Grit and Grind

I believe you will remember this Memphis Grizzlies team for the rest of your days.

I believe the community needed a run like this.

I believe it's about more than basketball.

I believe in Memphis, in its people, and in its ability to surmount its problems with faith, joy and hard work.

FedExForum brimmed with Memphis in all its diversity, black, white, yellow and brown. The place rocked. Never mind the rising Mississippi. Come hell or high water has never had quite the same ring.

I believe that Tony Allen is an example of what can be done through hard work.

I believe Zach Randolph is living proof that you can overcome past mistakes.

I believe in grit and I believe in grind.

I believe the Grizzlies won more playoff games than any No. 8 seed in history.

*Text from Geoff Calkins column after the Grizzlies lost round 2 game 7 in OKC.

Hello Memphis...

That is how President Barack Obama greeted the crowd at Booker T. Washington High School's graduation today. BTW was chosen last week by the president from the top three finalists of a video competition. It was another exciting event for Memphis. We've had just a few of those lately:) I love this fans sign from Friday night's round 2 game 6 that the Grizzlies won:

Today is the first time Obama has been to Memphis since becoming president. Although the news media covered excitement about his visit, a few of my students shared some apprehension about his visit. They were worried that he would get shot like MLK, Jr. did when he visited Memphis. Their fears confirm that race is still an issue in our city.

We watched Air Force One land live and then took the entire school across the street to a CBU auditorium to watch the ceremony. It was definitely a day that makes me proud to be a teacher in Memphis.

BTW senior, Christopher Dean, introduced the president and after joking that everyone knows the biography of the president said, "Maybe I should just tell what the president speaking here today means to me. Our president speaking here today means that someone who looks like me can go to Columbia, and to Harvard, and become the president of the United States of America."

Two things Obama shared that I want to share with students in the future:
1. Despite adversity, every single one of you stood tall and said, "Yes, we can. Yes we can learn, yes we can succeed. You decided you would not be defined by where you come from, but by where you want to go, by what you want to achieve, by the dreams you hope to fulfill."

2. You learn how to learn. How to think critically and find solutions though unexpected challenges. I remember we use to ask our teachers, "Why am I going to need Algebra?" You're not going to have to solve for x to get a good job or be a good parent, but you will need to think through tough problems..." Math teachers you can tell you students that the president says you need Algebra.

Jubilant Defiance In The Face of a Rising River

Check out this great column about last night's game. One of the most epic nights of my life.

I wholeheartedly agree with Geoff Calkins in these sections:


"Now it was done. Now the epic was over. The Oklahoma City Thunder had defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in three overtimes, 133-123. So the fans stood and watched and cheered.
Yes, cheered. You couldn’t help but cheer. Cheer for the effort. Cheer for this game of games. Cheer for the privilege of being a witness, and a part of it all."

"It was jubilant defiance in the face of a rising river. It was Memphis at its absolute best." 

“The only thing I was waiting for was for Elvis to rise out of center court,” said Shane Battier. “Even that, I don’t think it would have surprised me at this point.”

I have lots of pictures and videos to post later, but I needed to document my excitement before I take a nap this afternoon.

Believe Memphis

There are lots of historic events going on in Memphis right now. The Mississippi River is flooding, I'm finished with my Capstone paper, and the Memphis Grizzlies are playing in the second round of the playoffs. This is the last few seconds of Game 6 when we beat the Spurs:

And in a couple of hours we will play game 3 against the OKC Thunder. We're 1-1 and about to play two games at home. I'm going to Game 4 on Monday, and I'll definitely be sporting my headband.

Go GRIZZLIES!