JT in the deep south and memories of Edmonton

Just want to say it’s very nice of the Raptors and Direct Energy to pick a winner in that contest where Jamario and AP come to your house to shoot hoops who lives about five minutes away. Makes for an easy-ish morning.

Thanks.

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Not much going on once yesterday’s announcement of the pre-season sked became official; can’t say I’m a big fan of back-to-back games on the west coast but it’ll be nice to see Edmonton.

Bet the fans out there will be treated to something more substantial than the last time, which was 1999 for a big Naismith Cup tilt with the Vancouvers and provided a couple of moments of great hilarity.

That was the game that featured 7-3 Alex Radojevic leading a fast-break like you’ve never seen a fast break led by before (all arms and legs and the ball being dribbled about six feet high with each bounce) and was also, I believe, the swansong for that Great Raptor Training Camp project Master P. If I recall correctly, he shot it every time he touched it and I must be recalling correctly because he shot it every time he touched it no matter what game he was in.

Oh yeah, that was also the arena (not sure what it was called then or is called now) that kept showing hockey scores on the auxiliary scoreboard instead of, you know, the score of the actual basketball game and I believe Butch Carter pointed that out quite vociferously at one point in the evening.

Ah, the memories!

Pre-season neutral sites, you gotta love ‘em.

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Cool to see JT get a gig, no? In case you missed it, he joined the Hawks staff, along with Tyrone Hill, who I don’t believe owes Oak money any more. Although I could be wrong on that one, haven’t spoken to Oak in six weeks or so.

Anyway, I’m sure JT will do a great job with Mike Woodson (I’ve got him as the interim head coach by about Feb. 1) but the funniest thing is gonna be if he does his halftime TV gig with the Hawks, too.

Put that New England accent in the deep south and I’m betting no one has a clue what he’s actually saying.

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Speaking of assistant coaches with a Raptor angle, New Jersey hired Roy Rogers yesterday.

You have to go deep in the memory banks to remember him. He came over in the Chauncey, Dee Brown, John Thomas deal that sent Kenny Anderson, Popeye and Zan Tabak to the Celtics.

Roy, who lasted all of six games with the Raptors, was also part of another significant deal.

It took him, and two second-round draft picks, to pry The Big Fella Kevin Willis away from the Rockets in ’99.

Ah, the memories!

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A mailbag followup:

Q: Hey Doug. Guess what! Every single Raptors game is live on the radio anywhere in the world for free at NBA.com plus every other game on the schedule, also for free. I never miss a game that’s not on TV.
I'm surprised you didn't know this.
We will be able to listen to Chuck Swirsky on Bulls radio. Say what you
will about Chuck but he was not ever bland. Are you kidding me? Great passion!
Larry B, Sydney Forks

A: That’s true, but that certainly doesn’t help someone who, let’s say, is driving in Waterloo or someone who – gasp! – doesn’t have internet access all the time.

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So, I’m at the ball yard yesterday, watching this Canadian kid make his first start and I’m talking to a few guys from the Olympic team ‘cause I’m going back to my roots and covering some ball over in Beijing.

And it strikes me that the Rogers Jays (I believe that’s the official name now, isn’t it?) royally screwed the national team.

The Richmond kid who pitched was going to be, if not the ace, a huge part of Canada’s rotation and now he can’t pitch because the Rogers Jays needed an emergency starter or somesuch in what was actually one of the more crucial games of the season (chasing Tampa for first, you sure want to trot out a guy who’s never pitched in a big league game in the deciding game of a series, don’t you?).

There wasn’t someone else in Syracuse or Double A, or even in the bullpen who could have made that start and kept Richmond available for the Olympics?

I think it sucks and shows a complete lack of respect for the national team program.

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Speaking of the SkyDome (or whatever it’s called now), you’d think the kabillion dollar scoreboard in centre field would, you know, show the score?

But no.

It does have a nice Rogers ad, doesn’t it?

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Okay, basketball, the digression is over. For now.

As a Former Beat Grunt Turned Political Reporter But Still A Musicologist (and you’ll have to try to guess who that is) points out, the Houston Rocket locker room is now populated by Rafer Alston, Steve Francis and Ron Artest.

Yip! and Eeee!

That’s a dream team of dysfunction and story possibilities.

Don’t you feel so good for Rick Adelman right about now?

Anyway, I don’t think the acquisition of Artest does much to move the Rockets from where they are, maybe top five in the West. I’ve got them behind the Lakers, Spurs, probably the Jazz and likely the Suns and I still say they’re hard-pressed to win a playoff series.

Oh, and you know that Artest is going to do or say something foolish and costly during the season. He always has. Everywhere he’s been. Can’t see it changing all of a sudden.

As one of his former teammates once told me, and I’m paraphrasing a bit, “Ron’s great. We just gotta keep him on his meds.”

