Memphis gave the world Elvis Presley, as well as the overnight shippers FedEx, the Gibson guitar and a major port along the Mississippi River.
What it has never provided is a major sports accomplishment. Nothing worthy of banner raising and a parade. Nothing from its colleges, zero from the handful of professional teams to call the city home.
Memphis currently has only the basketball Grizzlies, from North America's four major professional sports. And in their first 15 years of existence, the Grizzlies did not win a single play-off game, which makes what is going on with the Memphis team now all the more remarkable.
It would be almost inexplicable if the past few seasons had not hinted at what was coming.
After nine games, the Grizzles have the best record in the NBA, a first for the club. After opening the season with a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Grizzlies have won eight consecutive games.
And they are not just mopping up the dregs of the league. Along the way they have beaten both of last season's finalists, the Miami Heat, the champions, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and handed the New York Knicks their first loss of the season. All via double-digit victories.
"It's been fun, I'm not going to lie to you," said Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies centre.
After they beat the Knicks at home on Friday, they flew to North Carolina, arrived at their hotel at 4am and beat the Charlotte Bobcats later that night. "The last two games have distinguished what personality this team has," said Mike Conley, the point guard.
The Grizzlies realise it is early. Teams who are hot in November often fade long before the spring, and they know they do not have an elite scorer.
What they do have is the league's top rebounder, Zach Randolph. And they are No 4 in the league in both offence and defence. What they do have is a tough, physically imposing team eager to play every night.
"We're playing as if we're 1-8," Randolph said. "We're not trying to act like we're big."
The first sign of life from the previously dormant franchise came in the 2011 play-offs, when Memphis shocked the Western Conference top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, then took the Thunder to seven games.
Last season they again made the play-offs, this time as the fourth seed, but fell in the first round, in seven games, to the Clippers.
Now they are back and seem stronger than ever. Certainly more confident than ever, after last week. Said Rudy Gay, their top scorer: "It showed us that we can do anything."
sports@thenational.ae
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
HEADLINE HERE
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'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WITHIN%20SAND
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
Aston martin DBX specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Top speed: 291kph
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: Q2, 2020
Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
