An open letter to Brian Davis & Company

So we hear that you have decided to buy out Michael Heisley's majority interest in our local NBA franchise, the Memphis Grizzlies. We also hear that, as a cost-cutting measure, you plan to eliminate the position of President of Basketball Operations, which just happens to be held by one of the two greatest executives in the history of the league, Jerry West. This is the fellow who put together the team that went to the playoffs three straight years.

And you want to SACK HIM?

This is NOT the way to ingratiate yourselves with your new fan base, folks.

If you intend to come in here and run this team on the cheap and take it back to the era where we only in 25-30 games per season, you will lose a lot more money than what Heisley has lost putting together a winning club.

You see, gentlemen, we are basketball connoisseurs in Memphis, and we KNOW when we're seeing crap, and we have neither the time nor money to spend on anything less than a winner. That's why Heisley brought THE LOGO in here in the first place; for his troubles, we built him the FedExForum.

Unless you have found the NBA equivalent of Billy Beane who can make playoff teams without spending a lot of cash (I'm sorry, San Antonio already HAS HIM, his name's Gregg Popovich), or if you think you can waltz in here, put a crappy team on the floor and expect us to show up, you are seriously deluding yourselves.

Here's the real news, folks: we ALREADY support this team to the best of our financial abilities, given the overall level of disposable income here. This is as good as it will EVER get, unless we win the NBA title a couple of times. If the Griz record drops this year, we MIGHT forgive that, knowing that Pau Gasol will not be available until January.

However, if we go in the toilet after that, we're not showing up. PERIOD. We in Memphis do not believe in the idea that we owe YOU anything. It's YOUR job to put a winning team on the court that is worthy of OUR support, not vice versa.

If you are willing to do what it takes to move this team to the next level (UP, that, is), then we will welcome you with open arms. If you intend on running the Grizzlies on the cheap, you'd better plan on seeing crowds of 1500-3000 in the stands every night.

We have the Tigers; we can find good basketball to watch.

Now that you know how we feel as Memphians, folks, welcome to Memphis.

You know what you have to do, so do it.

Or else, be prepared to lose your asses at the box office.

UPDATE: ESPN is reporting that Davis and his friend Christian Laettner are buying the team and want West and Fratello to stay. Good move!

FURTHER UPDATE: Davis just told 730ESPN's Chris Vernon that he wants to sign West to a LIFETIME contract. BETTER move!