What's this? Games that count? Oh, my!

Oh my, there’s basketball tonight. Real, live, games-that-count basketball. What a concept!

Of course, you poor souls in Toronto who subscribe to Rogers Cable won’t be able to actually, you know, see the games, given that the conglomerate and TSN still haven’t resolved their “issues” of carriage of TSN2 on your cable outlet.

Guess you could go find a cocktail lounge that gets TNT or something, or you could meet us in the bar at the Philadelphia airport Marriott, but that’s not really the point, is it?

The point is, two business giants are, simply, screwing basketball fans in the biggest market in the city. Simple as that. Blame Rogers, blame TSN, blame Maple Leaf Sports but blame someone ‘cause you’re really getting the short end of the stick.

Sucks, doesn’t it?

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On to the real stuff:

You probably have read all the NBA preview stuff in our paper today (and if you haven’t, I’d suggest you go and do it as soon as you’re finished here) but there was a distinct lack of predictions in there, aside from the order of finish in each of the divisions.

So, forthwith and so you can all hold it over me as the season progresses (remember Boston, life and death to make the playoffs? Well, we’ve all had our embarrassments, haven’t we?) here we go:

NBA champs: Spurs.

One more kick at the can. Why not?

Eastern conference champs: Boston

I know, the easy way out but, still …

MVP: Kobe

See: Out, easy way.

Rookie of the year: Derrick Rose

And I’m sure Jose still says Rudy Fernandez

First coach fired: Mike Brown, Cleveland

I’d like to say Marc Iavaroni in Memphis only ‘cause KO might take over

What the locals will do: 45 wins.

Should get them fifth, maybe fourth, in the East.

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You should have heard Sam yesterday. Might have been one of the all-timers.

The gentleman from The Score tries to get Sam to do his Bosh tribute all over, following what the coach had said on Sunday, and it became quickly apparent that Sam wasn’t playing along.

Here’s how it went:

Sam

All these guys will tell you, I spent 20 minutes yesterday talking about it. Now, other people have different questions and other type questions. Why do I need to go back and repeat myself?

The Score, trying again

I wasn’t asking you to.

Sam

You just asked me that question. You went down that road, today we’re going a different rout. We went down Friendship Avenue yesterday. Today we’re going down Grumpy Sam Road. Grumpy Sam Road don’t talk about what he talked about yesterday. Friendship Sam Road, Friendship Avenue, we talked about that yesterday. Grumpy Sam Road do not go back and talk about yesterday so we’re at Grumpy Sam Road today.

All of those who are going to get on the bus going down Grumpy Sam Road, get on. All those looking for Friendship Avenue, they get off. That was yesterday.

But you know what, after that little moment, Sam went on to give the guy almost exactly what he wanted about Bosh.

Oh, and the other spots for Geographical Sam?

The intersection of Irascible Crescent and I Ain’t Talking Boulevard.

How about One Word Answer Way.

Or, a personal fave, Duh! Drive.

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Okay, digression here:

Is baseball nuts, or what?

Did you watch that travesty last night? Letting that game get to that point before suspending it was so ridiculous it’s not even funny. Everyone from Bud Selig on down should tithe 10 per cent of every dime they get paid for the rest of their lives to Tampa’s Carlos Pena for driving the tying run and avoiding the embarrassment of the World Series being won in a rain-shortened game.

Best part? We still might get a 6 p.m. start tomorrow night (beat grunts always, always, always like an extra hour of writing before deadline). Of course, if it rains all today and tonight and they have to resume Game 5 in Philly tomorrow, we’re a tad screwed ‘cause the ballpark’s about a Ryan Howard homer from the arena.

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This, from regular contributor GM over in the comments section sort of goes to the Grumpy Sam Road issue:

My biggest beef with sports reporting is the pack mentality. That's why I don't read the papers anymore and just read your blog. Because it's individual. I hate how I see the same story in every paper (obviously game reports are different). Can't you or anyone else wander off from the pack and speak to someone privately? Or are you always worried that someone else will "scoop" you? But you gotta think maybe you'll "scoop" them, too. (I use "scoop" in quotation marks because in the situation you're describing, I doubt it'll be anything significant.)

And you, my man, have just hit on one of the biggest problems facing beat grunts in this day and age.

