Tigers on parade

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

The talent, glitz and glamour of Memphis Madness lured a capacity crowd to FedExForum on Friday night as The University of Memphis Tigers basketball team officially kicked off its 2011-2012 season. Doors opened for the free event at 5:30 p.m., and with the anticipation of seeing Rick Ross and this season's Tigers basketball team, some attendees were waiting in line as early as 1:30 p.m.

"First of all, you've got to give all the credit to the fans for coming out and supporting their team," said Josh Pastner, men's basketball head coach. "The fans are the best in the country and this has become an event."

The event that Pastner was referring to was the fact that the main act, Rick Ross, had gotten sick on his plane and had to be rushed to the hospital in Birmingham, Ala. It was said that the rapper had two seizures and couldn't make the trip. But in a matter of minutes, Pastner was able to bring in another rapper to replace Ross, Yo Gotti.

"My prayers go out to Rick Ross," Pastner said. "But only in Memphis can you replace an ‘A-list' guy with another ‘A-list guy.' He was plan B, and if he said no, plan C was to try to see where Justin Timberlake was at and what he was doing, or Drumma Boy, or could we get Lil Wayne in here – but we had to get someone. And Yo Gotti did us an unbelievable favor because he loves Memphis so much."

The festivities started with the women's team introductions and a short scrimmage. After hearing from women's head coach Melissa McFerrin and pre-season Conference USA Player of the Year Brittany Carter, the men took center stage. They opened with intros and a spectacular pyrotechnics display, followed by  three-point and dunk contests and ending with a scrimmage.

Sophomore guard Antonio Barton won the three-point contest. Junior D.J. Stephens won the dunk contest, judged by celebrity judges Penny Hardaway, Thaddeus Young, Drumma Boy, Andre Iguodala, Elliott Williams and Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph.

But his dunks didn't impress everyone.

"I really won the dunk contest again (this year) because D.J. wasn't even in the dunk contest," said Will Barton, sophomore guard. "At first he wasn't supposed to do nothing. Then he was supposed to do just one dunk and sit down. So technically I won because you can't win something that you're not in."

The Tigers began full practice on Sunday. They host Lemoyne-Owen in their season-opener on Nov. 2.