The Early Word: Tigers head for Maui title, and MPD goes gang busters
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 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 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.
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.
Plus, MLGW’s budget passes, Robert Gordon gets an honor you can step on and Desmond Bane thinks it’s funny that you have to watch his commercial over and over.
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