Yes, fried-chicken jokes are racist

When I heard that a golfer had made a "joke" about Tiger Woods and fried chicken, I had to double-check to make sure it wasn't 1997 all over again.

"That was the year Frank "Fuzzy: Zoeller was asked for his thoughts about Woods' impending success at the Masters, and he joked about Woods serving "fried chicken" or "collard greens" to celebrate his win. The remark cost Zoeller his primary sponsor, Kmart, and will likely overshadow his athletic successes in his obituary some day.

Yet despite what the comment cost Zoeller, another golfer just made a similar one. Here's hoping bad '90s fashion doesn't come roaring back with the same vengeance as bad '90s racial humor.

Why you should want the Memphis Grizzlies to win an NBA championship

Writing in the Huffington Post, columnist Mikah Meyer makes the case for Memphis being a rooting-favorite to win an NBA Championship.

"I will not claim to be a native son of Memphis. No, the four years I spent living there during college were not enough to qualify me a natural Memphian, but it was enough to give me a love for Memphis that bounds like the mighty Mississippi."

Video: Dwayne Wade shows up at fans’s prom

So Nicole Muxo, a senior at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School, made a YouTube video asking Heat guard Dwyane Wade to be her date to the prom, because that's what high school kids do nowadays.

Grizz sizzle gives way to fizzle

The Memphis Grizzlies have accomplished much this NBA season, having survived the in-season loss of their superstar to another team and being rebuilt, reformed and reborn as a team.

They ended the season with their highest seed for the playoffs. They defeated one of the hottest teams in the West (Los Angeles Clippers). They defeated last year's Western Conference Champion and favorite to repeat this year (Oklahoma City Thunder). And they defeated both of these teams without having home court advantage.

They made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history. They have successfully gone from the "laughing stock" of the league to most NBA analysts giving them a legitimate chance to make the NBA Finals.

Spanked by Spurs, Grizz look to regroup

They beat the Los Angeles Clippers. They sent the Oklahoma City Thunder home packing. But after a Game 1 meltdown in the Western Conference Finals, it appears the Memphis Grizzlies may have big-time problems with the championship-savvy San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs came out firing against Memphis, setting a quick pace en route to a 105-83 romp at the AT&T center. Attacking the rim and making shot after shot from the outside, the Spurs kept an unbreakable grip on the lead throughout the entire game.

San Antonio raced to a 17-point lead in the first quarter. An although the Grizzlies cut the lead down to six during a stretch of the second half, there just wasn't enough consistency to derail the Spurs' juggernaut.

Grizz movin’ on to Western Finals

Big Boy: street ball terminology meaning a person (or persons) who can completely and totally dominate a game in the paint.

In one of his biggest games of the playoffs, Zach Randolph put up "big boy" numbers, with 28 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 88-84 to win the NBA Western Conference best of seven, second round series 4-1.

A bandwagon of NBA analysts agrees that very few teams have the size to play the slow, methodical, half-court offense/defense that the Grizzlies claim as their own.

Grizz comeback sealed with win in overtime

Kevin Durant walked down the court at the FedExForum with both hands covering his face. He sensed that the one thing he and the rest of his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates set out to do in Memphis was about to become an unfulfilled goal.

They'd set out to retrieve at least one win in Memphis. That didn't happen.

In an overtime win on Monday, the Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 103-97, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

‘Whoomp! (There It Is) Grizz win!

At the end of any Memphis Grizzlies win at the FedExForum, this familiar song can be heard blaring loudly across the sound system: "Whoomp! (There it is)."

The song, made popular by rap artist Tag Team, relates precisely to what the Grizzlies did in their 87-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday to take a 2-1 series lead in this Western Conference Semifinal.

The Grizzlies used every form of "tag teaming" possible in the win.

Consider these examples:

Hustle … hustle … hustle … GRIZZ!

Grit ... grind ... thou name is the Memphis Grizzlies!

After a heart-breaking loss in Game 1 that easily could (and probably should) have the Thunder down 2-0, the Grizzlies responded with an impressive 99-93 victory to even the best of seven series at 1-1.

Led by the steady hand of Mike Conley, who was one assist away from a triple-double with an impressive stat line of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, the Grizz were determined not to let another late lead disappear. Marc Gasol added 24 points and provided a major presence in the paint that Oklahoma City just could not match.

Coach Jerry M. Johnson takes well-earned retirement bow

The pool of retired and revered coaches recently made room for one more – Coach Jerry M. Johnson Sr.

Former students, players, family and friends gathered at the Marriott East Hotel on April 27 for a retirement dinner and gala in Coach Johnson's honor. The celebration noted his 42 years of service in education and coaching in Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools.

Coach Johnson started his coaching career at Wooddale Junior High, coaching football and track. His teams won championships in both sports.

Close … but no free throws

Grizz Nation was in full effect Sunday evening in Oklahoma City and although an unlikely victory in the home of last year's Western Conference champs was well within reach, a few critical errors and some home court luck, gave the Thunder the win. Kevin Durant made a critical jumper with 11.1 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter Sunday to give the Thunder the lead, which unfortunately for Grizz Nation, they never relinquished. It was Durant's 4th game-tying or go-ahead shot in the final 24 seconds of a playoff game in the last five postseasons, tied for the most in the league.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

For the Grizz, grind goes on

Game 6 of the Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Clippers NBA Playoffs first round series is a sellout.

The FedExForum will be raucous place as the Grizz go for the knockout up three games to two against the Clippers. It's not an absolute must-win game, with the series shifting back to L.A. should Memphis coming up short in its bid to snare its second playoff series win in franchise history.