| 1 | 1 | | |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | <BillNo> <Sponsor> |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | SENATE RESOLUTION 45 |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | By Akbari |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | SR0045 |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | 004952 |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | - 1 - |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | A RESOLUTION to honor Tony Allen on the occasion of his jersey |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | being retired by the Memphis Grizzlies. |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, this legislative body takes great pleasure in recognizing one of the best |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | defensive players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA); and |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Tony Allen will have his No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies jersey retired and raised to |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | the rafters of FedEx Forum in a special post-game ceremony on March 15, 2025; and |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, during the game on March 15, fans will be able to enjoy their favorite Tony |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Allen in-game video skits, highlights, and congratulation videos as the Grizzlies celebrate the |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | guest of honor throughout the night; and |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, as an additional tribute to this defensive wizard, the full-length documentary |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | Tony Allen: The Grindfather chronicles Mr. Allen's journey from his childhood in Chicago, to his |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | collegiate career at Oklahoma State, to his time in Boston, and finally his home in Memphis, |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | showcasing the moments that defined his career during the "Grit & Grind" era and shaped the |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | franchise's success; and |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, only the third Grizzlies player to have his jersey retired by the organization, |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | Tony Allen played seven seasons for Memphis (2010-2017), during which time he epitomized |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | the franchise's "Grit and Grind" mentality; and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Allen was named to the NBA All-Defensive team six times in that span |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | and helped Memphis reach the playoffs in all seven of his seasons with the team, including a |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | trip to the 2013 Western Conference finals; and |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, he ranks second in franchise history in steals (762), sixth in games played |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (462), and tenth in blocked shots (217); and |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | - 2 - 004952 |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Boston's first-round pick and the 25 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | th |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | pick overall in 2004, Tony Allen was a |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | valuable member of the Celtics from 2004 to 2010 and won an NBA championship with the |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | team in 2008; and |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | WHEREAS, after leaving the Grizzlies, he played for the New Orleans Pelicans during |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | the 2017-2018 season before ending his outstanding NBA career; and |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | WHEREAS, via a post on social media, the Memphis franchise has aptly described Mr. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | Allen as "All heart. Grit. Grind.", and he is most worthy of our approbation as he and the |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | Grizzlies celebrate this milestone; now, therefore, |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRE D FOURTEENTH |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, that we honor and congratulate |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | Tony Allen on the occasion of his No. 9 jersey being retired by the Memphis Grizzlies and raised |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | to the rafters of the FedEx Forum, pay tribute to his remarkable career as a six-time NBA All- |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Defensive team selection, and extend to him our best wishes for much continued success and |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | happiness in his future endeavors. |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy. |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | |
|---|