Green: “Everytime I think it’s over with, (God) gives me another chance”. — Page 6
■■ COMMUNITY
Memphis City Council approves budget amendment, downtown command center
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
Memphis City Council members agreed to tweak the budget by nearly $4 million to shore up operations across several city divisions to wrap up the Tuesday, Dec. 3, meeting.
– including a five percent raise to most city employees – the council approved a 49-cent property tax increase during the budget season in July. Additional revenues have been gained through doubling the city’s auto registration fee and a $6.89 increase in the solid waste fee.
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Association.
Members only felt confident to cast their votes after the administration provided line-by-line accounting for the end of the calendar year resolution. A vote on the item was postponed by member Chase Carlisle last week after several division heads did not appear for a Budget and Audit Committee discussion.
The snub worked. Heads from all potential recipient divisions showed up for the next week’s discussion. It began with a lecture.
“I don’t know a business in this world that comes for a budget closeout and adjustment, where you wouldn’t represent your division, or your restaurant or your shift. If you’re the guy running the lunch shift and you’re off budget by 8% for the week, you’ve gotta go and explain that to your manager,” chastised Carlisle.
He was one of several members to express frustrations with the administration of Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
Among the recipient divisions will be finance, city parks, general services, the city attorney’s office, library services and public works, along with a litigation settlement. The largest recipient will be the city’s stormwater division at $2 million.
Although a relatively small sum compared to the city’s $858 million FY2025 budget, the action conjured memories of votes to shore up personnel costs in both the Memphis police and fire departments in 2024. Overtime costs for the Memphis Police Department totalled $15 million. Meanwhile, the latter payroll costs for more than 100 new fire department hires weren’t included in the budget.
As a result of additional payroll costs
“I’m concerned, not about making these moves, but about what these moves say for the trend of our budget as a whole. Especially when we passed such huge property tax,” said Councilwoman Jerri Green. “The trend is alarming. We were put under the gun in budget last year. If you don’t pass these millions of dollars, police and the fire department will not get paid. And we’re right on track to do it again across several divisions now.”
City Chief Operating Officer Antonio Adams defended the revenue-neutral budget maneuvering along with the tax cut. The administration’s original request was a 75-cent hike.
“We have a dynamic city in which we serve. To which none of the division directors are clairvoyant on all the expenditures,” said Adams. His assurance that the resolution did not affect the fund balance – the city’s reserve -- did mollify some members. If the balance is used, it could affect the city’s bond rating and the costs of future debt.
Members also approved $2.5 million to fund the construction of an MPD downtown command center. The center will be used as a staging area for MPD officers
President Calvin Anderson Interim Editor Lee Eric Smith
■■ COMMUNITY
“The trend is alarming. We were put under the gun in budget last year. If you don’t pass these millions of dollars, police and the fire department will not get paid. And we’re right on track to do it again across several divisions now.”
— Jerri Green
on game days at the FedEx Forum. It will be located near 250 Peabody Place.
The administration originally intended to use money that remained from the Leftwich Tennis Center project to pay for the MPD command center. The city loaned $10 million in bonds to get the tennis center project underway, while donors could be arranged. From there, the city would be repaid.
Costs on the tennis center rose to more than $30 million, after initial estimates put costs around $20 million. By all accounts, the tennis center has been a success story.
Further money would come from the selling of naming rights of the building down to the nets on the courts. According to the administration, several million has already been generated.
“What we’re doing now is taking that $4.5 million and allocating $2.5 million to the downtown command center,” said City of Memphis Comptroller
Walter Person.
However, the original plan fell apart after Carlisle said he couldn’t “follow the money.”
Again, the lack of documentation was given as the reason. In particular, who donated and how much?
“If we don’t have those documents, that is not good housekeeping. Because if you had to seek recourse for someone not fulfilling their pledge, you wouldn’t have a document for it,” said Carlisle.
The city would be on the hook for any loan costs, if pledges fell through.
The fact that the project had extra funds was another matter.
“That’s what I’m trying to reconcile. It’s a very simple exercise. I have my uses and they have to balance my sources. Over-capitalized is the term that we would use,” said Carlisle.
Over-capitalization is when an organization has more debt and equity than its assets are worth.
