Thanks so much for checking in with us. We hope you’re enjoying all the updates!

One quick programming note, as they say in TV world: If you have this site bookmarked, you may have to change that bookmark tomorrow (Friday). If your bookmark is commercialappeal-web.com/edge, that no longer will be working. Replace it with this:

thememphisedge.com

Thanks and we hope you keep coming back!

For those of us that thought for a while the University of Memphis may be St. George’s senior guard Elliot Williams’ fourth choice among a group that also includes Duke, Tennessee and Virginia, I personally believe after talking to Williams on Wednesday the Tigers helped themselves immensely during last Friday’s Midnight Madness festivities at FedExForum.

Prior to last Friday, Williams (right), a 6-4 slasher rated the nation’s No. 3 senior shooting guard prospect by Rivals.com, seemed concerned about fitting in at Memphis, a concern apparently alleviated sometime during his official visit last weekend (see story).

I’m not saying Memphis is the pick. I believe Williams when he says he hasn’t made a decision yet and that right now all four are even. However, I do believe the Tigers made it a much tougher decision for the hometown product. We’ll find out Nov. 2.

Pau Gasol didn’t practice today because of the sprained left ankle he suffered Wednesday night in a loss at Indiana. The 7-foot Spaniard is scheduled to have X-rays later this afternoon.

There is swelling. He’s using a walking boot. Gasol will definitely miss the Grizzlies’ next two exhibition games (Saturday vs. Miami and Tuesday at Houston). Barring bad news from the X-rays, the injury isn’t considered serious.



Gasol crashed to the floor after attempting a layup with 9:36 left in the first quarter Wednesday and immediately grabbed his left ankle. He actually played an additional two minutes before leaving the game for good.

Coach Marc Iavaroni didn’t appear concerned, saying this “could be a blessing in disguise” because it will give Gasol a chance to rest after showing great work in camp despite playing in the EuroBasket. The team doesn’t want to take any unnecessary risks before the regular season, especially given Gasol’s history of ankle/foot trouble.

The situation will also give Iavaroni a chance to give a hard look at Hakim Warrick, Brian Cardinal and Andre Brown – front-court players who haven’t got as much of an opportunity as Gasol, Stromile Swift and Darko Milicic.

After another disappointing first half against an NBA team the question has to be asked: Is this a problem with our starting five’s talent, our coach being over his head or is it simply a lack of cohesion on the team or chemistry if you prefer?

The talent doesn’t seem to be an issue since almost universally the team’s talent is being stated as the best in Grizzlies history. While it is too early to make statements about Iavaroni’s coaching ability he was the unanimous choice among pundits to be the next head coach in the NBA so I have to believe that the slow starts are not a symbol of his being in over his head. If he was a college coach plying his trade in the NBA for the first time I would be far more concerned than I am about a former player and assistant coach who worked with Pat Riley, Mike Fratello and Mike D’Antoni. Iavaroni may need more time to get his message to the players but I believe he is amply armed to be successful in this job.
Read the rest of this entry »

THE BIG STORY

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that while pledging to abide by a Southeastern Conference rule prohibiting on-field fan celebrations, Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart noted that UK football fans had a compelling excuse.

“It’s a very difficult rule when you have pent-up passion… waiting so long for those kind of things,” Barnhart said Wednesday at the Wildcat Tip-Off Luncheon in Louisville. “It’s difficult to tell fans they can’t be part of that.”

The SEC levies a fine of $5,000 for the first violation, $25,000 for the second and $50,000 for the third and any subsequent violation. UK is the only three-time violator, the third time coming last weekend with the football team’s three-overtime victory over then-No. 1 LSU. It was UK’s first football victory over a No. 1 team since 1964.

Earlier fines levied against UK came after celebrations of football victories over Georgia last season and Louisville earlier this season. Barnhart said he mentioned UK football’s “pent-up passion” in a recent conversation with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive (right).

“He was respectful of my opinion,” the UK athletics director said with a growing smile, “but the fine was still $50,000. So it didn’t change the fine.”

UK fans have volunteered to pay the fine. Barnhart said he received $1 donations from about 50 people. A couple of fans sent $10.

“I don’t worry about the money,” Barnhart said. “I worry about the safety of fans and the safety of players.”

SEC Associate Commissioner Charles Bloom noted that the intent of the ban was to provide a safe environment for players, officials, cheerleaders and administrators.

When asked about the “pent-up passion” of UK football fans, Bloom said that all 12 league schools voted for the ban. The SEC has levied a fine each and every time fans have charged out of the stands in celebration.

Barnhart expressed reservations about the fines acting as an effective deterrent. “I’m not sure the financial piece is enough to scare anybody from coming on the court or the field, if the passion’s there,” he said.

Bloom suggested that publicity generated by fines inhibited rowdy fans.

A look at the league: Read the rest of this entry »