Grizzlies' Tony Allen auctioning off shoe that kicked Clippers' Chris Paul

Michael Jordan's flu-game shoes have been sold for more than $140,000. If you envy the winner of the auction for owning such precious shoes, there's another pairs of live game kicks you can bid for.

Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies is auctioning his pair of shoes. Allen may not be as big of a star like Jordan but the kicks he's selling carries a story that is of the same weight as the Flu Game shoes, sort of.

The 31-year old shooting guard has decided to put the shoes he used to unintentionally kick Clippers' Chris Paul to support a charity.

As posted in eBay advert:

"The shoe that Tony Allen wore when he inadvertently kicked Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul in the face on Nov. 18 will be auctioned online to benefit Youth Villages. Allen, who was ejected from that game and suspended, donated the shoe to the national nonprofit organization headquartered in Memphis. Youth Villages is auctioning the shoe online as part of an effort to raise $15,000 to buy presents for children receiving help on its residential campuses and group homes. The shoe is autographed by Allen and is mounted in a custom Memphis Grizzlies display case. The eBay auction runs through Sunday. All proceeds generated from the sale of the shoe will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $10,000."

Proceeds will be used to ensure that kids who are not with their families experience the joy of the Christmas season.

Youth Villages is home to more than 1,000 vulnerable children and families. Most of these children are served through in-home and community based efforts.

Starting bid prize for the shoe is $750, with the auction expected to end Sunday. Sources also revealed that an anonymous donor will match the final price of the shoe once it is sold.

Allen served a one game suspension for the incident but hopes that the shoe can create Christmas memories for Memphis area kids.

“I’m glad that the shoe will be creating something special for kids in Memphis. Everyone deserves to have a Christmas to remember. I’m glad I can be a part of their memories,” Allen said.

Vinny Del Negro isn't too happy with DeAndre Jordan

The Los Angeles Clippers have dropped three straight in their first round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. I'm sure Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro isn't too happy about that, but what really has him fired up, besides the seat he's sitting on, is the play of center DeAndre Jordan.

Del Negro is dealing with the losses, a hobbled Blake Griffin, and his place on the hot seat. So it naturally irks him to see Jordan, a talented, athletic big man come up with a lame effort against the Grizzlies. Del Negro needed Jordan to be big in a pivotal Game 5 but Jordan came up with a six point, eight rebound effort in a 103-93 loss.

Del Negro ripped Jordan after the loss for the way he's come up short against the Grizzlies front line throughout the series.  


"I don't know if crossroads is the right (word) but there's definitely a level you have to play at right now that is much different," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "He has a much different responsibility now. He understands it.

"I haven't seen the consistency that I like. He hasn't seen the consistency he would like."

"I didn't see him controlling the game the way I thought he needed to, and at that stage you have to go with someone you feel can," Del Negro said. "Maybe Ryan Hollins could have played a few more minutes after looking at the tape.

"But those are decisions that are made during the heat of the battle, and you go with your rotation as best you can. At this stage of the game you want to stay with your rotation, but if they're not being productive, you have to look at other guys you have confidence in, that have produced throughout the series."

For reasons unknown to me Del Negro is on the hot seat. He pushed for a Jordan for Kevin Garnett deal before the trade deadline and Chris Paul might be skipping town. He's trying to pull out all the stops after being ahead 2-0 in the series and seeing the bottom fall out. The Clippers will have to try to win Game 6 on the road with a hurting Griffin and the way things have been going I don't see it happening.

It looks like this may be the end for Del Negro.

Grizzlies may be thinking of trading Zach Randolph

Amid reports that the Memphis Grizzlies might be open to trading small forward Rudy Gay, there are rumblings that the team might be in full fire sale mode. The Grizzlies are looking to get under the luxury tax and might unload power forward Zach Randolph to do it.


Griz CEO Jason Levien, whom principal owner Robert Pera has entrusted to run the franchise, is gauging the value of several players on the roster. There also have been exploratory trade conversations centered on forward Zach Randolph.

The Sacramento Kings are one of the teams with whom the Griz recently held preliminary talks, according to a league source.

Moving Randolph could prove to be a big mistake for the Grizzlies as Randolph probably is the most popular player in Grizzlies history. He and center Marc Gasol have a good working relationship and he's a favorite among fans and teammates.

I understand that it's all about the bottom line, but this that could be a critical mistake for a team with designs on contending for a championship.

Zach Randolph involved in car accident

Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is trying to find his rhythm after coming back from knee surgery and missing a good portion of this NBA campaign. Randolph is a walking double-double and is slowly finding his way as the Grizzlies try to secure the fourth seed in the Western Conference NBA playoffs.

What Randolph didn't count on was being involved in a car accident that left him with a sore back by his own admission. Randolph did not participate in the team's shootaround and replied to a text message that asked if he was ok.

Randolph replied: “Yes. My back is just a little sore.”


A preliminary Memphis Police Department report stated that Randolph was driving his 2011 Dodge Charger westbound on the 385 exit ramp toward 240 when his vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2000 Honda CRV. There were no visible injuries on the scene and no one was transported in an ambulance. The driver of the Honda received a citation for Failure to Maintain a Safe Lookout.


The Grizzlies are battling with the Los Angeles Clippers for the fourth seed and home court in the first round. They'll need Randolph at nearly full strength to make a run. Even with him trying to find his rhythm that would be good enough for the Grizzlies. If the back is going to be a problem, it could be a first round flameout for Memphis.

Sam Young Scores At Wrong Basket

For the second time this year an NBA player has had a hand at giving away two points. First it was Darko on a jumpball and now this.

The Memphis Grizzlies' Sam Young tried to grab a missed shot by the Philadelphia 76ers Louis Williams. The ball caromed off of his hand and went through the basket.

Iverson and Memphis. They're meant for each other.

We're barely two weeks into the NBA season and once again Allen Iverson has committed career suicide. Unable to make it with the Detroit Pistons because  he didn't want to come off the bench,  the same thing is happening with the Memphis Grizzlies. I'm not gonna excuse the Grizzlies from any of this mess because they were foolish for signing him. It's was clearly a bad move for a young team and they should have known this was coming.Management saw dollar signs and tickets sales. Now the Grizzlies are dangerously headed toward team knucklehead with Iverson leading the charge. He's now chirping about having to come off the bench. I understand he's had a great career and all but he needs to step aside and let the youngsters play and go to the mentor role, if that's possible for him. Iverson doesn't realize it's a "what have you done for me lately?" kind of business and for the last year he hasn't done too much except complain about his role on the teams he's been on. Everyone understands you are a great player, have an outstanding body of work, and still have something left to give. But at this point, he would be better served coming off the bench, more for a contender than a chronic rebuilder. As much as I hate to say it, OJ Mayo is better than him and Rudy Gay is better than him, even though he has that magician act going on every once in a while. He's not gonna lead this team anywhere except the bottom of the standings. What does it say about him if he's complaining already. He's selfish. I can understand when he says the negative about me sells more than the positive, but you keep putting yourself in a negative light. Last season he sabotaged his own career when he couldn't make it work in Detroit. I understand there were some behind the scenes action that didn't make the situation any better. Thing is, the Pistons had the ultimate team concept there, and he couldn't make it work there. That was the best situation he'll probably ever have and he blew it. I can understand when he was in Philadelphia he didn't have the best talent around him. In Detroit he played with a team that was a regular at the Eastern Confernce finals. He couldn't compromise. Now he goes to Memphis because no one wants him, because he can't compromise. He still has that characteristic about him. After this he'll be the Terrell Owens of the NBA. No one will want a piece of him. I hate to see him go out like this, but i'm afraid this is the final Answer.