The Best Day of the Year in Memphis: BBQFest + Grizz Home Play Off Game. Ladies Lunch in the Meat Makers tent with Donna VanHoozer (in pink), Jessica Simpson (that’s her real name), and me. Top center is Donny Hearn, chef and host.
What a season. My Grizz Play Off hangover is still lingering and while it tugs my heart to know it’s all over, a smile comes to my face thinking about the epic marketing growl towels, rogue t-shirt designs, and creative #GrizzGlam styling that was spreading with sweet insanity all over the Bluff City. We are a basketball town. It unites us. The rest of the country is finally catching on to the fact that while we may end up on a few Worst Lists, we have plenty to be proud of and we shine HARD whether or not the cameras are rolling. Here is the final Best Dressed Play Offs List and many Honorable Mentions — these folks and merch cultivate our unique brand of #GrizzGlam and gave us LOTS to talk about. They furthered the Memphis Shake that is almost tacky but driven with such heart that it stays on this side of the Mason-Dixon line of good tasting taste. Per the usual, log in and leave your comments as to who should win the GrizzGrabBag which will be given out next week.
1. Jennifer Hobson, or JHob
This is the epitome of GrizzGlam — Missoni dress, Grizz headband, flanked by her crests. She even made it on national TV with this winning look. This gal is all heart and shines like a diamond when repping M-town.
2. Bob & Ashley Bayne (but really just Ashley)
Daaaaang look at those painted on jeans. In yellow. That’s really tough to pull off and Ashley throws out a hip & a smile that can easily be considered a technical foul if she were an opposing team fan. Thankfully, she’s a Grizz gal and pairs that skin tight denim with a now-classic Grizz t-shirt. Bob keeps up with his tricky kicks and super cool hat.
3. Janie Lowery & Cindy Dobbs
These two gals have been up to their Grizz styling trickery for years and they confuse opposing fans by their twin-like ferocity. Both blondes, both in giveaway shades, both in matching headbands and shirts. They even travel like this for away games. Amazing.
Honorable Mentions for the Week go to:
This masked logo says errrthing about the 2015 play offs. Baer’s Den had it and errrbody wore it. It will forever go down in history as the best retro designed NBA mascot of all time ever.
This guy. I’ve known him for more than twenty-five years and he certainly had a full 15 minutes of fame with the high five that launched a thousand cyber missiles. His misconstrued hand sign made it to The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and ESPN blogs. A very special Thank You to Sir Charles Barkley for getting the entire scenario wrong then replaying it over and over. Another very special Thank You to Chris Vernon for straightening the whole thing out. All the while, the awesome Grizz t-shirt he’s wearing is by www.letsgomemphis.com and they were super cool about the whole fiasco; even gifting him a few shirts in throwback colors so enemy players with same Grizz team colors won’t get confundido next time ... “Stephanie”.
One-Eyed Weezer. This chihuahua has always been destined for greatness. He looks all cozy wearing the best super hero cape ever fashioned out of the iconic growl towel and rolling in sheepskin but he’s just as comfortable defending the Grizz in a biker bar and showing off his curled up lip with revealing gums and intimidating snaggle tooth. If for any unforeseen chance the blue grizzly bear loses out on being our mascot, then this dog should totally take its place. Fur reelz.
Visiting Golden State fans, Sam & Rhoda had the sheer luck (good or bad) of sitting next to us at The Grind House for Game 3. Bless their hearts. But they were total sports and had already spent one night of magic enjoying our fair city. They lost the battle, but scored the best growl towel ever, a Mike Conley mask, AND we took them out to Cooper-Young then Hi-Tone afterwards. Things went so well that night, we even pledged to cheer for whoever won the series. But I really thought we were going to win it all and I had my fingers crossed behind my back when I made my promise. Anyway, this cute couple had a ball in Memphis, fell in love with the town, and were smitten with our Gangsta Spirit.
So, as you should know by now ... log in and leave a comment for who you think should win the Best Dressed for a GrizzGear prize package.
All smiles at Game 3: Me with Bill Stearnes. I’ve got my Holy Grail Grizz headband signed by Tony Allen (on the back), yellow rose behind my ear, and Brave Design earrings and necklace. Bill wears one of his many flat bill Grizz hats and a cool t-shirt by Shirtbrothers.
