What to believe and when. A dilemma indeed

What to do, what to do?

There’s not a lot going on – especially with the local heroes of the hardcourt – so it’s going to be tough times filling this out this week. Luckily, I’ve got the next three weeks off from newspaper duties, which will mean more than a few mornings sleeping in, which will mean more than a few mornings with nothing but white space here.

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Oh, right, Hedo and some tweet or something.

Got a question in the comments section yesterday about some bogus twitter thing allegedly from Hedo about an injury and it was debunked within seconds.

But it brings up an interesting point in these new, often strange, communications times.

What’s legit?

This wasn’t, no question about it, and while some are, the fact there could be doubt about every posted has to be troubling, no?

For instance, what if messages allegedly sent by athletes is in fact sent by friends, or cohorts, or business managers, or family members? I remember the day of the Jarrett Jack news conference getting a tweet from Chris Bosh about how glad he was Jack was here or something. Funny thing was, the buzz on the cellphone that I looked at immediately, came while I was standing not 15 feet away from Chris as he was being interviewed live on RaptorsTV.

Maybe there was a lag of four or five minutes; maybe someone with his texting device was speaking for him.

Does that matter?

There’s often nothing nefarious about these little messages – mostly they are entirely stupor-inducing – but if there’s a question about the legitimacy of one like the Turkoglu thing yesterday, shouldn’t there be questions about the legitimacy of all?

Just wondering.

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Speaking of the Yankees, it was quite the eventful weekend (and I know you’ve all been on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going in).

The lads win Friday, we win again Saturday and then got to the bottom of the fourth down one before the first of Sunday’s two apocalyptic storms hit. No plague of locusts but enough rain and lightning and thunder to really put a damper on the day.

So we’re back at it tonight to pick up the suspended game and I’m thinking I’m not sure I signed up for four straight days of house league baseball where, sometimes, our best offensive weapon is strikeout, passed ball, steal, steal, wild pitch.

I should call Cito and get that in the playbook for the Jays, no?

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You know who I’m glad I’m not?

Anyone trying to cover the Knicks.

Here it is closing in on the middle of August when we should all be worried about our peewee baseball teams and how to spend idle time (hello, golf courses and decks!) and those dudes still have to deal with David Lee, Nate Robinson and whether the New Yorks are going to enter a team in the AARP house league anchored by Jason Williams and Jerry Stackhouse.

I’m sure LeBron James is watching with glee as that unfolds.

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Oh, and I see me writing about the Argos offence and two-pronged running attack really set the stage, didn’t it?

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Let’s go back to an old issue through the mail:

Q:: Doug, Love the blog. Love your Raptors coverage. Take issue with your 'will never quite understand the footballers among us' comment. Ronaldo is the world's best soccer player.

If the Bulls had held an open practice at the peak of Jordan's popularity, do you not think 20,000 fans would have filled the SkyDome to watch him (& Pippen, & Rodman, & Kukoc)?

Andrew S, Toronto

A: I’ve spoken to a few friends who were at either the Real Madrid practice or the game last week and not one of them regretted the time or money spent – although one guy did take issue with the effort put out during the training session.

But in a brief stopover in the office on Friday to exchange laptops (having the comma, period and enter keys on the old gerbil-powered machine stop working was a tad problematic), Perk and I were discussing the very kind of issue.

And I’m sure that if the Bulls back then, or the Yankees of MLB fame (not mine gaggle of urchins) or some famous pucks team (maybe like the Phoenix one?) had arrived on our shores for the first time ever toting the greatest players in the game, yes, folks would have gone berserk for a chance to pay money to see them work.

Personally? I wouldn’t pay money to watch any professional sports team no matter how stacked, simply practice but I don’t think I’m the target audience. Franchises don’t usually hope cynical old codgers familiar with the boredom of pro sports workouts pony up for the privilege.

I understand entirely the allure of a globally significant team like Real Madrid coming here for a brief period and the inherent hysteria.

But, as we learned last year with that football team from Western New York (that many thought would play to packed houses at ridiculous prices), it takes a team with the worldwide prominence of Real Madrid to draw the folks.

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Speaking of international basketball, our Senegal Papes (or whatever they’re called) got whacked by Rwanda in what has to be a shocking upset at the AfroBasket tournament.

Not a super-costly loss – it still looks like Pape and the lads should make the quarter-finals and still perhaps as the top seed – but I can’t imagine it’s sitting well with our old friend.

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Okay, since I just did that question from the mail, it strikes me as a list time.

