A bunch of little stuff and the Dream Team revisited

Glen Davis back to Boston, no surprise.

Leon Powe maybe going to Cleveland even though he won’t play until at least the all-star break, no surprise.

Linas Kleiza headed to Greece for some stupid amount of money, no surprise.

Von Wafer not getting a gig in the NBA and allegedly going to be a teammate of Kleiza’s in Greece, no big surprise.

What we’re seeing these days, and what we’ll see over the next fortnight, I imagine, is a bunch of little things that will do nothing to alter the balance of power anywhere in the world and are of little or no direct consequence here in Toronto.

Those are the times we live in at the moment.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t stuff, because there’s always stuff, it seems.

Like…

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I wonder how nuts they’ll go in Los Angeles today when they get a whiff of this news about Pau Gasol.

Think they’ll call him “selfish” for putting his country ahead of his team? Rip him for turning his back on the franchise that got him off the scrap heap in Memphis and gave him a shot an NBA title?

Or will they shrug their collective shoulders, say it’s an injury that could have happened any time and with more than 2 1-2 months until the season starts it’s not really that big a deal?

I’m betting more of the last than any of the first two.

And I’m also crossing my fingers that no similar fate befalls Roko Ukic or Hedo Turkoglu or Andrea Bargnani as the summer goes on because if the same thing happens to any of them, I fear the comments section here might physically blow up from the stain it’ll have to handle.

That’s what I love – and hate – about our little passionate corner of the world.

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Right. The Yankees.

Not tragedy but not good, either.

We resumed Sunday’s rain-suspended game, played to a 3-3 tie in a couple of innings and ended up losing by one.

Still have post-season life – it’s a double-knockout tourney – so there’s an even bigger game scheduled for Thursday if you’ve got nothing to do. We’re trying to get network coverage but it’s hard.

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Yikes!

Bad day for the Lions.

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Someone wrote me to say a Philly report had Joey on some list – along with, I believe, his brother, Rodney Carney and another one or two guys – as possibilities to fill out the Sixers roster.

Aside from meaning nothing – it’s a list of possibilities and could very well have included you and me – I’m not entirely sure a team with The Gangster, Jason and Joey could really be considered a lock to retain a playoff spot.

We all know those Philly fans can be quite, ah, cynical in their estimation of Sixer additions, turning the franchise into Toronto South probably doesn’t sit too well.

Personally, I hope Joey gets a deal somewhere, he’s a good guy, relatively hard worker and who am I to say he should be denied employment. Just don’t think it’s going to be here.

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Speaking of international basketball, we’ve got a whole other group of young Canucks to follow for a little while.

The girls under-16 Cadette team.

It’s a first time FIBA Americas tournament going on right now in Mexico City and they opened with a bang, as you can read here.

I know next to nothing about this group of girls – missed their three-day training camp right around the corner from me, unfortunately – but if they get to the inaugural worlds next year in France, it’s another feather in that developmental cap.

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Oh yeah, all kinds of questions yesterday about the omission of the ’92 Dream Team from the list of teams I would have love to watch practice.

Well, the fact is, I did see them practice, I was a Canadian Press basketball scribbler at the Tournament of the Americas when they made their debut and watched them all through the Barcelona Olympics so they were not eligible, or something like that.

And, frankly, their practices were okay but nothing to write home about.

Two good stories about that first tournament out in Portland, if you don’t mind. (And if I’ve told them before, I apologize, the mind’s not quite what it used to be).

Standing in the hallway of the old Portland Coliseum talking to Jay, who was an assistant to Ken Shields on that staff, when who should come wandering down the hall but that Michael Jordan fellow.

Me? I’m pretty impressed just seeing him but it got stupidly jaw-dropping when he spied Jay, stopped, gave him a big hug and said something along the lines of:

“Man, you shouldn’t be coaching, you should be out there playing. You’re not done yet.”

They chat for a couple of more minutes while I stand there slack-jawed.

Second, not quite as good, story:

First game the Americans play is against Cuba and the game’s delayed a few minutes because the Cubans are in such awe they’re taking pictures on the court right before the tip.

