Grizzlies announce 2018-19 promotional schedule
Grind City Wrestling Nights and a Marc Gasol apron are among the highlights of the Memphis Grizzlies' 2018-19 promotional schedule.
Each wrestling-themed night will also be dubbed Wingsday Wrestling Night and feature a promotion in which fans can purchase Terrace Level IV tickets and a 5-piece order of boneless wings from Wing Guru for $22. Wingsday Wrestling Nights are set for Nov. 10 (vs. Philadelphia 76ers), Dec. 15 (vs. Houston Rockets), Jan. 9 (San Antonio Spurs), Feb. 9 (New Orleans Pelicans), March 20 (Houston Rockets) and March 23 (Minnesota Timberwolves).
A Grizzlies wrestling T-shirt will be the featured giveaway on Nov. 10, while fans can receive a Grizzlies Pet Bandanna on Adoptable Pet Night (Dec. 26), and a Grizzlies fanny pack on "Flashback Friday" (Jan. 4, vs. Brooklyn Nets).
The Grizzlies open the season at the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 17, before returning to FedExForum for the home opener on Oct. 19 (vs. Atlanta Hawks).
The team's game against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 30 will feature a team magnet schedule giveaway. A Grizzlies backpack will be the promotional item on Jan. 26, a wrestling scarf on Feb. 9 and a championship wrestling belt on March 23.
A Mike Conley "Elf on a Shelf" will be given away at the Holiday Game on Dec. 14 (Miami Heat) and a Jaren Jackson Jr. "Shoot" dance figure will be the featured item on Feb. 22 (Los Angeles Clippers).
Single-game tickets for the regular season and preseason will also go on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday, when the Grizzlies are set to host an open practice and scrimmage (which begins at noon).
Chandler Parsons' tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies has not exactly gone as planned.
Since signing a 4-year, $94 million deal in July 2016, injuries have limited his on-court contributions to less than half of the team's 164 games. Besides that, fans have been plenty vocal in their displeasure of how Parsons has handled the adversity as well as the criticism that followed.
On Wednesday, The Players' Tribune published a Parsons-penned message, entitled "A Note to Memphis."
In it, he admits to learning a number of life lessons "the hard way" and how a number of things he did while sidelined with multiple knee injuries could have been misconstrued as him not being invested in Memphis and the Grizzlies.
"I’m a basketball fan, so I know what it’s like, as a fan, to feel like you’re giving a lot to your team … and the players are not matching that," Parsons wrote. "I wish I would’ve known that I needed to be more available, and more open, while I was injured — because nobody was getting to see my contributions on the basketball court. Instead, when you guys saw me on vacation or getting photographed by paparazzi going to dinner, or posting something on (Instagram) or whatever, maybe it looked like I didn’t really care about the team.
"When I look back at some of that now, and remember how I felt when I was a Magic fan all those years ago, I think I understand where you’re coming from."
Parsons also goes on to declare himself healthier than he's been since arriving in Memphis, yet has accepted that doesn't mean anything yet.
"I know the last thing you want to hear from me is a promise about my basketball performance — I know I need to show it on the court," he wrote. "I guess all I really wanted to say … is that I’m here. I’m here in Memphis. I still love it here. I’ve struggled here, too, which makes me want to prove myself here more than ever. I’m here to work, and I’ve got work to do. I’m not proud of how I dealt with my injuries publicly. On the bright side, I’m feeling stronger physically and mentally than I did two years ago. So I plan to do now the same thing I planned to do two years ago … come in fresh, as the new guy. With a lot to prove.”