Well, I guess this is it: the big fight week. The Assault on the Fault. The Kaboom in the Tomb. The Mangle in the Triangle (my newest; couldn t help myself). The Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis World Heavyweight Championship. That is, if Tyson doesn t pull any stunts before Saturday night in his attempt to persuade us to love the barbarian. My greatest wish is that he will address the city by saying, Memphis, lend me your ears. Or that Geoff Calkins gets to actually interview the boxers so he can stop interviewing posts, as he reported in Sunday s Commercial Appeal, a column which was the first thing in a long time that made me laugh out loud so abruptly that Diet Coke spewed from my nose. Whatever happens, it should be, at the very least, interesting. As for Mike Tyson and his antics, I guess he surprised everyone when he hopped out of his SUV in Cordova the other day to hug a gay protester, telling him that he was not homophobic, even though he talks that way. Add to that that Tyson s sparring partner is named Cisse and, well, maybe there s more to Tyson than we think. After all, he does like to nibble on other men s ears. And then there are all the celebrities and limousines and private planes and partying and all other manner of mayhem that goes along with an event like this. If I see Dionne Warwick at Wizard s, I promise I won t rat on her. And if Wynona Ryder should show up, I d love to take her to Wolfchase Galleria. And if Lennox Lewis mother would like someone to take her to Al Green s church again, I m ready. Maybe Chris Rock will be here promoting his upcoming movie in which he portrays former Memphian and Washington, D.C., mayor Marion Barry. There s been some negative publicity about this, mainly from Barry, but let s face it: With a name like Rock, Chris ought to have a head start on playing the mayor, who does know a thing or two about rock. And with all eyes on Memphis this week, let s hope nothing violent outside the ring happens. Everybody just take a chill pill. I m not nearly as worried about that as I am about the security at another event. Have you seen the headdresses the Pakistani border guards are wearing? If any of these guys decide to become terrorists and want to come to America and infiltrate a city and do some harm, we d best keep a very close eye on the next COGIC convention. In the meantime, there s a lot going on this week, so here s to it, and let s hope for the best.
Tonight s big pre-fight event is The Memphis Soul Revue at the DeSoto Civic Center. This historic event brings together Memphis music icons Al Green and Isaac Hayes along with Stax artists the Emotions, the Temprees, and Larry Dodson of the Bar-Kays. Just how much more fabulous can you get than that? As for other entertainment, NickelbackMemphis Redbirds take on Oklahoma tonight through Sunday at AutoZone Park. Alvin Youngblood Hart is at the Lounge. The Brooklyn Cowboys are at the Hi-Tone. And Jay Bennett, Edward Birch with Virgil Shaw, and Bumpercrop are at Young Avenue Deli.
