It's slow and late but what the heck, there's something here

Told you I’d be tardy every now and then over the next little while. I have to say, it’s a heckuva lot nicer to get up at 8 to finish this stuff off than 6 a.m., that’s for sure.

It’s not like we missed anything big, either. Another boring day.

Well, not boring, but not news-filled.

-

I’ve had all kinds of questions about when things will in fact get rolling back in the world of Raptors and the best I can give you is sometime near the middle of September.

There is no firm reporting date for players and coaches, they start drifting back into town sometime at the beginning of the month and those “informal” workouts begin. I know they’d like the coaches back in town as soon after Labour Day as they can but with so many players – Ukic, Turkoglu, Bargnani, Belinelli – perhaps involved in the long and drawn out European championships in September, they aren’t going to get close to full roster back until close to the end of the month.

Camp, if my best guess is correct (and it usually is in these scheduling things) should officially start the last Tuesday in Ottawa after a Monday media day here and they should be in the nation’s capital until that following Saturday.

What happens until then? Well, the players and coaches go about their business of the summer, getting a little work in to stay in shape, but taking care of family and outside obligations so that when it’s time to hit the court, they’re ready to hit the court.

I presume Jay will be here a lot earlier than the others to come up with some kind of training camp plan and schedule and he and his coaches will get hunkered down to decide systems and styles and drills they want to immediately make a part of camp.

-

Film buffs, take note:

Since we gave people a list of required reading yesterday (well, not actually required as much as suggested), how about some flicks for those quiet nights at the cottage with the DVD player.

This is also entirely subjective but that’s the point of this whole exercise, isn’t it?

Hoosiers

Undisputed and undefeated champion of basketball movies.

Hoop Dreams

I know it’s a documentary and probably shouldn’t count but this is my list so it counts.

Coach Carter

I saw it once, and probably wasn’t paying as close attention as I should but it seemed pretty compelling.

He Got Game

Who knew Ray Allen could really act?

Forget Paris

I know, I know. But you know those movies that you find some time on Channel 4,520 when you’re flipping and you just have to watch it, like Ferris Bueller and Apollo 13? Well, this Billy Crystal as ref one is like that for me.

Oh, yeah, there are all kinds of others, like Rebound, The Story of Earl (The Goat) Manigault, Glory Road, Love And Basketball and the epic Space Jam that could be on a list but that’s a good start, no?

Oh, and a story about one to avoid:

It’s the summer of, I believe, ’94 and it’s hot, stinking, humid, stupid hot, like in the olden days. Super Wife and I, sans Super Son who’s still a glint in Dad’s eye, live in a wee hovel in East York that’s got no air conditioning for some ridiculous reason. Well, we need to escape for an afternoon and since she still really loved me at the time, I drag her to the cool comfort of a movie house to see a sports flick.

Well, it’s a shock she didn’t walk right and head immediately to the lawyers because we had to sit through one of the silliest, worst-acted movies in the history of talkies.

And if any of you ever, ever, decide to watch Blue Chips, you will regret it.

-

Cadettes anyone?

They roll over the hosts down in Mexico and now are off to the semifinals in their quest for a berth next year in the inaugural under-17 world championships.

-

We’re down to the short strokes in Tripoli and if Pape and the lads want to make the world championships next year,they’ve got some work to do.

(Yes, we’ve spent a lot of time tracking Pape and Boniface but, really, why not?).

Anyhoo, they get Cote D’Ivoire in the quarter-finals and have to win and then have to win one more time to grab up one of the three automatic berths in next year’s worlds in Turkey.

Here’s how those world spots fill out, by the way:

Turkey and the Americans are automatic entrants.

Europe gets six spots, the Americas get four, three go to Africa, three to Asia and two to Oceania.

And then it gets interesting: To fill out the 24-team tournament (and that’s an awful lot of teams, in my opinion), FIBA will award four “wild card” berths in mid-December. There is no strict formula for how they are awarded, geography doesn’t matter; it’s supposed to be competitiveness, history and growing the game, which are all rather subjective criteria.

-

All right, looks like a nice day out there and I’m sure there’s junk to be done around this house. I best go do it before the patio calls.

Comments

[doug]

Hoosiers is definitely the epitome of a classic basketball film...a film I saw and it wasn't a classic by any means but it captured the feel of the ABA and all its goings on was Semi-Pro, it was a enjoyable film to all those that have ABA memories...

[John Popalis]

Hoop Dreams totally counts

[Heath]

What? No Teen Wolf!?!?

[Nick]

At least we had 3 matching flicks in the list: Hoosier, Coach Carter and He Got Game. I would add Sunset Park to the list, as well as (drum roll please)...... Love and Basketball!!!

