I'm over Basketball!

Not exactly. I'm just done with it until October, now that the Grizzlies amazing season has officially come to an end and all. It's too painful otherwise. Does that make sense?

No lamenting here. Just letting it all wash over me, like the muddy Mississippi. I appreciate the power and the flood of emotions. I believe. It's a "you had to be there" situation to the Nth degree, because I'm still at a loss for words.

At least 18,119 other people may try to explain it to you. Who am I kidding? A majority of the city of Memphis may try to explain it to you. We're a bit passionate about our team, you see.

Maybe I'll just do it with a song instead.




~~J

Growlin'...

even after:

twirlin'

whirlin'

wavin'

reelin'

&

workin'
its little heart out,

it still knows how to ROAR!

~~J

*(un)BELIEVE(able) MEMPHIS*

Madness.

Just sayin'.

~~J

Party like it's 2001-2006!

He. Is. Back.

Who? Shane Battier.

(photo credit probably Nikki Boertman)

Dust off the autographs, cards, and newspaper articles...the Bobblehead, the CelebriDuck, and the jersey...

I don't have to explain my exuberance to you, Memphis. You understand why I'm as giddy as...a girl living in the wrong state who has to "watch" via the Internet.

I'm not complaining, of course.

Graduate school is graduate school--even if it means missing the homecoming of our dear one, our Citizen Shane.

(Although I did tell some I was going to drop out and speed away in the middle of the night just to catch a game--but that's what SPRING BREAK is for!)

*Embarrassing "Historical Content" to Follow*

I went searching through my private journals, knowing I had juicy material about the night Shane was traded away. I found it. I guess it isn't half bad for almost five years ago. The following was written 6/29/2005 in response to NBA Draft Night:

------------------------

Say it Ain't Shane...

It's better to have Loved than to never have Loved at all?

correction: It's better to have Shaned than to never have Shaned at all.

Sure, it has potential to be the 2nd greatest Draft Night in Grizz history, but why does it hurt so bad? Because this hurts. Like Adam Morrison admitted to TEARS in a commercial as well as an interview last might, I shall admit to tears of my own. Yes, I'm an emotional person and Yes, I cried. Why NOT cry?

The city is losing one of it's prominent Good Guys. Remember that goofy photo of Mr. Battier in a CAPE a few years ago? He can go ahead and put it back on, and someone give him a permanent M to wear across his chest as well.

Batt-man, becomes Memphis-man, or MOXIE-man (my favorite Shane-word)

St. Jude and the Zoo will miss him. The dozens of children dribbling basketballs (and reading) will miss him as well.

Now the Memphis/Shane Fans? Once you've let Shane into your heart, it's not as if he is leaving anytime soon. He sticks there...and refuses to let go.

We hope for him the ultimate best, because that is what he always gives. We also hope he will always be a part of this city--because we love him like our brother, our son, and our best friend. And because HE is Shane, we know that these two hopes will come true.
--------------------------
.
.
.
Well! Guess what, kids? (See the above!)

~~J

At the End, At the Beginning

Since I’m leaving the state (really soon) I have made an honest attempt to go through all of the drawers and boxes which encompass the two rooms I call “mine.”

It’s no secret that I’m a pack rat. But I’m pretty sure I haven’t reached “hoarding” proportions, yet.

Nothing is random. Nothing.

I do have a gazillion or so ticket stubs (movies, games, concerts), cards (birthday, thank you, playing), alongside name badges (work, work, work) floating about...

You know that full page ad Shane Battier took out to thank the city when he was traded to Houston? I have that. (It was the end of my great Memphis Grizzlies love affair, after all)

I have pictures from when the Grizzlies revealed their new uniforms downtown for the public. That means a very proud Lorenzen Wright strutting around.

One of the last things the (now defunct) Growlers (grassroots supports' group for our local NBA team) did was to give all of our monies to the Sierra Wright Scholarship Foundation when we disbanded.

As a Growler board member I was able to attend a lot of events/games when the team was new in town. So, I have several pieces autographed by Ren.

Off the court, he always had a smile on his face to balance the scowl and ferocity he had when playing the game.

