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>> Female announcer: This is a
production of WKNO, Memphis.
Production funding for "Sports
Files" is made possible in part
by...
>> Gaston: My guest today on
"Sports Files" is Memphis
Grizzlies General Manager Chris
Wallace.
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Hi everyone.
The Memphis Grizzlies opened up
training camp earlier this week
as they prepare for the new
season.
At this time last year there was
no training camp.
In fact, there was no NBA
period.
At least not until Christmas
day.
The delay, the result of a 161
day lockout.
Once the labor strife was
settled and the season began,
the Grizzlies troubles didn't go
away.
Zach Randolph began the new
calendar year by going down with
a partial MCL tear.
He would go on to miss 37 games.
A void that long, minus arguably
your best player, would normally
cripple a franchise.
But not when you have Chris
Wallace.
The Grizzlies General Manager
went out and traded for Marisse
Speights to help fill the gap
and an earlier signing of Dante
Cunnngham also aided the cause.
The Griz would go on to produce
their best winning percentage in
franchise history and earn a
number 4 seed in the west.
And while the team would fall in
seven games to the Clippers in
the opening round of the
postseason, Wallace had help put
the team in a position to win,
despite the obstacles.
Now with several new additions,
and the core players all signed
to long term deals, the
Grizzlies are ready to make
another run.
And Wallace says it's the best
collection of talent the team
has ever had.
It's time to roll out the ball,
and get ready to Grit and Grind,
next on "Sports Files."
>> (instrumental music)
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>> Chris, thank you so much for
joining us here on "Sports
Files."
We appreciate it.
>> Wallace: My pleasure, Greg.
>> Gaston: Alright -- We're
getting in to the time of the
basketball season.
But for the last few months of
the summer -- How did it go for
ya?
What did you do?
>> Wallace: Well, it was very
hectic because the NBA regular
season runs in to the play-offs,
which runs in to the draft,
which runs in to Las Vegas
Summer League.
>> Gaston: No time off, huh?
>> Wallace: Before you know it,
its Labor Day and summer's over
with.
So the season really is 12
months -- not from a competitive
standpoint but it goes around
the calendar, as far as the
things that we have to do and
our duties with an NBA team.
>> Gaston: And it was busy for
you because you made some
transactions in the off season.
We'll talk about that a little
bit later on as far as going out
and getting some shooters,
getting some help for Mike
Conley as a back-up point guard.
But right now the big story
surrounding the Grizzlies as we
get set for this 2012 - '13
season is what's going on with
ownership.
If and when Robert Pera becomes
the new owner of the Grizzlies
and that could be as soon as the
next couple of weeks.
It could be sometime before or
right before the season starts.
But what light can you shed on
the situation for us?
>> Wallace: Well, I'm not to all
that's going on in this
ownership transaction but I've
been through three of them
before in my NBA career and this
one is in a normal time table.
I mean, these things are three
to four to five months.
We remember the announcement was
back in early June.
So I think its on track.
By all estimations, probably
something will happen in October
before the season starts or
right around that point.
So I fully expect Mr. Pera and
his group of local owners to be
in charge of this team this
season.
>> Gaston: And you're very
familiar with some of those
local owners who would be a
carry over.
>> Wallace: Yeah -- many of
those guys.
I mean, he's got a star-studded
group obviously, Greg, of some
of the real influential people
in this community -- not just on
the business front but also on
the philanthropic fronts, as
well.
And I'm real excited with the
group that he has.
>> Gaston: Have you stocked up
on your Timberlake CDs?
(laughter)
>> Wallace: That's what
everybody has asked me.
Can I get them a Justin
Timberlake autograph.
>> Gaston: You're going to get
them a discount, too, on all his
CDs.
Sixth year for you here in
Memphis.
You've had a great relationship
with Michael Heisley.
Tell us a little bit about that
relationship.
>> Wallace: Well, Michael
Heisley was in town yesterday.
Spent a day.
