Sign of the Times

Raptors lose again. They also throw out a fan for holding up a sign they don't like.

Great job all around, fellas.

Thanks to e-mailer Tim Farrell, who takes over the story from here, out of last night's latest bulletins:

"Did you happen to notice the fan sitting about 15 rows up on the west baseline last night, who got KICKED OUT for having a sign reading "RAPTOR KILLER" with a picture of Rob Babcock in devil horns?

HANS DERYK/TORONTO STAR

T'd up and ejected for this sign.

"I caught up with this guy in Union after the game, figuring he had to at least be really wasted or something, but to my surprise he was fully coherent and seemed like a decent guy. He was just very angry.

"He told me he was warned not to hold up the sign during the game. Then with about 2:30 left, he was holding it up during a timeout, and got the boot. My question is this: Can they really kick him out for this? How is this really any different than allowing sportswriters such as yourself to sit courtside? They know that half the time you're just going to rip Babcock and the team in the papers the next day anyway.

          Anyway, the whole thing seemed pretty silly. Your thoughts?"

I call that sign fair comment -- edgy, yes, and certainly out there in terms of getting personal as it puts a face on this failure. It certainly doesn't appear to be a clear breach of the NBA's fan code of conduct, which states among other things that "there will not be any obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing." On the other hand, on the back of the tickets is a line prohibiting conduct deemed objectionable, which means if they don't like you, you're out. (Even if you're a fan like this one -- ie, a guy who actually cares.)

As for your other question, pro sports teams have banned or tried to ban reporters who they deem to be unfavourable -- in the Leafs' Ballard era, Pat Marsden was barred from entering MLG, and the Jays, in their early days, barred a Globe and Mail reporter -- but it's a pretty desparate move that comes in desparate times. Sort of like what this looks like -- a shot that hit too close to home, or in this case the front office. A desperate measure.

In the same vein of expressing opinion, a couple of comments from yesterday's Darrick Martin posting neatly cover the spectrum.

In one corner is Terri, not holding a sign, but instead throwing up her hands:

"Mr. Babcock, you can have all the salary cap room you want in 18 months or whenever, but it will mean nothing."

And in the other is Rick, preaching patience:

"I do not believe that the frenzy to jab and maul a basketball team with slings and arrows is fruitful for a franchise so early in development."

Over at Raptorblog, Scott Carefoot is unhappy with the small picture, specifically that Matt Bonner started at centre last night. Of course Bonner, a pop-out-and-shoot role player, was wrong for the job. But Sam Mitchell, who finally got up off his chair last night, doesn't have much of a choice. He's tried about everyone else, and unless he wants to start using the AMJ Campbell Move of the Game to determine his centre, it's Got. To. Be. Chris Bosh.

As for Mitchell, I'm not sure how a group as (mostly) young and inexperienced as this one is going to ascend a steep learning curve under a young, inexperienced coach. Mitchell's all wrong for them, just as Jalen Rose is -- but it appears due to the optics and the contracts they're stuck together, and we're stuck with them for a while yet.

Meantime, here's your Lottery Limbo Standings (Team-record-win pct-games behind in the hunt for the most May ping pong balls):

Toronto 0-8 .000 --

Atlanta 0-7 .000 1/2

New York 2-6 .250 2

NO/Okla City 2-5 .286 2 1/2

Charlotte 3-6 .333 2 1/2

Breaking news: Darrick Martin

With everybody waiting for the cavalry to arrive, this should come as a short sharp slap in the snoot: There is no cavalry. Only 5-foot-11 Darrick Martin to fill that last space on the Raptors roster, including the inactives (there's a difference?).
The spin is that this is nothing but insurance, as GM Babcock has told our guys in Philly. But the Boy GM is supposed to be out trying to find a big for that last spot, isn't he? I know they're hard to find -- but this is the best he can do?
Martin's claim to fame: he's one of those Vancouver Grizzlies-Raptors guys now, joining the likes of Benoit Benjamin and Aaron Williams. He also played on the Clippers team that lost 17 straight to open the season back in the 1999 demi-season that followed the lockout. He also played on something called the Michigan Mayhem, which sounds like a WHA team but apparently was his last stop. A lateral move, in other words.
So say this for him: he knows misery, this poor man, and he's sure come to the right place for more of that. (And if they need him for more than 10 minutes a night, it's a bad, bad sign).
If this all gets you a little down, J.E. Skeets wants you to dream.