It’s been hard to think about a lot of things lately and his murder is only the tip of the iceberg.

The world is nonsensical, random, and connected all at the same time.

None of these actual things are being thrown away though; only organized and condensed into manageable forms. Such is my life, mind, and emotions.

I'm often asked HOW I remember all the things I do. And I don't know. Maybe the physical things I chose to keep rather than discard help. But really, the power of "recall" is truly a gift.

I'm just going to continue keeping and writing as I go along my path; it's all part of the next chapter.

~~J

What I Learned Today:

to accept a B- and realize that it’s a good great grade (especially in an upper division subject that is NOT your major)

Nuns ride around Memphis in late model Tercels (however, they do NOT go the speed limit)

saying “don’t drop the coffee” internally means you will do just that (in the front seat of your car even)

always have a towel in your car (see above), or in your Yoga bag

(nataliedee)

filling out seven requests for transcripts makes your hand tired

emailing with a professor via BlackBerry is convenient

some SEC schools help fund their football program by charging $7.50 PER transcript (thanks a lot!)

despite what happened the last time my Tigers played a certain team, I will be watching tonight (but closing my eyes when they "talk" about "it")

even though I will be "half-way" teaching our class (mini-presentation) on Thursday, I'm NOT worried!

(it was confirmed) that I love a bunch of people!

~~J

Tiger Shark:

(natalie dee)

It's even better with sound effects. Go ahead, you know you want to...SEE! I can't stop laughing. Genius.

~~J

Josh Pastner: Wunderkind!

Pronunciation: \ˈvu̇n-dər-ˌkint\

Definition: one who succeeds in a competitive or highly difficult field or profession at an early age

***
Prima! Wunderbar!

I'm stop throwing around my "fancy" German and get on with the show!

The University of Memphis has a very special announcement, and it's a boy!

Not only is he a multi-tasker (as evidence from Val Canez/Tucson Citizen shows), but unlike the one who shall remain nameless (think: Lord Voldemort) he actually turned down Kentucky last year.

Students and professors on campus this morning seemed excited. Maybe it was in part because now we can finally stop the speculation madness. But I heard a lot of great comments:

Finally! They didn't have to go far to find him.
One of the Youngest? Good! He'll have fresh new ideas!

Then there were the comments by complete strangers I heard OFF CAMPUS:

Really, he did all the recruiting, ya know?
The players can related to him better, he's young!

Open arms! And it's not lost on me that one year ago tonight...well, you remember what happened. You were watching, mouth agape with tear-stained faces too!

1996: Arrives at Arizona as a walk-on guard from Kingwood, Texas

1997: Part of UA's NCAA championship team

1998: Receives bachelor's in family studies after only 2.5 years

1999: finished master's in teacher education

2000-01: Lute Olson names him UA graduate assistant coach

April 2002: Is named UA assistant

2005: Rivals.com calls him one of nation's top 25 recruiters

2007: Turns down Kentucky assistant's job*

2008: Accepts Memphis assistant's job

Today: It becomes official at Noon!

Yes, he is 31 years old. Yes, I refer to him as "the HOT ONE, right there on the bench..." (a bit schoolgirl, I know). YES, we have a new head coach...new era of Tiger basketball starting.....very soon!

~~J

Dead to Me(mphis):

It is the Independent Student Newspaper of The University of Memphis--

(the only newspaper on campus)

And I was more than pleased when I saw the front page.

The first words to leave my mouth? EXACTLY!

And being the consummate "pack rat," I took at least five copies home with me.

What can I say? It's a wonderful front page. Very "modular" as they say in the journalism world. Not too much gray space. There is an obvious focus. I like the use of fonts. It's simple and straightforward.

Kudos!

~~J

In like a Tiger, Out like a Wildcat?

I hope this ends the madness and we won’t have to deal with it again for a very long time. Because frankly, my outside voice is weary of screaming in silence.

(Pantomiming being stabbed in the back with a very large knife is fun though)

At least the PAUSE button has been depressed and we can go back to our regularly scheduled lives. I don’t really recall what I was doing on Sunday night or early Monday morning though.

