MemphiSport Issue 29 by Mike Bullard

JUNE/JULY 2011

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

WITH AMENITIES LIKE THESE, > BOREDOM IS NOT AN OPTION. From its inception in 1990, Germantown Athletic Club has served

> 40-meter indoor pool and hot tub area

as the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focal point for health and fitness by providing

> Outdoor pool and splash park

individuals and families in the Mid-South an environment that

> Three-court gymnasium and three racquetball courts

fosters fitness and fellowship. The Club offers its members

> Pilates studio

numerous fitness and aquatic facilities, specialized classes and

> Cycling room equipped with 25 bikes

expert staff under the leadership of the City of Germantown.

> Nutritional counseling > Massage therapy

Amenities include:

> Club Cafe with smoothies, wraps, salads and more Indoor, three-lane, 1/12-mile walking track

> Certified and professional personal trainers available to assist in fitness programming > Fitness area, measuring more than 8,500 square feet with top-of-the-line aerobic and weight-training machines > New locker rooms and sauna > More than 75 group fitness classes offered each week â&#x20AC;&#x201C; included in membership

www.GermantownAthleticClub.org

INSPIRING

the reasons why we love the game s s s s

18-hole golf course designed by Mark McCumber featuring Champion Bermuda greens Offers the only Hydro-Grid HAR-TRU速 clay tennis courts in the South Just minutes away from nine world-class casinos Perfect for group outings and special events

Book your tee time today, either by phone or online.

Call 1.866.TEE.OFF1 or visit tunicanational.com /tunicanational

@tunicanational

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 1 1 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 6

“What would have happened if the Grizz didn’t deliver in Game 3? People would have stopped believing so fast Journey wouldn’t be able to stop them.” –Kevin Cerrito 6

w P Ag G 12

Plaza Parties

Al Green’s National Anthem

a Xw K B

Best Season Ever 10 How, in the tenth season, the Grizzlies and Memphis finally got each other.

The Periodic Table of Grizz 12 Big Impact 14 As youngsters Matt Cain and Dan Uggla honed their respective baseball skills in East Tennessee and both are now starring in the ‘big’ league.

Live Debate 6 Looking back, which 2011 Grizz playoff game was the biggest in franchise history? Hot Shots 8 Soaring to history. Power Train 18 Fad today, Fat tomorrow. Varsity Spirit 20 Susana and Tamara. Picture Puzzle 23 Play. Play. Play. Tailgating 24 The Memphis Heat movie and a Grizzlies whiteout. Jack’s Back 36 Jack has a poem for you.

Eva Longoria

Jerry “The King” Lawler

1138 N. Germantown Pkwy Ste. 101-176 Cordova, TN 38016

memphisport.net twitter.com/memphisport

Publisher Mike Bullard 901.229.4749

mike@memphisport.net Managing Editor Kevin Cerrito

kevin@memphisport.net Director of Photography Chase Gustafson

chase@memphisport.net Contributing Photographer Justin Ford

Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Formalwear Inc.

Contributing Writers Jack Eaton Doug Gillon Jim Harwell Brandi Hunter Marcus Hunter Contributing Illustrator Andrew Chandler Cover Photos Chase Gustafson

Six Memphis Area Locations

901-324-6506 guystux@aol.com

Swimsuit Weather is here! Yogalates is the perfect way to be ready! Yogalates provides an intense combination of yoga and pilates designed to strengthen your core while increasing flexibility and overall strength. Yogalates is the perfect lowimpact class that will compliment any type of training and weight loss program. Space is limited, so reserve you place today! Another fun TBX Class, exclusively at Power Life Fitness. Classes are free for members.

901.454.0003 2858 Poplar Avenue www.powerlifefitness.net

FRONT NINE

Nine questions. Nine Answers.

Will Coleman Written by Mike Bullard

Recruited by Coach Cal, Will Coleman was one of the few players who stuck around the program for the rebuilding with Coach Pastner. After winning the C-USA championship and a career-ending game against Arizona, Will answers nine questions for MemphiSport. You graduate in May with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. What in the world is that? It is a concentration in criminology and sociology. What are your plans for after college? I would like to play basketball. But if not, get involved with the FBI or DEA. Are you looking at playing overseas? Playing wherever. Who would be your dream team to play with?

