Lots of CIS stuff because it was a fun weekend

How was it? It was good, actually.

It’s the first time I’ve been at a CIS final in a long time and, overall, it was quite good and far better than the last one I was at. It was nice to see a lot of old friends and perhaps make some new ones and it never hurts to just be around to fly the flag.

But the game’s the thing, right?

What was it like?

Well, the calibre of play was good, the games were competitive, the skills were probably a bit better than I had expected.

And that’s all you want, right? Good games played by kids who care and are well-coached and supported by good fans.

I guarantee you the emotion I saw at the arena in Ottawa was as pure and as heartfelt as anything anyone saw in Buffalo on the weekend, for instance.

Now, did I see future pros in action? No, I didn’t. But I bet if I looked at the NCAA brackets really closely, I would be able to safely say I saw as many future NBAers at the tournament I covered than some guys would have at first-round NCAA sites.

But that’s not really the point, is it?

The point is, as I tried to make today in the newspaper, the game in Canada is getting better, the coaching is better (I think the officiating has ways to go to catch up) and that means everyone connected with the game wins.

I also think we need to write more about these kids and the programs and the teams. A one-off appearance was a good thing, I have to do a better job next season of doing more, there are lots of good stories out there that need to be told. Not game stories, per se, but stories about the people who play the game and the issues they face.

The thing I hear often when I suggest things like that – and this is from readers as much as it is from people in our industry – is that people don’t care.

Well, how do we know?

Do they not care because we don’t tell them? If we gave them more stories, would they care? It’s a chicken and egg thing in some regards and maybe it’s time we take the initiative and simply do it and see how everyone reacts.

-

This, my friends, is a dilemma.

TV tonight:

Raptors-Timberwolves, DWTS?

Ack!

I guess it has to be the hoops but, man, what I’d give to see Buzz Aldrin trip the light fantastic.

Or just trip.

Anyway, no early favourite, I’m afraid; got to check out the whole crew before starts.

-

Speaking of tonight, we will be here to dissect the mighty struggle in Minneapolis just before 8 p.m. but I’m afraid I can’t do questions and answers because I’ll be somewhere on the 401 motoring home at noon, I hope.

Sorry about that but we will do it Wednesday and Friday from the comfort of the Air Canada Centre.

-

Me? I’ll probably forgive him. Eventually.

But Super Son, who decided with Dear Old Dad to have Villanova make to the Final Four, might not be the biggest Alvin Williams fan in the world.

And since we had Kansas facing the Wildcats in championship game, I’m fearing our bracket is busted and the e-mail we get from The Biggest Syracuse Fan We Know (hi, David!) will probably have us far down the standings.

They should make gambling illegal.

-

I may not have been around the Heroes Of The Hardcourt this weekend but I have been around this machine and found this in the Minnesota paper to set up tonight’s game from a Minneapolis perspective.

Oh, and the pub across from the Target Center is Donovan’s and I’m a bit ticked I didn’t get there or to J.D. Hoyt’s for dinner. Next year, I guess.

-

Back to the CIS for a minute and I had an interesting conversation with Saskatchewan coach Greg Jockims about the game and the coaching gig and where it’s going.

He brought up a pretty good point about what trying to elevate the game to even more relevance among the general basketball population.

“Coaches are, I think, in a sense being pressured to get their programs up to high levels. There’s been a few guys released, and fired, and you see more and more of that, schools are putting more importance on having quality athletic programs which is good and bad.

“The positive is that events like this continue to grow, and the excitement level and he quality of play continues to grow but the pressure that puts on personnel, you have to be careful about firing people for not being competitive or winning, that’s not a positive thing, I don’t think.”

Generally, I’m told the level of coaching the CIS is quite good and it’s kind of refreshing to see young guys and former national team members like Greg Francis, head man at Alberta, and Randy Knorr, who’s on Kevin Hanson’s staff at UBC, in the ranks.

I think it’s going to be just as important for the coaching skills to improve and the talent pool to deepen than it is for the same thing to occur with the players.

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Here’s something I didn’t know before Sunday night:

Scotiabank Place’s capacity is about 44,000.

Must be, they announced a crowd of 11,000 at the game and the joint was a quarter filled. Even by my stinky math skills, that works out, right?

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One lasting image of the weekend?

Zany, green-clad Saskatchewan fans, which affirms a belief I had from covering a little bit of gridiron back in the day that there really is some level of support in that province that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the country.

I love Saskatchewanians – and if that’s not the right word, sorry; it’s the best I’ve got – because they care deeply. It was a hoot to see them.