I think he'd done a terrific job
as owner of this team.
I mean first of all, there would
be no Grizzlies, no FedEx Forum
if he hadn't brought the team
from Vancouver.
And since I've been here in
2007, he's really put his money
where his mouth is.
He said, "When I feel that we
are ready to win with this team,
I'll be happy to have a big
payroll."
And he has.
I mean, we scaled the team back
in terms of the team's salary.
And you know, we gradually moved
to the head.
Two years ago we had the ninth
highest payroll in the league.
Last season -- the sixth.
Right now we have the fifth
highest payroll in the league.
And he's anteed up to sign our
core players -- big contracts to
Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Rudy
Gay.
A very healthy contract for Mike
Conley -- commence with his
status as a top 12 point guard
in the league.
Last year when Zach Randolph and
Darrell Arthur went down early
and our chances to repeat in the
play-offs seemed to be slipping
out the window, he said, "Hey,
go get some guys to fill in here
and hopefully keep this thing
going and don't worry about the
luxury tax.
Just go out and get us some
reinforcements."
So we went out and got Marreese
Speights and Dante Cunningham
and went over budget.
But those two players really
saved the season.
You know, we were in the play-
offs for a second straight year.
So I think he's been a terrific
owner.
He's very approachable -- not
just for the media, but the
fans.
And I know it will be a
bittersweet day for him when
finally the transfer of the team
is to the new ownership group
because he has very, very fond
feelings for this organization
and the city of Memphis as a
whole.
>> Gaston: Hopefully he will
still be a part of it and come
to games.
>> Wallace: He has tickets.
He bought floor tickets.
So you will see him at Grizzlies
games often with his family.
>> Gaston: Chris, the great
thing about Michael Heisley in
my opinion, besides his
openness, is the fact that he
said, "Look, I make no bones
about it.
I want to sell this team but I
want the owner to keep this team
in Memphis.
We've established ourselves here
in Memphis and that's what my
plan is."
And then he goes out and he
deals with a potential owner
that wants to keep the team in
Memphis.
So it's a win-win.
>> Wallace: Yes.
I mean again, you're right,
Greg.
He was very upfront and adamant
about his desire for this team
to stay in Memphis.
And again, he had tremendous
fondness for this community.
Yesterday he was telling us that
this was a surprise to me.
He said he had recently talked
to his daughter Emily who is the
CEO of his corporation.
And that's a vast empire -- 45
companies, 13,000 employees.
And she says, "Dad, look back on
your business career.
Where do you gain the most
satisfaction from?"
He said, "My ownership to the
Grizzlies.
What we have done for this city
with the FedEx Forum and the
redevelopment of the downtown
and the fact that I'm so proud
when I go to a game."
He said he's had numerous people
with a very influential in pro
sports said this is the most
diverse crowd that you'll see
anywhere in pro sports.
And we were with Kevin Kane
yesterday.
And Kevin said, "Any gathering
in Memphis, whether its church,
or another sports team, or
entertainment venue, there's no
gathering that reflects the city
in terms of diversity more so
than what you see at the Grizzly
Game at the FedEx Forum."
We've got 500 part time
employees with the FedEx Forum,
104 events.
So this is a major boost for the
city -- not just to Grizzlies
but the whole package that comes
with the FedEx Forum, from the
Tiger games and a great economic
generator for Downtown.
And Mr. Heisley again -- which
was surprising to me with all
that he's accomplished in his
career -- said, "This is where I
get the most satisfaction from,
my ownership of the Memphis
Grizzlies."
>> Gaston: Chris, I know you
pretty well.
I know you're a modest guy but I
want to read you a quote on a
story I read doing some research
for this interview.
You have been called quote the
genius behind the Grizzlies
rebirth.
Thoughts on that?
>> Wallace: Well first of all,
that's way overstated.
Second, because it's a team
effort.
I mean, Mr. Heisley has been
very involved in these
transactions and if doesn't get
his checkbook out -- that's most
important part of all this is
the guy that writes the checks.
