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By the end of 2019, Tidal League launched its first show: Court-Side Moms, hosted by Wendy Sparks, mother of former NBA center Khem Birch, who interviews moms of other NBA players, including Luka Dončić, Damian Lillard, and Chris Paul. Still, it wasn’t until 2022 that Tidal League got its first real break, when Theo Pinson joined with his Run Your Race podcast. The company’s most popular podcast is Out The Mud, a show hosted by Grizzlies greats Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, which Kent Benson says reached more than 50 million views in its first six months. “We went from a business that was doing no revenue to—in 2022—we did over $1 million in revenue,” Benson tells Front Office Sports. “So we went from $0 to $1 million in a year.”
Last week, the company announced new investments from Charlie Villanueva, Eric Ebron, Justin Jackson, and another NBA veteran, Devonte’ Graham. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Benson tells FOS that the minimum investment is $100,000. “As an entrepreneur, it was a no-brainer to invest in a media company,” Villanueva says. “It gives you the opportunity to have ownership in something that comes easy. It’s easy to talk about basketball because we’ve done it.” The company isn’t done raising money. It’s now in the process of seeking out its first institutional investor, with the aim of amassing $5 million.
Greg Oden: But honestly, it was a good time. I really do appreciate the way Portland welcomed me. And my first real welcome? That came from Z-Bo. When I got there, my guy threw me an 'Indiana Welcome Party'—that’s what we called it. You gotta take care of your Indiana people, right? I swear, I was meeting people in Portland ten years later who were like, ‘Yo, I met you at that party.’ That party was amazing. Thank you, sir—I appreciate you, my brother.
Paul George passes Zach Randolph in scoring
Jorge Sierra: Paul George passed Zach Randolph to become the 72nd-best scorer in NBA history. Also: Jeff Green moved ahead of Alonzo Mourning for No. 182.
In the latter stage of your career, have you ever thought about getting your jersey retired with the other members of the Memphis Grizzlies Grit and Grind era, like Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen? Conley: If I’m able to get my jersey retired like those guys, that would be awesome. I hadn’t been able to think about it too much because I’m trying to celebrate the guys that do get it, and I’m still in the middle of my career. It would probably be one of my highest achievements other than winning a championship to have something like that happen in Memphis.
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Did you hold a grudge against the Grizzlies for a minute after you got traded, or were you just like, “It is what it is”? Zach Randolph: You know, I did because I wanted to be there. Like I said, [expletive], I would have taken a minimum. I would have taken a player’s minimum because that’s how much I [expletive] with the organization and the city, you know, the people in it. But you know, it all worked out. That’s my city. I’m doing a lot of stuff with the team now, and it was a great time there. That’s the city, man.
Jorge Sierra: Trae Young (26) passed Kyrie Irving (32) in assists last night and is now No. 103 all-time in the NBA. Also: Anthony Davis moved ahead of Zach Randolph in scoring for No. 71 in league history.
Tony Allen: "Then he looks dead at Z-Bo. He’s like, 'Z-Bo, get a [explicit] rebound that matters! Quit telling Mike to move out to get rebounds!' I’m like, 'Damn!' Then he looks dead at Marc (Gasol). He’s like, 'Marc, who the [explicit] told you you were our Sabonis? Get your ass in the paint and make some points!' I’m sitting there like, 'Damn, coach is on one.' Then he looks at Mike Conley and says, 'Mike Conley, you know what happened?' Man, I swear, coach was just on everybody that day, but I respected it because it was tough love. That’s the type of energy I’ve been looking for, and it made me want to run through a wall for him."
Zach Randolph: But I'm at the Four Seasons on Wilshire, and I'm downstairs. I see the general manager, Kevin Pritchard, right? At the time. So I walk up to KP, I'm like, 'What's up, KP?' He's like, 'What's up, Z-Bo?' I was like, 'Man, why am I getting traded?' And he's like, 'Man, no, man, you're not going. We want you here, you're not getting traded.' So I'm like, 'Okay, cool.' So I go upstairs, I tell a couple of my homies up there, I tell them, 'Man, I just seen Pritchard, man, I'm cool. I ain't going nowhere, I'm good. You know, I'm straight, I ain't going nowhere.' He just told me I ain't going nowhere, right? Man, so we sitting back in the room, blowing, whatever, watching the draft come on. 'Trade: Zach Randolph to the New York Knicks.' Look, man, I'm—man, stomach dropped. Right back downstairs, man, sick. Stomach dropped. I go in the restroom, I'm sick as hell, right? So I'm like, 'Man, I just seen this dude. He told me I ain't—' I said, 'Man, it's messed up, man, come on, man.'"
Randolph recalled the moment vividly, saying, “He come in the locker room, ‘can’t nobody slam me.’ After working out, we in the locker room…So I’m sitting around, I’m like, I’m from the hood. So I grew up locking up in the yard.” Despite his youthful confidence, Randolph quickly learned the difference between teenage and grown man strength. “I stood up, try to grab him, we lock up, he slammed– he throwing me all in the lockers. Boom! Boom!” Randolph said.
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The tussle escalated as Patterson continued to overpower Randolph. “He slammed me in the locker, boom, all over the locker room. Boom, boom, boom. So we get back to the middle,” Randolph recounted. The locker room floor, covered in carpet but with concrete underneath, added to the intensity of the fight. Patterson ultimately overpowered Randolph, demonstrating the stark difference in physical maturity. “He dropped on me, grabbed my legs. Man, pick me up bro. Like this and thump me on my back like a WWE fool,” Randolph concluded.
Grizzlies to retire Tony Allen's jersey next season
Another member of the Memphis Grizzlies “core four” is expected to receive an upcoming jersey retirement ceremony. The Grizzlies are planning to retire Tony Allen’s jersey during the 2024-25 season, the former All-NBA defender told The Commercial Appeal. Allen would be the third Grizzlies player with a jersey in the rafters, joining Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. “Yeah, they told me next year I’m going to get my jersey retired,” Allen said.
The Grizzlies are also expected to begin filming a documentary soon that will go back to Allen’s roots of growing up in Chicago. That documentary is expected to be released around the time of Allen’s ceremony. A date has not been set yet for the 2024-25 season. “I’m looking forward to it,” Allen said. “Hopefully, I have a box of tissue with me.”
With his former teammates Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen in attendance, with whom he made seven straight playoff appearances, Gasol gave a touching speech thanking them, the city of Memphis, and the Grizzlies organization. “Back when I was 19 years old, I used to play the game like many kids today. I used to imagine I was Michael Jordan with a fadeaway, Larry Bird with the three, or Magic Johnson with a no-look pass. And 25 years later, I imagine how Tony Allen would approach this defensive assignment against the best player on the other team and what his mindset would be. How is Z-Bo going to take over this stretch of the game and be a beast on the block, and through it all, how is Mike Conley going to keep it all together? When I was able to accomplish my biggest goal—winning an NBA ring—these three guys, who meant so much to me along the way, were right there with me. For that and many other reasons, thank you. I’ll be thankful forever, and grit and grind,” Gasol said.
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