The pack-mentality issue is out there and, speaking entirely personally here, it’s one I haven’t quite mastered yet. Maybe it’s fear of being beaten, or fear of missing the one great quote, but we do spend too much time doing the same story.

As a matter of fact, I was just talking to my boss about this yesterday. I hope – and I can only promise to try – that this season our paper can do “different” stories rather than the predictable ones because, frankly, there’s hardly ever any big news once the season gets going. Sure, an injury, or a trade are obvious, but the Raptor Of The Day stuff you see on off-days? Ho-hum, most of the time.

What it takes is some planning, some imagination and, frankly, the willingness to read the other guy and say, ‘damn, wish I’d been in that scrum’ without getting a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach ‘cause he had something you didn’t.

It’s an area that I need to improve on. Just takes time to break old habits.

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Speaking of digressions, and it’s been a while since this topic was broached here, but Michael Flatley might be one of the great dancers ever but, man, is he ever boring as a judge on Dancing With The Stars. We need Len back.

Oh, and I don’t know what it is about athletes but Warren Sapp’s gotta win this one, right? If he doesn’t, isn’t it the biggest travesty since Leila Ali was upset?

We now return you to our regularly-scheduled stuff.

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This is pretty good:

Q: From your article on Bosh's new dedication to practice: "You don't become a three-time NBA all-star by blowing off all responsibility for your skills..."
Let me submit into evidence one Vincent Lamar Carter, 8-time NBA all-star.  In light of Mr. Carter's skill-wasting career, I think we could more accurately change the statement to: "You don't become a three-time NBA all-star by blowing off all responsibility for your skills ... unless you can dunk like a mascot ... just without the trampoline."
Looking forward to the start of the season Doug!

Mike D, Toronto

A: Ding! Ding! Ding!

Comments

[Patrick]

It's the night before Christmas! And thankfully I have the games on TSN2 to tide me over tonight until the Raptors hit the floor in Philly.

Speaking of the Sixers, what's their health status going into tomorrow's game? Didn't Dalembert and Young sit out some preseason games due to minor injuries?

Thanks!

PS: Random question but do you take part in any fantasy leagues (basketball or otherwise) or is that of no particular interest to you?

[Duncan]

Doug, congratulations on the 2 page spread in today's paper. Great overview of the league and season. Go Raps!

[Nate W.]

Doug,
Can't you hire in intern to hold a tape recorder in the scrums while you search out other stories? Some bright young thing just out of journalism school?

Blogger's note: These are tough economic times, no way they go for that.

[Alex Hall]

Doug, great blog. I realize it is not normal for a Raps fan to defend Vince, but maybe you can clear this up for me. It is obvious that Vince does not work as hard as someone like KG or Kobe, but would it also be fair to say that he works harder than Raps fans are willing to give him credit for?

Blogger's note: Not at the end, that's for sure.

[Robert S]

Speaking of Carter, I'm not into fantasy drafts, but Bill Simmons of ESPN ranked players and this is what he wrote of Carter... I know it's time to forget about Carter and I won't boo him anymore, but what he wrote is pretty funny:

"38. Vince Carter
He's saying and doing all the right things. Hell, he might actually have a huge season. I'm just not taking him. Ever. There's nothing worse than letting your guard down with Fantasy Vince, then inadvertently catching the "SportsCenter" highlight of him rolling around under the basket as if he has been gunned down by an assassin. No thanks."

[Damian]

Having a debate with a co-worker at the moment. Right here now, who would you take as your franchise player based on total benefit to the team? Chris Bosh or Dwight Howard? I say Dwight, he says Bosh. I say power centres are way harder to find than finesse centers.... Any thoughts???

Blogger's note: But 6-11 guys with quickness and shooting range, who also have had double-figure rebounding seasons are just as rare, no? And the game's going more to finesse and multi-skilled, isn't it?

[rohith]

hey doug...u think tht the raps will make it in to the 2nd rnd...i still feel tht the bench will make a huge difference in the playoffs.

Blogger's note: No idea, ask me in April. They could. They could not.

[Tyler L]

Ok Doug how seriously worried should us fans be that TSN The Sports(mostly crappy pucks) Network and Rogers do not get this issue resolved before Raps games are scheduled for TSN 2?

