No news but that doesn't mean there are no goodies to read

Shut things down last night about midnight and it was raining, get up this morning and it’s raining (and you haven’t lived ‘til you’ve walked a recalcitrant Boston terrier in the morning rain) and I’m thinking:

Oh, the joy of being a golf writer.

I foresee a day of press tent stories and endless cups of coffee until someone tells us they’re going to suspend play because the course is under water. Then we’ll get up and do it all over again tomorrow.

Yes, there’s no gig like it.

But I digress …

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Raptors news? Pshaw!

You gotta be kidding. Quiet day entirely. Bryan was off on NBA business, Jay’s running the USA Select team out in Vegas, Maurizio’s playing congenial host for the Canadian men’s team over in Italy and other Henchmen have scattered for a while.

So if you’re looking for news on Pops (and I know you all are) or Carlos or Rasho or some other guy people fancy, you’ve come to the wrong place.

Luckily, though, there is no right place today because nothing happened and I don’t fee so bad about it.

But still we soldier on with stuff you can’t get anywhere else.

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All right, it’s now officially official:

Summer, or what passes for summer around these parts, has gone on too long and people are simply starved for basketball news. Basketball nonsense might be a better way to put it.

Check out what passed as “big news” yesterday according to handful of e-mails I got from readers.

I have no idea if anyone down there reads this but let me just say: The New York Knicks are so entirely irrelevant to the entire NBA at the moment, it’s hilarious. The team sucks, all these grandiose plans for signing this guy (LeBron) and that guy (Bosh) are falling apart amid a worsening economy and they seem doomed to be irrelevant for a few more years.

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Oh, oh, tough start for Canada at the Under-19 women’s worlds in Thailand, as we can read right here.

It’s the same kind of format as the men’s worlds earlier this month so the loss isn’t devastating. They’ve still got Tunisia today and Japan tomorrow and one win probably allows them to advance, two surely will and their hopes of medal remain intact.

I have no idea what time the next game is but we’ll have something on it here tomorrow.

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Yikes.

E-mails may slow to a trickle once this news from my man Ira gets out there.

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So, Super Son was helping tidy up the messy desk area here at Casa Doug the other night and he got to be in charge of making sense out of the pile of media guides strewn hither and yon.

And I’m thinking, well, he won’t have to do this again most likely.

Not sure if there are any collectors among you, or people who just like to do a little light reading, but the days of big, printed media guides are all but gone, friends around the league report.

In part to save money and in part to save the planet, we’re told almost all the teams are going to strictly on-line publications next year so us beat grunts won’t have 30 books to clutter up the desk.

What we may have is a “memory stick” with all the information just a click away. That also means there’s something else my Luddite self will have to learn.

(Seriously. Where else can you learn this kind of crap?)

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An e-mail lands from my man Phil From Philadelphia late yesterday afternoon wondering who the agent was for – get this! – Jake Voskuhl.

Now, at the risk of sounding like, you know, a normal guy, I will say Jake’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet but I really wonder if his days as a NBAer might be over.

But checking out Phil’s blog shows that Jake’s just one of a list of “who’s that?” the Sixers are thinking about. Talk about a murderer’s row!

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Getting back to international basketball for a quick few paragraphs, Leo’s men’s senior team is off to Italy later today for an exhibition series, their second trip to Europe in preparation for August’s world qualifier in Puerto Rico.

Had a chance to chat with the coach, and a couple of players and other poobahs, the other night at this swank Canada Basketball reception at a lovely eatery downtown (well, it was wings at St. Louis on King and it was right up my alley).

A couple of highlights:

No way Matt Bonner plays this summer but he’s still very interested.

Yes, they would finally like to get Jamal Magloire on the roster and they’re working on it; having him signed in Miami has to help.

Joel Anthony is going to play.

Karl Carl English won’t be in Europe but he will be Puerto Rico after signing with Tau Ceramica in Spain.

They once again are young and going to have to play nearly perfect basketball to qualify.

Said Leo:

“The reality is, we’re still younger and less experienced than our competition but that’s our world, we just have to find a way to not beat ourselves. The talent aspect? There’s nothing we can do about that, we just can’t beat ourselves in situations and that’s what we have to work on.”