Location for the proposed Downtown Command Centerfor the Memphis police.
By Adrian Sainz, Jonathan Mattise and Alanna Drukin Richer Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation launched after the beating death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop in 2023.
A report released Wednesday marked the conclusion of the investigation that began six months after Nichols was kicked, punched and hit with a police baton as five officers tried to arrest him after he fled a traffic stop.
The report says that “Memphis police officers regularly violate the rights of the people they are sworn to serve.”
“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in an emailed statement.
The city said in a letter released earlier Wednesday that it would not agree to negotiate federal oversight of its police department until it could review and challenge results of the investigation.
City officials had no immediate comment on the report but said they plan to hold a news conference Thursday after Justice Department officials hold their own news conference in Memphis on Thursday morning to address the findings.
Police video showed officers pepper spraying Nichols and hitting him with a Taser before he ran away from a traffic stop. Five officers chased down Nichols and kicked, punched and hit him
■■ NEWS
Memphis police use excessive force and discriminate against Black people, Justice Department finds
with a police baton just steps from his home as he called out for his mother.
The video showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries.
Nichols died on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. The five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith — were fired, charged in state court with murder, and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges.
Nichols was Black, as are the former officers. His death led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S., and directed intense scrutiny towards the police
department in Memphis, a majority Black city.
The report specifically mentions the Nichols case, and it addresses the police department’s practice of using traffic stops to address violent crime. The police department has encouraged officers in specialized units, task forces, and on patrol to prioritize street enforcement, and officers and community members have described this approach as “saturation,” or flooding neighborhoods with traffic stops, the report said.
“This strategy involves frequent contact with the public and gives wide discretion to officers, which requires close supervision and clear rules to direct officers’ activity,” the report said.
“But MPD does not ensure that officers conduct themselves in a lawful manner.”
The report said prosecutors and judges told federal investigators that officers do not understand the constitutional limits on their authority. Officers stop and detain people without adequate justification, and they conduct invasive searches of people and cars, the report said.
“Black people in Memphis disproportionately experience these violations,” the report said. “MPD has never assessed its practices for evidence of discrimination. We found that officers treat Black people more harshly than white people who engage in similar
Police officers use pepper spray on Tyre Nichols. (screen capture from MPD bodycam video)
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS ■■ NEWS
conduct.”
The investigation found that Memphis officers resort to force likely to cause pain or injury “almost immediately in response to low-level, nonviolent offenses, even when people are not aggressive.”
The report says officers pepper sprayed, kicked and fired a Taser at an unarmed man with a mental illness who tried to take a $2 soda from a gas station. By the end of an encounter outside the gas station, at least nine police cars and 12 officers had responded to the incident, for which the man served two days in jail for theft and disorderly conduct.
In a letter to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division released earlier Wednesday, Memphis City Attorney Tannera George Gibson said the city had received a request from the DOJ to enter into an agreement that would require it to “negotiate a consent decree aimed at institutional police and emergency services.”
A consent decree is an agreement requiring reforms that are overseen by an independent monitor and are approved by a federal judge. The federal oversight can continue for years, and violations could result in fines paid by the city.
It remains to be seen what will happen to attempts to reach such agreements between cities and the Justice Department once President-elect Donald Trump returns to office and installs new department leadership. The Justice Department under the first Trump administration curtailed the use of consent decrees, and the Republican president-elect is expected to again radically reshape the department’s priorities around civil rights.
“Until the City has had the opportunity to review, analyze, and challenge the specific allegations that support your forthcoming findings report, the City cannot — and will not — agree to work toward or enter into a consent decree that will likely be in place for years to come and will cost the residents of Memphis hundreds of millions of dollars,” the letter said.
The officers in the Nichols case were part of a crime suppression team called
the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded after Nichols’ death. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders, with the goal of amassing arrest numbers, while sometimes using force against unarmed people.
Memphis police never adopted policies and procedures to direct the unit, despite alarms that it was minimally supervised, according to the Justice Department report. Some prosecutors told department investigators that there were some “outrageous” inconsistences between body camera footage and arrest reports, and if the cases went to trial, they would be “laughed out of court.” The report found that the unit’s misconduct led to dozens of criminal cases being dismissed.