Blogger's note: It's a financial negotiation between two financial Goliaths. Think one blinks quickly? Neither do I

[Zack]

I thought the Philly game was on the Score? Why are you saying we won't be able to watch Doug? What don't we know?

Blogger's note: No, I was talking about Tuesday's TNT season-opening double-header

[jonny f]

Ugh...this cable fiasco is killing me. It's like Rogers schedules them every two years to test our angst threshold. I would have thought for sure that MLSE would have stepped in by now. Think there's any possibility they send Sam up there to curse them out?

Blogger's note: Sam doesn't curse.

[Darko Dubajic]

Hi Doug, well happy new season to all of us bball fans.
$130/month for cable bill does not get you what it use to.
I did put my 2 cents with TSN and Rogers, but as you would say that and $5 will get my small late in Starbucks.
How do we get in touch with NBA office, it is their product that is being treated shabby after all.

[matt]

"You don't become a three-time NBA all-star by blowing off all responsibility for your skills..."

see: Iverson, Allen. 'we talkin' bout practice'

[Andrew V]

Why are we getting screwed from watching the season opener tomorrow night? The game is on the Score is it not?

Blogger's note: Was talking about Tuesday's season opening doubleheader on TNT

[Dinosty]

Wow Doug, gotta hand it to you for peeking out from behind your keyboard to do that video. Good on you, sir.

[Eric]

(This might be a question for the mailbag?)

Hey Doug,

Do you think that perhaps Bryan Colangelo has gotten increasingly insecure with the team he's built? Been watching RapsTV the last few weeks and it struck me how much of what this team says publicly is PR-driven... or at least I hope it is because it wouldn't make sense otherwise. All this talk about "pundits around the league applauding our moves (Jermaine O'Neal) and seeing us as a new contender in the East" is baffling, isn't it? Like you've said, I haven't seen very many people praise the Raptors for what they've done. It's been the same ol' same ol'!!! Not many others are really talking about the Raps, and if they are, it's only well after they've had their chance to dissect Elton Brand in Philadelphia.

It just seems to me that Colangelo is going out of his way to pat himself on the back because no one else will do it. Why do you (Doug) think that the Raptors are still flying under the radar- is it because they haven't done much to get better or is it that they're still simply the team that American media doesn't want to cover? Or maybe it's something else? Because if Colangelo really believes the statements he makes on outlets like RapsTV, he must be flabbergasted by the lack of coverage surrounding his team.

Blogger's note: They're flying under the radar because, frankly, they've done squat. One series win ever does not make you a franchise many take seriously.
There are people impressed with the pieces, no question; but those pieces have to perform.

[Kevin Allison]

Hey Doug -

Isn't the game tomorrow? And on the Score? That's what it says according to the Raps site:

http://www.nba.com/raptors/schedule/

I know the game got bumped up an hour because of the World Series, but I'm pretty sure all will see it.

Unless I'm missing something.

Thanks, love the blog.

Kevin

Blogger's note: No one with Rogers can see the TNT doubleheader tonight that opens the season.

[Ben]

Hey Doug!

Read your blog quite a bit, and I was interested in your last post about the Rogers Sports Pack issue.

It reminded me of something I read the other day on someone else's post about a trial deal for Bell TV. You get to have everything installed, HD programmed and basic programming and sport packages for free for 2 months. Nice! Best part is, after your trial, if you don't want it anymore, that take everything back, free of charge to you.

I'll look for that link to their survey and then you can see for yourself. Never was a fan of Roger's.

B

[yertu damkule]

ben - you won't give it back.

[Arun]

The Toronto Raptors who? They get now ratings and the only team in Toronto known are the Maple Leafs.

[Ben]

Really? It's that good?

Awesome-I just took the survey yesterday, the company called me today, and they are setting up my new HD system next week.

Too bad it won't be here for the Raptors home game on friday.

Here's the link for anyone who wants to check it out. If you do-refer my name 'cause I get $20 off my bill for each person! Woot!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=sPdSBDv1_2fKEHvnGHRGKHFA_3d_3d

Ben

[Chris]

Ben - I have to tell you....You're not kidding around. I was called this morning about my Bell stuff!

Raptors in HD!! Too good to be true?!