On 24th Annual MidSouth EMMY® Nominations (Local Media)

The nominations for the 24th Annual MidSouth EMMY® Awards were announced at a reception in Nashville Friday night.

Here's how local media fared in the nominations count:

WHBQ (Fox13) 24
Running Pony Productions 10
WMC 10
WREG 5
The Commercial Appeal 2
WKNO 2
WPTY 2

Congratulations to all. The winners will be announced on Jan. 30, 2010. The nominations for local media are after the jump.

The nominations (local media in bold):

NEWS EXCELLENCE
Channel 4 News, Working 4 You, Matthew Hilk, WSMV
FOX 13 News, Ken Jobe, WHBQ
News 2, Matthew Zelkind, WKRN
News Excellence WRAL-TV 2009, Rick Gall, WRAL
NewsChannel 5 Network, Michelle Bonnett, Sandra Boonstra, WTVF
WGHP - The News Leader, Karen Koutsky, WGHP

NEWSCAST/EVENING
Action News 5 at 10, Robert Edwards, WMC
Channel 4 News at 5: Belmont Debate, Mary Katherine Rooker, WSMV
FOX 13 News at 9, Anetra Gaines, Sunny Hampton, Ken Jobe, Mearl Purvis, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ
Good Friday, Bad Weather, Kenneth A. Smith, WZTV
NewsChannel 5 at 10: Good Friday Tornadoes, Rhori Johnston, Sarah Moore, WTVF
Tar Heel Triumph, Chris Burns, Phillipe Charles, Chad Flowers, Lori Grant, Martha Woodward, WRAL

NEWSCAST/DAYTIME
Good Morning Memphis, Valerie Calhoun, Ernie Freeman, Leon Griffin, Claire Jones Heath, Lauren Lee, WHBQ
News 2 at 4, Karen Brown, John Dwyer, Anne Holt, Neil Orne, Melissa Penry, Matthew Zelkind, WKRN
NewsChannel 5 at 4: Officer Shooting, Debbie Vincent, Vicki Yates, WTVF

NEWSCAST/WEEKEND
Deadly Tornadoes, Stephanie Beck, Kelcey Carlson, Phillipe Charles, David Crabtree, Chad Flowers, James A. Ford, Jr., Lori Grant, Tony W. Gupton, Sloane Heffernan, Bruce Mildwurf, Bolton Minnic, , Martha Woodward, WRAL
Good Friday Tornadoes - The Day After, Sara Dorsey, Maurice Miller, Regina Raccuglia, Aaron Solomon, WSMV
NewsChannel 5 at 10, W. Clayton Farrar, WTVF
Waiting for Gustav, Matthew Peace, WPTY

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORT
58 Crosses, Andy Benton, WCNC
A Lost Call for Justice, Ben Hall, Iain Montgomery, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
Gang Invasion, Molly Grantham, Jeffrey Keene, WBTV
Homeless 9 Year Old Student, Jill Monier, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Hostage, Roy Hallums, Mearl Purvis, Chris Russel, WHBQ

CONTINUING COVERAGE
Anatomy of a Crisis, Andrew Douglas, WMC
The V.A. Colonoscopy Scandal, Demetria Kalodimos, Deanna Lambert-Thomas, WSMV
VUCast: Conjoined Twins, Patrick Slattery, Amy Wolf, Vanderbilt University News Service
What's the Deal in Jennette? , Alistair Clark, Eric King, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Who's Watching Your Kids?, Scott Noll, WREG
Why Isn't the Hydrant Working?, Zina Bauman, Jeremy Finley, Don Mashburn, WSMV
WRAL.com, Jodi Glusco, CBC New Media

SERIOUS FEATURE NEWS REPORT
A Soldier's Portrait, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF
Audrey Caroline, Zina Bauman, WSMV
Charlotte's Future Transportation, Brien Blakely, Terrence Walker, WCCB
Her Blood on HIs Hands, Andy Benton, Stuart Watson, WCNC
Josh Gets a Bike, Nathan C. Sharkey, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF
Picking Cotton, Bob Buckley, WGHP
Remembering Anne Pressly, Mearl Purvis, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, WHBQ

