Fore! (What did you expect? All hoops?)

I tell ya, if they ever had rain delays in basketball, I’d be a stark, raving lunatic.

(Not that I’m not now, according to a few of you).

For real, 7 1-2 hours without a ball being struck; at the course at 9 a.m.; off the course about 9 p.m. and they still don’t have the first freaking round finished. Sweet? Not so much.

But it’s a job and someone’s gotta do it, right?

And, besides, I guess it beats working for a living.

Anyway …

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How, you wonder, does one while away a 7 1-2 hour rain delay?

At the trough, apparently.

Three of the golfers were talked to near dark last night – Scott Verplank, Retief Goosen and Mike Weir – all talked about taking a couple of meals during the Open shutdown yesterday.

Whew!

Seems some of us grunts who spent more than our fair share of time scarfing down sandwiches, fruit, cookies and snacks were being just like the golfers. Except, in one case at least, for that whole physically fit thing they’ve got going on.

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Maybe it’s the time of year but the press tent was littered with basketball dudes. There was me and M. Grange ™, Stumpy’s making a guest appearance as a golf scribbler and Bea Arthur – oops, I mean B. Arthur – was in attendance, too.

In fact, it was Bruce who pointed out the fact the offer sheet for Jamari Moon is something like three years and $8 million dollars, which provided the biggest shock I’ve had in a very long time.

Now, Jamario’s a nice guy and I hope he has a long and fruitful NBA career ‘cause it took him so long to get to the league but if Danny Ferry really offered him three years and something like $8 million (even if the last year isn’t fully guarantee), I never want to hear the Cleveland GM talk about tough economic times.

That’s a ridiculous deal. Good for Jamario, though.

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Two-part golf story, kind of long but what the heck, it’s not like we’ve got Raptors stuff to talk about.

The good folks from the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame – and if you’re at the Abbey this weekend make sure to stop in, they’ve got an excellent Mike Weir display and a raft of other interesting stuff – put on a little symposium with Dave Barr, Dan Halldorson, Wilf Homeniuk and Bob Panasiuk during the delay yesterday. Chat got around to their best finishes at the Open and here’s what Barr recalled:

“1988 was the year that I thought I had a really good chance at winning. Posted 66 the last day and was in the clubhouse at 13-under and every year prior to that, 13-under was a winner.

“I guess the last group, Ken Green’s group, was still on the 13th when they called it on that Sunday and when I woke up the next morning, I’m in the clubhouse and the wind’s blowing 25 (mph) out of the northwest and I’m thinking, ‘hmm, maybe I can still win it. These guys have to tough it out for six holes or five holes in this wind.’

“Then all of a sudden everybody starting shooting birdies and eagles and it just kind of slipped away.

“I still thought I had that chance when I woke up Monday morning that I could possibly be in a playoff or win it outright. But I ended up tying for fourth.”

Okay, good story, right?

Well, it gets better. That tournament was sponsored by DuMaurier, back in the day when tobacco companies could do that sort of thing, and when Green – hardly a bon vivant, in fact he’s about the furthest thing from a bon vivant you could imagine – is making his acceptance speech, he botched the name of the company so badly it was comical. Kind of like:

“And I like to thank Dumier, or whatever it is, for sponsoring the event.”

Well, back then, they used to bring the defending champ back for a day the next summer, invite some of hackers out to chop it around with him and pump up the coming tournament.

Funnily enough, the good folks at Dumier, or whatever it was, didn’t extend that invitation to Green. And the assembled hackers really didn’t miss him.

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A wee basketball note:

I know it’s too early to think about how teams stack up in the East (I’d kind of like to let teams, you know, practice once to see how they look) butthis is a good signing.

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Judging by this story, it would appear Tunisia has some work to do in the world of under-19 women’s basketball.

And judging by the picture that goes with it, organizers down in Thailand have some work to do in the world of selling tickets.

Still, you have to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat and Canada was supposed to win so it’s all good. The victory should be enough to get Canada into the second round-robin portion of the tournament, a win over Japan in the final preliminary round game will give them a big boost going in.

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On a matter of entirely no importance, can I just say that as a rock and roll dude, Kevin Costner makes a great thespian.

