Memphis Police Officer Charged with Shoplifting

An off-duty Memphis police officer accused of shoplifting more than $770 worth of clothing from a Wolfchase Galleria department store on Thursday faces a felony charge.

Memphis police announced today that officer Quattarra Gardner, 33, was charged with theft of property over $500. Gardner was released from Shelby County’s Jail East without posting bond.

About 4:30 Thursday, a loss prevention officer at Macy’s observed Gardner enter a fitting room with 19 items of clothing, according to a court affidavit. The store official reported that she left with the clothing concealed in a diaper bag and a black garment bag.

Gardner joined the force in July 2003, is assigned to the Union Station precinct and has been relieved of duty during an investigation by the department, according to a statement released by a public information officer.
Source

Well my how the tables have turned. I wonder if they treated her like some cops treat regular citizens in the street. Nothing against the good cops, but it feels good to know they can weed out the bad ones!

Grizzlie's Marreese Speights is out to prove HE IS THE MAN!

With Zach Randolph being out for the next couple of weeks due to an injury, Coach Lionel Hollins and the Memphis Grizzlies have acquired 6'10, 255lb forward Marreese Speights from the Philadelphia 76ers. Just a couple games into the season, Marreese is already proving his ability on the court by scoring and holding up to the defense, including his game high 17 points last week against a tough Grizzlies loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Marreese Speights (courtesy ESPN.com)

The trade did not come without controversy as word around the NBA and with coaches was that Speights would not be a good team player because of his work ethics.  Speights recently told sports writer Ron Tillery of commercialappeal.com ,"Everybody always say I'm lazy and all of that," Speights said. "But they didn't say that my first two years. It's crazy that in my third year when coach (Doug) Collins came (to Philadelphia) that all of that started coming up. I can't change the past. The only thing I can affect is my future."

With his new addition to the Grizzlies lineup, Marreese will definitely have to get a feel for other key players (Rudy Gay , Marc Gasol, Mike Conley) and find his niche on the court. Becoming a member of the Grizzlies team is sort of a second chance for him as he found himself barred off the court in Philadelphia, having some shaky ground with coach Dave Collins. and didnt play in any games before the trade. Last year, he averaged 5.4 points per game and has already seen improvement during two games with the Grizzlies up to 8.5 points per game.

Speights knows this is his opportunity to prove that he is the player needed on the team and definitely capable of getting the job done. Coincidentally, the same player who he is playing for know, Zach Randolph, faced similar issues when he joined the Grizzlies back in 2009 from the New York Knicks. Nobody believed in Zach and viewed him as trouble; however, all those issues were dispelled when Zach, now known as ZBO, showed the world that he has what it takes, including getting the Grizzlies back in the playoff spotlight during last years season.


He continues to tell Tillery that "Going through that (in Philadelphia) made me realize that everything can't be gold all of the time," Speights said. "Me and coach (Collins) have a good relationship off the court. But on the court we really couldn't get it together. I've got a fresh start here so I'm not worried about Philly anymore. ... (The Griz) need me and I need them. I'm excited to be here."

So far I am impressed with Speights. He is proving to have star power on the court. The fans cheer him on and his energy and hard play will definitely keep us as contenders.  Welcome to Memphis Marreese, I dont think they could have picked a better player.

After 3OTs, Grizzlies lose steam to the Thunder: Series tied 2-2

Memphis - (Ron Tillery reporting) What do you call an NBA playoff game that features collapses, comebacks, clutch shots, is a credit to both teams’ will to win and doesn’t abide by anyone’s clock?
A classic.

That best describes the Grizzlies’ 133-123 triple overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal Monday night at FedExForum.

Not only is the best-of-seven series tied 2-2 but it is clearly marking the infancy of a budding rivalry, and a long, fierce fight for the right to play Dallas in the conference finals.

Everything about the nearly four-hour affair between the Griz-Thunder suggested as much.
Memphis led by 18 points in the second period. Oklahoma City stormed back and took a 10-point advantage midway in the fourth.

The Griz got a clutch, fourth-quarter 3-pointer from Mike Conley to initially extend the game. Then, rookie Greivis Vasquez connected on a miraculous long-range shot that forced even more time.
In the end, though, the Thunder had more energy and more key players on the floor in the third overtime. With the game knotted at 121, the Thunder put away the Griz with a 10-2 run that included the final eight points of the game.

Game 5 is set Wednesday in Oklahoma City if either team has enough energy left to play it.
Griz big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol each played 56-plus minutes. Randolph finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds. Gasol had 26 points and 21 boards. The Thunder offset that with Russell Westbrook’s career playoff-high 40 points and Kevin Durant’s 35-point and 13-rebound outing.

“It’s a tough loss,” Randolph said. “You’ve got to give (the Thunder) credit. They played well and hit big shots. Their two star players hit big shots toward the end of the game.”

Oklahoma City, which lost Game 3 in overtime after blowing a 16-point lead, reclaimed home-court advantage in dramatic fashion.

“This game is something people are going to be talking about for a while,” Durant said. “I'm glad I’m a part of it.”
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Now that the series is tied 2-2, we are back to square one. Although the Grizz travel to Oklahoma for game 5, I am confident this series will go through for seven games, with that game back in Okc. We need this one. BELIEVE is the team's motto, and I am doing just that.  Before I conclude, I would also like to commend the fans for an outstanding SUPPORT system for our Memphis Grizzlies. This game goes down in NBA history.

UPDATED: 2011 BEALE ST MUSIC FESTIVAL Lineup Announced

Apparently the reality of last year’s dreary lineup sank in with the directors of the show as this years lineup includes a host of well-known and well-liked talent.  This year the show will include artists such as Ke$ha, CeeLo, B.o.B., John Mellencamp, Ludacris,  Flaming Lips, Charlie Wilson,  Ludacris and a hometown Memphis favorite, 8Ball & MJG to name a few! I think I am going to get my 3-day pass this year come rain or shine! This definitely is going to be a must-attend event. Each year, thousands of locals and tourist come to what I like to call “ A BIG FAMILY PICNIC” to share in the music and excitement of Beale Street and Memphis.

The Beale Street Music Festival is held April 29-May 1 2011 at Tom Lee park in Downtown Memphis .  According to memphisinmay.org, the 2011 Beale Street Music Festival marks the 35th anniversary of the festival which each year attracts music enthusiasts from all 50 states and a dozen foreign countries to the storied city where rock-n-roll and blues music all began.  Over the past decade the festival has attracted over 1.1 million music fans to the multistage three-day event, best known for its eclectic mix of contemporary rock, blues, soul and modern talent and its musically inspired setting.  The festival is held in a beautiful 25 acre riverfront park at the foot of historic Beale Street overlooking the mighty Mississippi River.

Single Day Ticket Prices:

• Single Day Purchased in Advance: $30 plus fees
• Single Day Purchased at the Gate: $37

3-Day Pass Prices:

•  Available through midnight, April 18 2011: $69 plus fees

For more information on the Memphis in May festivities and to see a complete lineup, visit www.memphisinmay.org