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First report just in from our coach in Beijing (he arrived a few hours ago) and it can’t be better.

The dorm rooms are fine, the Blackberry works, no trouble at Customs and – get this – beer’s like 8 RMB (I’m guessing about a buck and half Canadian) at the media village store!

The trip’s looking better every day.

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Last mail bit for the day

Q: I just read about how Australia's national basketball team defeated China in an Olympic warm-up due to 'dogged defense' where Yao and Yi where held in check all night. I got excited thinking our boy Jawai might have been involved in shutting down the Chinese big men.
Is he on the Australian national team? If not, why not? You can't tell me Summer League is more valuable than the Olympics and playing against Yao Ming or Dwight Howard.
I know they have Bogut from the NBA but that's it, right? One NBA centre and a bunch of guys who play in Europe ... sounds familiar. Except they're in the Games and we're not.

Rob M, Toronto

A: With all due respect to the Australian team, the qualifying process for them is exponentially easier than anything Canada has to do. They need to, basically, beat New Zealand in a best-of-three series to qualify for any Olympics or world championship.

And, no, Jawai is not on the national team, never has been. Frankly, they have better, much more experienced international players they’ve taken.

Comments

[Perry]

Hey Doug. Just wanted to get your opinion on the IOC's admission that they allowed the Chinese government to censor the internet. Do you feel that it will allow you to do your job to the best of your abilities or do you think your work will be effected? No offense to you or your craft but I will not be watching one second of Olympic coverage because profits and not making the Chinese government look bad are trumping free speech and human rights. I hope others will realize that the Olympics have become a joke and boycott them as well. Keep up the good work!

Blogger's note: It's really hard to get into that issue here, I'll get to it in the regular blog, maybe tomorrow. Thanks.

[Chris]

Who's JT? Not Jay Triano is it?

Blogger's note: It's JT, Jim Todd. How soon they forget.

[Jim S]

So no Turkey vs USA for Doug?

[Michael T.]

Doug, that has to be Jim Byers (former Raptor beat grunt, now a City Hall political reporter and occasional sports/golf reporter). Back in January 2006, the Raptors went on a 5 game road trip (Utah-Portland-Seattle-LA Lakers-Denver). I think you did the first three but Byers did the last two, one of which was a historical game in NBA history (Kobe's 81 points back on the 22nd in LA). Back then, I remember you and Byers (and previously Jennifer Quinn) splitting up the beat duties. Did you regret missing covering the Kobe game?

Blogger's note: I absolutely regret missing history.

[jeeff]

hi doug,

you've probably heard about the net censorship fiasco unfolding at the olympics right now. what a bombshell that the IOC went along with it after claiming just two weeks ago that there would be no censorship. think you're going to be able to access the blog from beijing?

Blogger's note: Oh, I expect that unless I add a link to Amnesty International or something, I'll be fine in this corner of the interweb.

[not JT]

Excuse my ignorance, but who is this JT you referring to? Justin Timberlake? Jay Triano?

Blogger's note: Man, a lot of you have short memories. Jim Todd.

[Matt G]

You know, I was actually hoping you'd comment on Scott Richmond.

J.P. Ricciardi is either a major league a**hole or just retarded. But gawd almighty, when are the dolts at Rogers going to finally realize they've been buggering Jays fans for years with their inept decision to keep that jerk around? I mean, antagonizing Cincinnati players and fans is one thing, to antagonize ball fans in your host country is an entirely different matter. His quote says it all: "when kids are in the back yard playing catch, do they dream of being in the big leagues or the Olympics?" You gotta think he's looking to get fired with comments like that because he knows the bean counters at Rogers haven't yet realized he knows f all about baseball so he has to create other grounds for dismissal.

[zow]

don,t expect anything differnt when the raptors come to edmonton ..nothing has changed,they are so called Canadas team but they get no play in the press here,thank god for you and this inter netty thing!! nice patriotic move by j.p. with the kid pitcher,what class,well atleast the jays hats with the Canadian flag on them were cool .....p.s. rice beer is good

[Brian]

I assume JT = Jim Todd?

Blogger's note: Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Jacques]

Will J.P. be fired by the Jays this year? if not, someone should take a bat to his knees. If I were Doc, I would demand a trade and get the hell out of dodge.

[TruWarier]

Wherry's still a musicologist?

[Mihai]

No love for the Hornets in your top5 of the West list?
I can't say they have gotten any worse this offseason (except for having the OKC franchise move closer to them).

[AndyB]

Hi Doug - love the blog.

I'd agree with your assessment of "top 5 in the West" for the Rockets with the Artest acquisition, but I think it adds them into the "legitimate contender" list. Even after their 22 game winning streak, I think people questioned whether the Rockets were going to have playoff success (particularly after Yao got hurt). There just seemed to be a "grit factor" missing.