I’m pretty sure it had something to do with class(es).

I have another fiction/short story due in less than two weeks. There is also a very large research paper (will I ever get over my fear of William Faulkner?) due two days after the short story.

And I think I'm working 30 hours a week, on top of my five classes. It's funny how easily our thoughts shift in moments of (perceived) high drama.

Speculating over a new head coach for our beloved Tigers basketball program seems to be next on the menu of public opinion.

Mike Anderson (Missouri) has signed a new deal to remain firmly planted. I think Memphis is classy enough to resist riding in and stealing a coach.

(Did my outside voice just win?)

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match…

There is a lot to consider now. Sheer determination and grit would fit nicely. SKILL should be on the top of the Want list. No hasty decision needed. But don't push PAUSE again, please.*

*Although now I am versed in the fine art of simultaneous BlackBerry and Note-Taking.

Thankfully this episode has erased what happened Thursday night. Can anyone even remember that far back? Friday I was walking emotional wreckage.

I even had to turn off NCAA action. Do you know how serious that is?

In the grand scheme of things, not really. But if you are reading this in the first place--you know where I'm coming from.

~~J

Bundles of nerves, everywhere.

And back on campus...

Listening to opinions, questions and ideas.

Heated cell phone conversations. Pondering. Hushed tones...

We sit and wait. We go to class.

This morning we collectively covered our eyes while looking at the modular design of various front pages across the country.

Lexington Herald-Leader, I mean you.

There was a riveting lecture about British Literature (Modernism). Yes, actually very interesting. Then students started disappearing.

An announcement? Check your BlackBerry. No? Nothing official? Okay.

The pale yellow tulips are opening up. Little faces welcoming the new bright blue sky. The clouds seem to be rolling away. Ever. So. Slightly.

An announcement? Turn on the radio. No? Nothing official? Okay.

No news is good news, did someone once say? I beg to differ at this point in the day. So I continue to imagine it all in my mind:

I see you shiver with anti-ci-........SAY IT! pation.

~~J

Et tu, Coach Cal?

The “fear” was palpable today on campus, no doubt about it.

I saw it behind the eyes of everyone in Memphis blue. We are a town of Blues, by the way. The irony is never lost on me.

Will he stay or Will he go? (I'll stop before I ruin a brilliant song.)

What about the $$$? So, what about the $$$? I can’t even imagine the amount of money being tossed around in conversation, so I won’t include figures here.

The thought of Coach Cal being lured away in the night, ironically enough for greener pastures (it is horse country up there) feels extremely personal. It makes me sick to my stomach. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

(Can a girl include too many clichés in one blog posting?)

As a soon-to-be Memphis alumna + basketball FANATIC, I feel as if I have a right to state my case about the subject.

If there is one thing John Calipari is good at (there are several, I know) it would have to be his ability to talk up the town. There was a great article in the Commercial Appeal specifically about this talent.

He’s a big dose of confidence for the city and the university.

Cal makes us feel good about ourselves. The city in which I live, the university in which I attend has a problem with our self-image. Our own reflects bothers us.

Confidence. I mean the ability to look ourselves in the mirror and realize:

“Hey—I’m not that bad. In fact, I’m kinda awesome!”

Cal fights for the little guys. The underdog. He's spent so much time defending our school. Our city. Our team. Our conference.

And now he wants to turn around and coach for the "big cats," so to speak?

Et tu, Coach Cal?

There is only one Adolph Rupp. Just like there is only one Dean Smith. Why even go there?

If it isn't the money, what else is it? An NCAA title? We're on the verge. We are on the verge. WE ARE ON THE VERGE. (Do I have to say it again?)

Why go to a place and live in the shadows of the former, when you’re doing a great job carving a new path—a new way on your own already?

By the way, it took Rupp 18 seasons before he had his first title.

It took Smith 21.

We are looking forward to season ten, Coach Cal. The pieces are falling into place now. The stars are in alignment. Stop talking for a minute and listen. Can you hear it?

Your destiny is calling. OUR destiny is calling.

It’s right here, in the little city alongside the Mississippi river.

