Why did Ice Cube tweet 'thanks for nothing' to FedExForum after BIG3 came to Memphis?
Ice Cube told the world long ago to "Express Yourself" as a member of the legendary rap group, N.W.A. About 35 years later, he didn't shy away from doing so on his way out of Memphis.
The music mogul and actor left a parting shot for FedExForum on social media after the BIG3, the 3-on-3 basketball league he founded, finished its Memphis stop Saturday night.
"Thank you Memphis! We had a great time," Cube wrote on his Twitter account. "FedX Forum, thanks for nothing."
It's unclear what exactly spurred Cube's decision to go public with his complaints about the league's treatment. A spokesperson for the Memphis Grizzlies, who operate FedExForum, said the organization had no comment on the matter.
But Cube's discontent with the arena appears to stem from issues with how ticket sales were handled. Before the first of six BIG3 games were played at FedExForum Saturday, he indicated problems with the manner in which tickets were promoted and sold locally.
"The FedX Forum and Ticketmaster should be ashamed of themselves on how they’ve treated the BIG3 in Memphis," Cube tweeted in the afternoon. "Posting that our games were basically sold out when it was plenty of good seats left. Dirty."
Contrary to Cube's claim, the Ticketmaster website for the BIG3 games in Memphis did appear to feature plenty of available seats at face value when viewed by The Commercial Appeal on Thursday.
For Saturday's event, the terrace level of FedExForum was curtained off. There were no official attendance figures provided.
The BIG3, in its sixth season of existence, was originally scheduled to launch its 2020 campaign at FedExForum until the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the event. Saturday was the league's first visit to Memphis. It featured the return of former Grizzlies star Tony Allen to FedExForum.
Other players on hand included former Arkansas star Joe Johnson, former Grizzlies players Mario Chalmers and Ryan Hollins, former Memphis basketball player Robert Dozier and Memphian Derrick Byers. Coaches in the league include Julius Irving, Clyde Drexler, George Gervin and Lisa Leslie. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway and Memphis rappers like NLE Choppa and Big Boogie were among the featured guests in the crowd.
Cube, who sat courtside throughout Saturday's action, performed during halftime of one game, conducted postgame interviews and posed for too many selfies to count with fans. Based on his reaction afterward, though, he might be in search of a new venue if the BIG3 ever decides to come back to Memphis.
You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Ice Cube tweeted 'thanks for nothing' after BIG3 came to Memphis