Fantasy hockey notes

I'm off to a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so I've turned the blog over to good pal Spencer, with whom I conspire each morning to inflict the Hockey Page on you.

The assignment was simple: I asked Spencer to come up with a list of good and bad fantasy hockey players at the quarter point of the schedule -- notice how I did not say "quarter pole" which is how many sportswriters would've phrased it (incorrectly).

But enough pedantry. It's Spencer's world now, and I'm off to the doctor. Here's his report, and by all means, chime in with hoots, hollers and suggestions at bottom:

"Chris knows how much of a fantasy pool nerd I am and asked me to share my wisdom passion problem with you. So here's five fantasy studs and five stiffs so far this year (And let's skip the obvious. Yes, the Jagr of 2005 is playing like the Jagr of 1999 (105 shots in 20 games!). Sure, if you have Alfredsson, Heatley or Spezza on your fantasy team, good on ya. If you have two of them, start spending your winnings now.):

5 Studs

Joni Pitkanen, Flyers. Fourth overall draft pick from 2002 is playing, well, like a fourth overall draft pick. Might not be under the radar anymore, but if you can grab him, or trade for him for cheap, do it. Defenceman has 5 goals and 13 assists in 16 games -- some major numbers, but that's not the best part. His plus-16 is huge (5th best in the NHL). He's got 36 penalty minutes as well, a bonus if your league counts penalty minutes as being positive. He only had 44 PIMs in all of 2003-04 so don't count on the penalties to keep piling up, but so far, here's a dominant defenceman in all categories.

Chris Neil, Senators. Only if your pool counts penalties as positive. Ottawa lunkhead has been making regular appearances parked in front of the net on the power play and wouldn't you know, some pucks have been going off him into the net. Plug him in, run away with your penalties category and enjoy the offence as a nice bonus.

Ryan Whitney, Penguins. Speaking of the 2002 draft, fifth overall pick has 7 assists in 8 games. And any guy playing over 24 minutes a game on a team with Lemieux, Crosby, Gonchar and Palffy is bound to get some points. Was thinking he's a bit of a risk to be sent back to the minors when injured Dick Tarnstrom comes back, but he's playing too well and the Penguins need the help. This guy even showed up in a shootout on Monday night.

Mike Knuble, Flyers. Not a huge surprise here after 23 and 30 goal seasons in Boston, but this year, he's showing up on the Philly PP (he had 4 power play goals and 11 power play points in all of 2003-04 with the Bruins; he's got 4 PP goals and 8 PP points after 16 games in Philly). Know how they keep saying Forsberg makes everyone around him better? This guy's totally cashing in. And everyone on the Flyers has a great plus-minus -- Knuble at plus-9.

Ian Laperriere, Kings. Career 20-something points-a-year player has 14 in 17 games already. The guy can really skate and the new rules must be helping. He doesn't get much power play time, but with that nifty plus-minus (+11) and PIMs (36), he's filling the scoresheet. Was a big scorer in junior -- in his rookie season in St. Louis he had 27 points in 37 games.

5 Stinkers

Nik Lidstrom, Wings. 13 points, not bad, but not great in this version of the NHL. He's tied for 15th in defenceman scoring. And Just 1 goal in 19 games? He's supposed to be one of the best. It's not like the Wings are struggling.

Jay Bouwmeester, Panthers. Just 5 assists in 19 games. Fast skating NHL not helping third-overall draft pick at all. Pathetic Panthers power play isn't helping (3rd worst in NHL at 12.9%).

Andrew Cassells, Capitals. 5 points in 13 games after being brought to Washington to work with young talent like Ovechkin. Healthy scratch for the last five games. Not a happy Capital right now.

Gary Roberts, Panthers. He's healthy, so that's all good. But 4 points in 14 games and just 8 penalty minutes? Maybe he left his blender in Toronto.

Rob Blake, Avalanche. Much like Lidstrom, 13 points in 17 games isn't bad. But not quite the elite. That minus-6 hurts a lot. Thinking he'll bounce back."

