A day in the life of CI

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The 2008-2009 Season is upon us and we expect a great season from our team on and off the court. It brings great pleasure to be able to address our fans and provide some insight from the “Community Investment” standpoint. Just as an FYI, the mission statement of the Grizzlies Community Investment Department is to create opportunities for Mid-South youth through community outreach, education and sport development. During the offseason, we had the opportunity to touch all three areas as we hosted events with Hakim Warrick, Darrell Arthur and OJ Mayo.

The funniest event by far was the Grizzlies Community Caravan with Hakim Warrick and Darrell Arthur on Friday, September 26.
Below is a brief recap of the day’s events.

8:30 am - Grizzlies CI Director (that’s me) pays a visit to the Grizzlies locker room to find Hakim Warrick playing the Wii. (…Let’s go Hakim).

8:45am - CI Department along with Hakim, ready to hit the road. The van is loaded. We start the ignition…wait…where is Darrell Arthur?

9am - We wait.

9:15am - Still waiting….

9:30 - Call Darrell. He just left the doctor’s office after taking the team physical. We can’t be late!

9:35am - Darrell arrives and we hit the road.

10:10am - Arrive in Collierville, TN. Oops! Forgot to put gas in the van. Gas light blares at me. I try to hide the fact that we need gas, but we have to be at Southwest Elementary in Fayette County in 20 minutes.

10:11am - Continue to drive as if nothing is wrong.

10:13am - Stop for gas. Pump $10.00 just so we can make it to the school on time. Hope no one notices I only put $10.00 in the van.

10:15am - Back on the road, but the gas light does not go off. Hakim notices and ask the dreaded question “So, how much gas did you put in the van?”

10:16am - My face turns blood red…  “Ten dollars”.

10:16am - Complete silence.

10:16am - Burst of laughter followed by comments from the staff, as well as Hakim and Darrell.

“Ten dollars”, said Warrick. “Teresa, are you losing it. This is not 1990. We are going to be stranded out here.”

“Where are we”, said Arthur. “Can we get cell phone coverage out here? I hope so because we are going to run out of gas.”

10:18am - The commotion shifts from me to the front yard of a house we are passing.

“Is that an ostrich?” Warrick asks in disbelief. “Man, please tell me that is not an ostrich. I didn’t even know you could have a pet ostrich.”

“Are we there yet?” said Arthur. “Is that an ostrich…for real”?

10:25am - Enter Southwest Elementary (on time mind you).

10:30am - Start the Grizzlies Get Fit assembly with students from the school. Hakim and Darrell have a great time with the students leading teams of fourth and fifth grade students in a fitness competition. Yes, we did confirm with the P.E teacher that it was in fact an ostrich along the way.

11am - Hit the road…stop for gas (fill up this time)…Hit the road again heading to Riverdale Elementary in Germantown, TN.

11:30 am - Enter Riverdale Elementary. Hakim is principal for the day and Darrell hosts a Get Fit Assembly with students in the gym.

12:30pm - Leave Riverdale. I ask the question, “Hungry anyone”? “Yes!”, everyone shouts. “How about Chick-fil-A?”

“Now that’s what I’m talkin about”, said Warrick “Waffle fries, lemonade, and of course chicken…the possibilities are endless.”

“I’m so excited,” said Keri Stoller, Grizzlies Community Investment Manager. “I haven’t been to Chick-Fil-A since college.”

12:40pm - Park, walk into the Chick-Fil-A and of course everyone stares at us. They must be staring at us because we all looked great in our Grizzlies T-shirts. It couldn’t have been because we had two players with us.

12:41pm - We place our orders. Of course, Hakim and Darrell gets special treatment. The manager gives them strawberry milkshakes. Never mind the fact that I have been driving all this time…plus dealing with, “Are we there yet?” and “Change the radio station” and also, “Teresa why did you put ten dollars in the gas tank”?  My question is…why is it that celebrities always get the free stuff!

1pm - Lost in Desoto County trying desperately to find Center Hill Elementary School. Plus, again, trying to hide the fact that I am lost.

1:15pm - Hakim asks another dreaded question” Teresa are we going the right way?” “Yes, Hakim,” I say. “Now go back to sleep. Is that Darrell I hear snoring?”

2pm - Enter Center Hill Elementary. Darrell hosts a Get Fit assembly with the students and Hakim serves as principal for the day (or maybe 20 minutes).

3pm - Finish the Community Caravan and head back to FedExForum.

After all the driving, traffic, fear of running out of gas, animal sightings and snoring, Hakim and Darrell had a great time with the kids, teachers and staff. I breathed a sigh of relief and thought about how much I love my job. A great time was had by all, until…

4pm - Clean out the van from our day’s trip…notice strawberry milkshake all over the floor! Hakim and Darrell!!!!!!