LIGHT FEATURE NEWS REPORT
Birthday Caller, Scott Mason, Tom Normanly, WRAL
Lie To Me, Jill Monier, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Pizza Rocker Dude, Derric Curran, Tom Dees, WHBQ
Santa's Surprise , Kim Gebbia, Phillip Kivett, WXII
The Mustache Revolution, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
A Failure to Protect, Zina Bauman, Jeremy Finley, Don Mashburn, WSMV
Charity or Con?, Keli Rabon, WREG
Failure to Report, Keli Rabon, WREG
Locksmith Sting, Cullen Browder, Greg Clark, WRAL
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: General Sessions Court, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: The Ticket Fixers, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
What's the Deal in Jennette? , Alistair Clark, Eric King, Michael Moore, WHBQ

BUSINESS/CONSUMER REPORT
Credit Repair, Keli Rabon, WREG
Nashville's Last Outlaw, Ben Hall, Iain Montgomery, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: Locked Out, Jennifer Kraus, Bryan Staples, WTVF
Scared to Buy, Wendy Halloran, Shane Hays, Denise Vickers, WHNT
Tough Cell Phone, Tanya Rivera, Alan Wagmeister, WFMY
Who's Making the Cut, Michelle Boudin, John Gray, WCNC

SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENT REPORT
Hope Without a Cure, Lauren Johnson, Michael Moore, WHBQ
M.L.K. Preparing a Legacy, Ben Watson, WMC
Old Soldiers Don't Fade Away, Christopher J. Bundgaard, WKRN
School Patrol, Charlie Woodward, Vicki Yates, WTVF
Textecution, Michael Hamlet, Nick Kenney, WMC
The Case of the Missing Heiress, Janice Broach, Jeremy Jones, Brian Svec, WMC

JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE
By Appointment Only, Andrew Douglas, Jeremy Jones, WMC
Home Sweet Meth Home, Keli Rabon, WREG
Molly Grantham Compilation, Molly Grantham, WBTV
Phil Williams Investigates, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, WTVF
Protecting Patients, Don Dare, David George Wignall, WATE
PSI: Charlotte, Jamie Boll, Jeffrey Keene, WBTV

NEWS SPECIAL
10 Years of NewsChannel 5 Investigates, Jennifer Kraus, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, WTVF
Presidential Debate 2008: At the Crossroads, Tammy Phillips, WMC
Remembering Coach Kay Yow, Erin Coleman, James A. Ford, Jr., Jeff Gravley, Pam Saulsby, Jennifer Sorber, WRAL
Turf War: Charlotte's 30 Year Battle, Molly Grantham, Kim Saxon, Brian Stephenson, WBTV

WEATHERCAST
Feb. 28, 2009 Mid-South Snow Storm, Henry Rothenberg, Mark Walden, WPTY
Spring Sizzle, Lisa Spencer, WSMV
StormChaser, John Wendel, WCNC
Stormtrack 2008: Hanna, Dan Bowens, Gregory B. Fishel, Michael Maze, WRAL

DOCUMENTARY – CULTURAL
$5 Cover Amplified: Ben Nichols and Valerie June, Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal
A Walk in Watkins Park, Maryann Byrd, Byrdword Productions
Footprints of a King, Steve Crump, WTVI
Hometown Stories: The Greek Americans of Charlotte, Linda Midgett Otzenberger, WTVI

DOCUMENTARY – HISTORICAL
History Makers 2008: Chattanooga Sit-ins, Linda Duvoisin, Dave Porfiri, Mindflow Media
I Am a Man, Jonathan D. Epstein, Ryan Goble, John Hubbell, Deanie Parker, Calvin Taylor, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Twist of Fate, Jay Jennings, Clay Johnson, WRAL

DOCUMENTARY – TOPICAL
Coming Out-- Coming In: Faith, Identity and Belonging, Donna Campbell, Georgann Eubanks, Rev. Laurie Hays Coffman, Wildacres Leadership Initiative/Minnow Media
Sudan: Suffering and Survival, Steve Crump, WTVI
Taylor Stokes: Finishing Well, Emily Pearce, Patrick Slattery, Vanderbilt University News Service
The Least among Us, Pierre Kimsey, WKNO
The Wild Horses of Corolla, Christopher Mason, Shaheen Syal, WRAZ