Limbo to the lottery

This is quite a race walk death march shaping up at the end of the NBA standings, but cheer up Raptors fans. For every L, so too do the Atlanta Hawks stagger along in lock step. It's going to be quite a ride leading up to that third Sunday in May in Secaucus.

Raptors lose in Philly last night 104-92, Doug Smith reports, and there's no relief in sight, writes Dave Feschuk. Meantime, Hawks drop a close one to the Duncan-less Spurs, 103-79.

AP PHOTO

It's the Sam Mitchell mask.

And so it goes, this nightly showing of So You Think You Can Limbo. As I wait for the first live blogging of somebody's Raptors vs. Hawks NBA Live 2005 showdown series, I'm not going to say anything more -- I'm going to keep cool and calm, I'm wearing my Sam Mitchell Mask this morning.

Elsewhere:

As the Argos prepare for the eastern final, Chris Zelkovich takes a look at club president Keith Pelley, who in two years has helped turn the club in the right direction thanks to revolutionary concepts like this one: "Ostentatious half-time shows weren't going to do it. We had to sell football."

Australia's going to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, after a shootout win today over Uruguay. And still on the soccer beat, it sure didn't take long for Michael Ballack and Man United to start getting all hot for each other, although the Kaiser has other ideas.

Geoff Baker takes a closer look at the Majors' new, tougher drugs policy, and how it will impact on the Jays.

Terrell Owens' house is for sale. Deadspin has the listing. (UPDATE: He's got his Atlanta place up for sale too, poor fellow.)

Breaking news: Tougher steroid penalties

This just in: The major leagues and their players reportedly have agreed on a new standard on tesing positive for steroids -- three strikes and you're out.

Highlights: 50 games for a first offence, or about a third of a season.

Second-strike offence: 100 games.

Third time offence: Lifetime ban, with the ability to petition for reinstatement after two years.

Testing and penalties for amphetamines are included under the new testing protocol, which will be twice a year (once during spring training, once during the season) plus at random intervals.

That it's a step up from the 10-day penalty that a first offence meant up until now is a given. This is exactly what baseball commissioner Bud Selig wanted, in fact. That they're finally serious about a policy with teeth is nothing but a good thing. Threats of higher penalties via congressional intervention will do that.

For a breakdown of some of the details here's a roundup over at ESPN.

Basic question: Is this enough?

CFL looks east again

CFL expansion to the east coast is back in the news again.

As Sean Fitzgerald reports in today's National Post -- the CFL's website provides a helpful reprint here --  the latest rumbles come out of Halifax's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which if successful would include a 25,000-seat stadium.

There are so many hurdles to be surmounted to get there -- a well-financed ownership group, a strong attendance base, that bid with its stadium are all very questionable. This balloon has been floated before, too, without any success, and as Fitzgerald notes, the Premier of Nova Scotia doubts the strength of the market for a team in Atlantic Canada (Translation: Don't go coming to me for dough).

Says the CEO of Halifax's bid committee:

"If we're fortunate enough to be chosen to represent Canada on the international basis and get the Games for 2014, that includes a stadium. So we are doing lots of work on that particular subject. But it's being done, right now, through our bid for the Commonwealth Games."

Moncton and Quebec City have also been touted as possible expansion destinations.

A 10-team CFL, and a true coast to coast league? No one can argue with the concept. And no one, as yet, can make it happen.

Eagles, Jumbo grounded

From last night:

They had a pregame funeral before the game for Terrell Owens' career, and Philadelphia led by 13 with four minutes to go, but Dallas rallied to beat the Eagles, and you wonder now how last year's NFC champions have fallen to this.

Jim Todd was part of a Clippers team that lost 17 in a row off the top of the lockout-reduced 98-99 season. Now he's an assistant with the Raptors, poor man, insisting to Dave Feschuk that this is much better. Sure Jim. If you say so.

A-Rod wins the American League MVP -- Rich Griffin preferred David Ortiz -- while free agent B.J. Ryan flies in for a quick Toronto visit and, the way Geoff Baker tells it, crosses the Blue Jays off his Christmas list.