Five teams that, given the chance, I would have paid to watch practice and then play:

The early-60s Celtics.

Russell and Red and his cigar. What else can you want?

The ’27 Yankees.

To see the Babe? And Lou? Hell, yeah.

The Russian Red Army team

The one that tied the Habs on that New Year’s Eve game, just because it would have been interesting to see how they worked.

The ’72 Russian men’s basketball team

Sure, they stole the gold medal from the US but they had some skill and it would have been nice to see ‘em.

The Edmonton Grads.

Kids, go look ‘em up, find out how great they truly were.

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Okay, off to the chiropractor, deposit Super Son at golf camp and planning two weeks of inactivity (all suggestions welcome) await, see ya.

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Comments

[Amr]

Doug,

I'm slightly confused on the timeline associated with Rashard Lewis' failed drug test. He apparently took the supplement prior to (or during) the play-offs per yesterday's mailbag. Could you please clarify as to when the drug test was taken? Was it during the off season or during the play-offs? Furthermore, when were the results of the test known internally in the NBA?

Blogger's note: I don't know for sure; I'd check out the files of the Orlando Sentinel for whatever answers are available.

[Gary]

"shouldn’t there be questions about the legitimacy of all?"
For a guy who's seemed to adapt to the changing times in printed media you also seem to take a lot of shots at new media.
Tweets and blogs are the new communication tools of a new generation. It gets the fans involved and makes us feel closer to the athletes then ever before. Who cares if misinformation gets out there, most of what we read or see is opinion and not fact. How many apologies or retractions happen everyday. Have you ever watch FOX news?
If I were you I'd keep finding ways to survive in the new world rather then trying to convince people the old way is better.

Blogger's note: "Who cares if misinformation gets out there?" I do and you should. After all, some of us have to correct, or try to ignore, that same "misinformation" you see willing to accept.
My survival instincts are okay; they do not in any way involve pepetuating fake.

[chris]

No mention of canada's boys last night, who lost a nailbiter in the championship against the US? (with some help from the refs in the last few mins of play)

Blogger's note: First off, if it's the teen team at some shoe company exhibition showcase tournament, it's not Canada's boys whatsoever. It's a group of club players put together for some exhibition tournament. So, no, I don't really worry about it.

[Raps Fan]

Great Blog!

Jerry Stackhouse, can he play or his career over? Because I think he will fit with the Raptors!

Blogger's note: Well, he pretty much hasn't played in a year, I'd say he's got some, um, work to do to resurrect the career.

[Mr. Cook]

@ Gary and other Twitter users.

Twitter is not new media. It's the equivalent of a shoddily edited sound-byte and it is making the world dumber. I'm supposed to be part of this new generation of tech-savvy kids and I get along fine with blogs and cell phone software. But you cannot tell me that one single positive thing has come about from twitter.

You should really watch the interview on Charlie Rose with the creator of twitter (he also created blogger.com before selling it to Google) and see how up front and borderline cynical he is about it. I watched weeks ago, but to loosely paraphrase 'It is meant to be able to say things to your friends like, I'm running late, and then the software lets your friends know. I don't know about the celebrity following. I don't understand it.'

Yeah.

[Jamie A. Grant]

I took your suggestion and looked up the history of the Edmonton Grads. Awesome bit of Canadian history there... Thanks!

[Mike]

@ Gary
"Who cares about misinformation" This has to be one of the most ignorant statements i have ever read. The problem isn't the opinion of the new media, it's those in the new media "blogsphere" passing off those opinions as truths. That is where the lines of information is muddled. If you wondering, I'm not an "old codger" like doug, i'm late 20's, with a degree journalism and i can tell you, online faux news/opinion sites are the scourge in many respects of the modern day. What one gains in more access, they lose in general credibility.

[Kevin A.]

I think it's funny that anyone fell for that fake Hedo post. Simply scrolling down a couple of "tweets" there's a note that says "im not even the real hedo".

Are people more gullible today or something? Does everyone take everything they read at face value before, you know, checking to make sure it might be true, or the source? I feel critical thinking is becoming a lost skill.

[Sam]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the great insights about our Raptors! Do you think Alvin Williams is experienced enough to coach our PGs? I know he is a great player, but coaching and playing are two quite different things.

Blogger's note: For his role on this staff, he is entirely qualified, yes

[PK]

Kleiza is off to Greece for 1 maybe 2 years...
Perhaps a Raptor after that! For 12.2 mil, let's hope not.

