Tonight changed Memphis sports history

Photo Credit: Nikki Boertman - CA

It should be Z-Bo up there, because he saved us.  Despite leading for almost the entire game, there we were down one, 80-79, with more than four minutes to go.  Zach Randolph took over, scoring 13 of our final 20 points and leading the Grizzlies to their first-ever series win with a 99-91 victory over the #1 seeded San Antonio Spurs tonight at the FedExForum before a screaming sellout crowd.

How appropriate it was that, in the toughest moment, Z-Bo put this team on his back.  Randolph, who had a checkered history, has rebuilt his reputation in Memphis b y being a model citizen off the court and the team's leader on it.  Along with youngsters like Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and OJ Mayo, and fellow vets Tony Allen (pictured above) and the return of former hero Shane Battier, the Grizzlies have won over the city.

I have had the great fortune to have attended this city's premier sporting events over the years, including the U of M's 21-17 football victory in 1996 and Albert Pujols' PCL-winning home run in 2000, but I have to say that tonight may have topped them all, and it was very, very special.

Next up for the Grizz is the Northwest Division champion Oklahoma City Thunder, against whom we had a 3-1 regular season record.  Game 1 comes Sunday at noon on ABC24 and WRBO-FM 103.5.  Tickets for Games 3 and 4 in Memphis go on sale to the general public Sunday morning, see Grizzlies.com for details.  UPDATE: Game 3 is Saturday, May 7 at 4 PM (which means I can't attend due to prior commitments) and Game 4 is Monday, May 9 at 8:30 P.M.

BELIEVE.

A short post on sports

First, my hope is that both the Saints and the Colts go into the Super Bowl 18-0, so Don Shula and Mercury Morris have to throw away that damned champagne bottle.

Next, the Grizzlies are for REAL, people. Yes, they are only 10-13 after their whipping of Miami on Sunday night. However, since their horrible 1-8 start, they are 9-5. Taken at that pace for the 73 games after the 1-8 start, they are playing at a pace to finish with 47 wins. That COULD get them a playoff spot in the West, if they were in the East, they would be a LOCK.

Speaking of the East, the Celtics come to town Monday night, it would be great to see as close to a full house as is possible. The Griz are for real, and if it all works out, they could be playing into May, barring unforeseen injuries.

Let's all take a deep breath now

I have to say that I am amazed at how many folks I know, good, solid, smart folks, who fell for the madness that Robin Leach was spreading, suggesting that the Grizzlies would be on the next shuttle to Las Vegas.

To steal a line from Terrell Owens' former publicist, there are 94 million reasons that the Grizz will be in our town until 2021 at the earliest. The CA hit the nail on the head for a change in their editorial this morning, noting that the Grizz are a part of the social fabric, and I have to agree.

Look, while I am a Grizz fan, I never thought that public funds should have been spent on the FedExForum, at least no higher of a percent than was spent on AutoZone Park. However, it was, the money was spent and there it is. It can't be UNBUILT and the money returned to our coffers, so, get over it.

I DO believe that we need to investigate the Garage scam to its fullest, and prosecute those whose failure to oversee the problems reaches a criminal level. There is a LOT more under the surface that needs to be dug up.

However, there seem to be people who WANT the Grizzlies to go, so they can wag their fingers and say I told you so. However, the Forum will still be there, and won't make money if that happens.

I'm not saying you have to root for the Grizz if you don't like the NBA, just realize that it's done, there's no sense bitching about it. All we can do is push for a full investigation so that we can send the people to jail who committed criminal malfeasance on the Garage situation.

THIS explains a lot...

Now we have some insight on why Brian Davis and Blue Devil Ventures didn't have the cash to buy the Grizzlies.

According to this Washington Post article, Davis is part of a group that has purchased Washington's Major League Soccer franchise, DC United. (HT to Brad in LR). From the WaPo report:

Davis, a District native who runs a real estate development firm in Durham, N.C., said a few months ago that the group was close to finalizing a $33 million deal.

Why has NOTHING been said about this at ESPN, the CA or any other large media outlet prior to today, considering Davis and his friend Christian Laettner have humiliated themselves with their inability to raise the capital to buy the Grizz from Michael Heisley.

Did Mike Heisley know about this? Inquiring minds want to know.