Leafs win, JFJ talks

The morning links, bigger than usual, but not associated with BALCO, any of its agents, or any performance enhancers other than a bowl of Raisin Bran and a cup of coffee:

Leafs win!

Now for the fun part. Someone has to explain to me again how one game can be so important, the pregame angst and postgame celebrations in print and on the airwaves likening it to the seriousness of open-heart surgery, or at least a Cheney birdshoot. Explain how JFJ would base an entire deadline-day "strategy" -- stop snickering! -- on one outcome among 84. Explain how their season is somehow on again now, or extended, at least until the next game, after this, their first win in 28 days.
Aw, skip it.
Regardless, this caught my eye. It's the usual boilerplate, but on JFJ's verbosity scale, it's The Aristocrats:

"Our overall strategy hasn't changed ... we're not going to sacrifice future assets and good young players for short-term Band-Aid fixes," Ferguson Jr. said during last night's game. "The club's play thus far doesn't demand that. It did in the past. Times have changed. Our skills have changed and the ability to go out and add payroll at this time has been compromised.
"We're going to stick to our plan, at the same time, this same club was nine games over .500 in what seems like a long time ago now.
"We're not that now. We have to do some things that will not only put us in a better situation to win down the stretch here but also in the future.
"Our performance since early January has fallen way below standard. We need to address that. The club hasn't changed a great deal since that time. We've got to better and be a tougher team to play against and, obviously, more successful on the ice."

So there's "the plan." Deconstruct away, kids! Put some meat on those meagre bones! Now back to our regular blogging.

As the Cavs beat the Raptors (they'll meet again tonight at the ACC, and I'll be there, part of Scott Carefoot's Raptorblog group), Dave Feschuk makes the case that LeBron James is burning out.

A new book has it that Barry Bonds juiced big after he was eclipsed by the '98 McGwire-Sosa homer duel.

Canada barely beats South Africa, while the US barely beats Mexico, and today it's Canada-USA as the World Limited Overs Baseball Classic moves on.

Before Arsenal and Real take over the stage today, Barcelona knocks a listless Chelsea out of the Champions League, although it's a costly victory, Lionel Messi out for a month after a thigh injury. The Specious One sounds as out of ideas as his side: "Barcelona haven't won against 11 players, so that's all I can say."

LotN, NHL: None other than the Leafs' Tomas Kaberle, with a goal and three assists. NBA: Really want to pick Andres Nocioni's 24 in 22 minutes off the bench, but have to go with Joe Johnson, playing every minute and checking in with 42, nine assists and 10/10 FT makes in Atlanta's win over GS.

And normally I might save this till Friday. But I'm in an expansive, BALCO state of mind, so here it is, via Kottke: the Simpsons opening credits, performed by real people.

Comments

[Carla]

Junior doesn't normally use so many words to say so little. Maybe if he got Sarah Silverman to say them they'd be, at least, funny. I mean, her bit in THE ARISTOCRATS was the best. :-)

One measly win does not obliterate the fact that this team has proven over the previous 60 games that it just doesn't have what it takes to seriously compete in the The! New! N!H!L! I can't believe the number of Leafs fans who are willing to live from game to game--seeing the proverbial trees but never the forest--poised to slit their wrists after a loss and planning the Cup parade after a win. Frankly, it's embarrassing to this Leafs fan. There's nothing wrong for hoping for the best (hell, I do that, too!), but maintaining a grip on reality is important, too.

I can only hope that Fergie is actually paying attention to the teams that are having success this season (as opposed to what the Leafs are having--despite the apparently earth-shifting win last night) and can learn from his mistakes.

When I look back at the roster decisions he's made since he got here, I have to say I'm not impressed.

Yet.

As a Leafs fan, I have to be an optimist, after all. All things considered, it's a prerequisite. But I am also a realist. So I am optimistic that Fergie can see that this team isn't built to go far and will need some serious changes before it can. And that ain't gonna happen in one season.

[Tim Farrell]

'm really sick of hearing every writer's theme-du-jour centre around
Lebron's apparent "wearing down" due to his coach overplaying him.

If you look at the NBA's minutes per game leaders, the difference between a
guy who plays "too much" (like Lebron) and a guy who plays "normal" minutes
(like Richard Jefferson) is just over four minutes a game. Having played
some basketball myself, I can't possibly see how a variance of four minutes
per game is even noticeable to a player, especially given the NBA's longer
game and the fact that we're dealing with professional athletes.

As well, all I seem to hear about Chris Bosh lately is that Sam Mitchell is
giving him too many minutes and that he's wearing down, that his minutes
have been in the 40s for the last couple weeks. Uhh did anyone bother to
notice that about half of the Raps' games the past couple weeks have gone to
OVERTIME?

Are there really no better storylines out there??

I'll be at the game tonight too. By my calculations, LBJ should drop about
44.

[Carla]

Er, Junior... Luke Richardson = Band-Aid.