[sean]

hey Doug any thoughts on what Otis apparently told Portland. sounds like he is bitter. Hedo was worth every penny they payed him in Orlando and they never would have made the finals w/ out him. sounds like he is very unapreciative (is that a word) of everything Hedo did for his franchise. what gives?

Blogger's note: No, no thoughts really.

[AM]

Hey Doug,
I think the best part about Hoop Dreams is that you can hear Chuck Swirsky announcing one of the prospect games at the old Chicago Stadium. Gotta love Chuck.

On another note, I think it would be really interesting to find out about the offseason training schedule of some of the raptors who aren't participating in the Euro Championships. How much time do these guys spend in the weight room, improving their physical fitness and working on their game?

[Andy]

No mention of "White Men Can't Jump?"

for Shame....

[cb]

funny you mention hoop dreams because I was watching it last night. Guess ho pops onto my screen? None other than Kevin O'neil.

Guess he was the coach for Marquette at the time.

[Alex]

Blue Chips might not have been academy award worthy, but for poor acting and cheesy/overdone production I have to give the raspberry to Coach Carter.

The Air Up There always held a spot in my heart though.

[lookalike]

What about above the rim? One of Tupac's final masterpieces

[Rob]

Another good movie is "Hooked - The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell.

He was regarded as one of the best pg's out of California better than Jason Kidd and Gary Payton by their own admission. However, he got caught up in crime etc. interesting and sad story.

[Peter]

I think Hoosiers is one of the best sports movies, not just basketball movies, of all time.

[Mike H]

Hedo @ 50 Million for 5 years is a mistake but Wince Carter for 3 years at 52 million is brilliant.. What a joke

[Dave]

Re: Hoop Movies - I saw the LeBron documentary, "More Than A Game", at TIFF last year, and it is among the very best basketball movies ever. Up there with Hoop Dreams, which I consider the best in the genre.

Re: Otis Sith's "comments" - Take with a grain of salt. The alleged conversation is nothing more than a third hand account (if that high) that are according to what a "source" told a Real GM writer. There is no article attached to it, no sources named. It's all very suspicious and should be treated as such.

[AJR]

Doug,

Shaq in "Blue Chips", or the dog in "Air Bud"? Who's the better actor?

Blogger's note: What if there was a contest with no winner?

[Adam]

Hey Doug,
Love and Basketball definetly should've made the list.
You can add the movie Eddie (the Whoopi Goldberg movie) to the list of never ever see b-ball movies.

[Omid]

Doug, shouldn't there be a concern about turkoglu playing ball all through the year? He played up until june and now with the euro championship, fatigue must kick in.

Blogger's note: No, not from me

[Gene]

What about White Men Can't Jump??????

[Andrew Gregg]

I've got two more:

Fast Break with Gabe Kaplan and Bernard King. And even though it's on the sappy side, One on One with Robby Benson and the luscious Annette O'Toole.

On a related note, Thomas Jane is a riot as the basketball coach by day/male prostitute by night in Hung on HBO.

AG, Toronto

[Phil A]

I really hope there is a scrimmage open to the public when the Raptors come to Ottawa for their training camp. The profits made from that could be donated to a charity. Considering that the tickets for the scrimmage were sold out in less than 20 minutes last year, I don't see why they wouldn't do it again this year.

[GM]

Andrew Gregg, nice call on the movies! Fast Break was awesome (I remember at the time. I've since found it on video and own it but haven't had the nerve to watch it yet for fear that it won't live up to my youthful standards). Not only Bernard King, but also Mike Warren (UCLA Bruins, White Shadow, Hill Street Blues) and the guy who played Coolidge in the White Shadow. And I had completely forgotten about One On One. I enjoyed that one at the time, too.

What's this about Otis saying something? Details, please.

Blogger's note: There's some very vague, very unsourced, very inconsequential note somewhere about Smith allegedly telling Pritchard sometime that he was lucky not to pay Hedo $50 million. I don't believe the report, frankly. Major yawn.

[Andre]

No one remembers Eddie? starring whoopi? LOL remember:"IVAN make basket" or "hooked on phonics works for me" LOL great movie..

[SW]

How could The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh not be on this list? Dr. J was great! I'll give you Hoosiers, but nothing else on this list comes close.

[chili]

Oh c'mon, Doug.
No The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh? You were the one who mentioned Alex English in that movie.
And what about Amazing Grace and Chuck? It also starred English.

[doug]

we talked about books yesterday so there is a tie-in here, in that did you see today where a high school principal in Brampton banned To Kill a Mockingbird from the schools curriculum because of one parents complaint, one parent. Their complaint was the use of the "N" word, ...yes it appears in the book numerous times but thats the whole basis of the book.... a classic book and a must read for every student but here is a so-called "educator" banning this book...they should be suspended, and the parent that complained needs to be asked A) have they read the book? and B) then have someone sit down with them and educate them on the books true meaning...a embarassment and a farce for all involved...