HISTORIC/CULTURAL PROGRAM
Global Connections: Europe, Rob Holliday, UNC-TV
In Remembrance There is Life: A Night of Storytelling, Russ A. Abernathy, Kip Cole, WKNO
Next Door Neighbors: Somali, Suzy Hence, Will Pedigo, Nashville Public Television
Passion for the Land, Tom Earnhardt, Natural World Productions
Tennessee's Black Heritage, Jeff Davidson, Anne Holt, WKRN

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Appalachia, Ray Arzate, Christine Maddela, WKRN
Harvesting the Wind, Mark Bellinger, Mike Rose, WTVF
Next Door Neighbors: Hablamos Español , Kevi n Crane, Matthew Emigh, Suzy Hence, Will Pedigo, Nashville Public Television
Perry County 27% Unemployment, Christopher J. Bundgaard, Joe Gregory, WKRN
Smart Medicine, Joseph A. Stuber, Running Pony Productions
The Blake McMeans Story, Barry Cross, Steve Hall, Doug Jackson, Ken Tucker, The Renaissance Center

SPECIAL EVENT - EDITED
Charlotte's Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Josh King, LaVonda Kinloch, WSOC
Home for the Holidays, Thomas Adams, John Koski, Howard Langston, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, WHBQ

PSA CAMPAIGN
FOX E Team - Energy Offenders, Patrick Cox, Vanessa Ezernieks, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, David Stotts, Amanda Pannell, WHBQ
Nashville Rescue Mission: Hunger to Hope Campaign, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
Vote 2008, Ron J. DeJoseph, Jr., WSOC

PROMOTIONAL SPOT – NEWS
ABC11 Eyewitness News Morning Image 09, Khristopher Kahle, Curtis Miles, WTVD
Definition of Marriage, Jay Yovanovich, WRAL
Kicked to the Curb: DTV Transition, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
Tarheel Traveler Image, Stacie Holyfield, Shan Zhong, WRAL
What They Make, Vanessa Ezernieks, David Stott, WHBQ
Wow! It's a Sham!, Brian Shrader, Jay Yovanovich, WRAL
Your World, Roger Hobbs, Jr., WNCN

PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN - PROGRAMS
Father's Day, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, David Stotts, WHBQ
Take it to the House, Michael Brouder, Jon Johnson, Ali x Jones, FOX Sports South and SportSouth
The Big Read, Onur Tukel, WTVI
The Fanzone, James Banks, WRAZ

COMMERCIAL SPOT
Blown Away, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Car Tricks, Christian McIlwain, Lori McIlwain, Fourth Rule Films/Viamark Advertising
Gallins Coffee Fight. Council Bradshaw, Deja View Media
Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau: See What’s Cooking, Javier Leiva, Running Pony Productions
Pregnancy, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Oshsner Healthcare
Stomach & Wallet, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Town Hall #2, Cameron Cornelius, The Lampo Group

COMMERCIAL CAMPAIGN
Cali-Parody, Vanessa Ezernieks, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ
Fazoli's New Menu Campaign, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Healthcare with Peace of Mind, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Oshsner Healthcare
Hilton E-Sales, Javier Leiva, Running Pony Productions
Rethink Church Campaign, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/United Methodist Communications

AUDIO
FOX 13 Composition, David Stotts, WHBQ
Gershwin at One Symphony Place, Michael Davis, Robert Swope, Sunrise Entertainment
Good Ol' Girls, Georgann Eubanks, Rusty Knott, Karen Pearce, Mark Williams, Minnow Media/UNC-TV
I Am a Man, Benjamin Rednour, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation

DIRECTOR – NEWS
Action News 5 at 10, Brent Green, WMC
Are You Ready For Some Football?, Lewis Harkness, WKRN
Coverage Composite 2009, James Ford, Jr., WRAL

DIRECTOR – PROGRAMS
Gershwin at One Symphony Place, Robert Swope, Sunrise Entertainment
I Am a Man, Jonathan D. Epstein, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, James Yockey, High Five Entertainment
Mother Goose Club, John Hussey, Sockeye Media
Our State: Puppet Masters, Morgan P. Potts, UNC-TV

