The big local news today is that Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant isn’t going to get his supermax extension.
Under current NBA collective bargaining rules, a player of Ja’s experience can sign an extension valued at 25% of the salary cap. This is known as a max deal. That’s what Ja got, 5 years at $194 million.
However, if a player of Ja’s experience gets named to All-NBA teams in two of years 2, 3, and 4 of his career, he becomes eligible to be paid 30% of the salary cap, known as a supermax. Ja’s contract contained an “escalator” clause that would have boosted his salary to $233 million over 5 years if he made an All-NBA team this year (he made the first team last year). Almost $40 million more.
All-NBA teams were announced yesterday. Ja was not on them.
He won’t be riding the escalator.
Ja’s on-court production was as good as last year, so it seems pretty clear the All-NBA miss was related to his 8-game suspension by the NBA. He was suspended for appearing to be waving a gun around at a club and posting video of the incident to Instagram.
I hope this sends a message to young Memphians that messing around with guns is stupid and can cost you big.
Max’s Sports Bar has pizzas now! They posted a pic of a yummy-looking pepperoni pizza to social media. It’s known as The Pep Rally and is full of Old World and regular pepperoni. A look at Max’s updated food menu reveals other pizzas including Cheese, Margherita, Hawaiian (ugh pineapple on pizza), Meatball, and BBQ (featuring Porkosaurus rub).
If you want Max’s pizza without leaving the house, Central Delivery will bring it to you up until 8:45 PM. If you want it later than that, the bar is on Uber Eats.
It’s just amazing how much they have been able to do in such a little space. Cheers to Max and staff for bringing so much joy to South Main.
Joyce Cobb plays Sunset Jazz on Court Square this Sunday from 6 to 8.
DJ Epic headlines tonight’s Peabody rooftop party. 6-10 PM, $15 to get in, or $30 if you want to go VIP.
Memphis 901 FC hosts Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Saturday night at 7 at AutoZone Park. Use promotional code WYNNE when purchasing tickets and $5 of the price will support sports teams at Wynne High School, heavily damaged by recent tornadoes.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is ongoing at the Renasant Convention Center through June 10.
I’ve been eating the patty melt, a new addition to Blind Bear’s menu, a lot lately. It is really good. They are not shy about loading that sandwich up with rich, gooey cheese.
Today is Hostess Cupcake Day.
Malaysia Live! with dance troupe JKKN is at the Cannon Center tonight. Malaysia is this year’s Memphis in May honored country.
Karly Driftwood headlines Live at the Tracks at Central Station tonight. Jennifer Westwood & Dylan Dunbar will also perform. 6:30-9:30.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association meets Tuesday night, May 16, at the South Main Artspace Lofts on St. Paul Avenue. A.D.’s Hot Dogs, a hot dog stand that operates off Beale and Main, will provide the food. This will be a joint meeting with the South Main Association. 6-8 PM.
The Falls Building at Front and Court, formerly an office building (where I worked 2007-08), will be renovated into apartments.
We will soon be seeing cops on electric bikes Downtown. Very good and much needed.
Los Comales is coming to The Edge District. The Mexican restaurant will be inside Stop 345 on Madison.
The CA’s Jennifer Chandler has a list of BBQ Fest must-sees. The festival is back on the river Wednesday-Saturday of next week.
First post in 31 days. I know a lot of people have been asking where I am. I hear there’s even a thread on Reddit about me. (Hi, Reddit!)
The short answer is that I’ve been experiencing financial and health issues that have left me too depressed to type blog posts. I don’t want to go into more detail than that in such a public place.
The good news is that I feel a little better than I did a few weeks ago, physically and mentally.
I have some WONDERFUL friends who have been helping me get through this, once I broke down and confessed to them what was going on with me around May 1. Before that I had kept things bottled up for several weeks and had all but disappeared from my favorite spots.
That’s all I feel like writing for now. I love all my readers. Thanks for sticking by me.