Then you don't have these
players.
And Lionel Hollins --
>> Gaston: You need the green
light.
>> Wallace: Yes -- Well, and
also create an atmosphere to be
aggressive and not afraid to
take risks.
That's how he's built his
business empire.
He has tried to transfer that
philosophy to our team.
And we've been very successful
with it.
And then Lionel Hollins and the
coaching staff have done a great
job.
Since he came here in mid-
season, I believe it was in
2009, and this is something that
I don't think > Gaston: Well you led me in to
my next question about last year
-- absolutely crazy.
First of all -- the lock out,
the injuries, Z-Bo going down.
You were able to go out there
and get the players that you
just mentioned to plug the
holes.
Not only plug the holes but as
you said, this team went on to
have their best winning
percentage in history.
A disappointment in the first
round.
Would you agree with that?
Losing as a four seed?
>> Wallace: The Clippers were
certainly a very worthy
opponent.
They are a terrific team.
Chris Paul is a true superstar.
But I was disappointed.
We got the series back to
Memphis for game seven and we
couldn't take care of home court
advantage.
I mean, that's something that
hopefully has stuck in our guys
crawls throughout the season and
is a point of motivation for
them.
And we'd love to get home court
again this year and then get
back beyond the first round.
>> Gaston: Chris, was it more
gratifying to you personally to
see what the team did two years
ago when they were a win away
from the Western Conference
Finals or as we just mentioned,
what you guys were able to piece
together last year?
>> Wallce: Well, the most
gratifying moment of my entire
NBA career, not just here in
Memphis, Greg, was after we
defeated the Spurs in game six.
Captured that series.
First ever series win in the
history of the franchise for the
Grizzlies.
And I'm a fan at heart.
I was a fan before I got in to
the NBA.
I'll be a fan long after they
pull me from the NBA stage.
And I went out on the FedEx
Plaza and saw the jubilation and
celebration that was going on on
Beale Street throughout downtown
Memphis.
I got a yellow rally towel, ran
up and down Beale Street waving
the towel.
That absolutely was the
highlight of my career.
And just to see what this
victory meant to the community,
the joy it brought in all
sections of Memphis was just
overwhelming to me.
>> Gaston: Certainly a shot in
the arm for the community and
they're so excited about this
upcoming year.
So let's talk about personnel.
You go a whole year without
Darrell Arthur.
He comes back form injury.
Last week he gets hurt again
with a leg fracture.
They say four to six weeks but
possibly sooner.
>> Wallace: We prefer Darrell to
be in at the beginning of
training camp with no
restrictions but all in all, at
this point in time the injury
doesn't require surgery.
There could be a return shorter
than the four to six weeks.
So I just think this is a minor
bump in the road.
It's not an insurmountable wall
that he's got to get over the
top of.
I know he's disappointed but
he's done a great job with the
rehabilitation.
And I think we'll see him this
year.
>> Gaston: But it goes back to
the genius question because you
signed also Marreese Speights.
There were many that thought it
would either be Arthur or
Speights and not both.
And you signed both of them.
>> Wallace: Well, we decided
that these players have so much
upside and they're so needed
here that why split the baby and
try to pick a winner?
Let's just bring them both back.
Now with bringing both Marreese
and Darrell back, that meant we
couldn't resign O.J. Mayo.
I mean, there's always a price
to pay.
So we bring in Jerryd Bayless
but we're very excited to have
Darrell and Marreese back.
We learned a very valuable
lesson last year.
You can never have too much
depth in this business.
Injuries do happen in the NBA
and all of sports.
In the NBA in particular, its
very difficult to compensate for
injuries during the season.
Yes, we do have a minor league
to draw from but you know, it's
only 13 to 15 players on the NBA
team -- not 50 some like in the
NFL.
And guys that are real key
contributors are extremely
difficult to compensate for when
they go down.
