Happy Thanksgiving Eve, Memphis! It’s Wednesday, Nov. 27, and if you’re cooking a turkey (or Tofurky), you’ll want to thaw that out today. You might also want to make the cornbread for the dressing, cook down your cranberry sauce and bake your pies. 

Nothing goes better with Thanksgiving prep than sports, and after beating Michigan State last night, the Memphis Tigers are advancing to the Maul Invitational title game tonight against Auburn. Plus, the Memphis Grizzlies are playing the Detroit Pistons at FedExForum — but without Ja Morant, due to yet another injury. (Seriously, is this man made of glass?)

THE NEED TO KNOW

“I know when I came to this program, just talking with Coach Penny, he told me ‘You’re shooting them good, you just gotta get more of them up,’” said Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter, who led the Memphis Tigers in scoring Monday and Tuesday. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

Tyrese time: The Memphis Tigers remain undefeated after their 71-63 win over Michigan State in the Maui Invitational on Tuesday night. And now, they’re heading into their first-ever Maui title game this evening against Auburn. The shining star in both of the Tigers’ Maui wins this week has been guard Tyrese Hunter. In Tuesday’s Michigan State game, he landed a crucial 3-pointer with just a few minutes left in the game, and on Monday, his 26 points and seven 3-pointers helped the team beat No. 2 UConn. But Hunter isn’t the only star: Columnist John Martin points out that Coach Penny Hardaway has been “simply brilliant” this week as he’s knocked off two national championship coaches. 

Memphis Police Interim Chief C.J. Davis spoke to Memphis City Council members about gang activity in the city and what the department is doing to stop it. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Gang busters: The Memphis Police Department says there are about 48 active gangs in the city, most of which are smaller “subset gangs” that have branched out from larger organizations. And much of the city’s gang violence is a result of those subsets fighting one another. The MPD gave the Memphis City Council an update on the city’s gang problem Tuesday, and they reported on hundreds of arrests made by the MPD’s new fugitive task force. In other MPD news, a police car was set on fire in an apparent arson outside the North Main precinct on Monday night. A citizen called 911 after noticing the car was on fire, and officers responded around 8:40 p.m. (Anyone else wondering how the officers inside the precinct didn’t notice their burning car outside?) 

“MLGW’s presence ... occupies key real estate in the heart of Downtown ... a property that provides substantial redevelopment opportunity for the entertainment district,” reads a Memphis City Council resolution. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

No MLGW rate hikes (for now): The Memphis City Council passed Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s $2.5 billion budget on Tuesday. MLGW plans to spend about $51 million on battery storage for backup power, but no new rate hikes are coming this year. But oh, they’re definitely coming down the road, and some council members had questions about that. The council also wants MLGW to think about moving out of its Downtown spot, because, well, something a lot cooler could go there. Members passed a resolution in committee asking MLGW to study a move because the Main Street property provides a “substantial redevelopment opportunity for the entertainment district.” In non-MLGW City Council news, members delayed a vote on nearly $34 million in state funding for violence-intervention programs.

MEET MEMPHIS

Deanie Parker, left, and Robert Gordon accepted the award for Best Album Notes for “Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos” during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/AP file)

Memphis music historian Robert Gordon fell in love with the city’s sounds as a teen, exploring blues joints and clubs. And he’s built a life chronicling that music and the city he loves. Gordon has written six books, including 1995’s “It Came From Memphis,” which takes readers on a tour of Memphis’ weird nooks and crannies. He’s also written numerous articles and liner notes, directed eight films and won three Grammys and an Emmy. And even though Gordon doesn’t play a lick of music, he’s become a critical part of Memphis’ music scene, so much so that he’s getting a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame this Friday. “I’m going to be trod upon. I like that,” Gordon said.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and guard Desmond Bane on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Salt Lake City. (Rob Gray/AP file)

Bane is the new Baker: If you’ve been watching Memphis Grizzlies games on the FanDuel Sports Network this season, you’ve seen the commercial. Grizzlies star Desmond Bane, his wife Tatum and their baby Armani are shown jet-setting around to Tom Lee Park, the Main Street Mall, the Memphis Zoo and other spots. And the commercial shows over and over and over; it’s even inspired some funny memes from Grizz fans. (Y’all remember that old Anita Baker commercial from last season that played for months on end? It’s like that.) After Monday night’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Bane had a good laugh about how often fans have to watch his commercial, even though he only recently saw it himself.

Burpees to Benjamins: The former 901 Fitness space on Austin Peay Highway will soon be home to Cadence Bank. The bank leased 1,680 square feet of the 11,561-square-foot building for a seven-year term. Read more about that — plus, a new tenant in the Crescent Center and a gas station on Winchester Road that’s set to be demolished — in this week’s Inked column. 

Mr. Football finalist and Fairley quarterback Andrew Johnson threw the ball during a Sept. 15, 2023, game against Northpoint. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Future Mr. Football? Five Memphis-area high-school football players were named as finalists for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award. High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists, and then a committee of statewide sports writers will select the winners, based not only on sports performance but academics and character. Here’s look at each finalist from our high-school sports reporter John Varlas. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Choose901 got in on the “Just a Chill Guy” meme that’s been making its way around the internet. I’m just a chill gal who can relate to both of these. 

And speaking of chill, I’m about to do just that. The Early Word will be off for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, so I’ll see you on Monday morning — when I’ll no doubt still be eating leftover pie for breakfast. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

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