“I would like to play basketball. But if not, get involved with the FBI or DEA.“

The Heat. Just because I used to live in Miami when I went to school there. The city is great. What was the highlight of you college basketball career? Winning the conference tournament.

Coach Pastner described you as an “elite role model.” What would you say makes someone a good role model? Someone that is always gonna stand up for what is right. No matter what it is, just someone who is always willing to do the right thing.

What is your favorite charity? Not really an organization. Just stuff I like to do, like going out to elementary schools and speaking to kids. Do you have any parting words for the people of Memphis?

Who was your role model? My mom. My parents. That is who made me the person I am today.

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 1 1

Thank you. I love Tiger Nation. I love the people. Thank you for accepting me with open arms. Thank you for having me. Thank you for letting me play for your city. I’ve had a blast here and I loved it.

R E M M U S PDS

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L I V E D E B AT E

Kevin and Marcus go head-to-head.

Looking back, which 2011 Grizz playoff game was the “biggest in franchise history”? Written by Kevin Cerrito and Marcus Hunter, Photos by Chase Gustafson Kevin: One of the highlights of the Grizzlies’ historic playoff run was the fact almost every game was able to be hyped by the fans and the media as “the biggest game in franchise history.” But now that all the postseason pandemonium is over, one win stands out among the rest- the Grizzlies’ Game 3 victory over the Spurs at The Grindhouse.

Because of that Game 1 victory, fans began to believe that big things were possible for this team.

Marcus Hunter “Game 1 led to all the other great games and great moments including the series clinching game, the triple overtime game and the Game 7.”

Kevin: And what would have happened if the Grizz didn’t deliver in Game 3? People would have stopped believing so fast Journey wouldn’t be able to stop them.

Marcus: Not really, because the Grizzlies would have had a chance to win the next game and make it a 2-2 series. That first win gave them a lead in the series. The team began to believe they could win the series and the city instantly got behind them. Kevin: Game 3 was the team’s first home playoff win and proved Game 1 wasn’t a fluke. There was Z-Bo’s game clinching 3-pointer, a seven-year-old St. Jude patient singing the National Anthem, Jerry “The King” Lawler’s surprise first postseason appearance and the giant Eva Longoria head. Marcus: Winning at home was huge, but not as big as beating the No. 1 seed on the road for the first ever playoff win in Grizzlies history. As a matter of fact, Game 3 didn’t sell out until after Memphis won in San Antonio. If Memphis had not won that first game, the city may not have been as energized about Game 3. Sure the Z-Bo three-pointer was huge, but not as big as Battier’s game winning three in Game 1. Shane’s corner three gave the franchise its first playoff victory. Then he went and saw his wife give birth. Marcus: That was a big game, but the biggest? No. The biggest game in franchise history was Game 1 of the Grizzlies/Spurs series. Kevin: Going into Game 1 versus the Spurs there was no excitement in the city. “Believe Memphis” was still just a marketing slogan, not a way of life. Marcus: And if the Grizzlies had lost Game 1 then it would have remained just a marketing slogan. The Grizzlies would have come back to Memphis down 0-2 in the series and fans would have been on edge hoping for just a single playoff win.

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Kevin: Game 1 of the Spurs series was the biggest Grizzlies road game in franchise history. Stealing a win on the road is nice, but you have to defend your home court. If the Grizzlies had done that in Game 4 of the Thunder series, we wouldn’t be debating right now because we would both agree that the triple overtime classic was the best of the best. Marcus: You are correct. However, had Memphis not won Game 1 of the Spurs series, we wouldn’t be having this debate because they would have probably lost the series in five or seven games. Kevin: But can you name one thing besides Shane’s three pointer that people remember from that Game

Kevin Cerrito “What would have happened if the Grizz didn’t deliver in Game 3? People would have stopped believing so fast Journey wouldn’t be able to stop them.” 1 win against the Spurs? Marcus: The win! This debate is not about the biggest moment. It is about the biggest game in franchise history. Game 1 led to all the other great games and great moments including the series clinching game, the triple overtime game and the Game 7. Kevin: Yea but in Game 4 versus the Spurs there was tons more pressure for the team to perform in front of the home fans and prove they could beat San Antonio with Manu Ginobili on the court. Marcus: But they were in front of the home fans. It is hard to go out and win on the road in the NBA Playoffs. Kevin: I rank road wins based on how big the “welcome home” airport pep rally is, and there wasn’t one after Game 1 of the Spurs series. Marcus: But there was one when the playoffs were over. And the city showed up big for that welcome home celebration. Shane’s three and that Game 1 win made all of it possible. Kevin: Well actually Lionel Hollins sitting the team’s best players at the end of the regular season made it all possible... but let’s not get into that.