So we're happy to have Marreese
and Darrel.
And this is again a reason why
you have them and Zach.
So you can deal with an injury
at a particular position.
>> Gaston: Again with Zach, 37
games he missed last year
because of the partial MCL tear.
He came back -- wasn't quite
Zach.
Do you expect him to be the old
Zach this season?
>> Wallace: Well, Zach's done a
great job in the off-season
getting in shape.
He's very eager to come back and
play at the level he did two
years ago.
You know, Zach is one of the
foremost interior scorers and
rebounders in the NBA -- great
offensive rebounder and terrific
hands.
We're just eager to have him
back.
He means so much to our team --
not just on the floor.
I've just really been heartened
in the period of time he's been
here, Greg.
How the city has reacted to
Zach.
I mean, he is a Memphis player.
He loves it here.
He set up his residence full
time.
He wants to live here after his
NBA is career is over with.
He's done great work out in the
community.
When he turned the heat back on
for those families who had their
utilities turned off a few years
ago during a cold snap.
And what he did with a pit-bull
that was abandoned this year on
the animal channel with that
program.
I mean, he is a Memphis guy and
a terrific player.
We're just so happy to have him
and hopefully, he's back strong
this year.
>> Gaston: As we talked about
the core is back.
You've signed all the big guys
on this team.
Gasol's back and Z-Bo's back.
And of course, Rudy and Conley
-- They're all signed.
And then you go out and you
bring in a couple of shooters.
And you bring in some back up
point guard help from Mike
Conley.
And those were the key areas
that we discussed after the
season.
You go out and you get Jerryd
Bayless.
You go out and get Wayne
Ellington.
Talk about these additions and
how much this could elevate you
guys in the west.
>> Wallace: Well, Jerryd Bayless
was -- we talked about O.J. Mayo
a few minutes ago -- was a
contemporary of O.J. in that
class of 2008.
They both were freshmen in the
Pac-10.
Jerryd left after one year at
Arizona.
He was drafted in the lottery by
Portland.
He also played with New Orleans.
Last year -- with Toronto.
He had a career high three point
mark last year around 44%.
We got a dose of his talent last
year in March when Toronto came
in here and upset us in a double
overtime game.
He went for 26 -- I think seven
rebounds.
Made an indelible impression.
And this just shows you how free
agency often moves, Greg, in
ways that you don't anticipate.
Two years ago, I would have
never told you we were going to
sign Tony Allen.
But one thing led to another and
now Tony Allen's there for us.
Going in to free agency last
July, Jerryd Bayless really
wasn't on our so called radar
screen.
He was a restricted free agent
with Toronto.
But Toronto removed the
restricted tag for him early in
the free agent process.
And now we go, "Woah -- This guy
can not only shoot to three.
He's got more upside to reach
and we love to have guys that
continue to get better and
better and have them peak.
And gives us obviously some
coverage if, God forbid, Mike
Conley were to go down."
That's where we were the most
vulnerable on this roster.
So we said it makes so much
sense to go after him.
He liked the idea of playing
here.
And it all came together.
Then Wayne Ellington was part of
a transaction where we
reluctantly traded Dante
Cunningham.
Dante was unbelievable for us
last year.
As a worker and a tangible
player, I can't remember one
game where he didn't show up
revved up and ready to go and
playing with great enthusiasm
and passion.
But you saw in the play-offs
when Zach Randolph came back,
there was just no time for him.
With Zach Randolph and Marreese
Speights, now you've got Darrell
Arthur.
So their contracts matched up
almost to the dime, same number
of years.
So we said we'll take a shot on
a guy who, even though his
production dipped last year, is
known for his three point
shooting capacity and Ellington.
On a last year deal, just like
Dante, and try to add more
outside shooting to the team.
Also on the outside shooting
vein, Josh Selby was terrific in
summer league.
I mean, he had huge games out in
Las Vegas -- seven, eight, nine
three pointers.
