So while GrizzFans.com leader Mark Jenkins was waterparking in the southern Philadelphia, Philadelphonic Mizzip, I ran across a familiar sighting. The Grizzlies were getting a rare mention on ESPN.com and it was negative press, as usual.
Let me set the table for you.

The topic being discussed was Allen Iverson showing interest in the Grizzlies and wanting to play here. It has been documented that Allen Iverson loves playing here, he has thrown parties here, most likely has friends here and definitely has fans here.

Ric Bucher made the snarky remark about how far Iverson has fallen that he would send out feelers to the Grizzlies, and that noone says that they want to sign here.

I’ve gotten used to either not hearing squat about my adopted hometown team or hearing things along this trend, but this one just irked me. Maybe it was the late night last night that led to morning crankiness (Shouts to E&H, Ground Zero and The Blue Monkey) but I just could not let this sit. I’ve also gotten used to ESPN’s blatant oversight of smaller markets and their blatant obsession for all things in the Southland area. (That’s Southland LA, mind you.)     Read the rest of this entry »

Well it’s all over now. The Grizzlies have made a deal to acquire the worst person, since Hitler walked the earth, by trading  for Zach Randolph! You know ole Zach. The guy that has murdered all of  those people since he’s been in the league. You know the guy that’s been known to snatch purses from old ladies just for the fun of it. Don’t you remember when he ran that school bus full of  kids off  the road? Wait….isn’t he the Craigslist Killer? I think he has also been rumored to be the guy that provided A-Rod, Manny, Sammy Sosa and Roger Clemens with steriods. Man, this guy is just an all-around bad dude! He may be guaranteed to give us a double-double every night but he will also guarantee that the city’s crime rate will go up!

All I’ve heard for the most part today is how the Grizzlies made the worst possible move by acquiring big bad Zach the Maniac. I’m fully aware of  his past. From his off  the court  issues, as well as reports of  him being  a  bad teammate, to being difficult to coach at times. I’m not excusing any of that, but there are a few other things I’m also aware of. I’m aware that this guy is a “legit” 20 and 10 guy every night. I’m aware that he demands a double team which will make everyone on the floor better. I’m aware that this team is in need of a power forward in a bad(no pun intended) way.      Read the rest of this entry »

It was a rather predictable draft for the Grizz but the days that have followed have been anything but. We’ve kept all of our picks this year, but we bringing in guys and sending them right back out quicker than our playoff appearances.

            The bottom line is the Grizzlies and owner Michal Heisley have conceded that they can’t afford another season like the past three. Making it to the playoffs isn’t good enough; we’ve got to win at least a couple games.

             With this mindset, Heisley only cares about wins, which is evident in the Grizzlies’ trade of recently acquired Quentin Richardson for everyone’s favorite Zach Randolph.

            He’s well known in the league by players and coaches alike for being difficult to deal with and caring more about himself than the team. He’s also averaged around 20 points a game for the past few years. We’re at the point where all that matters is a player’s actions on the court.

            The Grizzlies have dealt with the obnoxious-guy-in-the-locker-room-who-thinks-he-deserves-better player before, but Jason Williams didn’t do a whole lot good for us either. If Randolph can put some serious points up on the board, grab some rebounds and help us get back to winning ways, who will really care what’s happening in the locker room?

            If we were the Lakers, we could sign a guy with known attitude issues (it’s up to debate whether Ron Artest has really seen the error in his ways) and not have to worry about it. They won’t hesitate to get rid of him at the first sign of trouble (see note: Terrell Owens and Dallas Cowboys).

            Same with the Cavs. Lebron James has always been arrogant but no one minded until this postseason when it took the unnecessary turn. But what do they care? They’re the top team in the East. They’ll keep winning and his attitude will subside.

            But us. We’ve got to hope either Randolph won’t be too much of a hindrance, or if he is, he’s helping us win so we don’t really mind.

            He’s the cheaper and riskier option to David Lee from the Knicks, but when tickets aren’t selling that’s the way it is.

            It has also been rumored that Allen Iverson might be making his way to yet another team, but we’re slightly different than the Nuggets or the Pistons. We don’t have championship aspirations. We have game winning aspirations. One wonders how a guy like Iverson will do on a team like this one.

            He’d definitely be a starter and the team leader, but our former all-star Pau Gasol wasn’t happy with that so how can we expect a guy like Allen Iverson to be content?

            On the other hand, if Iverson takes a pay cut to play for the Grizz, I’ll take back everything bad I ever said about him. Like his attitude, or he doesn’t always work that hard, or he’s not a real leader.

            All that goes out the window if he makes this surprise move.

            It’s unfortunate that the Grizzlies have come to the point where we have to take players we know could be troublesome, but that’s what the past several years of bad decisions have done to us. Sure these aren’t amazing decisions, but we’re on the right track.

            Once again, we’ll have to hope for a little luck, but what’s so bad about that? We don’t have the luxury of relying on talent like most teams.

Make way for Eddie Winslow.

Amidst rumors that Grizz owner Michael Heisley nixed a deal to offer David Lee a FA contract, the Grizzlies decide to trade Quentin Richardson (Q. Rich, we hardly knew ye) to the Clips for Zach Randolph. Essentially, we traded Darko Milicic for a starting-caliber 4. Grizz win! Grizz win!

Eh…

The problem is, Zach Randolph has been a perennial loser everywhere he has gone. He has put up good numbers, but lost. He is a fat Rudy Gay who had a better supporting cast. We have a coach who I still look at as a glorified interim, and whose personality is not strong enough to deal with nor has the clout to deal with a personality like Zach Randolph. There is also the issue of him corrupting our young guns.      Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll leave it to one (all?) of my fellow bloggers to discuss the negatives of our newest Grizzly, Mr. Zach Randolph and step outside of my comfort zone to point out 5 positives of the trade. Here goes:

1) He can no longer kill the Grizzlies when we play against his team. Whether NYK, the Blazers, the Clippers, it didn’t matter. Zach Randolph absolutely destroyed the Grizzlies whenever, wherever we played his team. Now some of you can (validly) argue that this is because we’ve never had a power forward, but still. Just last year he hit a buzzer beater at half time in route to 37 points in a Clipper blowout. Yes, Clipper blowout.

2) This is more a positive for Zach Randolph, but he doesn’t have to go nearly as far to get his haircuts. Yes, Zach Randolph is a long-time contributor to the local Memphis economy as his barber lives here in town. This was confirmed last year at the Southern Heritage Classic, which Zach was in town for. So we got that going for us.

3) Speaking of stimulating the economy, one look at Zach Randolph, and you know he likes to eat. Being around the Forum so often, one has to expect at least a slight up-tick in local restaurant revenue.       Read the rest of this entry »