The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that former Grizzlies Blue Edwards has lost a custody dispute over his four year old son.  The ruling ends a long and complicated case, ending up at the Supreme Court of Canada.  

Race was a significant issue, particularly when the original ruling in favour of the mother was overturned.  Kimberly Van de Perre is white while Blue Edwards is black.  There are more details in the article we've linked to.  Van de Perre had an affair with Edwards beginning in 1996. Their son, Elijah, was born in June, 1997.  He has spent a lot of time the past couple of years commuting between Vancouver and North Carolina, and new access arrangements still need to be worked out.

Feature on moving a team in record time.

The $7 million renovation of the Pyramid is on track for the Grizz' first pre-season game in October.

As a teenager, Pau Gasol expected to be a doctor.  It wasn't until he was 17 that there was any hint he might be a serious basketball player.  "At 16, he was very skinny," said Arturo Ortega, Gasol's Barcelona agent. "He could not push anybody around. No one knew how talented he was until eight or nine months ago." Now, he can hardly walk the streets of his native Spain without incident.  The Memphis Commercial Appeal has two articles introducing their latest hope to his new fans.  Any comparisons?  Well, ummm, one to Kevin Garnett and one to a "Michael Jordan-esque leader of F.C. Barcelona."

The Memphis Grizzlies have started selling 11-game "power pack" tickets.  They seem to be having trouble selling tickets, since season tickets have been stalled at 7,500 for some time now.  There are four sets of 11-games.  All four sets are pre-determined.  But these tickets have a bit of a twist: they all include opening night and the Wizards, plus three of the four include the Lakers.  

The Memphis Commercial Appeal quotes Mike Golub, the Grizzlies' senior vice president of business operations, who says, "Unlike some other teams, we are loading these up with great games."  Having two games in each set also means the most they can sell is 12,000, or the equivalent of 3,000 season tickets.

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that the Grizzlies' Ike Austin is suing the Salt Lake City police over an incident on Sepember 24, 2000.  The suit alleges that 20 officers held Austin and his personal chef Marvin Brown at gunpoint because they are black.

Austin noticed police cars following him for about 10 minutes before he was pulled over.  When he got out of the car several officers pulled out their guns.  Austin was handcuffed, although neither he nor Brown was arrested or charged for any offence.  

There's no mention whether Officer Polynice was among the police.

CNN/SI and the Associated Press confirmed yesterday's reports that Pau Gasol has signed with Memphis.  Gasol is expected to travel from Spain to Memphis this weekend.  Grizz GM Billy Knight said, "With Pau's contract status now secure, we can focus on bringing him to camp and getting him ready to take the first steps of what we expect will be a very successful and long NBA career,"  

Gasol had to buy his way out of his contract with Barcelona.  For details on the financing, check the 'Related Piece' below.  Yesterday's CNN/SI report indicated Gasol's buyout was $2.65M, which is about $100,000 under the maximum amount the Grizz can pay him as a signing bonus.

Pau Gasol's agent Herb Rudoy has told CNNSI's Marty Burns that Gasol has signed with the Grizzlies.  Gasol could be introduced in Memphis as early as this weekend.

Gasol, 21, was under contract to play next season for F.C. Barcelona of the Spanish League. Gasol agreed to buy out the deal for roughly $2.65 million. The Grizzlies picked up $350,000 of the tab, but the rest will come out of Gasol's pocket.