Cleaning up the debris of a one-of-a-kind night

It was self-indulgent pap, kow-towing to a gifted basketball player who has won fewer titles that Zan Tabak and one of the more narcissistic hours I can remember sitting through.

Yes, that whole The Decision (and doesn’t that lend a level of gravitas entirely disproportionate to its actually significance?) was something I hope I never, ever have to sit through again.

But I did, and so did a lot of you and now we have to sift through the fallout, right?

And what is it?

Well, I’ll tell you this: Love or hate ‘em, the Miami Heat are now THE STORY in maybe all of pro sports.

I don’t like it – as I’ve said, I’m far more of the ‘beat ‘em rather than join ‘em” mindset and think all three have in some way diminished themselves in this whole process as colluders rather than competitors – but I am sure I will watch them.

And so, I’m sure, will you.

We’ve never seen anything like this maybe ever with three guys in the prime of their careers on the same team. It wasn’t like this in Boston with the new Big Three, the Showtime Lakers were close but not quite there and that’s going to make for some compelling moments on the court.

Will it work?

Probably well enough.

LeBron James, who is as skilled as maybe anybody in the game, is the most unselfish star out there and now, not having to make every shot in every fourth quarter, he can play more relaxed and who knows what that will mean.

Dwyane Wade knows how to play with another star (see O’Neal, Shaquille) and I have a feeling he’ll be quite all right.

Chris Bosh? Well, for a guy who wanted to be The Man and make the max money and not play centre I’m guessing being Third Fiddle, perhaps taking less money and being on a team with no other centre is kind of what he wanted?

Anyway, the Heat are pretty much the favourites in the East today, right? I’m sure there are millions who believe that

I’m equally sure none of them run the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics or Chicago Bulls.

It could be a memorable season, indeed.

Will that be enough to have the stench lifted from this period of ultimate collusion, when three guys dictated the paths of so many franchises in what I think you could call a disgraceful manipulation of a sport? Probably.

But not today.

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I believe they tried to reach Kobe Bryant for comment last night but he was busy polishing his championship rings.

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So, what do we have here in Toronto?

Well, when we went to bed, there were still deep talks going on into turning Bosh into some kind of sign-and-trade transactions and until there’s a signature on his new contract, I’m not ready to entirely discount the possibility.

But if that doesn’t happen – and it would be a terrible failing to a sorry saga – what’s it mean?

It means they go forward, stumbling a little bit and would probably enter the next season – if no other moves are made – as longshots for a playoff berth.

But here’s the thing: There will be other moves made. I don’t know what they will ultimately be – sources have pretty much gone underground for much of this last week – but there will be some. Maybe they’ll be good, maybe they’ll be bad. I don’t know and you don’t know and no one really does.

Are the Raptors worse off now than they day the season end?

Of course they are, you cannot take a Chris Bosh off a team and expect it to be good.

Today, it’s not good around Toronto. In October it might be.

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Hey, for all the “blow it up and start over people out there” I have a question:

Seen the Knicks lately? How’d that all work out for them? Think two years of absolute misery was worth Amare Stoudemire?

And for those who hold up the Oklahoma City Thunder as proof positive that sucking for a long time is worth it, I ask you this:

How many playoff series have they won? And when do you think they’ll come to realize they can’t pay anyone and start moving pieces?

Look, you get good a couple of ways in the NBA. You hit the jackpot with a draft pick out of nowhere, you find some GM to fleece in a trade or your players simply get better and grow up.

The Chicago Bulls couldn’t give Joakim Noah away two years ago, he was an immature kid who didn’t get it, fought with teammate and coaches and now he’s the guy a huge majority of Toronto fans were pining for if Bosh picked the Bulls.

Will any of that happen here? Maybe not.

But sports – thank goodness – is an inexact science, which is why we feel compelled to watch. We can argue and debate and make bold statements this way or that but none of us has any real answers.

And isn’t that the fun part?

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Mail?

Well, since my day is going to by tying up the loose ends of Bosh, figuring out what else might be on the horizon while putting in a guest shift as our assignment editor in a move that could shake the foundation of Star sports to its very core, why not give me a mailbag to start putting together.

As always, click here.

(Yeah, staffing levels are that low that they’re plucking me to sit in the big chair the next four days and mess things up).

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Annual alert

Summer league starts this weekend out in Vegas – the big bird carrying the Raptors take off tonight – and it’s time to offer this:

Summer league bites.

Horrible refereeing kills the games, talent level of many of them kills the games and about the only good thing you can say about it is that it’s not overly long.

Oh, wait: It is.

So pay no mind to any scores or any stats, what the Raptors want to see is skills development in DeRozan, Weems, Davis and Alabi (oh, and The New Legend Joey Dorsey, right Mike?).

That’s it, that’s all.

So see if they handle the ball well or have increased their shooting range or have found some new quickness and strength.

Other than that? Read a book.

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Last shot at the LeBronathon.

Was that the worst reality TV show since Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire?

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Comments

[Joe]

Doug,

Your thoughts on the way Dan Gilbert responded to Lebron's departure and the way Cleveland fans did too.

