Tony Allen came to the Grizzlies the last year I lived in Memphis, so I didn’t get a chance to fall in love with him. I loved Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph. It wasn’t until last season while living back in Maryland that I realized just how great Tony Allen is. I always catch onto things a little late – I didn’t get into Nirvana until a few months before Kurt died.

Here are just some of the reasons why Tony Allen is now my favorite NBA player:
– TA wears #9, my favorite number. i always notice players who wear #9.
– TA is a great basketball player, a great defensive player – named to NBA All Defensive Team the past three seasons.
– TA has bravado, an ego.
– TA is great on Twitter. he interacts with his fans and has even retweeted me a few times. follow him @aa000G9
– TA is all HEART, all passion. and this above all else is why i love Tony Allen.

To me passion is more important than talent, for sports players as well as music artists. Usually players (or artists) have one or the other, but Tony Allen has both! Thanks Tony for showing Memphis and the rest of the world what playing with heart looks like!

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