In court proceedings dealing with Nichols’ death, Martin and Mills pleaded guilty to the federal charges under deals with prosecutors. The other three officers were convicted in early October of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges of using excessive force and being indifferent to Nichols’ serious injuries.
Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but he was convicted of two lesser charges of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. The five men face sentencing by a federal judge in the coming months.
Martin and Mills also are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to lawyers involved in the case. Bean, Haley and Smith have also pleaded not guilty to state charges of second-degree murder. A trial in the state case has been set for April 28.
Justice Department investigators have targeted other cities with similar probes in recent years, including Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd, and Louisville, Kentucky, following an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.
In its letter, the city of Memphis said the DOJ’s investigation “only took 17 months to complete, compared to an average of 2-3 years in almost every other instance, implying a rush to judgment.”
PUBLIC NOTICE THE MEMPHIS URBAN AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
In compliance with federal regulations 23 CFR 450, the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will hold public engagement events to provide the public the opportunity to comment on the development of the Winchester Road Corridor Pilot Study.
The following event date, time, and location have been confirmed:
Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 & Thursday, December 12, 2024 Time: 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Location: Hickory Hill Community Center 3910 Ridgeway Rd Memphis, TN, 38115
Attendees will be afforded the opportunity to comment on the information presented at the events. Any comments provided at the events should be applicable to the information presented and should be provided in a respectful manner. Please note that additional engagement opportunities may be considered. In the case of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances, the public engagement opportunities listed above could change with limited or no notice and will be shared on the MPO’s website: memphismpo.org
It is the policy of the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) not to exclude, deny, or discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, veteran
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■■ ENTERTAINMENT
Memphis icon Toni Green receives
W.C. Handy Lifetime Achievement Award
Green: “Everytime I think it’s over with, (God) gives me another chance”
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
Memphis blues legend Toni Green was overwhelmed with emotion when she received the call informing her that she would be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the W.C. Handy Heritage Awards.
“I thought… I thought nobody cared anymore,” said Green, her voice trembling as she took the stage to accept the award. “God is good. He keeps waking me up, and He keeps turning another chapter for me. Every time I think it’s over with,He gives me another chance.”
Green has graced stages across the globe, carrying the soul of Memphis blues with her wherever she performs. And on Nov. 24, she stood among a distinguished group of honorees at the Halloran Centre at the W.C. Handy Heritage Awards.
A Tribute from One Queen to Another
Carla Thomas, known herself as the Queen of Memphis Soul, introduced Green with a heartfelt tribute, describing her as a musical icon whose influence has touched fans worldwide.
“When you say Toni Green, I not only think of France but also Italy,” Thomas said, recounting how a European venue once enshrined one of Green’s rhinestone shoes as a tribute to her unforgettable performances. “Just to let her know that I respect her, I love her, and she has kept the music industry—the Memphis music legacy—alive. People just love her wherever she walks in. You know, there’s Toni.”
The heartfelt introduction set the stage for a night of joy and nostalgia. As Green accepted her award with humility and gratitude, her remarks were
punctuated by applause and cheers from an appreciative crowd.
“God has been good to me all the years I’ve been here,” she said. “I’ve moved recently.; I live in Indiana now, but I’m still a part of you. You’re in my DNA forever.”
A Show-Stopping Performance
After her acceptance speech, Green brought down the house with a soul-stirring performance that showcased her powerful voice and captivating stage presence.
“Can we do something for you?” Green asked the audience before launching into her set. “Now, if you don’t talk back to me, I’m going to go off the stage!” The crowd responded with raucous enthusiasm, and Green delivered an electrifying performance that had everyone on their feet.
Backed by an exceptional band, she performed a medley of blues standards and original songs, including a stirring performance of “Simply Beautiful,” made famous by another music legend, the Rev. Al Green. The 15-minute set demonstrated why Green remains one
of Memphis’ most cherished musical ambassadors.
A Bluesman’s Salute
The evening also featured a perfor-
mance by Earl “The Pearl” Banks, a Beale Street legend who has been playing the blues for more than 60 years.