Give me Kobe or Kevin Durant any day over these 3 (The Holy Trinity: Wade as God, James as Judas, and Bosh as Goliath). Kobe loves the game, these guys love themselves and their image. It's too bad the Celtics weren't younger. I think Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and Rondo could teach these guys a bit about humility. Well, it will probably be the Lakers/Miami in the Final. Bosh vs Bynum/Gasol. Wonder you'll win that match up.

Blogger's note: Over the top and too vitriolic with grandiose promises. But fun reading.

[Dallas]

Well said Doug.

For all those wanting to stick a kick BC when he was done, unless you would have traded Bosh earlier, which most fans were against, what could he have done differently.

What shape would we be in now had we given up on Andrea, traded him for Brendan Haywood, you think that would have kept Bosh away from LeBron and Wade. You think after the way Bosh, Wade and LeBron, owend the Olympics and the ASG in Dallas, it would have mattered if we won 50 games and got to the second round? It didn't matter to LeBron, who left his hometown team with the best record in the NBA.

You want to kick BC for Turk signing, fine. For not trading Bosh before fine. But what I don't get is how B C looks any worse to trained eyes, for CB having chose the Heat, and not the Rockets. CB looks for what he said he was looking for, we get a lot back. If Cb joins a team with no assets and decides to commit without the 6th year and maxdeal, that' not a whole lot of leverage for BC. So everyone kicking him now is just taking advantage of optics. I think we're going to be a lot better than a lot of people expect this year.

[Dallas]

I meant to say for those wanting to kick BC when he's down.....it's been a long night. lol

[Mich G.]

Hey Doug,

I believe it was you, just a few weeks ago, who stated that D-Wade was the driving engine of this free agency. It must feel good to have called it.

Well done, keep up the good work.

[ed]

spot on, doug.

i still can't fault colangelo for this. the finger has to be pointed soley at bosh. i have no problem with him leaving but he's deliberately screwing us over, and it looks like that was the plan all along. he led colangelo on to believe that he would either resign or accommodate a sign and trade, and then pat riley gets to him and colangelo is left standing in the rain. yeah you can say he made his own bed but come on- making a playoff run, looking until the trade deadline like we were a piece away, i really don't fault the moves. it really, really is the players who have let the raps fans down. i can handle that colangelo's experiments haven't worked out but get this guy signed to an extension- if nothing else he's shown he will get moving until the experiment DOES work.

you still have my support colangelo. at least you're a raptor, and you work hard for your fans. bosh? you gave us seven years, we gave you millions and a place to develop the reputation that allowed you to win this contract, and you just leave us with out so much as a backward glance? shame. you were clearly only ever out for yourself. enjoy the shallowness of whatever championship rings you get knowing that you couldn't build anything near a winner yourself unless you got paired with two of the best players in the game. put kleiza with lebron and wade and it's the same thing. welcome to the twilight of your career. i truly hope karma bites you in the ass.

[Michel G]

This is a message for Adrian and everybody that's bashing BC, Toronto never had a chance to retain Bosh. LeBron left a 60 win team to go play with his buddies for god's sake.

[bob]

toronto will regret not getting michael beasley for 3 years 15m. they chose amir johnson for 5 years, 34m.

[Jam]

Perfectly said. So is a sign and trade basically out of the question now that Beasley's been dealt?

Blogger's note: No, it's not by any means

[DougG]

After listening to the three Miami girl friends explain their move, and that disgusting exhibition last night, one can understand why these three selfish, ego maniacs did what they did, they just aren't very bright. Their arrogance is so intense they have no concern for the damage in their wake, to two franchises and cities, and probably the league in general. Why will the public pay to see a sport that is rigged. This move has been in place for a long time and obviously smacks of collusion. It is bad when ownership does it, but I guess the NBA doesn't mind when the players do it. One can already pay to see the Harlem Globetrotters play against the local firemen or go to a wrestling match.
.
I feel really bad for the people of Cleveland. They understand what it is like to be a basketball fan in Toronto. Neither one of these cities and fans deserve the treatment they got. The joke is these three cowards still expect us to think of them as max players.

[Stavros]

Doug, I have decided that I'm not going to take my blog reading to a Miami Heat scribe. I'm staying right here.

[Ragu]

"I believe they tried to reach Kobe Bryant for comment last night but he was busy polishing his championship rings'

Classic :)

Any thought on Jermaine going to the Celts? Does that move move them into contention with Miami?

Any word on reactions in the Western conference?

Blogger's note: None yet; am letting the dust settled and doing an office gig at the moment, will have more in the morning.

[ed]

wow i just read that dan gilbert letter and it is AWESOME!!! i love it!!! all the same things could be said about bosh. and i love that he's sticking up for cleveland fans like that!! what passion- i honestly beleive the cleveland fans will take a lot of comfort out of that. i want a similar speech from bryan about bosh.

[stoneman]

Sure makes for a ground breaking story...

For decades sports owners, governing bodies, managers, agents and coaches have manipulated, colluded and bent the rules and the spirit of 'sport' for their own purposes and often at the brutal expense of athletes.

