Of schedule quirks and the far distant future

Okay, I’m ArgoBoy later on this morning, which is always a treat because it’s a home game and it’s going to be a nice day. And sitting around watching football plays I really don’t understand affords me all kinds of time to think about nuggets to put in this space the following morning

Lucky you!

Sort of like the spare time I had yesterday glancing at the schedule to get this:

-

The irregulars here will know that the summer of 2010 still quite bores me, there’s a lot of water still to flow under the bridge, lots of games to be played and I honestly think it’ll be like basketball’s version of Y2K.

So, you can imagine the level of disinterest I have at the moment for the summer of 2011.

But, because we need things to bring up here and because the level of angst among basketball fans knows no bounds, how about this story from my good friend and social convener C. Sheridan about the opening of contract negotiations.

Yes, we’re already thinking about a possible work stoppage 24 months from now.

I guess it’s a good thing that they’re already talking and there’s no doubt there are serious economic issues that are impacting every level of the game. I do, however, have great faith in David Stern’s ability to make the players give up something – like they have every single contract negotiation for all of time it seems – so I’m wondering if all this hand-wringing will ultimately be misguided.

Look at what the players have caved on already: The top wage earners have their salaries capped, the bottom wage earners have their salaries capped, the rookies have been sold down the river at every opportunity, the maximum length of contracts have been shortened every time they talk.

Think that trend’s going to continue? Yeah, so do I.

-

Schedule tidbits, Part I:

You’ll notice a home game on March 17, right? Well, you just know they’re trotting out the green jerseys for that one, that’s for sure. It’s the first time they’ve actually been at home and playing on St. Patrick’s Day, finally it’ll make sense to wear green. I imagine they don’t trot out the Celtic logo again.

As about the lone Toronto Star sports staffer who won’t be in Vancouver – the kajillion we’ve got going can probably cover off the Olympics quite well – I notice four home games and two one-game road trips during the Games. Oh, and one of the home games is a Saturday night date; figured there was a reason there were no pucks.

-

The Gangster is back.

Check out Phil’s news story here to get all the gory details about Primoz Brezec’s triumphant return to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers.

But then go check out Phil’s little blog post that went up before the news story and read the comments. And then you’ll know why Philly fans are known for their, um, edge.

Seriously, I know the Sixers are going to get Elton Brand back – and I guess that’s a good thing although history would suggest otherwise – and they have Jason Kapono but to think that’s a playoff team in the East today is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?

-

Schedule tidbits, redux

A year ago, we spent Martin Luther King Day in Atlanta, the home of the civil rights museum, a day before the Obama inauguration and it was a compelling time around the NBA. This year? They’ve got Jan. 20 off.

They also have American Thanksgiving off, on a off-day that’s part of a Charlotte-Boston road trip. Wonder where a guy can get a good turkey dinner in Boston?

Read into this what you will: On Grey Cup Sunday, when I presume the game starts just after 6 p.m. East, the Raptors will play Phoenix at 3:30 p.m. On Super Bowl Sunday, when I presume the game starts just after 6 p.m. East, the Raptors play Sacramento in a noon start.

-

Digression time.

You know how there’s not really anything good on TV over the summer (and wouldn’t a nice Dancing With The Stars go good right about now)?

Well, after watching the Evil Empire beat Your Jays, the click-around (sort of a couch-potato’s shootaround) landed on some upper channel and a very interesting 90 minutes.

The original Richard Nixon-David Frost interview from May, 1977.

Fascinating viewing for a guy who can remember it happening in real time. If you’re ever clicking by some PBS station from the States and you find it, watch. It struck me as less confrontational in retrospect but what I can’t fathom – and really couldn’t from start – is how a nation could elect someone to its highest office who seemed to hate public speaking with a passion and who was obviously uncomfortable in front of a camera.

Digression over.

-

Schedule tidbits, double redux

Know how they had all those different start times for Sunday games last year? Well, some things never change. They’ve got 15 home games on Sundays this year, five start at 1 p.m., five start at 6 p.m., two go at noon, two go at 12:30 p.m. and one goes at 3:30 p.m. Plan accordingly.

I know they’re planning to trot out some Huskies jerseys sometime this year in a throwback game and, no, I have no idea when it’ll be. I know when it should be, though. It should be March 31 against the Clippers and the Clips should wear throwback Buffalo Braves jerseys, a plan long proposed by E Smith, Radio Raconteur. However, I bet that’s too late in the season.

One road day game and it’s in April in Philly? That bites.

-

Just read somewhere that Carlos Delfino isn’t going to play for Argentina in the world championships qualifier later this month in Puerto Rico because his future is unsettled.