Kevin Cerrito and Marcus Hunter host the award-winning MemphiSport Live (MSL) every Saturday at 11am on Sports56 WHBQ. Listen anytime at memphisport.net.

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

HOT SHOTS

These pics are on fire!

Soaring to History Photo by Chase Gustafson

Sam Young flying high for a dunk en route to a victory over the OKC Thunder in Game 3 of the series.

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M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

BEST SEASON EVER

HOW, IN THE TENTH SEASON, THE GRIZZLIES AND MEMPHIS FINALLY GOT EACH OTHER.

Written by Doug Gillon with contributions by Charles Jay Photos by Chase Gustafson

THE SECOND UNLIKELY LATE-GAME

THREE POINTER WAS THE ONE THAT SEALED IT. IT WASN’T THE FIRST,

AND IT WASN’T THE LAST, BUT IT WAS THE ONE THAT TOLD MEMPHIANS, AND THE ENTIRE NBA,

THAT THE GRIZZLIES WERE SERIOUS. 1 10 0

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April 23, 2011. The Grizzlies had already exorcized the franchise demon of never winning a playoff game by downing the Spurs in San Antonio six days earlier. With 56 seconds left in the game, Zach Randolph found himself alone at the corner of the arc and drained a three pointer to give the Grizzlies a six-point lead and seal the franchise’s first home playoff win in front of arguably the franchise’s best-ever crowd. How unlikely was it that Randolph, the bruising, reboundgrabbing impossible layup making power forward, would make that shot? So unlikely that Tim Duncan, who elected not to close on Randolph before that shot said, “It did not occur to me that was in his arsenal.” It wasn’t the first surprise the Grizzlies had for the Spurs, or for the league, and it wouldn’t be the last. Shane Battier made a desperation three-pointer in San Antonio to provide the first win. Mike Conley and Greivis Vasquez each made one to force additional overtimes in a triple-OT home loss to Oklahoma City. And those were just the playoff moments. Rudy Gay punctuated the regular season with game winning floaters against the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors. The second shot became a YouTube sensation. Zach Randolph downed the Mavericks with a buzzer-beater in Dallas. Certainly there were plenty of memorable heroics to honor the signature phrase of the late Grizzlies announcer Don Poier, the one that hangs proudly from a banner in FedExForum, “Only in the movies and in Memphis.”

were wearing the opposing team’s colors. Ditto to the Celtics visit, to the Bulls on MLK Day, and to both Laker visits. Par for the course for games in Memphis though at that point. But not in the playoffs. Every game sold out. After the first home win, where Randolph punctuated the Grizzlies’ unofficial motto of “All Heart, Grit, Grind” with an emphatic exclamation mark, the remaining games sold out within minutes. Each crowd was louder than the last, and with every game, 18,000+ Grizzlies fans became their own entity. Creative signs and giant heads made their appearance. The arena got a new name, “The Grindhouse.” Hatred for the opposing teams began to swell, and Memphians who were not able to secure tickets packed bars and dens around town to watch and cheer for the home team. And in all of this, in the reacquiring of Battier, in Gay’s buzzerbeaters, in Allen’s tenacity, in Randolph’s consistency and in the many, many playoff wins, the Grizzlies finally became that – the home team. So long overshadowed by the Memphis Tigers, now the Grizzlies were a big deal. Now the city, the entire city, was proud of the Grizzlies, and couldn’t wait for more action. Fans in Memphis don’t have to be told to believe anymore. They believe wholeheartedly and have made the shift from being Grizzlies fans, to Memphis Grizzlies fans.

