Memphis fans still turned out in their droves to cheer on their favorite players at The Pyramid, ignoring a call for a boycott by minority contractors hoping to get more work at the FedExForum, the Grizzlies' future home.

''I hear what the contractors are saying about things not being fair and all, but this is not the place to boycott,'' said fan Marcus Johnson of Collierville. ''This is not where the battle is.''

Blake Fontenay of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that at 6:30pm several protesters carrying signs that read ''Be Fair with our share of FedEx Arena,'' ''This Deal is no Good,'' and ''Mortenson is unfair to local contractors'' marched in front of The Pyramid.

The men and women carrying the placards and handing out fliers weren't minority contractors - they said they were hired to march outside the game for $5 for two hours.

''We were hired to walk, not to talk,'' said one protester who identified himself only as Ken. He said they were hired by ''some guy.''