The pressure was on Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.
An email about the Heal the Hood Foundation‘s celebrity basketball event hit his computer at about the same time as Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s. Both were asked not only to attend the event, but to suit up for the basketball game.
Young responded swiftly, agreeing to participate; Harris mulled over his decision. After seeing Young’s reply, Harris had no choice but to eventually give in, though weeks later.
“I had never seen a mayor respond to an email at all, much less one in 30 seconds,” Harris said, laughing.
The HTH event Saturday afternoon at Ridgeway High School featured a basketball game of local players and notable celebrities on “Team City” and “Team County.” Former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and defensive standout Tony Allen were among those in attendance.
Hollins coached, and Allen was honored at halftime with the inaugural HTH Heroes of Change award for his work in the Memphis community.
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The presence of Allen, Hollins and the mayors highlighted how basketball can be used in a city like Memphis for more important causes. Proceeds from the game went to the youth programs of Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis.
“The love of basketball is definitely a community,” Allen said. “I think it intertwines. Every neighborhood, you got a park nearby. We can use that as a common goal to everybody in one building for a great cause, I think it’s key.”
Young and Harris are both Memphians who used basketball as an outlet when they were kids. Harris said that Saturday was the first time he had played in 20 years. Young had been practicing his shot the past week, but estimated it had been “probably 10 years” since he played in a full-court game.
“It’s really important because these are the moments where we come together and just have a good time,” Young said. “Our city needs these moments, so I’m glad to be a part of it.”
The game started with a jump ball between Harris and Young — which was won by Harris. For him, his main emphasis was not to embarrass himself. Young didn’t go out there with the idea to get up many shots, but he said he wouldn’t turn down open ones.
The strategies were different, but they had something in common when describing their games. Harris compared himself to a coach, while Young called himself a conductor.
Each of those terms equates leadership, the role Harris and Young have been tasked with in Shelby County and Memphis, respectively.
Sure, both mayors missed their share of layups, but Saturday’s event was the latest opportunity for them to lean into the area’s basketball fervor while tying it to some of their major goals.
“Memphis is a basketball town,” Young said. “I remember growing up in this city and every park and every gym I could get to, I was trying to go to. I think it’s important to make sure we’re making that connection with young people.”
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.