was suspended from team activities on Sunday for displaying a handgun on IG Live once again.

Hasn’t he learned a lesson? We all pondered. Why is he fascinated with displaying firearms? He served an 8-game suspension for the first incident and took steps to curtail that behavior. 

His ill-advised actions have made him the topic of conversation throughout the world. His destructive and immature behaviors sparked discussions about a wide range of social issues.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was somber speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Tuesday night about Morant. Silver was disappointed because he took Morant’s word that he understood the severity of his actions and was contrite. 

Silver said he and Morant had talked “directly about the consequences” after the March incident that showed Morant at a Denver-area nightclub briefly holding up a gun in a video that was recorded and shared on various social media platforms. 

“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw that video this weekend,” Silver told Andrews. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened as best we can. Again, the video’s a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst. But we’ll figure out exactly what happened there.”

The entire interview can be watched here: 

“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” the 23-year-old said in a statement Tuesday night shortly after Silver’s interview. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”

Yes, it is disappointing, and the stakes are high. It not only affects Morant but his family, his friends, his teammates, the Grizzlies organization, and the NBA too. He has everything to lose.

But was he ready for the spotlight that he has been given? Is the pressure too much for him?

Morant lost about $668,000 in compensation during his first ban, and since he didn’t make an All-NBA team, he lost $39 million.

Morant sought counseling after his incident in March because he believed his “stress level had been becoming a problem” before the nightclub incident. “I had considered [seeking help], but I was back and forth,” he said. “I was pretty much afraid to leave the team. I felt that it was needed, and it helped me out a lot.”

He says it’s an ongoing process. Two months ago he talked about his off the court behavior, and we are at a crossroads again. He has work to do. 

Morant has been reckless, true enough, and he has so many things to work on. But the one thing that is most concerning is that he keeps putting the gun to his head on both videos. Why? Only Morant can answer that question. 

We are a country that loves guns. Tennessee is an open carry state; it is legal to carry a weapon without a permit as of July 1, 2021. Tennesseans who have been convicted of driving under the influence, domestic violence, or stalking are not eligible. Neither are felons or individuals who have been committed by the court to a mental institution.

Morant can legally be in possession of a firearm. If it’s legal, why are people so mad about it? Martenzie Johnson eloquently wrote, “Morant is a representation of this country’s infatuation with guns, but because of his celebrity … and recklessness … and defiance … and skin color, he’s not the visual representation of gun ownership that this country seeks out. He’s not the All-American white boy who likes to hunt or protect his family or whatever other excuse there is to own weapons in this country. He’s viewed as just another ghetto boy from the inner city who brings back memories of the crime-ridden 1980s and 1990s.”

He is viewed as a criminal who has little kids looking up to him and that will somehow make them criminals. That is the optics. Memphis is riddled with gun violence. We see it daily on the news, EVERY DAY! Morant has accountability, but is this viewed differently than when we see assault rifles displayed in photos or videos or carried in your local Wal-Mart? What’s the difference? This is not excusing Morant’s behavior, we just want to know why one is accepted and the other is not. 

The NBA is going to protect its brand, and Morant will serve another suspension again. The question is how long. He will be judged by his past incidents, and the suspension may be severe due to conduct detrimental to the NBA, and for lying to Adam Silver’s face. He may be punished harshly for hypothetical violence instead of actual violence. Miles Bridges was suspended for 30 games without pay (with 20 already served even though he wasn’t signed to an NBA team last season) after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence. Bridges’ incident was far worse than Morant’s however, the Grizzlies guard might be made an example of. 

We can be all disappointed in Morant’s behavior but still show him some grace. We don’t know when we will need such grace. It’s all up to him to take care of his well-being. 

Categories
News The Fly-By

MEMernet: Ja, Wes Health, and a Lost Car

Posted to Twitter by JamesBurns8

Memphis on the internet.

Ja, Ja, Ja

Memphis sports fans shook their collective damn heads over the weekend. Grizzlies star Ja Morant flashed another gun in yet another online post, earning him yet another suspension from the NBA.

Wes Health

Posted to Facebook by Church Health

Church Health hopped on that Wes Anderson trend going around recently. A spot-on and funny Facebook Reel showed a perfectly framed employee getting on an elevator, admiring some art, and walking past, well, all kinds of things in true Anderson movie style.

Lost Car

Posted to Nextdoor by Lauren T.

“Good afternoon all!!” began the exclamation-point-laced Nextdoor post by Lauren T. last week. “This is incredibly embarrassing!!!! I seem to have misplaced my car on Monday [May 5th].”

The post perplexed neighbors, with many saying they could see the car sitting in the neighbor’s driveway.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Lakers Win Game 4; Put Grizzlies On the Brink of Elimination

Desmond Bane dribbling in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 24, 2023 (Credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Although they entered the season as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies find themselves down 3-1 to the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in their first round matchup. That puts Memphis on the brink of elimination, after losing to the Lakers in OT, 117-111, on Monday night.

After falling behind by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Grizzlies rallied to take a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers came back and tied the game with 0.8 seconds remaining with a driving layup from LeBron James. The Grizzlies were outscored by six in the extra period, and that was the ballgame.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 36 points and seven rebounds. Jaren Jackson, Jr. ended with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocked shots. 

Ja Morant had 19 points and seven assists. Morant and Dillon Brooks declined to speak with the media after the disappointing loss. 

Shy’s Point of View 

A one game at a time. It is difficult to overcome a 3-1 deficit when facing the a legendary franchise led by one of the best players in NBA history. It will be challenging, but not impossible, to make up the difference. But there is still basketball to be played.

Bane is confident. After the loss he said, “We would have liked to get that one, but I’m feeling good. We get a chance to go back home. We had the best record at home this season — go protect the home floor. We got two opportunities there. And in order to win a series, you’re gonna have to win one game on the road. So when we come back here for Game 6, we’ll come with the right edge, right mentality and steal one on the road and see what happens in Game 7.” 

To be honest, I have no idea. The Grizzlies were in fact competitive in Game 4. At the end, in overtime, they were unable to execute in key moments that cost them the game. It has been clear in this series that the Lakers have taken advantage of that lack of execution. 

The squad has faced a lot of challenges recently, and this loss is only the latest blow. Do they have what it takes to band together and upset a King who seems determined to retain his dominance? We will see how they perform Wednesday night in Game 5 at 6:30pm CT at FedExForum — maybe for the last time in this unforgettable season.