The Dream Team wins by about a billion and I’m trying to come up with a lead to the story. Witty dude that I am, I figure the historical nature of the event played off should be the angle. I write what I think is one of the good first grafs, file it to the desk in Toronto, go about my business and am a bit surprised and disappointed that the editors cut the opening paragraph because they thought it was too political.

You tell me, would you continue reading a story that opened:

“PORTLAND, Ore. – If only the Bay of Pigs had gone as smoothly.”

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Oh yeah, another thing about this quasi-vacation I’m on? I don’t feel compelled to get up just after 6 a.m. to finish this thing off each morning so I’ll be relatively tardy for the next couple of weeks.

So there!

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Comments

[Mando]

"wee bit hypocritical of them to only play after they have secured their multi-million dollar contracts from the owners of their respective teams. There is no way they would play a minute of international ball otherwise, and yet they expect their employer to eat the contract in the event of a serious injury, sustained while playing for someone else's team....for free.

Posted by: Wallace | August 11, 2009 at 11:21 AM"
That's a silly comment, do you think that this the first year that Pau Gasol has played for his country. For that matter, Marc Gasol plays for his country without the million dollar contract. They also have insurance. The cynicism of you people who think that money rules everything digusts me as well as making me laugh at your shallowness!

[SY]

Since no NBA during the summer, I have been following the EuroBasket 2009 - Bargnani and Belinelli did pretty well today - 21 and 23 points respectively.

http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/cid_toT,ovGDH2EaLKL67XnPo2.gameID_6375-B-3-3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2009.roundID_6326.teamID_.html#{5E70D78D-E480-4F66-9B60-839D032EE21A}

-SY

[Mr. Cook]

Doug,

(Feel free to throw this in the mail bag). I'm curious about the CBA ideas you presented in a blog the other day--the one piquing my curiosity is the length of contract. What's in it for owners and the NBA to limit the maximum number of years that a contract can be guaranteed? Is it for the prima facie reason that if a player's ability declines or they become injured they aren't owed the money? Or is there a larger business method at play?

The other question I have came from a response you gave in the comment section, I don't have it in front of me but someone asked why would we go to Sioux Falls and you said that in later years you can call up the Wolves and say "Hey, come to ________ (insert desolate Canadian land)." The question following this is, are there a couple teams that the Raptors as a grand corporation have better contact with than others? And what creates this collegial relationship, the nature of the business, some execs that have worked for both, coincidences that lead to friendships over time? Or none of the above, it's pure business phone calls?

Blogger's note: I will throw these in the mail, if that's all right with you

[doug]

"Foul" a classic book a must read for any b-ball fan, truly a engrossing, tragic story of a young naive Connie Hawkins , a hellava ballplayer could have been one of the best of all times, but naive and this lead to...well read the book...

[Wallace]

Tim W,

Of course it's smart for the players to protect their own interests. I would definitely do the same. And the owners are billionaires, so nobody is going to grieve for them. They pay very high insurance premiums so as not to be adversely affected. As you pointed out, the insurance companies are also in this for the money, so no harm there. We can agree that all those with tons of money come out okay.

If Hedo blows out a knee playing for Turkey against Lithuania this summer, it may just put a little damper on the season for some fans who are excited to see the new team. Are fans important to this money making enterprise?

[Kevin]

A few different reads are 48 minutes in the NBA. It basically breaks down one game in the season. Interesting stuff. Another good read is Giant Steps. It's about Kareem and it may be an autobiography (sorry I read these two a long time ago and they stayed with me).

Jay was quite the player on the Donahue squads. He was never the most talented guy out there but he knew the game and knew what he could do. I wouldn't call him a tough guy (in the Oakley sense) but he made his opponent work for whatever they got. That team stayed together for a while and understood team defense.

[gotgame]

Just read this article that says Joey Graham might have a chance picking up the last roster spot with the Sixers. It would be nice to see Joey pick up a roster spot somewhere and stick in the league a bit longer.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/117/2009/august/11/last-roster-spot-up-for-grabs.html

[Jerry]

Doug.....here's a book a thoroughly enjoyed.