I’m trying to work up a story for the newspaper on the team (looks like I might have a few hours to kill in the press tent at Glen Abbey today) but if I can’t, we’ll have more here.

Of course, the big news about this trip is that Canada will play Italy and a few people will be able to give me first-hand info on how Andrea’s looking.

Comments

[christine]

Just want to let you know that "Karl" is "Carl". Have a good one

[Tony]

Hi Doug RapsTV will air the first summer league game of the Raptors beginning with the Lakers on Sun 10:30 p.m. Good chance for diehards too see Derozan and also Doubie, two stars of the summer league. Derozan is as smooth as silk and Doubie gets fouled almost every time he gets in the lane, which is a whole whole lot.

[gdr]

Doug,

How come no mention in your blog the the Sixers list also includes "The Gangster"? Why are all former Raptors cast-offs seeming to find jobs with teams we are competing against in the East? And is Jamario Moon's offer sheet with the Cavs really 2 years - $6Mill? Really? This is the same guy I watched for two years not play D and shoot more often then not? Really, $6,000,000? Thanks and keep up the good work!

[anthony.mackay]

Doug,
Was reading an article yesterday about the new generation of centers and how the back to the basket low post game is disappearing.
Do you see this only as a short term trend since everyone is crazy about Mike/Nellie ball? Eventually I think the counter to every team fast breaking will be to slow it down and feed a big fella down low.

Who do you see being the best low post player 2-3 years from now, I don't mean a 7 footer who can score 25ppg simply by running out on the break. Boozer has some polish on the low block but he is hardly a center, Howard at least needs a hook and little fall-away jumper.

Blogger's note: Right now, I'm more worried about how to write a golf rainout story; I'll check on this a bit later

[Andrew]

Leo's a decent tv personality and would probably make a great high school, possibly even university coach. But what he's done so far with team Canada is embarassing/unjust and we need to think outside the box to find his replacement. He's proved hes not an X's and O's guy. He's definately not a player coach. He plays his son more than the team's best players...

Speaking of which, do you have any idea how long Leo Rautins is signed on as our coach?

Blogger's note: His current contract is this year with an option for next

[Andrew]

On that topic, any other examples of players being coached by their dads at the highest level? (NBA/FIBA)

Blogger's note: I'm sure there are or have been; none come to mind immediately

[Jenuwine]

Man, as an NBA fan, this is going to be three freakin lousy months till the season starts. What's there to watch? Base-freakin-ball?....I rather watch the WNBA.

[Nat]

Papa- Little Guy NBA Hookup- You might see Coby and Dad Karl in Denver this year!

I know Karl would be interested. I don't think Coiby would get as much burn though as Leo's son.

[Darko]

Greetings from rather hot (+ 40) beaches of North Italy.
I was going to complain about heat, than I saw weather report for TO, and figured to shut up about it.
Doug, would you know if preseason schedule is out and which Euro team we'll play (host) this year. I was going to fly to Phoenix to watch my boys from Belgrade play the Suns, and now they added games in Chicago and Detroit at the end of September.
Can you ask your contacts with the Raps, any chance they get Partizan to play in TO.

Blogger's note: It isn't out yet but when I heard Partizan was coming to North America, I asked a guy and he said he didn't think Toronto was on their schedule. Which I find a little strange.
Give my regards to Il Ghirada

[pooks]

Hey Doug,

No update on the mighty Yankees?? That's gotta count for news.

Blogger's note: We keep getting rained out, sadly. Supposed to have a makeup doubleheader Saturday morning (and 12-year-olds playing twinbills has got to be seen to be believed) but I worry about the weather

[Richard Spackman]

What is your best site for checking NBA salaries. I use this: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r0EIACYJtq4Wgjl-ZmYzRug&gid=30 until a I find a more accurate one.
You can always write your Golf story mentioning how many players are Even Par and not by choice.

Blogger's note: I use a spread sheet leaked to me by an Eastern Conference executive not involved with the locals. It's pretty much the same spread sheet every GM uses

[Mahdi]

Hey Doug, I know its too early to tell yet but do you think the Raptors will play one of the preseason games at Rexall Place in Edmonton again?

I live in the Edmonton area and I had a chance to watch the Raptors play for the very first time last year, although it was not fun watching them gettin spanked by the nuggets. But it was cool that I got to see Iverson, Melo and Bosh.

