Memphis, Tn – Across the Mid-South it’s the season of giving.

Inside FedExForum, the Memphis Grizzlies fed those in need.

Grizzlies’ GM Chris Wallace said, “These community efforts are more important than ever at this point and time particularly during the holiday season.”

At the Thanksgiving lunch for the Memphis Family Shelter we found a woman without a job, struggling to provide for her family. She’s thankful though that the GRIZZ care, “Struggling, but everything is turning around so were doing pretty good.”

With the Grizz Girls on hand to help out, every mouth that needed Wednesday was filled.

Down the road inside the Union Mission, it was much of the same. Volunteers were feeding the cities homeless with more than 100 turkeys smoked by Corky’s.

Ask anyone here and they’ll tell you times are tough for every one on the street. But, all are thankful that there’s someone who cares.
 

FAST FACTS:

• Thousands Of Fans Watch The Tigers Take On Belmont At FedExForum
• Expectations Are High For A Winning Season
• Several Players & Coaches Are Now Tiger Fans

(Memphis 11/15/2011) Inside FedExForum, the Tigers wear throwback Memphis State uniforms in honor of the late All-American guard and legendary coach Larry Finch, but don’t let the uniforms fool you.

This is the 2011-2012 edition of the University of Memphis Basketball Team,
        
They’re the reason an announced crowd of more than 16-thousand fans either left work early or missed lunch to see the Tigers play Belmont in person.

Charles Parker says he couldn’t miss today’s game.

Parker said, “They look great. They move the ball well and play good defense. I’m real proud of them.”
         
The Tiger faithful are on their feet with high anticipation for this year’s team. It’s a team that’s now ranked number 10 in the country in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.

Katherine Wilson says she believes this team will go higher in the polls.

Wilson said, “I think we got what it takes. All we have to do is play together and play team ball.”
        
The Tigers boast standouts with last names like Witherspoon and Barton, and others. They also have several NBA players turned fans in the stands like Grizzlies star Zach Randolph and other NBA players who are benched because of the NBA lockout.

Randolph said, “Man, these Tigers. I’ve been at their facilities everyday working out with them and practicing with them and work out with their trainer and conditioning coach. So, just spending time with them and I’m a Tiger. I’m a Tiger right now.”

The lockout also means Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins has a chance to watch the Tigers and their coaching staff in action.

Hollins said, “I get to watch Josh, get to watch Damon do his thing on the bench and just see a young group of players working and coming together and doing a good job.”

Elliot Williams is a former Tiger player now with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Williams said, “You know the Tiger fans are incredible, even my one year. I know it’s always the same. It’s crazy.”
         
It’s a basketball city that’s crazy about its Tigers past, present and future and fans like Anita Ward say they’re pumped up over this team.

Ward said, “Let’s go Tigers! Go get them. I’m really excited, real excited about them.”

HERNANDO, Miss. — DeSoto Civic Center staff members are still flying high after organizing a successful charity basketball game by Memphis Grizzlies star Rudy Gay in just six days.But the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that the election night game that brought about 5,500 people to the Southaven location is only part of the reason for the excitement.It said other events also raise hopes that the facility is raising its profile. It was built 11 years ago as a place for DeSoto County high schools to hold graduation ceremonies.Other events include the Nov. 21 return of Frankie Beverly and Maze and a Dec. 5 concert by Guns N’ Roses — part of the group’s first U.S. tour in more than five years.

Allen Iverson’s(notes) last turn in the NBA was a disastrous run with both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2009-10 season. The Grizzlies dumped him because he wasn’t suited to blend into a team concept, and later that year Iverson dumped the 76ers with a few weeks in the season amongst myriad rumors of personal and financial problems. AI has bounced from gig to gig since then, and was hoping to possibly put together a charity game in Las Vegas over the upcoming weekend ostensibly featuring various NBA stars.

The problem is that we haven’t heard a whiff about stars actually committing to Iverson’s charity game. And, for reasons Iverson’s camp is chalking up to the ongoing and somewhat positive turn the NBA lockout negotiations have taken, AI’s contest has been postponed until the first week of January. Jan. 6 and 7, if all goes well.

Or, if all goes terribly.

Because no NBA players, stars or otherwise, are going to play in a charity game in the first week of January if there’s a season going. And if the dates sound familiar, you’ll recall that Jan. 5 was the cut-off date for a truncated season back during the 1998-99 season.

That is to say, if there’s any agreement between the NBA and its players between later this week and Jan. 5, then Iverson’s game is a no-go. And even if the nuclear winter becomes a reality, and the season is canceled, what NBA players are going to want to jet to Nevada to play in an exhibition game a day after learning that they’d be without paychecks for an entire season?

Not to say that the players aren’t being charitable, but the enervating reality of a lost season would be too much to overcome on a day’s notice.

It sounds like Allen is hedging his bets, no Vegas pun intended. In his defense, this is the smartest way to avoid embarrassment regarding this.

(There was going to be a part where I brought up the idea of AI getting his act together long enough to attempt one last comeback as a smart scorer off of a good team’s bench; but even this appalling optimist can’t muster that idea without deleting the entire thought.)

Related: Allen Iverson, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA lockout

This is how nasty (and silly) the NBA lockout has gotten. The Memphis Grizzlies won’t even allow their employees to be in the building when Rudy Gay’s exhibition game takes place tomorrow night. Reports the Commercial Appeal: “Good luck finding anything about the NBA lockout that is lenient for people who work Grizzlies games. All full- and part-time employees for Hoops LP — the Grizzlies’ parent company — are prohibited from working or even attending Rudy Gay’s charity basketball game Tuesday night at the DeSoto Civic Center. Griz president of business operations Greg Campbell delivered the message to team employees in an e-mail obtained by The Commercial Appeal. ‘As you may be aware, this coming Tuesday, Nov. 8 there will be a charity basketball game played at the Desoto Civic Center,’ Campbell wrote last Friday. ‘Please note that all active employees for Hoops, LP, both full-time and part-time, are not permitted to attend this game.’ That means security personnel, ticket-takers, ushers and concession workers were told not to be present at a game that benefits Gay’s Flight 22 Foundation. The nonprofit organization raises funds for childhood education. It is unclear whether arena workers risk termination by attending Gay’s game.”