The Early Word: One down, 17 to go for Tigers; Judge Bill Anderson bails
Morning, Memphis, and welcome to the first Early Word of 2025. It’s Friday, Jan. 3, and if you’re hoping to get one of the two vacant seats on the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen, today is the deadline for resumes.
Tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies will play the Sacramento Kings in an away game, and on Saturday, they’ll play the Golden State Warriors (also away). Star Ja Morant is still out with an injury, but the old Desmond Bane seems to be back, according to our Grizz wiz Chris Herrington.
In more basketball news, the Memphis Tigers women’s team plays North Texas at home on Saturday, and the men’s team plays North Texas at home on Sunday. That men’s game, by the way, will be their first AAC home game after a great start to conference play on the road Thursday.
Arts and culture events are light this time of year, but at least you can finally go to that Bone Thugs-n-Harmony show that was canceled in November. It’s at Minglewood Hall on Saturday. For a few more ideas, check out The To-Do List.
The Memphis Tigers kicked off their American Athletic Conference schedule with a big win on Thursday, besting Florida Atlantic by 28 points. The 90-62 win came after a combined 39 points, 12 rebounds and six assists from the star guard duo of PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter. But those weren’t the only stars of the night: Our own Parth Upadhyaya says there’s one other Tiger who elevated the group from good to great. This match-up against FAU was supposed to be the Tigers’ hardest test of the season and yet they finished with the largest margin of victory in a regular-season AAC game since 2022. So, here’s hoping that’s a sign of what’s to come in the next 17 AAC games.
Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Bill Anderson, who has come under fire for some of his bail decisions, will retire on March 1. Anderson wasn’t up for reelection until 2030, but he said he had been planning to retire this year since his wife is also retiring. Anderson’s decisions to release suspects without bail, including a man who shot at police during a 12-hour standoff, drew criticism from both Republican lawmakers and Democratic Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. Though Anderson said his retirement was planned, he admitted local politics played a role in the timing.
Plus, Superintendent Marie Feagins’ response to the MSCS board is expected very soon, Muggin Coffeehouse has closed (for now) and our staff dishes on their fave Memphis dishes.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. She’s a diehard morning person who spends her free time running marathons and ultras. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South.”
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