And an interesting read here, via the Sports Pontiff: Japanese golfer Jumbo Ozaki has gone bankrupt, without a win in three years and his side business gone dry in a country more interested in the women's side of the game:

"Once, we could expect to sell 20,000 drivers of the same sort used by a male pro," said a golf equipment industry representative, "but recently, the driver that Miyazato uses — the V-iQ — has become a blockbuster, selling hundreds of thousands. Manufacturers are turning to women golfers to endorse their products and the men are being squeezed out."

Cheers for Chad

A couple of years back, Chad Hedrick went from inline skating to speed skating, and with the Winter Olympics just 89 days away the two-time world champion is rolling along, so to speak. Yesterday in Calgary he smashed the world 5,000-metre record, and is bearing down on Turin in fine style.

I have a hard time believing most of what his coach says, though, on the subject of Hedrick's training:

"He does come drunk at practice every now and then, but he still does his practice harder than anybody else."

(snip)

"One time he showed up late this year because he'd been drinking and I told him, `If you go drink, you get here on time.' It never happened again."

That's good. Wouldn't want him to be late.

Argos-Als again

From the weekend past, the main links:

The Argos have their eastern final opponent, and it's the Alouettes. Now there's something you see every year. Meantime, the Eskimos got a stirring win -- and a quarterback controversy.

With the Knicks popping their cherry yesterday, it's just the Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks limbo-ing down in the race for the most ping-pong balls. Raps went OT against Seattle in a game the Sonics did their best to hand to them, but couldn't quite.  Meantime, Sam Mitchell has turned mellow.

The owner of the NFL Patriots has confirmed he's interested in a piece of Liverpool. The soccer club, that is.

Of gourds and Bentleys

Time to wrap it up around here. But not before a few things are cleared off the desk before the weekend.

One last note: This passed almost unnoticed, but in the world of Giant Vegetables it was big indeed -- a world record gourd at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Chris Lyons of Baltimore, Ont. -- I didn't even know there was a Baltimore, Ont.; come to think of it, I'm not all that sure what a gourd is -- grew a "long gourd, Sicilian zucchini, Snake, Serpent" 9 feet 8 5/8 inches. Not sure what that is in metric; let's just say it's outside the shooting range of Rafael Araujo. There was almost no media coverage of this, but I'm sure it will end up on ESPN Classic soon. And the Royal is on till Sunday, so get on down if you haven't been yet.

One last read: Right before England's friendly with Argentina -- and the launch of Becks' new fragrance -- "Champions League bonker" John Terry is caught getting a little too friendly with a young fan in his car. All together now: "Score in the Bentley/ You only Score in the Bentley ..."

Sports around town: The U of T women opened their season on Wednesday with a win, and the Blues' men's basketballers tip off their OUA regular season tonight against Windsor. It's women's and men's doubleheaders tonight and tomorrow night (against Western) starting at 6 pm at the Athletic Centre, with the men coming on at 8.

What I'm watching: Leafs at Canadiens, Saturday, 7 p.m., CBC. Perhaps one of these weeks, TSN will rank the Habs ahead of the Leafs in their power rankings.

Not watching: A.D.T. Championship golf, Thursday, 3 pm, Golf Channel. Can you imagine watching someone suffering from A.D.D. lining up a putt? Oh, it's A.D.T. Never mind.

Punters corner: You know how it is. You can look at the Linebacker. Or Chris Schultz. But here's five Pro-Line picks you can't get anywhere else. And for good reason (Entertainment purposes only, not to be used for a wager, etc., and still shaking over the excitement of that world record zucchini -- man alive, they'll be eating ratatouille in Baltimore tonight, and tomorrow night, and the next night... -- we'll leave it at that this week):

TUR V win (2.8) vs SUI. Surely you've heard of Turkey on Swiss.

MTL H win (1.65) vs TOR. On this week's Queer Eye for the Satellite Hot Stove Guy, the panel presents a retrospective of Al Strachan's hairstyling tips and sports jackets.

NAS H+ win (2.0) vs STL. With team sucking and crowds dwindling, Blues announce new Giant Vegetable promotion, with a free gourd to the first 10,000 fans.

CAR H+ win (1.5) vs NYJ. In wake of Pantherettes in the loo story, Carolina president orders all dancers to take refresher courses on ethics of cheerleading.

DAL V win (2.5) vs PHI. In the spirit of Terrell Owens' apology, contrite Eagles tell fans they're sorry for Rich Kotite era.