No where else.

~~J

"Happy March Madness, Y'all!"

I bring my title to you today in quotations, because it was actually said by one of my professors on the Eve of the First Day (of the tournament).

I kid you not!
HOW COOL IS THAT?

Thursday morning (the First Day) I was listening to the radio on the way to my 8 a.m. class. I was sufficiently decked out in Tiger Blue (and white).

Someone said that more people call into work/leave sick on the first day of the tournament than any other day of the year. Isn't that crazy?

I "half-way" followed suit and oddly came down with my own case of a mysterious "basketball disease" during the 11-2 time slot.

This is what happens when your school finds itself with a basketball team playing for the title (again). This is what happens when aforementioned basketball team is one of the top three in the country. This is what happens when the coach of the aforementioned basketball team is named Coach of the Year by a national publication.

Superstition keeps me from going any further.

People who don't even care about college basketball seem to become experts Mid-March. Which I appreciate, unless they talk bad about "my team." Then I get a little upset. Because, what do "they" know anyway?

(Of course I know that none of us "really know" in the first place, but that is beside the point)

Now that half the field has been eliminated, I figured it was time to blog about the magic number: 32. There are exactly 32 teams currently vying for the title of NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

Let the game(s) continue!

~~J

And so it ends, but begins:

Fear My Tiger Style:

nataliedee.com

Wow. How appropriate is this? I'm said it before and I'll say it again: an elephant's faithful 100%! Whoops, sorry. I channeled Dr. Seuss for a second there. I've mentioned both Natalie Dee and Toothpaste for Dinner before. They are responsible for some of my absolute favorite webcomics EVER!

~~J

Top of the World (almost):

So back from the "glorious run" some call a DREAM, but we call a reality (because WE are MEMPHIS)...

A lot of exciting things have occurred this week (despite the result Monday night). I've come to realize the reason WHY I love, love, LOVE sports. And it's simple really.

Where else in the world can you experience EVERY human emotion over the short course of a season?

And despite experiencing all of these emotions, you actually SURVIVE at the end! It's like a good book or film. Or maybe it's even like a hot fling with a foreign exchange student. You know it has to end eventually--but then when it does you have a lot of moments to remember fondly.

(and don't get me wrong, I've been in a "mourning period" just like everyone else--and it will be a long time before I can talk about the actual game)

There are just a couple weeks before FINALS...in my case, it's just two (and four) more classes respectively. I am relatively sure of the actual GRADE(s) I'll be receiving as well.

I actually have been in touch with an English Adviser at the University of Memphis this week and we have a meeting scheduled next week. I even got to register for the Summer and Fall semester yesterday!

Forthcoming classes
(over the remainder of the 2008):

Math Foundations II
England since 1714
British Literature to 1750
Forms of Poetry
Mass Communication Law
Feature Writing for Newspaper/Magazine

Hold on to your seat, my friends. There appears to be a light at the end of this tunnel (or over at the Frankenstein Place)...

~~J

T I G E R S !

I am a BIG MESS OF WEEPY!

seriously.

If you know me at all, you KNOW I am like--a basketball fanatic. Some are loons over football (for example) and I really adore ALL SPORTS (oddly enough) but my CRAZY really comes out for BASKETBALL.

Ask my Honors English teacher from high school. She really wasn't expecting an 8-page research paper about the genius of Dean Smith and North Carolina basketball. She got one anyway.

So here we go friends.

It's National Championship GAME DAY and my (soon-to-be Alma Mater) is playing for the TITLE! How nuts is this? It's been a "dream" ride with our "dream" team, so to speak. I've been quietly holding my breath & keeping my fingers crossed along the way.

The other day I got a phone call from someone who spent about 10 minutes telling me all the reasons why the Tigers couldn't beat UCLA--how they deserved no attention whatsoever. He used all the "reasons" we've heard a million times in the national media.

I couldn't believe it. I didn't say much and chalked it up to the green monster (he's a Vols fan anyway). After the Tigers BEAT UCLA though, I made sure to bring it up.