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Comments

[Frans]

Doug probably won't post this but if he does, I will be very surprised....just wanted to say that I have enjoyed Feshuk's articles in the last couple of days since Doug took a break from covering the Raptors....he tells it like it is vs. sugar coating or softenning reality with the hopes of not pissing anyone in MLSE off....I'm sure Feschuk is not popular amongst the coaching staff and players but as a reader of the Toronto Star, I like his articles...his article today on Jay, Andrea and Hedo are smack on! I've said this before and I'll say it again...I hope Feschuk covers the Raptors more and gets his own blog....

Blogger's note: If he does, as I believe I said here a week or so ago, does that mean you'll go away and write there? Because your time's running out here.

[Wilber]

Doug,
Enjoyed your brief CIS detour.

Back in ancient times, before my Raps were but a twinkle in Mr. Stern's eye, I was a proud U of S student cheering on the Huskie hoopsters (including a skinny kid named Jockims). Happy to be showing my prairie pride today.

The height, talent and skill perhaps not NBA or NCAA worthy, but the Huskies could teach teams at all levels some things about heart and hustle.

Here's hoping we see a little more of that from that other team I follow down the stretch.

[J. Millett, Halifax]

I agree with you 100% about university basketball in Canada. In Nova Scotia, university ball is a big thing, as most of the schools have good teams and play in front of good crowds during the season. The AUS championship game several weeks ago had 4,600 fans attend the game in Sydney, Cape Breton. As you are aware, the CIS championship returns to Halifax next year... lots of loyal fans, great basketball, and good places to "hoist a few ales" within stumbling distance of The Metro Centre. See you here next year!

[Tree]

Wow Doug, your response to Frans maybe shows you're spending too much time around guys like Hedo ... you've got a bad attitude.

Frans may be a little blunt, but his point is dead on: it's time to get real about this team. As a fan, the team is infuriating to watch. Bargnani has regressed so far in the past 2 months it's shocking. Hedo's attitude is so bad, that when coupled with his overall bad play he should not even be getting the minutes he does. I was worried about Bosh leaving, but not anymore. This team, as currently built, is so flawed something has to give. Doug - you always correctly note that the season is long, and to not get too high or too low by stretches of play - but with 16 games to play, it's time to call a spade a spade. This team deserves no benefits of doubt.

Blogger's note: Write me in 16 games, and bring along your prediction from the start of the season about where they'd finish.

[Don W.]

Great comments on the tournament and yes things like this need far more coverage. If someone is a true fan of any sport it is not the level of play that makes it exiting but instead how competitive the teams are with each other. In addition most of the teams are from smaller areas which leads to greater fan support but less major media coverage.

The major Canadian media in general tend to cover pro sports because they think that is what their readers or viewers want. In Toronto for example if they get 20,000 people to a game they think that that is great. It translates to about one third of one percent of the population. In smaller places about four to five percent of the population attend games. Check the crowds for Junior Hockey, AHL or University Hockey it is pitiful. These games should all be sold out. More to do in Toronto--maybe but in smaller places more people tend to volunteer and get involved in their community so they have just as many options. The media perception of what people want drives the coverage.

I am a major fan of US college football but last year I started watching the CIS playoffs. Guess what--the games were just as exciting, maybe even more exciting, but the "pomp and pagentry" were missing. Put the Canadian game in a US setting, with the US coverage and just as many people will watch. The same holds true for basketball.

[robguy]

@Frans - Perhaps you have such insecurities with your opinion you are one of those who need a dozen columnists who are onside with your viewpoint to feel better with that of your own. Any view point that is not yours is simply wrong - I get it. I hope you have that type of success in your school/workplace. I like how the Star and other papers assign a couple of reporters who can offer varying viewpoints on 1 team. Sometimes I agree with Feschuk and other times with Doug. And what I think or what you think is simply not how it is as people like yourself put it. Doug - keep up the great work - and the same to Dave! I do wish some of these guys would go elsewhere - I am getting better at ignoring some posts but did not do quite so well this morning.

[John MacDonald]

I must say that I could care less about the CIS basketball, and for that matter the Canadian basketball program. Get some more NBA/Raptors content in there because that's the only reason you get read. If this was purely a CIS/Canadian Basketball blog you'd have about 100 visits a day. Keep true to who tunes in

Blogger's note: You don't think there can be a balance? I do

[Matty-Pix]

If she can move even remotely to music, I expect Kate Gosselin to be an automatic top-5. (Lots of public sentiment) ... but I also think Ms.Tommy Lee has some 'experience' in most every way; so why not dancing!