Walking out of the course last night alongside Young Tim (not to confused with Old Tom or even Popular Ray) we got to listen to the, um, musical stylings of Costner and his band. I don’t believe I’m rushing out to the eight-track store.

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So, what’s up this weekend, you ask?

Well, I can’t imagine the Raptors actually getting around to filling those final two roster spots – which is a huge tick-off because I’m allegedly on holidays again next week – so it’s going to be a quiet 48 hours of hoops.

The Mighty Yankees have a makeup twinbill tomorrow morning weather-permitting (and trying to keep 12-year-olds focused for one game is hard enough, getting them to concentrate for two on a Saturday morning is going to be a hoot) and then there’s more golf to scribble about.

Of course, Bryan may surprise us all and do Rasho and Delfino, or Rasho and someone else, or someone else and someone else. And that would be very nice because it’d mean the summer of movement is over.

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Comments

[Chris]

Out of all the articles I've read on here.... This one almost put me a sleep!

Blogger's note: I'd suggest going to bed earlier at night then because: "This is Gold, Jerry! Gold!

[Anthony]

Hey Doug,
Why not have a guest blogger take your spot while you are supposedly on holidays?

[Peter]

No offence to the women Doug, but let's be serious, would YOU sit in the stands for a basketball game between two foreign teams where one is going to score in the eighties and one is going to score in the twenties? If the organizers get ANY fans there, they've earned their pay!

[an]

yawn

Blogger's note: Tired? I suggest a nap

[Wilber]

Okay, so clicked thru to the Oberto story and man, he looks like Rev. Jim from Taxi in that picture.

Exhibit A:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/postphotos/orb/sports/2009-07-24/7.htm

Exhibit B:
http://tinyurl.com/6oaaoj

And Danny Ferry, give your head a shake.

Enjoy the golf, Doug.

[Allan]

Hey Doug,
On the topic of golf and hoops! It is frustrating this past season when I was unable to watch a portion of the Raps games broadcasted on TSN2. I enjoyed the 7-8 hours of coverage daily of the British Open last week, yet this week I can only watch 3 hours for the first two rounds of my national championship! What is up with the TV coverage of the Canadian Open?

[Dave in BG]

Blogger's note: I'd suggest going to bed earlier at night then because: "This is Gold, Jerry! Gold!

LOL. Thanks for the Kramer-ism...made my morning :)

[Nicolas]

why don't the raps make an offer to lee? If he feels like doodoo because knicks aren't offering him anything and the knicks will clearly get rid of him next year, so wouldn't he he inclined to find anther team?

Blogger's note: Well, considering the Raptors can offer him a minimum value contract, they may as well waste the phone call

[Jim Rootham]

On the Jamario numbers:

a) It's a bit more than twice the minimum.

b) Last year the Raptors had a better record with Moon on the floor than they did with Parker.

c) Economic times are a lot tougher for a lot of people than they are for NBA teams.

[ChrisR]

We need POPS!!

he comes cheap and the fans love him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtYYP9nZPKc

[Daniel K.]

$8 million for 3 years? Good for Moon. Now when he'll retire, he'll have a nice nest egg for the rest of his life. He's not worth it but hey...if a billionaire is throwing money at you, why not?

Doug, what do you think of Gortat's 36 million deal (as well as the drama surrounding the signing)?

Blogger's note: It's a ruthless business and Orlando protected its team. Sucks if Gortat wants to start; good for him if he wants play on a better team.

[Jeff D]

Love the Seinfeld references. Can you make it a point to inject those more often; subtely or not-so-subtely. Great work as always!

[doug]

Ken green was a "unique personality" not a too well liked one , he would be a sponsor's nightmare to win....Oberto was a good signing as was Ratliff the other day I don't know why the raps had no interest in him as we need a defensive guy to just throw in there in specific situations...I really don't know if Ferry has a plan at all, he just keeps adding these pieces with no rhyme or reason sort of like Paxson in Chicago...has Ferry ever watched Moon play??, he is what he is a atheltic ball player with limited b-ball I.Q. and desire,motivation to match....nice guy I am sure, but 8 million worth of nice....he'll get one or two highlight reel dunks a month on ESPN nd everyone will be saying man that can play, he's the Rob Deer (former MLB player) who either hit a homerun or struck-out and did nothing else, Moon either dunks or nothing else...