EDITOR – NEWS
Andy Benton Stories, Andy Benton, WCNC
Mike Hamlet Composite, Michael Hamlet, WMC
Mike Moore Composite, Michael Moore, WHBQ
The Farrier, Bradley J. Pfranger, WZTV
Zina Bauman Editing Composite, Zina Bauman, WSMV

EDITOR - SHORT FORM
FOX 13 Composite, David Stotts, WHBQ
JWalker Cuts & Composites, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
SEC Football Open Featuring Rascal Flatts, David Barringer, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Williams, Raycom Sports

LIGHTING
Crossroads Charlotte, Randy Fulp, Brett Ray, Emulsion Arts/WTVI
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, Bob Peterson, High Five Entertainment
Lighting Up with Kip, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, WHBQ

MUSIC COMPOSER/ARRANGER
El Greco to Velazquez - Art During the Reign of Philip III, Fred Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design
Hometown Stories - The Greek-Americans of Charlotte, Fred Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design
I Am a Man, Scott Bomar, Deanie Parker, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Mother Goose Club, Robby LeDoux, Hudson Soundlab
Re-Thinking Church, Holly Heise, Leonard Wolf, Wolf Music and Sound Design

PHOTOGRAPHY – NEWS
Andy Benton Stories, Andy Benton, WCNC
Big Daddy Platter of News, Bradford Ingram, WGHP
Camerography 101, Geoffrey Levine, WRAL
D-Roll, Derric Curran, WHBQ
Nelson's News, Ted Nelson, WTVF

PHOTOGRAPHY – PROGRAMS
$5 Cover Amplified: What It Is and Valerie June , Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal
Duck River, William Bezubic III, Running Pony Productions
ESPN Gameday, Patrick Slattery, Vanderbilt University News Service
Puppet Masters. Michael Burke, UNC-TV
Tennessee's Wild Side: Short Springs Wildflowers, Ken Tucker, The Renaissance Center

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
1st Public Mobile DTV Venture, Tony W. Gupton, Peter Sockett, Frederick Kelly, Sam Matheny, Thomas G. Crowder, Matthew Brandes, Jay Adrick, WRAL
FOX 13 Home for the Holidays in HD, David Brant, Scott Prentice, WHBQ
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, Nicholas E. Dugger, High Five Entertainment/TNDV Television

WRITER – NEWS
27% Unemployment & A Taste of Freedom, Christopher J. Bundgaard, WKRN
Breach of Trust, Wendy Halloran, Denise Vickers, WHNT
Nick Kenney Composite, Nick Kenney, WMC
Scott Mason Stories, Scott Mason, WRAL
Tang's Tall Tales Three, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF

WRITER – PROGRAMS
Duck River, T. Leigh Starns, Running Pony Productions
Finishing Well, Emily Pearce, Vanderbilt University News Service
Footprints of a King, Steve Crump, WTVI
I Am a Man, John Hubbell, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Man & Mammoth, Tom Earnhardt, Natural World Productions
Mother Goose Club, Harry Jho, Sona Jho, Sockeye Media
Ruptured Brain Aneurysm, Stephanie Crayton, UNC Health Care

INTERACTIVITY
Crossroads Charlotte: Fortress, Robin Grey, Joanne Hock, Kay Thompson, Tracy Russ, Karen Collins, Emulsion Arts
Mother Goose Club Website, Harry Jho, Sona Jho, Sockeye Media
The Oxford Presidential Debate on MyFoxMemphis.com, May-Lin Biggs, William C. Dotson, III, Jeramia Trotter, WHBQ


The conversation continues...

On The Blind Side (The Movie)

UPDATE (11/20): "The Blind Side" hits theaters today. (Beiffus, CA, Fox13 [1], WMC, Flyer )


ORIGINAL POST (11/17): "The Blind Side," the movie based on the novel about Michael Oher, opens in theaters Friday.

In an article published Monday, Oher told The Baltimore Sun that he's not in a rush to see the film. After all, he's busy playing football.

Yet, that's not what intrigued me about the Sun's story. An excerpt:

Oher's reaction to all this interest in his life was much the same when Lewis' book came out in 2006. It took several years before Oher decided to read the book, according to Sean Tuohy, his adoptive father. And his review was lukewarm.

