Allen takes the mound
The Griz veteran and city ambassador stepped up at last night’s Redbirds game.
Before he strutted to the pitcher’s mound, Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen gave an energized AutoZone Park crowd swagger. Allen threw both fists above his head, flexing his muscles near the Memphis Redbirds’ dugout. He then tipped off “Grit & Grind” night with a fastball that bounced just short of home plate as the Triple-A Redbirds opened their final home stand of the season.
Redbirds catcher Ed Easley scooped up the throw from Allen, who wore a wide grin and a nifty blue-and-gold, Grizzlies-themed Redbirds jersey.
“These jerseys are sweet,” Allen said after his ceremonial first pitch.
The 6-foot-4, 11-year veteran obviously is feeling good about everything Memphis. Allen is the spokesman for the city’s airport and an attendance awareness campaign to help improve school attendance in Shelby County.
His versatility as an ambassador for the city and the Grizzlies seemingly has no bounds, and that’s something Allen said
he’ll carry over into the 2015-16 NBA season.
Allen performed, albeit briefly, as a pitcher Monday night. And the 33-yearold said he’ll also do whatever is asked of him from the Griz once training camp starts in October.
Allen joins Courtney Lee, Jeff Green, Vince Carter, Matt Barnes and second-year player Jordan Adams in what could be a logjam for meaningful minutes at shooting guard and small forward.
“Let’s battle,” Allen said. “I like it when it’s like that. That brings out the best in me.”
Don’t get Allen wrong. He’s not concerned about whether he’s in the starting lineup.
“I don’t get into that. It is what it is. It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish,” Allen said. “I just want to come in go to work and when I leave (the coaches) will be like ‘He put his all out there on the line.’ Starting doesn’t mean anything to me. I’ve already shown that.”
To Allen’s credit, he demonstrated professionalism and teamwork.
Last season, Griz coach Dave Joerger started Allen at small forward and Lee at shooting guard. Allen moved to the second unit midway through the season after the Griz acquired Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics in a trade.
Green later asked Joerger to allow him to play off the bench, which meant Allen returned to the starting lineup. Allen ended up missing games late in the regular season because of a left hamstring injury. Allen aggravated the injury in the Western Conference semifinals series against the Golden State Warriors, and he has mostly rested this offseason so he can be 100 percent healthy for training camp.
“I’m being patient right now after the injury from last year. I want to get back to full strength,” Allen said. “I want to get back to the first-team all-defender that I am. I want to get back to playing at that high level, and the rest will take care of itself. For the most part I’ve been good these last two weeks. I’ve been full throttle and ready to go.”
Allen didn’t appear at all limited Monday night at AutoZone Park as he signed autographs for hundreds of fans. The event marked a successful collaboration between the Griz and Redbirds.
Some fans left with a commemorative jersey by participating in a silent auction. The auction winners were taken onto the field to receive their purchased jersey from a Redbirds player after the game.
Proceeds benefit both Memphis Grizzlies Foundation and Redbirds Community Fund.