[Raymond C]

Dang, Doug, anyone who took grade ten history should know the Grads, at least.

[Lawrs]

Well judging by the whole twitter turkoglu thing. I can guarantee it was probably made by those portland blazers fans.

[Roxanne G]

I was thrilled to see the Edmonton Grads make your list, Doug! Enjoy some time off.

[Mahdi]

Hey Doug, do you we can get Desmond Mason for the minimum deal or is he too good for it. He's only averaged 7.5 pts 4.3 rebs last season
and comparing his best season in the nba(17.2 pts, 3.7 rebs) which was 5 years ago, and the past 4 seasons(10.3 pts, 4.3 rebs) I dont think he's worth alot.

[Lake Simcoe]

Ronaldo is the best!?...ManU is forgetting him quick, really quick.

As about twitter or alike, people nowadays just "communicate" too much. Quite often they just let the (mis)information flood into their left ear, and then flow out through their right ear, without bothering any of their grey matter. What a waste....

The best way to survive is to avoid being in danger, where most (mis)information lead to...

[Calvin]

This maybe commented by someone already... but from yahoo sports, Linas Kleiza has accepted a deal to go to europe for alot more money than minimum salary here in nba. I guess we can finally stop the comments on "sign Kleiza!"

[Shannon]

Hey Doug,

Do you see many NBA players jumping overseas (like Kleiza to Olympiacos)this season?

Thanks for the great work!

Blogger's note: No, not many

[Bob]

Well, another name to scratch off Raptor fans wish list is Kleiza, who has signed a 2 year deal for $12.2 million with Olympiakos. And some thought we could sign him here for $3 millionish? Big Baby also resigned by Boston.

Any news on Delfino; seems not many suitors for his services. Are the Raps still interested?

Blogger's note: No news

[Binson]

Following up on the question from Sam,

Alvin Williams was good and I like him but do you think he's better than Jose? I define better as:
1) Leadership/Basketball IQ
2) Efficiency
3) Skill/Athleticism

Or is he more here for Roko and Quincy? Thanks.

Blogger's note: He's here as an assistant coach for basketball development, regardless of who's on the team

[ashm]

Hey Dough
i was not sure to ask this question here or send it to your email post.
Per say all the teams in NBA for 2010 have the big $$$ to offer to the big FA. what are some of the other factors that make them come to a team?

Blogger's note: Pretty much depends on what the player wants

[Mike]

Senegalese national teams are called the Lions.

[Chris]

1. What determines which team gets the ball at the beginning of a quarter?

2. How much money is exactly a min contract?

3. If the 15th roster spot doesnt really matter, then why not just sign Pops? He is inexpensive, desperate, productive, determined, and can play the 3/4. Ticket sales anyone?

Thanks Doug!

Blogger's note: Determined by winner of opening tip; depends on years of service; can't play the 3 to save his soul and 15th men don't sell tickets. Other than that, why not sign him, makes no difference to me.

[Oliveira]

can you confirm the date that the raps will pay in South Dakota? Are fans allowed to get autographs from the players at this exhibition game or see them up close?

Any chances before Hell freezes over that the raps will come to winterpeg (winnipeg)? thanks

Blogger's note: We're going to South Dakota for sure, game's already been announced there. Autographs? Won't be anything official, that's for sure. Winnipeg? Been there a few years ago, imagine they'll go somewhere else before they go back, but I could be wrong

[Amr]

Doug,

Checked online (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/orl-sports-magic-rashard-lewis-qa-07080709aug07,0,3596149.story) , and it appears that this test was completed during the playoffs. This begs the question: why did the league wait till the doldrums of the offseason to announce the suspension? Shouldn't they have done it immediately?

I realize that from the leagues perspective, it's probably best that they kept it quiet. But that runs in the face of the so-called argument that the league has been a front-runner in terms of regulating doping/drug related offences.

In fact, I would argue that this offseason-timed press release, runs directly in the face of transparency. Furthermore, I wonder why this isn't being followed up by the media in Orlando, or the national media (ESPN/SI). I understand your lack of interest (being the local TO beat grunt), but give me a break. There's a lot more to this story, and as a fan, I am thoroughly disappointed that the local Orlando or National media isn't doing it's job asking the league the difficult questions...

[MC B-Rad]

Doug....question...why is it that whenever you refer to Grange, it is always with a trademark symbol?

Blogger's note: A little fun; he did it with a Mailbag (TM) reference so ...
All a joke, Mike's one of the really good guys