Foul, The Connie Hawkins Story

[doug]

I liked your "Bay of Pigs "line...plus really no matter how much the Bush's try to emulate them there was never ever a better set of parents in not only American history but ever then Rose and Joseph Kennedy what a set of kids, what a passionate lot..I am a tough ass but John, Robert, Ted, Eunice and all their offspring such as John Jr. etc make me proud to have grown up in this generation, as they are what humans should subscribe to be and a parent could do no wrong to instill those same qualities in their children..people need to care about people, not the almighty dollar, sure Joe got his fortunes from bootlegging but come on is that all bad...look at the kids he raised...he did something right..Eunice was someone special to be mourned...

[aditya]

this is lebron: "In basketball, you look at 82 regular-season games, it's easy, guys are gonna shake hands, the fact that [I didn't] do the media [session], I think that's why [the story] was all blown up, and I apologize for that, but I will not apologize for shaking nobody's hand," he said. "You never accept losing, ever."

who the hell said anything about accepting losing? So the next time someone shakes someone's hand in the NBA, that guy is accepting losing....great....

[aditya]

this is lebron: Did he like O'Neal's movies? "They were good, that's my teammate," he said.

so he's basically saying to the reporter, the movies are good (bad actually but good just because he is my teammate)...so i cant say anything bad about him...

[Wallace]

Mando

Sorry that my cynicism and shallowness upsets your sensibilities. I'm sure that the Gasol brothers don't play for money, it just seems that way.

[Viktor]

hey doug, have you been watching the roger's cup? who's your favourite to win? (Both men's and women's)

Blogger's note: Haven't seen a volley or a groundstroke. I like that Evert-Lloyd woman and the Connors fellow looks in fine form.
Or else Federer or maybe some young lady from a former Russian republic

[Brandon]

I've got this nagging feeling in the back of my head Bosh might sign with the Thunder. They've got talent and cap space in 2010. Plus it's really close to Dallas. Just thinking.

[Chris]

PETE MARAVICHES BIOGRAPHY IS AMAZING! SO READ IT!

[John C.]

Hey all,
anyone looking for a great read to get you through the summer doldrums should check out this blog ...

http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2009/06/livin-large-part-1.html

awesome series about his time spent rooming with a varsity player at a major u.s. college. definitely worth a look.

[JC]

Hey Doug, if you're looking for blog fodder over the rest of the off season, I'll remind you of a suggestion I sent last year that you seemed to like.

It would be great to revisit major Raptors milestones (Isiah's flameout, the Slaight shotgun buyout clause, the first playoff game,etc.), with a little 20/20 hindsight. Maybe with links to the original stories, although Gore hadn't invented the Internet when Malone was still coach.

This team has never been one to revisit their brief (and ahem storied) history. As a fan since day one, it would be fun to look back with a little of your insight.

Blogger's note: Solid idea, we'll see what we can do

[FK]

Your Bay of pigs line was actually used on Entourage, in one of Ari's famous rants...

Royalties may be in order...

Blogger's note: I best get my legal staff on that

[@Spudz_Altraps]

I'm not sure I understand your Joey comment. He's been here for 3 or 4 years now and I have seen him take more than twice the number of days off than the days he worked (and I think this is being generous).

Can you explain how he was a 'hard worker' - even with the 'relatively' label? Are you talking about practice, the gym or something unrelated to games?

Thanks.

Blogger's note: I'm talking about the stuff I see, practice and the like. And I'd venture to say a lot of the "days off" you say you saw were in part forced-vacation by coaches.

[Tim W.]

Wallace: "If Hedo blows out a knee playing for Turkey against Lithuania this summer, it may just put a little damper on the season for some fans who are excited to see the new team. Are fans important to this money making enterprise?"

If Hedo blows his knee out playing a practice game somewhere, or training, or crossing the street, or playing in an exhibition game, it's going to put a little damper on the season for the Raptors. We just hope he doesn't. I'm not quite sure what this has to do with not playing without a contract, though.

"I'm sure that the Gasol brothers don't play for money, it just seems that way."

I'm pretty sure ALL the players in the NBA play for money. Otherwise they would be playing for free. Which they ALL do when they play for their countries.