04/27/2026
Nuance Newz
4/27/27
Ep. 28
Segment: Seams To Me
The Love of The Game
Basketball is a sport that is rewarding as soon as you pick-up the ball. The sound of the "ting" as that round rubber or leather beacon of joy, growth, competition, and love is a sound that echoes straight from the heavens.
I'm just a fan of the game who is deeply in love with every aspect of this sport. So let's discuss the sport through the eyes of a Memphis hooper.
1.) Memphis is a football city. We are just in the heart of SEC country. Not having a conference for our college team that can compare to the SEC in football creates the perfect segway to dominate in basketball.
Combine the physicality of football with the essence, that Memphis Izm, you get player's like Penny Hardaway, Elliott Perry, Andre Turner, Keith Lee, Robert O' Kelly, Dane Bradshaw, Joe Jackson, Jimmy "Snap" Hunter, Tony Harris, Ishmael Joyce , Dee Wilkes , Melvin Wilkes Jeremy Hunt, Anthony Douglas, Marcus Smooth Moody , Wayne Moody, Jamie Rosser, Elliot Williams, Kennedy Chandler, Ian Clark, Chris Chiooza, Scooter McFaden, Cedric Henderson, Seann Williams, Lorenzen Wright, Ernest Shelton, J.P. Prince, Chris Garner, Fred Smith Jr., Eric Draper, and the list goes on and on.
Yet, despite this short list of a list longer than Lamar. We are still a football city and region that is a hotbed for real hooping.
2.) When speaking the game of basketball versus the game of football. The average fan in Memphis will talk football with consistent detail on routes, field positioning, and the game within the game.
The average Memphis fan has more of an overarching view of the game of basketball that lacks the same level of detail that same fan of football will share. There is little to no discussion regarding the game within the game. Don't take my word for it. Find out for yourself.
The fact the average Memphis fan doesn't even recognize Ja's basketball IQ is elite on a level like a LeBron while focusing on off the court issues or his lack of availability is a small sample size of that lack of true understanding of the game of basketball while still being a die hard fan.
Yet we still are hoopers in Memphis which again is