“Earl is the embodiment of the blues on Beale Street,” an announcer said as
Memphis Queens: Toni Green received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the festivities, and was introduced by none other than The Queen of Memphis Soul, Carla Thomas. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)
Elaine Turner of Heritage Blues Tours makes opening remarks for the 2024 W.C. Handy Heritage Awards on Nov. 24.
Howard Robertson, host of “Riffin on Jazz” Podcast, presents the Music Legacy Award to Deanie Parker. Rev. Alvin Green accepts the Gospel Pioneer Award.
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
Banks took the stage. “For six decades, he’s carried his guitar and amp down Beale to play for Memphians and visitors alike, never once complaining.”
Known for his weekly sets at Blues City Cafe, Banks brought his authentic Memphis blues sound to the Halloran Centre stage, performing a rousing rendition of his song “I Pay the Cost to Be the Boss.”
Honoring Memphis’ Musical Legacy
The W.C. Handy Heritage Awards, presented by Heritage Tours and the W.C. Handy Museum, celebrated Handy’s groundbreaking contributions to music and the artists who continue to build on his legacy. Alongside Toni Green, other luminaries included:
• The Handy Legacy Award: Deanie Parker
• Handy Music Director Award: Mark Anthony Lee
• Pioneer Honorees:
• Al Kapone (Rap Pioneer)
• Deborah Swiney (Jazz Entertainer and BackgroundVvocalist)
• Alvin Green (Gospel Pioneer)
• Gerard Harris (Jazz Guitarist)
Live music from the African Jazz Ensemble added to the magic of the evening, paying homage to Handy’s enduring influence on blues, jazz and contemporary music.
A Night to Remember
As the applause echoed through the Halloran Centre, the 2024 W.C. Handy Heritage Awards reaffirmed Memphis’ place as a global capital of music and culture. For Toni Green, the honor was a testament to a lifetime of artistry and an enduring connection to her Memphis roots.
“Memphis is one of the greatest music towns in the whole wide world!” Green exclaimed. “Every time I go overseas or perform here in America, I hope I do you proud.”
Star Power: The honorees joined Elaine Turner and others on the stage at the 2024 Handy Awards. Among them (from left): Earl “The Pearl” Banks, rapper Al Kapone, Alvin Green, Diane Swiney, Toni Green and Deanie Parker.
Earl “The Pearl” Banks has been performing on Beale Street for more than 60 years. On Nov. 24, he joined the band on stage for a star-studded night of Memphis music.
xAI Announces Landmark Expansion of “Colossus” Supercomputer Facility in Memphis
TSD Newsroom
Colossus’ footprint in Memphis is about to get bigger — a LOT bigger.
“Colossus” is the name of xAI’s supercomputer facility in Southwest Memphis. And at the Greater Memphis Chamber Annual Chairman’s Luncheon on Wednesday, the company unveiled plans for a transformative expansion to its “Colossus” supercomputer facility — one that will incorporate more than one million Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and attract other major players into the Bluff City.
The expansion represents the largest capital investment in Memphis history and positions the city as a global leader in artificial intelligence innovation.
The expansion is set to bring major players such as Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer (SMC) to Memphis, further cementing the city’s role as the “Digital Delta,” a term coined by FedEx founder Fred Smith and his son Richard Smith to capture Memphis’s growing prominence as a hub for technology and logistics.
Transforming Memphis into a Global AI Hub
Speaking to more than 1,000 business and community leaders, xAI’s Brent Mayo emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative.
“In Memphis, we’re pioneering development in the heartland of America,” Mayo said. “We’re not just leading from the front; we’re accelerating progress at an unprecedented pace while ensuring the stability of the grid utilizing megapack technology.”
Greater Memphis Chamber President and CEO Ted Townsend lauded the collaboration.
“When we announced six months ago that xAI would make Memphis its home for Colossus, we recognized it as
our defining moment,” Townsend said. “Memphis has provided the power and velocity necessary for not just xAI to grow and thrive, but for other companies as well. We’re excited to welcome Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro to the ‘Digital Delta.’”
“Memphis has provided the power and velocity necessary for not just xAI to grow and thrive, but for other companies as well. We’re excited to welcome Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro to the ‘Digital Delta.’ ”
— Ted Townsend
Memphis Mayor Paul Young expressed optimism about the city’s future.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with xAI and to developing
relationships with all the new investors in Memphis,” Young said in a statement. “These investments have the potential to be historic in their impact on the local economy and workforce.”