The surprises were not limited just to heroic basketball moments though. O.J. Mayo came out of the starting lineup yet was able to contribute more. Tony Allen (known in 2010 as a washed up, inconsistent Boston cast-off) captured the heart of the city in a way only done before by Randolph, Mike Miller and Shane Battier. The return of Battier came as part of a trade sending away one of the most hated Grizzies ever, Hasheem Thabeet. Darrell Arthur emerged from injury purgatory to become a monster off the bench. Marc Gasol was suddenly being mentioned as “the better Gasol,” not just once, and not jokingly. Greivis Vasquez far exceeded expectations and solidified the backup point guard position. Oh, and there was that little thing where Allen beat up Mayo on a team flight and somehow brought the team closer together. Not all of these things should have been surprises. To reporters and fans following the team, and certainly to the Grizzlies organization (with particular nods to GM Chris Wallace and coach Lionel Hollins), the continued growth of Gay, the contributions of Allen, the improvement of Gasol and even the emergence of Arthur, could have been anticipated. But the other things, and the level to which all this worked, no one saw coming. The combination of strategy and surprise, of elation delivered through earned anticipation made the Grizzlies season, and especially the playoff run, impossible to ignore.

“EACH CROWD WAS LOUDER THAN THE LAST, AND WITH EVERY GAME, 18,000+ GRIZZLIES FANS BECAME THEIR OWN ENTITY.

And the city sure did take notice. Remember that Heat game where Gay beat the buzzer over LeBron? Many fans in the Forum

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

Bm Believe Memphis

THE PERIODIC TABLE OF THE

Sellouts

Gh Fp Ph Ag Bo H The Grindhouse

FedExForum Watch Parties

Penny Hardaway Courtside

Al Green’s National Anthem

The Blowout of the Spurs

Heart

Tt Jg Wa K Xw Bp

Tony Allen T-shirts

James Goldstein Courtside

Welcoming the Team at the Airport

Jerry “The King” Lawler

Eva Longoria

Charles Barkley’s Prediction

P Gt Fs Rt Rc Ot Plaza Parties

Growl Towels

Fan Signs

Rick Trotter’s National Anthem

Royal Couple

Overtime Win

Gw Wo Wp Wl Po Zt Growl Towel Wall

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Whiteouts

Whoomp! There It is!

Wiplash the Cowboy Monkey

Barack Obama

THE FANS

THE MEMORIES

THE BOSSES

THE BENCH

THE BIG HEADS

THE STARTERS

THE FIRSTS

THE ENTERTAINME

Z-bo Three-Pointer

GRIZZLIES

2011 POSTSEASON

Ta Tony Allen

Gr Gi Gv X Da Sy Grit

Greivis Vasquez

Grind

Xavier Henry

Darrell Arthur

Sam Young

To Pb Mh Oj Sb Mg Triple Overtime

Playoff Beards

Michael Heisley

OJ Mayo

Shane Battier

Marc Gasol

F Cw Lp Rg Zb

Ginobli Flops

The Flood

Chris Wallace

Leon Powe

Rudy Gay

Zach Randolph

7 Gw Lh Is Hh Mc Seven Games Won

Battierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Game Winning Three-Pointer

Lionel Hollins

Ish Smith

Hamed Haddadi

Mike Conley

Pw Hw w Sw w R R2 G7 First-Ever Playoff Win

First-Everr Home W Playoff Win

First-Ever e Playoff W Seriess Win

First-Everr Second a Round Playoff Win

First-Ever Playoff Game Seven

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

Big Impact by Jim Harwell

As youngsters Matt Cain and Dan Uggla honed their respective baseball skills in East Tennessee and both are now starring in the ‘big’ league

MATT CAIN Matt Cain has arrived – a World Series Championship and five years as a starter for the San Francisco Giants can do that. A native of Germantown, Cain is only 26 but already in his seventh season in the majors. In 2010, Cain helped lead the Giants to their first World Championship in 54 years. In last year’s postseason, he was a playoff and World Series hero. He pitched 21 and 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run. He’s one of only five Major League pitchers in history to throw 20 or more innings with no earned runs. Cain feels like teamwork was a big reason for the Championship. It was great to see us come together as a team and see how we accomplished some of the goals we set in spring training,” Cain said during a post-season interview.