I know you're not one to take off the gloves with small minded folks ... but i'll say I certainly miss your writings anytime you're not able due to travel or otherwise.

Sidenote: took the flight from Halifax for my first Raps game vs. Atlanta last week ... and man, it was an experience. I am offering my services as a good luck charm to anyone in the Raps organization who wants to fly me up! 1-0 all time.

[Lorie]

Hi Doug, Great to hear that you plan to expand your coverage of the CIS and I, for one, look forward to reading your stories on the men and women involved in the Canadian University (and College?) basketball programs. Bravo! (And by the way, is Prof. Joe Scanlon from Carleton one of your "old cronies"? He did quite a nice job broadcasting the Final 8 Tournament this past week on SSN!)

[Paul]

Doug - Great to see CIS coverage in the Star but have to question your assertion that the game in Canada is getting better, especially compared to the 17-year period between the Victoria and Carleton dynasties which saw 8 different champions Seems to me that more players than ever (both male and female) are heading to the US and increasingly before they even finish high school. Losing this talent hurts the CIS and the fact that quite a few of the top players in the tournament had washed out in the US (Glover, Kemar Burke of UBC, UCCB guards from Maryland) doesn't reflect well on the relative calibre in Canada. Finally, if you enjoyed this year's event I can say without doubt that you would have been blown away by the atmosphere and enthusiasm when the event was hosted in downtown Halifax. There organizers didn't have to resort to offering free tickets via Pizza Pizza or providing fictional attendance figures when the local teams missed the final. I love CIS basketball but can't see this year's tournament as any sort of high point.

Blogger's note: The last one I did was in Halifax and it was blast

[Brian]

Hey Doug - you hit the nail on the head about the CIS. It's totally a chicken egg situation, and I think if people got out to see a few games they'd be interested in coming back for more. Another point you hit was the raw emotion of it - nothing compares to a national tournament where either you win, or you lose and your career and life with teammates is over.

Thanks for covering the tournament, it's good to see some mainstream coverage and here's hoping for more in the future.

[Andre]

Hey Doug, Dont let that hater get to you... ppl like him lets you know your doing a good job, if you didnt have haters, then what kind of job are you doing?

Anyways, I'm not exactly a fan of University basketball in Canada. Why? I never know when the games are, or if im allow to watch them, they are never on TV, and no one really puts up weekly reviews of the local teams.. As a basketball fan, id love to see that in the newspapers. Not only university, but college basketball as well... Do you think we could get a weekly College/University hoops sections? with interviews? getting to know the players and teams?
What do you think?

Blogger's note: It's more likely to be here than in the newspaper where space is at a premium.

[Pipit]

Nice take down on Frans, Doug. This is what makes this blog going. One question though. What's your best, experienced guess on what placing be the Raptors on the East when the seasons over?

Blogger's note: Seven.

[Jenna]

I have to agree with the previous poster, Doug. Feschuk tells it like it is while with you it's always, "There's a reason why they're doing what they're doing," or, "BC and Jay are a lot smarter than we are, that's why they get paid the big bucks," as if they can never be wrong and we're all morons for having the audacity to question anything they do.

Also, maybe you should be a little nicer to your readers. "Your time's running out here."? That's not a good way to talk to the people on which your livelihood depends. I understand sarcasm and snark but your attitude is getting to be a little too much.

Blogger's note: Sorry, I'm not changing.

[Andrew]

I'm guessing that first comment was by a former "Yertu Damkule", no? Why don't you just cut the cord with that guy? I've never understood the point of being someone who exists purely to ruffle feathers. Feschuk's tone in his recent articles is mind-boggling. I understand he doesn't work for the MLSE, but he is so anti-Raptors I wonder what made him so bitter towards them. Doug, you are the man. Keep doing what you do. And maybe, for your sake and ours, have a shorter leash for those who don't deserve a leash at all. Thank you.

[William]

Some people are Coke people, some people are Pepsi people, and Frans seems to be one that feels his tastes are better than everyone else and wants to let them know. Here is a novel Idea Frans, tell The Star sports editor what you think and let the over 1 million blog hits that Doug gets do the talking for him. I am sure the Editor will make up his mind accordingly.

[Andrew]

The fact is, Doug is optimistic and patient, Dave is pessimistic and short-sighted. I believe Dave would have traded Bargnani way before he developed, Doug would have waited it out. Their writing styles and ideologies are polar opposites it seems. However, I can say I have been reading Doug's columns for years now, and patience usually pays off. In other words, raptor fans are notorious for being 1) too hard on their team and 2) very impatient with development. Not so different from our brothers on the ice, there is alot of pressure, every day, in a condensed metropolitan market. It's easy for Feschuk to satisfy everyone's reading hunger after a bad game, or streak, and question Jay's coaching, people's hustle etc, etc. However after a few 82 game seasons, you see he takes small samples of play, blows them up and suggests extreme measures to correct them. In hindsight, I have preferred Doug's style.