I've been counting down since Yesterday at 5pm (27 hours) and here we sit roughly at 8 hours. Thank goodness, I was already scheduled off from work. Thank goodness, I have no homework to finish.

I want to watch the game with a million other fans. I know there isn't a "room" big enough to hold us all and the fear of turning into Roberto Benigni accepting Oscars for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL in 1999 is very great!

But I have a feeling that everyone will be dancing around like a hyperactive puppy having to kiss and hug everybody--there is no shame in sharing the LOVE!

T-minus how many minutes?


~~J

Texas Two-Step?

Dear Derrick Rose, et al,

We love you too! Way to go Tigers!

The final 3 minutes of that game had to be the longest in the history of the world, am I right?

Despite the fact our beloved Tigers were never behind, I was too nervous to say anything really realize what was unfolding before my eyes until the final buzzer sounded.

I was able to pull off a “WOO HOO” everything the ball went through the hoop though.

WOO HOO count? 59
which puts Memphis with 85 points (Texas 67).

I even celebrated the victory by finally doing my Math homework (which hardly took anytime at all). I know--I'm SUCH a rebel!

Records are meant to be broke, while listening to the broadcast I learned that Memphis is only ONE WIN away from the most wins in NCAA history. WOW!

Someone coined it at the end of last season and apparently, these Tigers do remember the Alamo(dome)! How else could they fight their way back with such fire?

We’ve got another week to go until glory. Stepstep, Step (pause) Step!

~~J

Eye of the Tiger(s):

I am dying here. Totally dying.

Sports, Schmorts.

In less than an hour from now the "little team that couldn't" tips off in the Regional Finals in Houston. Yes, Houston. Come in, Houston.

Against Texas, yes Texas.
Hook THIS, Texas.

As always, Mr. Geoff Calkins wrote a beautiful Sports Editorial published in the Commercial Appeal today, which you can read HERE.

I understand that any college basketball team/program in the country would be quite excited about being in the Elite 8 once, but as this is our THIRD year in a row...IT has become the 5-Ton Gorilla on our collective backs (pardon the over-used expression).

We're seen as the team from the wrong side of the tracks. We're not as prestigious as North Carolina, Kansas, or Duke. We're completely blue-collar and represent the underdogs even though we're seeded FIRST in our region and have won 100+ games in 3 years. Weird, huh?

Literally, it's difficult to get any respect whatsoever!

This city has been painted BLUE for months now--Memphis BLUE. We all want this so bad, SO BAD! There is energy in the air and I can feel it AS WELL AS see it. Every single day I see people decked out in their best Memphis Blue.

I particularly like seeing our seasoned fans wearing items from YEARS ago. Complete CLASSICS on so many levels!

Okay. I just finished reading the Calkins article and I'm totally on the verge of TEARS. This is just too much to handle. May they have another first half like the one they did Friday night.

I should be studying. My stomach is in knots. I tossed & turned and turned & tossed all night. It's a completely gray day here in Memphis. It's been storming & pouring and I can NOT shake this feeling...this ELECTRIC feeling.

T I G E R S, gooooooo TIGERS!

~~J

Come in, Houston.

Too close, WAY TOO CLOSE!

Did anyone else chew your fingernails off this evening?

Or maybe you prefer the more subtle "yelling at the screen" method to make it through?

(I enjoy a combination of both)

By the way, thank goodness we're not that other blue & gray team, because their going home.

I'm not going to focus on the negative (the Free throw phrase) and just praise all that is holy for the amazing ability our Tigers have to get it done by any means necessary. The defense was quite brutal & how many blocked shots or deflections were there?

I'm waiting for a Twilight Zone moment to occur because I swear I could feel all the bumps and bruises. Maybe they will psychically manifest too?

If you've caught most of the tournament action over the last few days, you've probably seen the new SPARQ Nike commercial...doesn't it make you want to run up and down any court or field?

The song, List of Demands (Reparations) by Saul Williams is absolutely fantastic--both in rhythm and lyrical content. Pure poetry put to soul. You can almost feel your heart jump out of your chest if you pay attention.

Or maybe that's just the Tigers causing my heart to thump thump thump. I hope we have no problems, Houston.

~~J