[Peter]

I have to disagree to the guest blogger idea. I come here for the "Doug Smith" perspective, if I wanted another blogger, there are plenty of other blogs for me to read while you're away. No need to fill this space with anything other then Dougisms.

[Mahdi]

Man we really need to bring back Pops, I mean none of the new players address the need for energy and commitment on the floor that we sourly lacked last season (maybe Evans a little) but BC has got to get the legend back!

[Steve]

Common people its not a Kramer-ism, thats a Kenny Bania quote!! Why do they call it Ovaltine? The mug is round; the jar is round, they should call it Roundtine.

[aditya]

i bet no one was willing to offer mooon even the bi annual exception...i mean is danny ferry dumb....miami wouldn't have matched it even if it was a 2yr 4 mil deal... (no i dont know this, but i am guessing)....

[kazbid]

after watching that pops video..reminding me why the fans in TO love him..i agree..we should get him back! but then does he replace rasho? no...rasho will be better defensively against other bigs..and facilitates more offense for other players in TO

maybe if we cant get delf..we go for pops..i'd prefer his hustle over kleiza waiting for the ball to come to him

btw canada u19 girls beating tunsia by 60 points..WOW

[Andrew]

Wow. Oberto on Washington?
They are pretty stacked now. I always thought Blatche would make a good starter in this league someday, and now they have Oberto as insurance.

So, if Jamario gets 3 mill a season at 29, what does Joey Graham get at 27?

I always thought Joey had WAY more upside considering his freakish body and better numbers...

[ChrisR]

"Blogger's note: Well, considering the Raptors can offer him a minimum value contract, they may as well waste the phone call"

Remember that this is only because the Raptors do not want to pay the luxury tax. They could do it if they really wanted to.

If they were really and I mean REALLY serious about winning, they'd pay the tax just like several other teams are doing right now.

If they didn't have the dead weight like Roko, Carcass Banks and Patrick O'Brianmessedupandhadtotakeonsomesalary, there would be approx 7.5 million available, a little more and you'd have Lee.

Blogger's note: No, actually it's got nothing to do with the luxury tax. They have, at the most, the so-called biannual exception so they could offer him that; other than that, they have only minimum value contracts to offer because they are over the cap. Delfino would be a Bird Rights guy and exempt.
So, technically, they could offer him a two-year deal starting at about $1.9 million or so, which would also result in the phone being slammed in their ears.

[Richard]

"This is gold, Jerry! Gold!" isn't a Kramer-ism; it was from the hilarious character Kenny Bania (who is one of my all-time favourite secondary characters in Seinfeld).

Blogger's note: He's he kind of guy you'd like to have a bowl of soup with

[NDT]

I'd love to show up to a game in round 2 of the U19 tourney if someone can point me to where I can get tickets! I checked the FIBA site and can't find a link... then again I'm on dialup here in Hong Kong so I don't have much resources... If someone can tell me where to get tickets, I'll try to show up to the first game I can and cheer for Canada!

Blogger's note: www.fiba.com had a link to the championships web site this morning when I searched out the Canada result

[Sweet Will]

With the Erin Andrews situation, are you concerned about any of the hotel rooms you stayed in during the season? Will we have storys of the Star defending your honour?

[Amir]

Hey Doug,
Any chance you will be live blogging the Canadian Open?

Blogger's note: I believe that's beyond my capabilities, although that might make it fun, no?

[Tim W.]

Dave in BG: "Blogger's note: I'd suggest going to bed earlier at night then because: "This is Gold, Jerry! Gold!

LOL. Thanks for the Kramer-ism...made my morning :)"

That's actually a Bania-ism.

As for the Moon signing, I read yesterday it was 2 years $6 million, which suddenly made whatever Delfino is asking seem like a bargain. 3 years at $8 million is slightly better. Slightly. I personally don't understand why he's making above minimum. Has he suddenly learned what to do on defense, to stop taking 3's and drive to the basket?