The big day has arrived. The Grizzlies get to unwrap their present in the pretty box with the “4” wrapping paper and see what’s inside.
There will be an NBA Draft watch party, free for the public to attend, tonight at FedExForum from 6 PM until 30 minutes after the Grizzlies’ #32 pick is announced. Entertainment by favorites like the Grizzline, the Grizz Girls, and the Grizzlies Grannies and Grandpas. I Love Memphis Blog and SB Nation’s Grizzly Bear Blues will be there with giveaways, and Grizzlies on-air personalities and Grind City Media folks will be there as well. FedExForum concessions will be for sale, there will be a 50 percent off sale in the Grizzlies Den gift and clothing shop, and there will be free parking in the Toyota Parking Garage.
There is a lot of interest from other teams for trading for the Grizzlies’ fourth pick. The Grizzlies are said to be big fans of Wendell Carter, Jr. and might be willing to trade back a few spots to get Carter while unloading Chandler Parsons’ bad contract.
The biggest reason for all the interest from other teams is University of Texas center Mohamed Bamba with the freakish 7’10” wingspan. There are teams picking in the 6 to 9 range who really want him, but prevailing belief goes like this:
Para bailar la Bamba, se necesita
Una draft pick de cuatro
Or Dallas takes him at cinco
That’s what they think-o
I could live with such a trade only if 1) Ayton, Bagley, and Doncic are off the board; 2) the Grizzlies are positive Carter will still be on the board with the pick they receive in return; and 3) if they not only dump Parsons’ contract but get back a young asset who can contribute immediately, someone in the mold of Dillon Brooks although not necessarily at that position.
One thing’s for sure: Memphis cannot afford another Hasheem Thabeet or Tony Wroten-type pick. Nor can Memphis afford a DeMarre Carroll-type situation where they draft a player with potential and then fail to develop him. We will be watching the Seattle Grizzlies on TV in five years if the front office doesn’t get this pick right.
Cruisin’ Heavy headlines the Peabody rooftop party this evening. $10 cover, $20 VIP, ladies and hotel guests free before 7. Admission includes a buffet of mini spring rolls, pot stickers with soy sauce and hot mustard. VIP has a second buffet of mini lobster spring rolls, chicken satay with peanut sauce, assorted sushi, and fortune cookies.
The Redbirds have announced that their remaining Thursday home games, starting with tonight’s, will be televised in the Memphis market on Bounce. Bounce is on digital channel 5.2. For those with Comcast, it’s channel 906. The ‘birds play New Orleans at AutoZone Park with a 7:05 first pitch tonight. In addition to the all-you-can-eat wings specialty ticket I mentioned in yesterday’s post, there are $2 select draft beers for sale at locations around the park, and college students can purchase $5 bluff tickets with ID.
KIX on Beale is back with a free show tonight at 7 in Handy Park. Joe Nichols and Jimmie Allen will perform.
USA TODAY published a list of the best places across the USA to watch the World Cup. Downtown Irish pub The Brass Door made the list.
The Peabody is partnering with Victory Bicycle Studio to offer a rest & ride package.
I like my wings the way I like my women… extra hot (and not with a side of extra crazy)
My lunch adventure yesterday took an unusual route. Tuesday evening I posted to Facebook that I was thinking of trying a particular burger restaurant. I got several comments that the restaurant and its burgers were overpriced and overrated. One of the commenters suggested Sear Shack on Sanderlin instead.
So Wednesday I got on Google Maps and tried to figure out if Sear Shack was driveable from where I work on a lunch hour. “It looks like it is,” I thought. “If I’m late coming back, I won’t do it again.”
But then I started looking at what other restaurants were near there, restaurants that would also be on my lunch radar if Sear Shack was not too far to drive. Bosses, the wing and catfish restaurant on Poplar, caught my attention. They had an extra-hot wing sauce! I’ve been looking for extra-hot wings for lunch for a while. I decided I was more in the mood to eat wings than a burger, and made the drive to Bosses. It was not too far a drive. I was there in less than 10 minutes. Bright, clean place with several TVs to watch as you eat your food, friendly staff.
I ordered 6 wings with Questionable Decision sauce, which is what they call their extra-hot. The wings came with a big cup of blue cheese dressing (they have ranch if you prefer), and a generous portion of seasoned fries. Upon request they will give you celery at no extra charge.
Everything was tasty and I plan to come back… but not for the Questionable Decision sauce. That sauce was in no way, shape, form, or fashion extra-hot. When I eat extra-hot wings, I expect my eyes to be watering by the time I get to the last wing. I don’t even know if I would call this sauce regular hot. Bosses has a hot dry rub which, according to the menu, is slightly up the scale from Questionable Decision. I will try that next time. If that isn’t hot enough I may have to make a truly questionable decision and order the Suicide wings the time after that.
I’ll be watching the NBA draft at the Blind Bear tonight, with Perjorie T. Roll standing on the bar in front me for good luck. Back tomorrow with more news.