U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN) applauded the expansion for its economic potential, stating, “This historic investment will pave the way for Memphis to become the global hub for artificial intelligence, revitalize our economy, and
lead us further into the next generation of technology.”
Economic Boom, Environmental Hazard?
The news won’t be praised everywhere — certainly not in many of the neighborhoods of Southwest Memphis.
Even before the announcement, environmental activists including State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, have been calling for tighter regulations to protect lower-income citizens from the fumes and pollution that the energy-guzzling data center allegedly spews.
Back in October, Memphis Community Against Pollution held a rally where xAI’s supercomputer and its environmental impact came up.
“Our community has a lot of questions about how they’re able to do so much without any permits and seemingly so fast,” MCAP’s Keshaun Pearson told the TSD at the rally. “How have they been able to bypass so much scrutiny — basically bypassing a democratic process that should at least challenge them to get a permit to pollute our air.”
Less than a month ago, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) published a damning report at southernenvironment.org, raising concerns about methane gas turbines used by the facility. The organization argues the fumes contribute to hazardous air pollution in the surrounding predominantly Black neighborhoods.
“Local leaders shouldn’t be rubberstamping requests from somebody with a history of treating nearby communities like dumping grounds,” said SELC Senior Attorney Amanda Garcia in online report. “They need to be analyzing this facility with a critical eye and ensuring it’s following the rules — so far that hasn’t happened.”
SPORTS
Three Memphisarea schools to play for championships this weekend
By LiAudwin Seaberry Jr. Special to The Tri-State Defender
The TSSAA BlueCross Bowl is set, and Memphis-area teams are ready to battle for state titles after electrifying performances in last weekend’s semifinals.
MASE, Melrose, and Houston emerged victorious, overcoming tough opponents to secure their spots on Tennessee’s biggest high school football stage. With each program chasing history, all eyes now turn to Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, where state champions will be crowned.
As MASE prepares for its first-ever championship appearance, Melrose looks to end a title drought dating back to 2005, and Houston aims for a second consecutive crown, Memphis fans are rallying behind their teams. With the stage set for Friday and Saturday, the road to glory has one final stop.
Here’s a look back at how each team got here—and what lies ahead.
MASE 40, McKenzie 34
(4A Championship: MASE vs. South Pittsburg)
Late in the fourth quarter of Friday’s TSSAA Semifinal game, MASE quarterback Brody Whittaker surveyed the field and liked his chances of finding the end zone. He connected on a pass to Kadience Nelson with 30 seconds left in the game, and the sophomore receiver scurried into the end zone to take a 40-34 lead.
The sequence capped off a dramatic
come-from-behind win over McKenzie, propelling MASE into the 1A Championship game for the first time in school history.
It was a very different story for Whittaker and his teammates coming out after halftime. McKenzie, led by quarterback Tate Surber, dominated the first half. MASE managed to put 12 points on the board, but still allowed a McKenzie touchdown just before halftime. MASE went into the half down 34-12.
MASE had two options: succumb to the pressure of playoff football or continue to scratch and claw back into Friday’s game. MASE head Coach Cedric Miller rallied his troops at the half, and the players responded, storming back into the contest with touchdowns from Nelson and Deaunte Jones.
Players refused to quit, rallying each other to play harder and leave it all on the field. MASE’s defense also tightened up their grip on the game. McKenzie did not score in the second half.
“(McKenzie) ran some things that we had not seen on tape, and I salute their coach for coming up with a heckuva game plan,” Miller said. “My players did a really good job of responding to the pressure and I am proud of them for not shrinking under the pressure.”
Davis and Nelson both displayed their talents in the second half, as their heroics lead a Phoenix squad on the brink of elimination back into the contest.
However, Whittaker, the architect of
MASE offense, shrugged off two first-half interceptions and finished the contest 17 of 31 for 267 yards and four touchdowns, including 3 in the final 6 minutes of play.
Nelson knew his team wasn’t going to lay down and throw in the towel.
“We kept talking about one moment at a time, one play at a time, and that’s what we reminded one another in the huddle,” he said. “We didn’t last the past plays get to us, and that’s how we stayed focused.”