Not sure what that means except that it might indicate a return to Russia is not a done deal.

And there are those around the Raptors who would know who tell me that Carlos, after having some financial issues with Khimki and some issues with the coach, got almost every dime he was owed and was quite okay with a mid-season coaching change so it looked like a return was possible.

-

Oh yeah, Yankee update. My Yankees.

We did finish third, 10-5-1 in the regular season, got ourselves a well-deserved first-round bye in the double-knockout playoffs and we’re supposed to start the post-season on Thursday, weather-willing.

We got accomplished what we needed to in the season – the urchins had fun and are better ball players today than they were when we got them in May, I believe – and that’s what it’s all about, right?

Now it’s time for a big finish and if you want to come out and cheer, let me know (I keed, I keed).

Comments

[matt]

Would not an equally good idea for the Huskies jersey to wear them in the ESPN game against the Kicks - who were the Huskies first opponents if i recall correctly.

And Doug I know you may find it immature, however theres no doubt the Orlando home games will be an awesome atmosphere with Raptor fans two most fun "traditions" being thrust into the same night; booing vince carter and chanting hoooooowwwwaaaaard during free throws. How that came could be left off your 5 home games to watch Ill never know.

[Manny]

A Raptors article in Sports Illustrated:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/steve_aschburner/08/04/raptors/

[NC]

The throwback game should be the Raptors (Huskies) vs. Knicks ... in Toronto to commemorate the first NBA game ever. They should do a memorial to Maple Leaf Gardens and it SHOULD get US air play.

Mini-rant over.

[PlatinumCard]

Richard Nixon began his career before television had much merit and he had little appreciation for it's influence(which cost him greatly in his debate with Kennedy). He had a tremendous amount of political cache and it helped him overcome his failings in other capacities(television, espionage...that sort of thing) though not forever and, especially, not in the light of posterity. Nixon was captivating in rooms and on radio, but he never developed any television panache. Hot and cold mediums, is the idea, i think.

[NC]

Bam! Looks like they already did it. http://www.nba.com/history/firstgame_feature.html ... well, they should do it again!

Thanks kindly.

[Andrew]

I can see Stern going after maximum contract length, and maybe maximum salary. And I suspect he could win on at least one of those fronts so long as the overall percentage of BRI the players receive remains unchanged.

How much of your opinion about next summer is based on the economic downturn? Or did you think it was going to be a snore even if the good times had kept rolling?

Blogger's note: I've always thought it was going to be more bluster than inactivity; the economics of the world and the game have only contributed to it

[JK]

Doug, in the face of no stories you were handed a gift in the Italy – Canada brawl. The politics of that immediate situation warranted a thorough mention and you totally missed it. Bargs and Belly stepping up in a spectacular diplomatic role in the heat of the moment? Come on, that deserves big ups.

Blogger's note: See yesterday.

[Eric]

I like the sked. Getting the tough ones out of the way first (as opposed to December or Jan..... or worse, last) is crucial for this team. From a fan's point of view, I wish they had more Friday night home games though. I view that as Raptors Prime Time more than I do the Sunday nooner.

[Matt Kovacs - Age 12]

Hey Doug, I was just watching an nba t.v special on the new season, and they really tick me off every time by saying that nothing with the raptors will work. This time they said that Hedo will have a horrible season cause he has calderon as the point.

[Victor]

I'm unreasonably ecstatic about the Huskies throwback jerseys. Doug, you seem to nonchalantly reference their use in your post. Did I miss an earlier announcement (from you or the team) that they'd be used this year? And do you know whether they'll be available for sale? Anyway, I'm so glad that Raps and the NBA are finally recognizing the key role that Toronto has played in the league's history.

Blogger's note: I'm all about the nonchalant. Mostly because I don't know when they'll wear them or when they'll be on sale or many more details

[Victor]

Doug,

Wouldn't it make sense for the Raps to go into the season with 14 spots filled so that the extra roster spot can be maintained open for flexibility and money-conserving purposes?

Blogger's note: It's a possibility, so would be giving the last guy a non-guaranteed deal so he can be waived at no cost in that eventuality

[Michael Torres]

Is Chris Young returning to the Raptors beat this season for the Star as the main hoops columnist? I also noticed over the long weekend that Dave Feschuk is now a feature writer.

Blogger's note: Think that might be a summer gig but, surprisingly, the bosses don't consult me :)

[DS]

Dude, have you seen Harper speak lately? Not exactly Clintonesque......

