A Canadian Original
The Memphis Grizzlies were originally a Canadian team, the Vancouver Grizzlies who were voted into the NBA as an expansion team franchises in 1995. When the team owner first filed an application to the NBA for a franchise team, he listed the team name as the Vancouver Mounties but the Canadian government objected to the use of the name “Mounties” and the owner changed the name to the Vancouver Grizzlies. Eventually, in 2001, after a string of terrible seasons with lots of losses the Vancouver Grizzlies crossed the border and became the Memphis Grizzlies. Their new home city welcomed the Grizzlies with open arms, and even when the Grizzlies don’t quite gel as a team and end up with losses the fans still love them. Throughout Memphis the Grizzlies team colors of different shades of blue, white and yellow can be seen dotting the landscape in the forms of stickers, sweatshirts, hats and tee shirts that the locals wear to support their team. Even though the Memphis Grizzlies have yet to have a really stellar season there has been steady improvement due to the efforts of the team owners and manager to select the best draft picks and try to work with the team to help them work together. The frequent changes to the Memphis Grizzlies roster has been a challenge for the team but they are overcoming it fairly well using scheduled training and non scheduled hanging out to try and get to know the other players and focus on building some team unity. The leaders of the Memphis Grizzles are popular players Eddie Jones and Jason Williams who are the glue that hold the team together.
Fans Support The Memphis Grizzlies
While the team works to try and find their stride as a team, the fans are out promoting the team and celebrating team spirit and pride. Sales of Memphis Grizzlies tickets continue to rise, and Memphis Grizzlies basketball jerseys, and tee shirts with the Memphis Grizzlies logon them sell briskly both at the Grizzlies home stadium the FedEx Forum and online at the Memphis Grizzlies website store. The talented and athletic Memphis Grizzles dancers and cheerleaders make personal appearances at promotions and companies offer special offers on Memphis Grizzlies tickets all over Memphis. There is widespread support for the Memphis Grizzlies on local radio networks. The Grizzlies love their fans, and are thrilled to be in a city that shows so much support for them. While still in Vancouver, the Grizzlies were the first basketball team in the NBA to have a website, created in 1995.
|
|
|
|