Added Whittaker: “Coach Miller never got discouraged or frustrated with us, he’s simply the best, and I am happy I get to play for him every week.”
With the win, MASE advances to face South Pittsburg in the 1A state championship game Friday afternoon at 2 pm. Miller is ecstatic and confident his team will rise to the occasion. For him, the moment represents his first appearance in the state championship game as a coach in 27 seasons on the sideline.
“This is a huge game for our school and my first state title game, but I am focused on these kids and guiding them to the finish line,” Miller said. Houston 24, Ravenwood 21 (6A Championship: Houston vs. Oakland)
Houston High School clinched its second consecutive appearance in the Class 6A state championship game with a 24-21 win over previously unbeaten
Ravenwood. Led by head coach James Thomas and quarterback Chandler Day, the Mustangs held their composure in a tightly contested battle. Now one win away from back-to-back state titles, Houston will face Oakland High School, who defeated Maryville 21-13, in next weekend’s final.
Melrose 14, Pearl Cohn 7 (4A Championship: Melrose vs. Macon County)
In a nail-biting 14-7 victory over Pearl-Cohn, Melrose High School punched its ticket to the Class 4A championship game. Missouri commit and running back Jarmarion Morrow scored both touchdowns for the Golden Wildcats, including the game-winner with less than a minute left in regulation. Melrose will now face Macon County, who defeated Anderson County 43-41 in their semifinal, in the BlueCross Bowl.
Fairley 16, Milan 21
Fairley’s Perfect Season Ends in Class 2A Semifinals
The Fairley Bulldogs’ undefeated run came to an end with a 21-16 loss to Milan in the Class 2A semifinals. Despite strong performances from quarterback Andre Johnson and versatile standout Zyress Jones, the Bulldogs were unable to overcome Milan’s late-game surge. Milan will face Marion County, who shut out York Institute 42-0, for the Class 2A title.
the
By Terry Davis Special to The Tri-State Defender
It was a top-notch week for Memphis Sports. Home teams not only won, but had decisive wins. Upsets too.
The Grizzlies ran through their four-game stand. They defeated the Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons, the New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers. Point guards one and two, Ja Morant and Marcus Smart, also returned from injuries and helped run up a six-game winning streak.
The Memphis Tigers basketball team gave notice with a win over the National Champion UConn Huskies. They followed up with a win over Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans.
The football team also defeated the 17th-ranked Tulane Green Wave 34-24 on Thanksgiving Day.
Three area high school football teams advanced to the State Championship game in Chattanooga. The Houston Mustangs, the Melrose Golden Wildcats and the MASE Phoenix all won at home. The Mustangs are the defending state champs, while it’s Melrose’s first appearance since 2005. The Phoenix are making the trip for the first time.
If all three win, perhaps December will shape up to be even better.
For most of the past two weeks, the Grizzlies have been the hottest team in the Western Conference. They fumbled away a late game
■■ SPORTS
For Memphis sports fans, ‘tis the season to be joyful
lead on Tuesday in Dallas during the final game of Emirates NBA Cup play and were a longshot to advance in any case. But the team already looks scary deep, even as they wait for key players to return from injury.
The Grizzlies have climbed to the third in the Western Conference, coming off a disappointing season in 2023-24. The roster is getting healthier by the week too. Zack Edey, Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson will provide the NBA with additional worries when they return from injury.
The Memphis Tigers’ football team is ranked in both national polls. The club sneaks in at 25 in the AP rankings, meanwhile the AFCA Coaches’ Poll puts them a notch higher at 24.
Tigers men’s basketball will likely find its way into the rankings too. The squad came into the season with a revamped roster and the expectations of a return to the NCAA tournament. So far, the calculation checks out as coach Penny Hardaway has his team rounding to form early.
There are numerous opportunities for teams of all levels to end 2024 on a high note — and give Memphis sports fans a reason to make a joyful noise.
Terry Davis
Ja Morant rises over the rim against the Portland Trailblazers. Morant recently made headlines for saying he won’t be attempting those dazzling dunks he’s known for, out of fear of injury. (Photo: Terry Davis/Tri-State Defender)