And I've had some people tell me
since we returned from the
summer league, "Yeah, but that's
summer league."
Yes, that's true.
There's a difference between
summer league and NBA basketball
but the three point line is the
same distance.
>> Gaston: And the confidence
that he really exudes.
>> Wallace: And he made three
pointers out there, Greg,
getting knocked down.
So I'm very impressed how he has
added a three point component to
his game in this off season,
which really didn't exist when
he came in to the league last
year.
>> Gaston: Chris, people were
clamoring as they always do
during the draft.
"Get this guy.
Get that guy."
You got Tony Wroten.
Tell us about the upside of Tony
Wroten.
>> Wallace: Well, Tony Wroten is
a big point guard, close to
6'5", comes from a tremendous
athletic lineage with his
family.
His father played at the
University of Washington in an
Orange Bowl -- played for Tampa
Bay.
His mother was a championship
hurdler in track.
He's got an aunt that played for
the Harlem Globetrotters.
How many people have an aunt
that played for the Harlem
Globetrotters?
He was one of the top ten high
school players in the country --
one of the most five productive
players in college basketball as
a freshman last year, that
freshman class.
Very good at getting the basket.
Excellent court vision.
Athletic -- can be disruptive
with his hands defensively.
He's not a real shooter right
now.
That's going to come.
But that's what happens in the
NBA.
You get a guy that can do the
other things and you can
concentrate now on the shooting
to a greater degree than you can
in college.
And player's shooting ability
gets better and better.
Mike Conley's a case in point.
Mike Conley did not come in the
NBA known for his shooting.
It was his speed, ball handling
ability, ability to press up
defensively.
But the shooting has gotten
better and better every year.
At times, he's a real three
point threat for us.
So we think Tony Wroten is a
player who's shot is not broken.
It can be improved.
And the other parts of his game
can make him a very productive
NBA player in time.
>> Gaston: Chris, the west has
certainly improved.
You just look at the Lakers
picking up Steve Nash and Dwight
Howard.
Other teams have added pieces.
Your core, as we talked about,
is there -- youth added pieces.
How good can the Grizzlies be
this season?
What type of a run can they
make?
>> Wallace: Well, I'm very
bullish on our team, Greg.
I mean, you look at the last
couple of years.
We've won I believe ten play-off
games.
We had the first play-off win in
the history of the franchise,
the first play-off series win.
We extended Oklahoma City to
seven games.
We went to seven games again
with the Clippers.
When we lose in a series, its in
the fourth quarter of the
seventh game.
During a regular season, we've
won in LA.
We've won two of our last three
games in Boston.
We've won two of our last three
games against Miami, including a
very decisive win late in the
season down there.
We've won three games in
Oklahoma City.
We've been very competitive with
the best teams in the NBA.
And now we've got a little more
continuity.
We've been together just another
season.
Our coaching staff has not been
together for about three and a
half years.
And we've hopefully added some
outside shooting, in depth a
point guard that was lacking
last year.
So I think we can be even better
this season than we were last
year.
Now obviously, it takes a while
for any team to come together.
There's just not -- It's just a
complete segue from one season
to next.
You got to build chemistry and
get those scabs on you to
toughen up.
And then obviously with us and
every other team, the keys going
to be can we avoid injury.
You know, if we've got a huge
number of games played with our
top players, we're going to be
pretty good.
If not, then we'll have to find
a way to get around those
injuries like we did last year.
But again, I have very high
expectations for this team.
I'm not going to shy away from
them.
I think we can be a very
formable team this year, despite
all you're hearing about the
upgrades in the western
conference.
>> Gaston: You got to worry
about yourself.
You can't worry about the other
teams.
Chris, we always end our
interviews with our guests with
five for the road.
So fie rapid fire questions.
Give me the first thing you can
think of here for the answer.
Favorite professional sports
franchise other than the Memphis
Grizzlies?
>> Wallace: Other than the
Memphis Grizzlies -- Wow.