"Some things [are] in it that are the truth, some things are not," Oher said. "People have got to do things to sell it. But everything is good, though."

Now, if the AP can fact check Sarah Palin, shouldn't local media spend a moment or two discussing what was and wasn't embellished in the movie or the novel?

I'm just sayin.

*WMC: A promo.


The conversation continues...

On The Grizz (No Answer)

UPDATE (11/20): I'm perplexed.

What exactly is the difference between the Grizzlies and the Knicks?

Well, both involve Allen Iverson, who the Grizzlies released Tuesday and then cleared waivers to become a free agent Thursday. The Knicks are--correction, were--interested in signing Iverson to a deal.

According to the NY Post, the Knicks are expected to announce today that they have changed their minds. The ownership of a 2-9 squad was worried about disrupting team chemistry by bringing in Iverson. No comment.

What's interesting, though, is that the national media, which respects Iverson's game but not his attitude, seemed to go about the business of ruminating on where A.I. should land next--be it New York, L.A., or anywhere but Memphis--as soon he was released. But I digress.

We know that Memphis doesn't get the righteous light and that the team has given naysayers plenty of reason to doubt if it can do anything right. But I give Grizz owner Michael Heisley credit for not only being brash enough to sign A.I. but caring enough about the player to let him go--even if it cost his team cool points.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the Grizz have won two in a row. The last one came after a player's only meeting. (Flyer.)

Yet, even though others stepped up, guard Mike Conley still struggled, knowing that his job is on the line. Conley and newly-acquired guard Jamaal Tinsley combined for 1 point (0-6 shooting), 2 assists, and 7 fouls in a combined 22 minutes, the Flyer noted. (Conley scored the point)

Tinsley is new and hasn't played in more than a year; what's Conley's excuse?

He has none, which further stokes the inanity of A.I. riding the pine as his backup. Moving on.



UPDATE (11/17): So, it's over.

On Monday, Grizz owner Michael Heisley rightfully wanted to know when A.I. would come back to the team. Instead, both sides reached an agreement to terminate his contract and waive the 10-time All Star.

(I guess, we can forget about A.I. on the All-Star ballot.)

For those of us who held out the benefit of the doubt, there is no doubt really: A.I.'s family didn't like Memphis enough to move here and it didn't help that he was sitting on the bench as a backup as well as the fact that the Grizz aren't a championship caliber team.

Then again, neither is the New York Knicks but some folks love living in the Big Apple regardless.

Is this an economic development issue?

I mean, were the Beale Street blue guitar and fawning not enough to keep an All-Star here? Are multimillion dollar contracts not enough to hold them? Should the Chamber of Commerce get involved in this creative class retention? Is there a reason why NBA players aren't used to hype (uhm, market) Memphis as a place to live?

Maybe, we need more answers ourselves--at least some fans have a keepsake T-shirt.

*WMC. EyeNews. Fox13.

UPDATE: CA beat writer Ron Tillery just asks some questions about A.I.. An excerpt:

It's sketchy whether the Griz looked Iverson in the face and said you're here to come off the bench. But when asked about the situation at the Iverson press conference, Heisley said the decision is up to Hollins. Iverson sat there and heard it. Truth is there were no promises made. Iverson wasn't guaranteed to start. Iverson hadn't been relegated to a permanent backup role. Knowing that league-wide opinion is that he should be a reserve, why didn't Iverson put the Griz on the spot and say "I'm coming here to start, right?"

Just asking...

The Griz knew what they were getting and this was bound to happen. They are getting what they deserve. But if it's OK for A.I. to be A.I. isn't it OK for a coach to be a coach the way he sees fit?

Just asking...

It's difficult not to like Allen Iverson. He's an engaging guy. He's fun to be around. But why has all of his comments been about Allen Iverson and he's said virtually nothing about the team? Could that be why no one - players included - appears particularly upset by his absence?

Just asking...

Iverson is telling close associates that he might retire instead of returning to the Grizzlies. Not shocking since he said he'd rather retire than come off the bench while in Detroit. If that happens, it would indeed be a sad ending to an incredible career. Would there really be anyone to blame? Wouldn't that just be Iverson being Iverson?

