“I had a good time doing it,” Randolph said. There’s another bit where forward Zach Randolph watches a video on his phone – the crowd gets to see on the video board what Randolph is watching – and a fan has to decide if Randolph will deem the clip “funny” or “not funny.” Think of America’s Funniest Home Videos with Z-Bo as judge and jury. “Totally a vehicle for his personality,” Potter said. Allen, with a one-of-a-kind smirk, introduces a teammate who makes a statement about himself that a fan from the crowd must decide is true or false. Tony Allen’s “Fact or Fiction” features Allen on the giant video board that hangs over the court. The players themselves are key characters in this. While there are no elephants and tigers, there is that edgy bear – Grizz – and plenty of clowning. “For lack of a better term,” he said, “ringmaster of the circus.” Potter’s preferred title to match his gameday duties? They’re shooting for their franchise high this season. Over-the-top, kind of winking at the cake in the face plays very well here.”Īnd Potter and his staff love a cake in the face. “Memphis is unique to have that cultural history to draw on.
“ Jerry Lawler’s a friend of the show,” Potter said. His childhood Saturday mornings were one-part cartoons, one-part Memphis wrestling starring Jerry “The King” Lawler, who you may have noticed pops up from time to time in the Grizzlies’ entertainment package that plays 41 times during the NBA regular season and comes back for encores when the Grizzlies make the playoffs.
“That’s kind of a civic moment that will live on,” Potter said. Fans screamed “Whoop That Trick” and – how good is this? – “Whoop That Clip” louder than ever. But in Game 6, when that banner appeared, it went to another level. Earlier in the series, the games ops crew had played “Whoop That Trick” from the Memphis film “Hustle & Flow.” Fans reacted to the beat and began chanting the chorus.