In Memphis, venturous Davis has a dream

0 Comments | USA TODAY, October, 2006 | by Reid Cherner

MEMPHIS -- Thirty-six-year-old Brian Davis walks down Beale Street like he owns the place. Which, of course, he doesn't. Yet. So far all he's done is make a down payment to buy the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. It is unclear whether it is Davis who is drawn to the people here or vice versa. As he strolls the historic district on a Sunday morning, he's greeted by a minister, a musician, shopkeepers and even the homeless.

Servers at the King's Palace Cafe take his picture as he sips orange juice. Rarecas Bonds shouts to him from across the street, and the two hug. "Just paying my respects, you know," says Bonds, 25, leader of the Beale Street Flippers, a group of acrobats that's grown from performing on streets to sports arenas. Who is Davis that, having been to Memphis just a...