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The Memphis Grizzlies get the 2008-2009 season started this afternoon with their annual media day session. Training camp gets going officially tomorrow.
To get ready for the season, Chris Herrington continues his look at the team’s roster on the Flyer’s Grizzlies blog, Beyond the Arc. Check back throughout the week for more player analysis and notes from media day and practices.
The U.S. House of Representatives has defeated a bi-partisan bill enabling the federal government to buy up $700 billion worth of suspect Wall Street securities in a bid to stabilize the economy. Voting no were 133 Republicans and 95 Democrats. The failure of the measure generated a record plunge in prices on Wall Street and a crisis atmosphere in financial institutions, where credit was frozen. More details as they are learned.
Rudy Gay cracked jokes, took command, and challenged his teammates. Twenty-one feet worth of international big men of mystery made the scene. And the consensus was that O.J. Mayo is a man not to be trifled with. Chris Herrington opens his notebook from Grizzlies media day at Beyond the Arc, the Flyer’s Grizzlies blog.
Former state Senator John Ford of Memphis, already serving 5 ½ years in a federal prison in Louisiana for a bribery conviction related to the Tennessee Waltz scandal, picked up another 14 years Monday in Nashville from U.S. District Judge Todd J. Campbell.
9th District congressman Steve Cohen, who won considerable attention several weeks ago for his sponsorship of a House resolution apologizing for slavery, is in the eye of the nation again — this time for his successful sponsorship of legislation to protect American writers against punitive libel suits abroad.
By all means, clink the link. Go inside and agree or disagree.
Weekend food shoppers, rejoice! Now you can jumpstart your work week with plenty of fresh produce because four Easy-Way stores are open on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
As Easy-Way regulars know, the markets have never been opened for business on Sundays. In fact, the chain’s website cites “no Sunday hours” as a bonus for employees.
“I guess we’ll have to update our site,” says Easy-Way manager Steven Carter, laughing. …
After “postponing” his campaign to help solve the financial crisis and leaving tonight’s debate in Oxford at loose ends, John McCain announced this morning he will attend the debate after all.
From his statement: “The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the Senator will travel to the debate this afternoon. Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners.”
Read the full statement at the Washington Post.
More coverage, including on-site reporting from the debate, to come.
What in the world is Southaven mayor Greg Davis talking about?
They say alcohol and politics shouldn’t mix, and while that’s probably a good rule of thumb, it’s no excuse to miss MPACT Memphis’ Debate Watch Party at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall at 6:30 p.m. tonight. At least we now know that both candidates will be debating.
Or you could forget America altogether and head to the Memphis Botanic Gardens for days two and three of their Japanese Festival. …
Rock fans have a tough choice tonight: At the New Daisy Theatre, on Beale, Ohio blues-rock duo The Black Keys, whose commanding meld of hill-country blues and rough-edged indie rock has garnered a deserving cult following, will headline a show that also featured the homecoming of local rising star Jay Reatard. It will be compelling to see Reatard play a local concert before a large crowd where many — most, really — aren’t there to see him and probably aren’t familiar with his work. Doors open at 8 p.m. at the Daisy. Admission is $25.
Meanwhile, in Midtown, the semi-annual Gonerfest kicks off with an early party at Goner’s Cooper-Young headquarters and a full slate of bands later at the Hi-Tone Café.
On his blog this week, resident know-it-all Vance Lauderdale unveils his new 2009 calendar and unearths a scary old Goldsmith’s ad and a story about “Memphis’ Number One Hero Dog”….