“This is something great for me, being a Southern boy, being able to come out West... I love the opportunity to come out here and play. This is something true to all of our hearts, being in the San Francisco Bay Area.” — Matt Cain San Francisco Giants

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Always a fan favorite, Cain is in the spotlight more these days, such as his participation in the recent AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where his unassuming, friendly nature was evident. The event included numerous big stars and also had a friendly San Francisco rivalry – a 49ers versus Giants competition. “This is something great for me, being a Southern boy, being able to come out West, being appreciated and being loved so much by the Giants community,” Cain said. “I love the opportunity to come out here and play. This is something true to all of our hearts, being in the San Francisco Bay Area.” Cain is established as one of baseball’s bright young stars. And it all began back in Germantown at Houston High School. The city of Germantown has a longtime sports tradition, and Cain is helping raise the athletic tradition to new heights. Despite all his success, Cain is still the same he’s always been, according to those close to him. They describe him as poised, hard-working, humble and more. “He’s very grounded,” said Houston head coach Lane McCarter. “He works hard and enjoys the game and his teammates.” McCarter cites Matt’s parents,

Dolores and Tom, as major reasons for Matt’s high character. Dolores runs the family’s tuxedo shop and was a teacher, while Tom is custom woodworker. Cain, his wife Chelsea and their new daughter live in Arizona now, but they still stay in close touch with friends and family in Germantown. In fact, Cain works out often in the offseason with the Houston teams as well as with Houston pitching coach and friend Collins Day. The Houston High baseball team continues to battle with rivals Germantown and Collierville High, just like they did when Cain was State Gatorade Player of the Year back in 2002. Cain was only 17 when he began his pro career with the Giants.

“It’s obviously great for me, because I was able to have those guys push me on my running and conditioning, and they put me on a schedule,” Cain says. “It was also great to chat with those guys that are still in high school and maybe teach them and just help out. It’s fun being around those guys. They push me more than I push them, I bet.”

Cain said the workouts at his high school alma mater are a big benefit to him.

MATT CAIN

Cain’s high school teammate and good friend Brent Dlugach, a pro player himself, says that Cain “always had a quiet focus to him. I really think that’s why he made it.” What are some more of Cain’s secrets to success? Giants’ teammate Manny Burriss calls Cain “low-key and professiona, like a veteran.” His high school principal and current Shelby County Schools superintendent John Aitken also has insight about Cain. “Matt is a good guy. He’s humble and from a great family,” said Aitken. “He’s the kind of student you want to see succeed.” The Germantown community is certainly bursting with pride over their hometown boy. During the World Series in 2010, a typical gathering at Collins Day’s house had around 40 Cain supporters. There was Aiken, McCarter and several Houston coaches, former Houston Mustangs like Dlugach, Zach Miller and Matt Lea, Bartlett coach Phil Clark.

DAN UGGLA Dan Uggla’s career continues to have a storybook feel. Uggla, who grew up in Nashville and played his college career at the University of Memphis, is now the starting second baseman for the nearby Atlanta Braves. Uggla is very excited about his new opportunity to play in Atlanta and be closer to home. “This creates an incredible opportunity for my family and ©2011 Florida Marli

DAN UGGLA M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

friends to come down and watch me on a more consistent basis,” said Uggla. Now in his sixth season in the majors, the superstar second baseman has already set some very impressive Major League Baseball records. He’s a two-time All-Star (‘06, ‘08) and is now part of a stacked Braves team that is picked to compete for division and league championships.

“To play on a team like this is a great honor,” said Uggla. “And it’s just ‘gonna drive me to work as hard as I can. I’m excited to meet more of the fans and get involved in the city.” Uggla’s high school coach at Columbia Central, Mark Pickle, feels that Dan’s work ethic and character are big factors in Uggla’s success. “Daniel was always a very hard worker and always went the extra mile,” said Pickle. “Even from a young age, he put in a tremendous amount of work. And his family and parents were a big, big part of his success.” Uggla’s family, friends and coaches in Columbia, where he grew up and still lives, have had a great impact on him. Older brother Mike is a successful businessman today and was always like a best friend and mentor to Dan. Today Dan is still great friends with many of his buddies he grew up with in Columbia, at Central and at Whitthorne Middle - players like Michael Johnson and Chris Miller, Rett Stockstill, and Blake Hammond. Uggla played college ball at Memphis and spent five years in the Diamondbacks system before beginning his big league career with the Marlins in 2006. His big league records are indeed amazing. The slugger Uggla is one of only two second basemen in Major League history to have over 30 home runs in four

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 1 1

straight seasons. He currently has 157 career homers. In 2009, Uggla became the fastest second baseman in baseball history to reach 100 home runs. He needed only 502 games, 34 fewer games than the previous record. In his outstanding rookie year, he hit 27 home runs, breaking the home run record for rookie second basemen. His career took a storybook turn when he was traded this past offseason to the Braves. Like a lot of youngsters in Tennessee, Uggla grew up following the Braves and watching them on TV. “Growing up as a kid, I was always watching the Braves playing on TV,” said Uggla. “Just stepping on the field, it gives you a lot of excitement to be playing here. I’m just really looking forward to being a part of this team and organization.”