That would probably be the team
I grew up, the Pittsburg
Steelers.
>> Gaston: The Steelers.
I know if I went to college with
that one, it would be West
Virginia but that's not one of
the questions.
Question two -- favorite athlete
of all time?
>> Wallace: My favorite athlete
of all time, you've never heard
of.
He's a guy named Archie Talley.
He was my hero when I was a kid
growing up at Salem College in
West Virginia.
Scored 3,700 point in college
without the benefit of three
point shot.
He's from your neck of the
woods.
He's from Seat Pleasant,
Maryland.
One of the top ten basketball
showmen I've ever seen and to
this day, even though he never
made it to the NBA, he played in
Europe.
He's my basketball hero.
>> Gaston: Alright -- real quick
for these final three.
Favorite musician or singer?
>> Wallace: Frankie Beverly and
Maze.
>> Gaston: Great group.
Favorite TV show of all time?
>> Wallace: Favorite TV show of
all time -- wow.
Well, you are really stretching
me right now.
(laughter)
Right now, you know, I love a
show on HBO called Treme.
>> Gaston: I watch that all the
time.
>> Wallace: New Orleans is a
city that's fascinated me for
years and I just think that this
is such a rare look at the city
of New Orleans for many
different angles.
And I love Treme.
>> Gaston: Great show.
Finally -- favorite movie?
>> Wallace: My favorite movie is
a French movie called "Diva."
(laughter)
>> Gaston: I did not expect
that.
Chris, a pleasure.
Thank you so much.
Best of luck.
>> Wallace: Thanks so much,
Greg.
>> Gaston: Chris Wallace of the
Grizzlies.
Thank you very much.
We'll take a quick break and
come back with Overtime right
after this.
>> (instrumental music)
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>> The Grizzlies hosted their
annual media day on Monday, and
as expected, optimism reigned
supreme.
The one thing about this bunch
is that they truly have
confidence in each other and in
the mission at hand.
Now, none of these players are
going to predict an NBA title,
but to a man, they believe they
can once again be a factor.
>> Gasol: We get better
everyday.
Other than that, we do all of
the little things that we're
supposed to do and at the end of
the day, we're going to be okay.
Randolph: We've got big
expectations, you know -- bigger
than last year.
So we just go to come out.
You know, I just want to put
nothing right there but we want
to go out and take one game at a
time.
You know, and play together and
understand what we're playing
for, understand where we got to
go and what were trying to get
to.
>> Gay: I think its obvious what
we expect -- what we want.
You know, we made some moves and
we adjust some of the things
that we thought we need to
adjust.
Obviously, we want to the best.
You know, last year kind of left
a sour taste in our mouth.
And you know, obviously, we want
to do better than that.
You know, I do think we can be a
contender.
>> Gaston: In my humble opinion
this Grizzlies squad has a
chance to be special if a few
things occur.
One, Z-Bo returns to true form.
Two, Rudy Gay plays with a chip
on his shoulder.
Perhaps being left off the U.S.
Olympic team can fuel the fire.
And finally, off season
additions Jarryd Bayless and
Wayne Ellington can contribute
by opening up the perimeter.
Of course the obvious needs to
also take place and that's to
stay Doctor free.
46 wins two seasons ago.
41 last season in just 66 games.
The West has only gotten better
but I see the Grizz going 48 and
34.
One final note, the Grizzlies
lost a cherished member of their
family with the passing of Dana
Davis, the team's Vice President
of Basketball operations and
team programs.
Double D, as he was
affectionately known, was a
vital part of Michael Heisley's
management team, a valued member
of the Memphis community and a
friend to many.
He will be sorely missed.
And that'll do it for this
week's show.
To see a replay of this program
you can log on to WKNO-dot-org
and click on 'KNO Tonite.
Memphis Madness takes place next
Friday at FedEx Forum, and next
week on "Sports Files," we'll
talk with two Tigers basketball
stars.
See ya next time!
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
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