1. After Hurricane Rita smacks into the Texas and Louisiana coasts, The Commercial Appeal runs a huge photo of buildings aflame in Galveston with the headline “Say a Prayer” and another headline below declaring, “Worst Fears Come True.” Turns out, despite a lot of flooding and some wind damage in both states, reports show that Rita causes few fatalities. Look, we’re already rattled by Katrina. You don’t have to scare us to death.
2. The University of Memphis Tigers lose a heartbreaker — a 37-31 overtime match with the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. And for the second time in a season, the opposing team breaks our quarterback’s leg. Jeez, we’re running out of quarterbacks. Maybe training should include milk breaks.
3. Workers began dismantling the Memphis Belle for its removal to the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. One of the most famous planes of World War II, the Belle had been on display in Memphis since 1946, but the owners (as it turns out, the Air Force) decided we weren’t taking good enough care of it. Doesn’t the Air Force have enough planes?
4. Developers announce plans to build a whopping 300-acre shopping center in Collierville. Alderman Buddy Rowe opposes the concept, saying, “You’ll see an aircraft carrier come up the Wolf River before you see that large a development approved on that corner.” Oh, please. Since when have we ever said NO to development in Shelby County?
5. Uniformed FedEx pilots march outside The Peabody during the company’s shareholders’ meeting. It might have been to protest the pace of contract negotiations or it might have been the return of the flash mob.