I'm just asking.

Strong points. We'll see what happens.

UPDATE (11/9): As it should, the Commercial Appeal has taken the lead on the A.I. saga.

This morning, CA beat writer Ron Tillery reported that A.I. is mulling retirement because of his playing time as well as a family situation.

An excerpt:

Iverson left the team Saturday after receiving permission from Griz owner Michael Heisley to deal with a personal matter. The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source.

Heisley said he's not been given any indication that Iverson might be leaning towards retirement, and still is holding out hope that the 10-time All-Star will return to Memphis.

"I just think if he was going to retire, he'd tell me first," Heisley said. "I expect him to come back. If he does retire, I'll be tremendously disappointed. I feel bad because I don't think that's the way he should go out."

Iverson, who traveled from Los Angeles to his Atlanta home over the weekend, was granted an indefinite leave of absence. He has not asked to be traded or waived.

I think that it's important to underscore the last part: he has not asled to be traded or waived. I'm just sayin, I don't believe that Iverson is disgruntled.

Whatever Iverson is experiencing, the Grizz should take Heisley's lead and show some unconditional support for their only true All-Star. But I digress.

Here's what I'm wondering: who does media prep for the Grizz? How can Coach Lionel Hollins be this bad with the national media spotlight?

*CA: Calkins.

UPDATE (11/7): According to the CA, A.I. has left the team for personal reasons.

Before the national media has a field day, it's not as bad as it seems. First, Iverson spoke to Grizz owner Michael Heisley and got the OK to go back home to Atlanta. It is unclear when he'll return to the team.

Suffice to say, he won't be playing against the Clippers tonight.

*CAGrizzBlog: Already thinking the worse.
*LATimes. Heart and little else.
*Adande: This is it.
*ESPN: Still wants to start. An excerpt:

And Iverson, who was passed Kobe Bryant for 16th place on the NBA's career scoring list Friday night, apparently doesn't feel it's his job to figure out a role in which he can help the Grizzlies.

"I'm not trying to figure out how to contribute to no team," Iverson said. "I contribute to a team by just playing. That's it. I don't have to figure it out. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They've been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court, so I don't have to figure out how I'm going to play or anything like that. I just go out and play basketball."

Iverson believes his comments have caused a stir mostly because of his long history of provocative opinions and actions, from his infamous disdain for practice to a few lesser stirs in Denver and Detroit last season.

"When I hear anything about the Memphis Grizzlies, I don't hear you guys [media] talk about anything other than the situation with me coming off the bench," Iverson said. "I mean, there's got to be something else with this team to talk about besides that. But I guess that sells a lot better than anything else when it comes to this team."

Of course, he's right. Grizz coverage is all A.I. and nothing else but he knew that coming in. Is he voicing frustration? Perhaps.

Is he ready to quit already? Well, let's hope not.

ORIGINAL POST (11/4): There's so much overreaction to A.I.'s postgame comments Monday.

Waive, A.I.? Whatever.

I, for one, am loving the new look Grizz.

With A.I., ZBo, Rudy and O.J., the Grizz are stocked with real killas. If Hasheem Thabeet learns how to play D, then we would be OK when Marc Gasol needs a breather. But I digress.

The Grizz will win some games and lose some games. It will happen.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I think we're just beginning to understand Iverson's star power and what it means for local media.

The Commercial Appeal is obviously figuring it out, having launched a page specifically for news about A.I. Good move.

Is it content that people would pay for? Not really. I mean, the 360 chart is nice and so are the photos (as always). However, the CA really isn't getting deep into the life of A.I.--and I argue that it should.

With A.I., local news could really see the value of stargazing. We have so many entertainers who come into town, do whatever it is they do and leave without much concern from local media. One reason is that local media tends to value personal privacy--not to mention, such paparazzi-style coverage doesn't really fit our traditional view of hard news.

However, that needs to change.

Look, folks are going to talk about A.I. His fans have this need to read about him. Why have page that only populates with content that you create? There should be links to every article written about him as well as his Twitter feed and official page.

Give the people what they want. If the people want celebrity news, who is local media to deny them?

Denying them only loses money for local media.

*Flyer: No Logic.
*CA: Heisley.


The conversation continues...