[chili]

I remember an NBA promo clip showing Don Nelson, then coach of the Mavs trying to learn several foreign languages because of the players in his team. Talking to Nowitzki in German, to Najera in Spanish and to Steve Nash in 'Canadianese'. That was funny.
Maybe they'll do the same with the Raptors this season.

[LeeZ]

Re: Phil's little blog post, two things:

1) That's HYSTERICAL. Who knew Philadelphians were so cynical and jaded; and

2) Doug, doesn't it make you love us nice, polite Canadian readers even more? I mean, compared to the Phillie fans, we're adorable!

[Lazaros O.]

Never understood why the NBA has given TNT Thursday exclusivity, scheduling only two games (for the most part) on Thursdays throughout the season. This must be create quite a bit of inflexibility when making the schedule. I mean, ESPN has Friday night games, but the there are tons of other games scheduled. As a result, the Raps have only one Thursday game the entire season, as it happens, a non-TNT game on Jan. 28 at MSG. If you are a Toronto fan and can watch NBA games only on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays you are in luck: 59 of 82 games of the Raptors games are scheduled on those days.

[doug]

unfortunately "Platinumcard" Nixon never gave "much merit" to a lot of things...with a two-party system you are stuck between two people ...like Bush and Kerry, Bush won just because he did beat Kerry in those debates and had this "down home charm" but really everyone lost with that choice...people like to live in the here and now but to me the worse period of presidency in the States was from Nov.22 1963-1974, 11 years of complete incompetent leadership from Johnson to Nixon a utter disaster....

anyways back to b-ball I heard before on this blog from posters in regards to Delfino's shoulder injury...is that why he is not playing later this month?, or is there a shoulder injury at all?..I think if you did a word count of players and such Delfino's has to have the most hits followed a close second by Pops...which is not a good thing actually

[stephen]

manny- thanks for posting the link to the SI article. i love it when people add links to raps stories i wouldn't see otherwise. keep em coming.

[Michel G]

I will back up young Matt Kovacs' comment on the general perception of the Hedo acquisition. Anybody that does any kind of research will realize that one of Toronto's biggest deficiencies was at crunch time. And that's what the Turkoglu acquisition will address. I also don't think that people/analysts who have limited knowledge of the Raptors realize how good a shooter Calderon is - I think that Hedo and Calderon will work fine together. It will be interesting to see, however, how well Hedo plays alongside the two other perimeter-oriented bigs on the Raptors.

What puzzles me is: How was Turkoglu ever a good fit in Portland? I never read any commentators questioning Portland's attempt to sign Turkoglu. They've already got their big three (Roy, Aldridge, Oden) which will eat up a significant (unknown) cap space in the comming years. And Hedo's biggest asset would be totally mitigated by the fact that Brandon Roy is their go to guy in the clutch. I think Portland felt pressure to do something in the off-season because a team is perceived to be stagnant if it doesn't. Except for an upgrade at the point guard position (Miller signing), I don't see why Portland needed to do anything.

[Raps Fan]

Hey, Doug

Next week Eric will be solo on the Game Plan thinking of joining him?

Blogger's note: I don't know. .I'm off. E, you reading?

[O.J.]

Why don't the Raps take a chance on Gerald Green? He's a 6'8 23 year old who has been in the league 4 years. I heard he that he has really been dedicated this off-season in his workouts (boxing and weights). If he is to blossom it would be now. If it doesn't work they still have Antoine Wright to fill in at the 3 and it's only the 15th spot on the roster!

Blogger's note: There are those who think, me among them, that the time for blossoming is over

[JT Grossmith]

Banks is of no value this year but could be used as trade ballast in the 2010-11 season

[Alex]

Out of curiosity, did you post on the Brezec story as Brazilia?

Blogger's note: No

[AJR]

Didn't they already have Huskies throw-backs a few years ago? Or in their inaugural season? I remember them looking really lame, all white with bland blue Huskies lettering. Nothing to get all excited about.

Blogger's note: Years and years ago, as I recall; maybe opening night of the second season?

[Lawrence]

When you are talking to your people on the inside please suggest using the Toronto St. Pat's logo on St. Patrick's Day.

As a matter of fact suggest a wholesale nickname change to the Toronto Maple Leafs Basketball Club, the TBC if you will.

MLSE owns the hockey, basketball, and association football teams. A change like this unifies them in something of a "club-like" manner. Toronto BC sounds sort of prehistoric and let's them keep the purple cartoon dinosaur mascot and a lot of the branding, if they want.

Mostly, it solves the embarrassingly poor orignal name selection.

Its like if the team were founded this summer would they have named it The Toronto Autobots II?

Seriously. Its embarrassing. Right there with the Mighty Ducks.