Blogger's note: No Edmonton trip this year, sorry

[John]

Doug if you want to see Andrea in action this summer, go to youtube, type in his name, and sort the search by date added. Their are 3 videos from national team games that are exclusive highlights/lowlights of him. He looks leaner then he was during the season.

[Matt]

Boston are the best dogs!
Best news in here was that you own one lol.

[Vittorio De Zen]

Look forward to lots of e-mails about Bonner's possible availability today, as the Spurs have signed Theo Ratliff and some Spurs fans are saying it means Bonner's a goner.

[Borna]

Doug, can I please get your opinion on Keith Bogans? I think he is a pretty good defender who dosen't command a lot of touches. Do you think he is anywhere on the Raptors radar? Maybe if Delfino dosen't work out we can probably get him for relativley cheap?

Thanks

Blogger's note: He's all right but they have other issues to deal with, like backups at small forward and centre. There's no fit for him here

[Spudz]

Hi Doug,
It seems like on media days (ie: Jarrett Jack signing) that there is no dress code for journalists. I saw that you looked very comfortable - it was probably towards the end of your vacation! Please don't take this as a slight - it is NOT intended as such.

I wondered if you had any good stories about journalists that you can't wait to see how they dress 'this time' or some over/under dressed moments from your career.

Keep up the good work, Doug. While not everyone appreciates the constant availability of today's journalists, some still do. While I can't understand why we're all so craved for information 24/7, I think special recognition is deserved for those who have to live up to those impossible standards. Kudos.

Blogger's note: It's true, we're not the most sartorially splendid group, but we do wear comfortable clothes.
Let me think of a few instances in the dark recesses of my mind and I'll get 'em in the blog

[Jack]

--"Humet replied, "I appreciate that, but you know what's a better gift? Come to the New York Knicks next season."

Bosh and his manager, Hadi Teherany, laughed at the suggestion, laughed the rest of the call, and even laughed after he hung up."--

Wouldn't it be nice if Bosh gets traded to the Clippers?

[Stan Arnold]

Hi Doug - Who are you picking for the Canadian Open: the field, or the rain?

Blogger's note: I'll take Mother Nature and give you two a side

[DY]

What do you think of the Raps this season?

I don't think they really address their weakness(athleticism, defense and rebounding) in the starting five. Hedo is a good pick up(though too expensive 53 mill) but he's not great defensively and also not a great rebounder(enough to compensate for Barny's lack of rebounding skills). The offense might be better but that wasn't the Rap's weakness last year. The rookie Derozan is way too raw and from what I saw in summer league plays defense as an afterthought. I like the Jack pickup though...he seems like a character guy who will work hard. I think we are sloted for the 6th, 7th or 8th playoff spot at best and will lose in the first round.

[Jack]

And this is why I said Clippers and not the Knicks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090624&sportCat=nba

[Kevin A.]

Hey Doug... CBA question... and Id on;t know if this has been asked/answered before: If Bosh re-signs, does he get the full years, extra $30M etc, or does an extension of his current deal lessen that... I guess the question I have is: does he have to wait, become a UFA, then resign to get his full Bird Rights, or can he get the full benefit of resigning with the Raps with an extension?

Thanks, hope you have a large umbrella...

Blogger's note: Full benefits without waiting

[sb]

Jack:

That's a damned funny article...eerie too.

I hope there isn't reason for an article like that to be written about our Raps in the next 10 or 20 years.

[Kevin]

Jack's link to the Bill Simmons article is great. This is must reading for any basketball fan. Even Isiah can be thankful that someone did a worse job.

[Sean]

Doug,

I dont know any other Raps fans here in NY and most of my friends are Knicks fans. Oh they reminded me on a daily basis that they would sign LeBron and CB4 . . and if one of them should somehow, someway chose not to come to NY, they would just sign Wade. How quickly that tune has changed now that they couldnt even get Kidd and Hill. I love it. But I digress . .

What's behind Raps fans enfatuation with Pops? I dont see it. I'm more impressed with how DeRozan looked in the summer league. Not as "raw" as they've been saying.

I'm intrigued by the possibility of Johan Petro? Any news on that front?

Blogger's note: No news