[Penny]

Doug - I know you didn't see the last game but as we were watching it, one think stuck out very much. The offense is not as freeflowing as it used to be. The ball goes into CB4 and gets stuck there - he takes a shot most of the time and goes through long stretches where he misses and there are no rebounders mainly because the others never know when he is going to drive as oppsed to shoot. The few times Chris did try to pass, he made a turnover. Then when Jack comes on, the ball either stays completely with him or goes to Chris. AB only had something like 5 shots in the game whereas Jack had 11.

[GM]

A successful CIS weekend. Both Carleton and UBC lose. And you're right about those Sask fans. They're like that even when their team sucks.

[jim]

That would be great if you covered the CIS more, Doug.
It always amazes me how we go ga-ga over March Madness up here.
What an over-rated and over-hyped product it has become.
Our own Canadian kids in the CIS and CHA, gets 'second nod' from our own media. GO figure.
It's not just at this time of year, however, when this happens. We Canadians seem to constantly believe that their NFL is a superior game to our CFL; or that their winter sport (NBA) is better than our winter sport (NHL). Why?
Because they constantly tell us so through their slick marketing and, (unexplainable to me) we just seem to eat our own up here.
I guess there's just a lot of wanabee Americans in this market.

[Rob.V]

Duude! Hope you're not posting these comments while firing down the 401 at say a buck 50 or something!!!

No offence as these are not really related to the blog this morning however:

- - - but Hedo Turkoglu continued to loaf through his early retirement in Saturday's first half - -- - VERY FUNNY!!, but unfortunately for us TRUE also!!

Oh, and:

Good for Obama!!! I've felt for a while now that US Health Care was superior to what we have to deal with here in Canada however if the numbers are accurate and 50 million Americans could not get coverage, then that was a big move by Obama.

He may only be a one term president in spite of it however the country needed it and it's nice to see something done "because it was the right thing to do"... rather than any political agenda.

[Lavi]

Hi Doug,
I liked that you dedicated most of this posting to the CIS. I like the game that's played in the CIS. Compared to the NCAA game, I find it very much less athletic, but at certain times a smarter game. It is kind of the difference between NBA basketball and European basketball, where the European basketball is more of a team game, smarter offensive strategies that don't let the players get away with anything because of their athletic abilities.

Jay Triano, in one of your articles, I believe, referred to Coach Katz of U of T as a coach with the same abilities as most NBA coaches who doesn't get the credit because of the level he coaches at. I'd put Dave Smart in that same group.

I for one would love to see more written about the CIS.

[Perry]

A lot of people have been annoyed and disappointed with Andrea Bargnani since the beginning. I think it's unfair to call them bandwagon jumpers now that the rest of us can see it for ourselves. In the same way that some people deserve credit for believing in a player who eventually develops into a star, I think others are owed similar credit for NOT believing the hype around a prospect who never develops.

There are some bandwagon jumpers (call them revisionist historians) who retroactively form opinions on the basis of 20/20 hindsight, don't get me wrong, but I see them as the exception to the rule. Most fans are fair and consistent, and shouldn't have their collective reputation ruined by a few bad apples.

[David "Howard" Lang]

Hi Doug:
I used to be involved in CIS basketball and sincerely appreciate the coverage you provided on the national championships and your statement of your desire to include more coverage in the future.

I do have to agree with a previous poster that the quality of the game has decreased in the past few years. More Canadian kids go and now stay in the US and you can't fault them as the quality of competition and media exposure is much better down there (There is no TV coverage here, most local papers even in smaller markets don't cover the games. However, the biggest difference between now and when you last covered the Nationals is the adoption by the CIS of FIBA rules as opposed to the NCAA rules. In my opinion, this has hurt the quality of the game as we now have 24 second shot clocks and CIS players are not fast enough or talented enough to run an offence effectively in that period of time. Maybe not at the National tournament but too often players are forced to take unprepared shots because the shot clock is winding down.

Just my opinion

[jim]

Hi Doug,

Have we ever heard anyone take responsibility like this around hear?

“Tonight was a disgrace to how we play and the game of basketball, how we came out, and that starts with me. I apologize to all the fans, all my teammates that I came out like that, and it translated to my team.” — Thunder forward Kevin Durant