Herrington: Tony Allen took over and reminded Memphis why it loves him
Former Memphis Grizzlies player Tony Allen raises his arms while standing with family during his jersey retirement ceremony Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington has covered the Memphis Grizzlies, in one way or another, since the franchise’s second season in Memphis, while also writing about music, movies, food and civic life. As far as he knows, he’s the only member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association who is also a member of a film critics group and has also voted in national music critic polls for Rolling Stone and the Village Voice (RIP). He and his wife have two kids and, for reasons that sometimes elude him, three dogs.
Back in the day, when he was wearing Beale Street Blue, Tony Allen used to wander around the Memphis Grizzlies locker room after games, singing to himself.
“Ain’t no love in the heart of the city. Ain’t no love in the heart of town.”
It’s the chorus to a 1974 R&B song by Memphis music great Bobby “Blue” Bland, though Allen knew it via a sample used in a then-current song from rapper Jay-Z.
One imagines this particular song was not on Allen’s lips Saturday night when he was once again the center of attention in the arena where he built his legend.
If FedExForum is the heart of Memphis, and it was on this night, love was abundant.
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