This is a team though who finished with the 4th best record in the west and 4th best points against average in the league and they just added a former defensive player of the year.

These are some HUGE "ifs", but IF Yao and McGrady can stay healthy and IF Adelman can keep Artest's personality in check, they certainly have the skill and depth to go deep into the playoffs. Regardless of the advent of more offensive-minded teams regular season success, looking at recent champs: Boston, San Antonio, Miami, Detroit...I think you could argue that defense wins and Houston definitely has that in spades now.

[Marino]

wasn't it big Roy and two 1ST round draft picks (16 and 18 from the Blazers) for Mr. Willis? Love your work and your recognize your due dilligence, however pointing this out is primarily to prevent those readers who might never have seen the T-Rex, from thinking that he could merely be had for two second rounders!!!

[MK]

Try Qingdao beer while you're there. German colonize Qingdao island back then and it's now one of the famous beers in China. Beer is the safest thing to drink in China, water can be contaminated/re-used and juices might be chemically altered. Beer is the way.

[Ryan M]

Hey Doug,
Couldn't help but notice you didn't have the Hornets in your top 4-5 in the West. I think they've gotta be there, a team lead by (no offense Deron) the top point guard in the NBA with West and Chandler crashing the boards? Look for them in the top 2-3 again this year. Also, i jsut got back from Beijing, 8RMB is closer to $1.10 (yay!) and the smog is not nearly as bad as perople say it is. If you're ever feeling ill effects from it, go to the Temple of Heavan park, you'll feel better.

[Justin]

Doug, I don't know why I didn't realize that this Canadian, Richmond kid would/should have been with the national team. I have however; like most other baseball fans in the city, noticed how J.P. and Paul like to run their ball club (notice "their", not our) and I'm not really the least bit surprised. Are you? Do you enjoy major league baseball in the NBA off-season?

Blogger's note: I'm a bit of a baseball fan, yes; really like September baseball when the races heat up.

[yertu damkule]

hey doug. we hardly ever agree, but we share the same sentiments re. the jays' use of richmond. to me, it's just another arrogant move by the a-hole GM, a big middle-finger to the media/fans calling for his head. i loved the press scrum where he arrogantly deemed that making a big league start was a much bigger deal than playing in the olympics. is this guy for real? in what bizarro universe is making a spot start or two for a perpetually crappy team that's out of the race a bigger deal than PITCHING IN THE OLYMPICS? WTF!?!?!?

[Alex H]

Couldn't agree with you more about the lack of respect for the national program by the Jays. You would think that the Jays should have a long-term interest in attracting more Canadians to baseball in general. One way to do that would be to, I don't know, put a consistent winner on the field at the Skydome, err... Rogers Centre. But since the Jays in recent years have been tantamount to a car crash near a train wreck, it mightn't be a bad idea to give the international team the opportunity to inspire new baseball fans, by making some noise at the Olympics.

[Ryan]

Halifax likes basketball too...

[Jon]

Hey Doug, excellent blog as always.

"Anyway, I don’t think the acquisition of Artest does much to move the Rockets from where they are, maybe top five in the West. I’ve got them behind the Lakers, Spurs, probably the Jazz and likely the Suns and I still say they’re hard-pressed to win a playoff series."

I cannot believe you have the Suns there and not the Hornets! The Suns are falling apart (Shaq trade and Mike D'Antoni leaving) and the Hornets were second in the West last season, even though that team lacks depth in the PG. I can see them fall apart if CP3 ever goes out.

[AT]

Doug,
I agree, I think the Jays TOTALLY disrespected the Canadian National team by picking Richardson up for this game.
Poor kid, looking forward to the Olympics in Beijing then gets the carpet pulled on him. No doubt he was happy to get his first start, but the timing should have been better.

Probably too late, but I hope they find a way to get him back in on the Olympic team.

[Richard Y]

Regarding the safety of drinking beer.

There is a great book called the "History of the World in Five Glasses" (beer, wine, spirits, tea and cola). It talks about how those civilizations that discovered and drank beer ended up surviving because they were less likely to drink contaminated water.

[Dave]

JP is an American. His move helps "his" country. It is not rocket science to figure this out.

[Eric Hustvedt, Broad Cove, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia]

Hi, Doug,
Thanks again for your fine, interactive blog. Great to have an active community of interest re: the Raptors and the NBA -- in August!
You should be pleased to have people ask, "Who is JT?" It probably shows you are attracting new fans -- in August!
Eric
P. S. Yes, please do pay occasional attention to Halifax. Nova Scotia has the highest per capita interest in b-ball in the country. The national university championships will eventually return here -- because fans fill the arena even for games between teams from other parts of the country. And the Rainmen will eventually become part of a league made up of other similar size communities with a passion for b-ball.