Epic music sounded as can only be heard in Memphiswhile the shirt Marc Gasol was being discovered between a screen of smoke, towards the top of the FedEx Forumor what is the same, rose to the highest levels in the history of the Grizzlies. The player, excited, was surrounded by his family, his wife, his children, and the entire dynasty. Gasol in full, with his parents and siblings Pau y Adriá. They were celebrating the umpteenth triumph of a memorable lineage, the first to have two brothers with their shirts retired in the NBA, the Mecca of basketball. The Lakers They will never use ’16’ and the Grizzlies They went up to heaven on ’33’. After the prodigy of the initial jump of the All Star Game in it Madison (2015), the elephant re-entered through the eye of the needle.
Los Grizzlies In five minutes they had set up a stage in the center of the court for an event to which they wanted to give special consideration. The 15 minutes of rest, as usual, were few. The whole family and friends sat on the platform and in front, Marc Gasol and his legendary teammates from the Grizzlies, Randolph, Conley y Allen. Pau was the first to speak to use words like “pride, legacy, admiration, effort and success.”
It is an honor and a pride, I carry Memphis in my heart, I identify with this city and with this franchise
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies legend
His statement gave rise to a conversation between the friends, perhaps a little long, where they joked about what they had experienced and remembered the old days. It was funny how they talked about the anger of Marc due to poor defense and how he “swore in Spanish.” Then Marc spoke. “It is an honor and a pride, the road has been long, but I identify with Memphis, with the city and with this franchise. I dreamed of Michael Jordan, Bird y Magic and now my favorite team is Tony, Mike and Randolph. “I carry you in my heart,” he said while he put his hand on his chest. Then he revealed his shirt with the number 33, with Marc accompanied by his wife and his daughters.
A historical lineage
They have been very happy days for the Gasol, who do not find it easy to get together to live a few days together. The family on the floor Sant Boi (Barcelona) where he used to lie in the windows, he now sees his children’s t-shirts hanging in the pavilions of the NBA, as an offering to his greatness, as a sign of eternal recognition. “A part of that shirt that hangs is for my parents or rather, a large part. When you are a father you realize the effort and sacrifice they have made for us,” he said Marcwho has been remembering these days about his parents, who were largely responsible for his feat.
Without being his blood, but as if it were a kind of Band of Brothers, Marc’s intimates reappeared. On the parquet of the FedEx The heart of the imposing Grizzlies of the middle of the last decade, those of grit, toughness and effort, beat again. They have not been together on a court since 2017: Zach Randolphwho also has his jersey retired in Memphis, Mike Conleywho still plays for the Wolves and had special permission to attend (Marc’s best friend in basketball), Tony Allen y Marc Gasol They hugged at the moment in which the Catalan center felt most comfortable: surrounded by his second family. Allergic to the close-up, he felt the shirt was a tribute to the four. “There is a special bond between us, a unique connection.” They sat together on the stage they set up. Never has a shirt withdrawal been so choral.
He FedEx He enjoyed his idol. The match against Sixerswith his team already without playoff aspirations and numerous casualties (Aldama one of them) was the least of it. The beating didn’t even hurt (96-116). With popular ticket prices (from 57 dollars the cheapest), the Grizzlies pavilion was close to full. The first 5,000 fans They took the promised album with the narration of the best plays and some interviews with Marc, who was the protagonist in the stands: giant masks, blue and white t-shirts with his number, flags of Spain and even fans with the team’s shirt. They had come from Girona and Valencia.
Midway through the second quarter Marc He had to wave from the box where he watched the game with his family. In the video marker of the FedEx Congratulations from former teammates and coaches were coming: Mike Conley, Dillon Brooks and coach Lionel Hollins. Pau also appeared, applauded by those who were his fans. Robert Pera, the owner of the franchise simply thanked him “for everything you did for the Grizzlies and for what you mean in the Memphis community, your tenacity and talent changed this franchise.” ‘Big Marc’ was bigger than ever.
2024-04-07 03:29:00
#Marc #Gasol #eternal
