Give 'Em a "W" for Effort
I'm gonna try this post AGAIN.....I tried it a week or so ago, clicked "Save", and then the Blogger servers promptly laughed at my attempt, mocking my wasted time, and coughed back an error message. And didn't even apologize, either.
I've got to give 'props' to our Memphis Grizzlies. But this is a classic case of "To better appreciate where we are now, we must understand where we've been" type of thing (I'm sure Plato or Socrates or somebody said that more concisely, but oh well....)
It was 2001, and Memphis had just inherited a bad team. Proverbial laughing-stock of the NBA. Throw in some likewise inherited poor business decisions, bad trades, and then some key injuries....you had a recipe for NBA upside-down cake. Two friends of mine and I bought a "Power Pack" that season--an 11-game "mini-season-ticket" package. We witnessed lopsided losses. We saw 4th quarter leads evaporate. Every time a game looked promising, the result was the same--a LOSS. We said, being only partially facetious, that our goal for the year was to see a victory. I think we finally did--something that they only did 23 times that season (a 28% winning percentage).
Last year, the scrappy Grizzlies climbed into view on the NBA's radar of respectability. The previous season's record of 28 wins was blown to pieces with a 50-32 record. 50 wins and the playoffs! Even though we were swept by the mighty Spurs, I was actually at an NBA Playoff game (Game 3) involving my team. It was fun to be a fan again.
This season started slow (5-11 record). No big deal. Then, Coach Hubie Brown suddenly retires. Uh oh--that can't be good. Then, Don Poier, the only radio announcer the team has ever know, dies of an apparent heart attack while in Denver for a game vs. the Nuggets. And they had to play that night (they lost, by the way). Now the leading scorer, Pau Gasol, is hurt and gonna miss at least 5 games. Ditto for James Posey. Mike Miller and Bonzi Wells had to leave the game last night w/ injuries. What does all THIS translate to? Currently the Grizz are 26-20. 14-3 since Christmas. 3rd place in their division. If the playoffs started today, they would be the 6th seed in the West. All for a team that some in Memphis didn't want.
Keep it up, Grizz. You're doing this city some good. In a town that's recently made headlines for their Mayor's illegitimate kid and state Senator's multiple households, you're hustling, and winning, and making this fan proud to wear your logo on his cap. No lawsuits, no DUI's, no battered girlfriends. Just a 1st class team that I love. Go Grizzlies. And Rest In Peace, Don. I miss your broadcasts.
I've got to give 'props' to our Memphis Grizzlies. But this is a classic case of "To better appreciate where we are now, we must understand where we've been" type of thing (I'm sure Plato or Socrates or somebody said that more concisely, but oh well....)
It was 2001, and Memphis had just inherited a bad team. Proverbial laughing-stock of the NBA. Throw in some likewise inherited poor business decisions, bad trades, and then some key injuries....you had a recipe for NBA upside-down cake. Two friends of mine and I bought a "Power Pack" that season--an 11-game "mini-season-ticket" package. We witnessed lopsided losses. We saw 4th quarter leads evaporate. Every time a game looked promising, the result was the same--a LOSS. We said, being only partially facetious, that our goal for the year was to see a victory. I think we finally did--something that they only did 23 times that season (a 28% winning percentage).
Last year, the scrappy Grizzlies climbed into view on the NBA's radar of respectability. The previous season's record of 28 wins was blown to pieces with a 50-32 record. 50 wins and the playoffs! Even though we were swept by the mighty Spurs, I was actually at an NBA Playoff game (Game 3) involving my team. It was fun to be a fan again.
This season started slow (5-11 record). No big deal. Then, Coach Hubie Brown suddenly retires. Uh oh--that can't be good. Then, Don Poier, the only radio announcer the team has ever know, dies of an apparent heart attack while in Denver for a game vs. the Nuggets. And they had to play that night (they lost, by the way). Now the leading scorer, Pau Gasol, is hurt and gonna miss at least 5 games. Ditto for James Posey. Mike Miller and Bonzi Wells had to leave the game last night w/ injuries. What does all THIS translate to? Currently the Grizz are 26-20. 14-3 since Christmas. 3rd place in their division. If the playoffs started today, they would be the 6th seed in the West. All for a team that some in Memphis didn't want.
Keep it up, Grizz. You're doing this city some good. In a town that's recently made headlines for their Mayor's illegitimate kid and state Senator's multiple households, you're hustling, and winning, and making this fan proud to wear your logo on his cap. No lawsuits, no DUI's, no battered girlfriends. Just a 1st class team that I love. Go Grizzlies. And Rest In Peace, Don. I miss your broadcasts.
posted by Eric C at 9:21 AM
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