(Memphis) Grizz fever continues to grow with each playoff win. Saturday night, there were more than 18,000 fans in the stands to cheer on the grizzlies, but before the game started many were hanging out downtown showing their love for the Grizzlies.
The atmosphere downtown was absolutely electric. More and more people are becoming sold-out fans as the Grizzlies continue to inspire an entire city.
Grizz Line got the energy pumping Saturday afternoon on Beale Street to get fans ready for the Grizzlies game three against the Thunder.
“We’re going to get them at game three at home,” said Ben Clanton. “We’re going to be fired up. The crowd is going to be going nuts.”
He is not the only one fired up about the game. With each playoff win, Grizz mania builds across the Mid-South, bringing out the extreme in fans.
“I got (this) from my buddy,” said Clanton. “It’s a gorilla suit. Take off the head and it becomes a Grizz suit, baby.”
Fans lined up Saturday to get their Grizz gear, but Jamie Gondo went to the internet for a legitimate grizzly suit.
“I’m hot, I’m burning up right now,” he said, adding that it was worth it. ”You’ve got to sacrifice for the team a little bit.”
And sometimes that means sacrificing your marriage, like Graham Roberts and his wife Tonia. Their house stands divided, as Graham cheered for the Thunder, and Tonia, the Grizzlies.
“Well during these last two weeks we’ve been having separate rooms, separate bathrooms, we drove in separate cars down here, but we’ll sit together though,” said Graham, as he laughed.
While the Roberts work to find common ground in their marriage, fans heading into the Grindhouse are certain; this Grizzlies team marches to the beat of a different drum.
“I’m just really excited that we’ve got a team that can make it to the NBA finals and we’ve got to whip up on them brother,” said Clanton.
Fans will be back at the Grindhouse Monday night for game four against Oklahoma City. Tipoff is set for 8:30pm.