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

POWER TRAIN

Train harder. Train with power.

Fad Today, Fat Tomorrow Popular diets give you what want and a little more Written by Brandi Hunter With the summer months here, the desire to “get right” for upcoming vacations, weddings, and high school reunions makes the allure of speedy fad diets tempting to any one who has to look a certain way by a specific date. The promised result of dropping a lot of weight in a small amount of time leads people to make drastic changes in their diets, often with little regard for long-term health and fitness. MemphiSport asked Power Life Fitness certified personal trainer Kate Derveloy to explain why people need to think twice before pressing the easy button when it comes to losing weight.

“Your body is going to freak out and you will lose weight. Once you start eating again you’re going to gain the weight back plus more.”

Derveloy is a nutrition consultant and boot camp instructor at Power Life. The Thursday evening class she teaches is made up of women ranging from their 20s to 40s in age, and all of them are familiar with get-skinny-quick routines. Some have tried a few.

“Made me sick as a dog,” says Cassandra Peterson about both of the fad diets she tried, one based on a soup, the other heavy on protein. Peterson joined Power Life because of its commitment to helping clients in the gym and at the kitchen table. “I got none of that before – no cardio, no nutrition. [The nutrition] makes a difference and when I do what I’m supposed to do I can really tell a difference.”

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 1 1

Side effects aside, rapid weight loss diet creators aren’t guilty of false advertising. Boot camper Vicki Carriker tried one and got major results. “I lost about 40 pounds.” Derveloy warns the trade-off isn’t worth the trouble. “Your body is going to freak out and you will lose weight. Once you start eating again you’re going to gain the weight back plus more.” Derveloy says it is possible for people to lose weight quickly without putting their bodies through the stress of yo-yo dieting. “Eating smaller portions every three hours will dramatically improve your metabolic rate,” she says. “If you increase your meal frequency and switch to healthier foods, you’re going to lose weight.” Power Life client Sharon Preyer has lost 50 pounds by exercising and eating five or six small, balanced meals a day. Balanced being the operative word. “It’s a lot of fruits and vegetables and lean protein.” Persuading the Thursday night boot camp class at Power Life to stay away from fairy tale weight loss plans isn’t a hard sell. “We’ve been around the block long enough to know it doesn’t work.”

For more information about meal plans and fitness classes at Power Life Fitness call 901.454.0003 or email Kate at kate@powerlifefitness.net.

visitt our webs site att to download a cam mp br rochure, or stop by one of our campuses to pick k up a printed brochure Collierville campus

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1880 Wolf Ri R ver Blvd. Co ollllie i rville, TN 38 8017 7 UFM r GBY

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VA R S I T Y S P I R I T

Go. Fight. Win.

SUSANA Grizz Girl

Written by Brandi Hunter, Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING A GRIZZ GIRL? Getting to do Intros in-game. We have an unbelievable pyro show, complete with flames and fireworks. When they go off and the arena lights up, it’s a super adrenaline rush! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HANG OUT IN MEMPHIS? Minglewood is my favorite venue. There’s always a great show and it’s a really chill place to hangout. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE GRIZZLIES PLAYER? Mike Conley WHO WOULD WIN IN A CAGE MATCH, GRIZZ, JERRY LAWLER, OR ROCKEY REDBIRD? I’ve seen Grizz tackle the opposing team’s fans before so I’m going to say Grizz! BARBEQUE NACHOS OR HOT WINGS? Hot wings! IS YOUR AUDITION PROCESS AS DRAMATIC AS THAT SHOW DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS: MAKING THE TEAM? All three years that I have auditioned the process has been a little different each time. The pressure is on and it is equally as mentally and physically demanding as the Dallas Cowboys tryouts, but not as dramatic. HOW DEMANDING ARE THE GRIZZLIES GRANNIES AND GRANDPAS? Those are the nicest people in the world! They aren’t demanding at all! And they practice more than any team I’ve ever seen! WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT BEING A GRIZZ GIRL? I love live music so I’m usually traveling to venues and shows. ARE YOU GUYS REALLY THAT HAPPY ALL THE TIME? On the court, I’d say yes, we really are that happy! Performing is our favorite thing to do. Off court, we are still dancers. I think dancers are some of the happiest, quirkiest people out there. So yes, we really are that happy.