Now, an athlete who fully understands where his power lies, and without breaking any rules, sacrifices money and security to play with his buddies.

We may be offended at his audacity and we may wish his methods had been purer and fans may feel cheated, but what has he done wrong? What agreements and promises has he broken?

By not seeking to maximize wealth or contract years he has taken away the owners' clout and made the CBA work for him.

He hasn't guarenteed himself winning or rings or a 'legacy'; he has chosen his path.

Other than offending our sensibilities - and by nature, a fan is nothing but illogical sensibilities - LeBron and Bosh and Wade have done nothing remotely wrong. They should be celebrated for blazing a new and risky trail, and for given us a new angle to rant, rave and anguish over.

Cheers

[Stu]

Doug, great job this week.

Marc Stein and Chad Ford posted this at 2:48 am in their Beasley story:

"Now that the Heat are no longer asking Toronto to take back Beasley, sources say that a Bosh sign-and-trade that could net him a six-year deal as opposed to a five-year deal is likely to go through by week's end, with Toronto getting the package (draft considerations and a trade exception) it wanted from the start."

That sounds good to me; are you less confident that the sign-and-trade will go through based on your sources?

Blogger's note: I always thought it was being worked on and it still is

[BW]

Doug, it's going to be an interesting couple of seasons. My biggest fear right now is the anti-BC sentiment that's out there right now. I really believe he did everything he could over the last couple of years to put a good team on the floor. The Marion trade last year to free up cap room is a perfect example. He tried. I'm scared that everyone has given up on him and he will leave, he is still one of the top GMs out there.

[robguy]

For those whining about the failure in keeping stars in Toronto - they should note that Cleveland lost their hometown star. Can you imagine if that happened in Toronto in any sport? I truly feel sorry for the fans in Cleveland, but Gilbert's response was inappropriate. He should have taken the high road and deliver his revenge the only way it coounts - on the scoresheet.
Doug, at this point I have to ask why would Miami do any sign and trades now - what is in it for them?

[Mauro]

May be I have a legal perspective, but it sound to me that CB4, LBJ and Wade have sit together well prior to yesterday and decided what to do.
They did it, probably during ASG 2010. Meanhwile Miami weren't in the PO and Toronto was.
I don't know if its unlegal doing such meeting in US, but what I found pervert its the way all 3 have handled the FA . The only reason of the strange behaviour like a camera crew from CB4 its because they decided in advance and all of this happened to hide the fact they had meet together before

Can we start a suit against CB4 for hid period after ASG ?

[Geoff]

Given the "measley Beasely" return (a 2nd), it seems pretty clear there was zero interest from BC. Does this deal, and Miller's presumed signing, make it any more or less likely that there's a sign-and-trade?

As ever, love the work.

Blogger's note: Not entirely sure that it has any impact. Still a chance of a sign-and-trade

[POd Fan]

If you truly want to win and it is not about the money, then don't you (Lebron, Dwayne and Chris) take below market contracts - say $8M a year - and then Miami can sign whomever they want, like a PG and a center and a bench and players who can defend, AND win for a long, long time.
Oh, yes, and DEFENSE wins championships.

[james]

Doug, I feel sorry for you having to actually cover.."The Decision"...duh duh duh...haha. Lebron can't have pleased David Stern with his decision to join the Heat...we all know it is better for the league to spread out the competition and having Lebron Team up with Amare in New York would have been ideal from a basketball fan's point of view. It would have been better for the brand called Lebron too. The only consolation I can find is that, the Heat have no one else signed and the players they do bring in will not be any good. That is the whole point of the salary cap right? I think the worst thing that could happen is that gradually, good players start to flock to Miami taking massive pay cuts because they want to start winning a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th title with Miami down the road. How disgusting would that be...jump on the Bron Wad Bosh train and win a title! Woohoo! Oh boy, great blog, I am sure Bco will do something spectacular this summer, how effective will it be on the court....haha...oh boy.

[KE]

Doug - don't disparage "Who wants to marry a millionaire".

[Tiger]

Disclaimer: the following is for amusement purposes only, any real facts have been distorted.
I like threads, the kind you follow, not wear.
The end of the Bosh saga goes something like this:
HWSNBN2 picks Charlie V.
BC swaps Charlie V. for TJ.
BC picks Hibbert.
BC swaps TJ and Hibbert for J.O. and his fat contract.
BC unloads J.O.'s fat contract on Miami for Marion, tosses in a couple of picks.
BC signs and trades Marion for Hedo.
Miami lets J.O.'s zillion dollar contract expire, has oodles of cap space.
Miami uses that cap space to sign Bosh.
Gotta love the irony.
So in essence, Hedo is worth 5 first round draft picks (Bosh, Charlie V., Hibbert, 2 futures).
Ridiculous, right?
But wait, WHAT IF BC had kept Charlie V. and Hibbert?
As of last year he would have been staring at $30 million or so tied up in Bosh plus those 2.
Hmmm... maybe dumping all that for Hedo at $10 million and a little cap space ain't so bad...
Yeah, it is.
Rhetorical question: If you could wire Wade, