The Fourth of July has been rough for the Memphis Grizzlies. Franchise pillar Zach Randolph has moved on as he signed an eight-figure deal with Sacramento.
For the past three years, most NBA fans experienced heartbreak on the Fourth of July. In 2015, LaMarcus Aldridge left Portland for a better opportunity in San Antonio. Last year, Kevin Durant infamously broke the hearts of Oklahoma City and
ruined the NBA
went to Golden State. This year, Gordon Hayward went East and reunited with his college coach, Brad Stevens, in Boston. This holiday, the Memphis Grizzlies experienced the same heartbreak as Zach Randolph left for a bigger payday in Sacramento.
Many fans express their emotions in different ways. Some let that sentiment roll and wear his jersey – what I’m doing as I’m writing this. For others, the tears flow. Then, you have your jersey-burners.
For Zach Randolph, there shouldn’t be any hatred towards his departure. He put Memphis basketball on the map, leading the Grizzlies to prominence and success. He became an ambassador as he was active in giving back to the community. For every Z-bound, jab-step mid-range jumper, the “Z-Bo” chants would ring throughout the FedEx Forum. Randolph brought hope to a franchise that was always hopeless. Who knows where Grizzly basketball would be without him. Probably somewhere in Seattle or Las Vegas.
Enough about my thoughts, let’s go through some of the gems of Twitter. Were fans more mad or upset? Did someone have the audacity to burn the prestigious 50 jersey?
Tweets
Let’s get this out of the way. Randolph’s jersey should never be burned:
https://twitter.com/chascer/status/882317805055561729
The fit for Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies was a match made in heaven. Like peanut butter and jelly. Spongebob and Patrick. Chris Paul and second-round eliminations:
ZBo in Memphis was perhaps the most perfect athlete/city pairing I've ever seen in my life and Im sad it's over
— 🦦✨America Is Musty✨🦦 (@DragonflyJonez) July 4, 2017
No one can ignore the bond between Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Bruise brothers forever.
ZBo, thank you for changing the city of Memphis. pic.twitter.com/3EfTu9tOjz
— Alex Adams (@ClutchLikeMac11) July 4, 2017
ZBo will forever be a folk legend around Memphis both on and off the court:
ZBO is Grit N Grind. He is Memphis. Nobody can ever come in and mirror the impact he had on this city, and that this city had on him.
— Made in Memphis (@MadeinMemphis1) July 4, 2017
All of these things are true:
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) July 4, 2017
1. ZBo is a Memphis legend
2. ZBo deserved to get paid
3. It's ultimately better that the Grizzlies moved on
Zach Randolph took the Grizzlies from playoff fodder to playoff force, paid light bills and handed out turkeys every holiday. The best, man.
— John Martin (@JohnMartin929) July 4, 2017
Once ZBo retires, the Grizzlies need to take the proper courses of action:
Zach Randolph brought many memorable moments to Memphis, but nothing was better than Game 6 against the Spurs in 2011. On that night, a legend was born:
https://twitter.com/Devin_Walker5/status/882296305510383616
Both Geoff Calkins and Ryan Glover did an excellent job of preparing a proper ode to Randolph. Not enough words could thank him or describe the impact he made in the city of Memphis.
It's hard to say Z-Bye. My column: https://t.co/GnrgH3Iqpm
— Geoff Calkins (@geoff_calkins) July 4, 2017
I cried at times writing this, but here is my goodbye to Zach Randolph. We will miss you, ZBo. https://t.co/A9YX0aHocP
— Ryan Glover (@G_Love24) July 5, 2017
I don’t know how you grieved when you heard Zach Randolph signed with Sacramento. However, there’s no way to express how much he did for this franchise.