2 20 0

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5-6-7-8

Tamara Moore: Grizz Girl Choreographer

Written by Brandi Hunter, Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images

You didn’t just witness history. You made it. The shout-out to Memphis, TN on the home page of the Grizzlies’ web site lets the city know that the Grizzlies understand it takes a village to berth a playoff. Backing from the fans this past season was extraordinary, but before the sold-out games and the Believe Memphis mantra, the Grizzlies relied on the support of those who have always been on the bandwagon. Part of that support system is a group of dancers Grizzlies choreographer Tamara Moore handpicks to entertain fans at home games and represent the organization at events across the Mid-South region. Moore is a New York native who came to Memphis three years ago to work for the Grizzlies. “I used to work for the NBA and I used to do a lot of choreography for the different NBA teams,” she says. “My job was to act as a liaison between the league and the dance teams. So after working with so many teams I really thought it would be pretty cool to work at the team level.” Moore had never been to Memphis before interviewing with the Grizzlies, but she is definitely no stranger to dancing. “I’ve been dancing all of my life. I started dancing

“My job was to act as a liaison between the league and the dance teams. So after working with so many teams I really thought it would be pretty cool to work at the team level.”

professionally when I was a preteen and danced with companies. My background at that time was more jazz and contemporary and upon graduating from college I started to dance for the NBA.”

Even as each basketball season ends Moore’s work as coach, costume designer, and team mom is never done. “People often ask me what do I do on the offseason, but we just made it into our offseason and I’m already starting to plan for auditions.”

For more information about Tamara and the Grizz Girls auditions, visit www.grizzlies. com. Auditions are Saturday, July 9.

M E M P H I S P O R T. N E T

53! #HEER, the national governing body for cheerleading is excited to announce...

,EARN ABOUT CHEERLEADING S NEW SPORT AT USACHEER NET

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Play. Play. Play.

Do these two photos of St. Jude Classic Champion Harrison Frazar with a few of the kids from St. Jude look the same to you? Look again. We made seven changes to the photo on the bottom. Time yourself to see how long it takes you to find all seven.

PICTURE PUZZLE

Harrisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Big Day Photo by Justin Ford

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TA I L G AT I N G

Sports was happening and you were there.

The Premiere of Memphis Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin’ Malco Paradiso Photos by Justin Ford

1. Sherman Willmott, Ron Hall, Chad Schaffler, Jimmie Hart 2. Stephen Bailey and Tiffany Boyte 3. Buddy Wayne, Deenie Mashburn and Christopher Peal 4. David Walls and “Hollywood” Jimmy Blalock 5. Michelle Ivery and Angelica Allsup 6. Jeniste Monroe, Bubba “The Brawler” Monroe, Jailey Thompson and Gavin Monroe

7. Tommy and Jane Byrnes 8. Mayor Mark Luttrell, Dave Brown, Al Hammer, Jimmy Tashie, Lynn Sitler and Jonny Dark

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Memphis Grizzlies Playoff Whiteout FedExForum Photos by Chase Gustafson 9. Rob Fischer, Eli Savoie, Hank McDowell, Pete Pranica, Rick Trotter and Jarvis Greer

10. Brittany Allen and Nicole Shafer 11. Leslie Swords and Lennie Cantrell 12. Brittany Heisley Stoeckel and Michael Heisley, Jr. 13. April Lopez and Reed Bouchillon 14. Katie Sandage, Brad Camp and Kevin Kern p 15. Scott Stewart and Stephanie Bennett

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JACK’S BACK

A Memphis legend takes a look back.

Now It’s The C Word Written by Jack Eaton, Illustrated by Andrew Chandler

Now that our playoff drought has been broken, And the dreaded P word can be openly spoken, It’s time for us to figuratively set sail In search of the NBA’s Holy Grail At the risk of incurring Lionel Hollins’ wrath, I am now on what use to be a lonely path. I’ve analyzed everything, and here’s my call: Next year, we have a good shot to win it all. We have talented players and a heck of a coach, And our management team is above reproach. If that doesn’t equal the C word, I’ll eat my hat; I want the NBA Championship, it’s as simple as that.

“Big“ Jack Eaton can be heard every Friday at 8am on

KWAM 990 alongside former County Commissioner John Willingham. In February, Jack was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

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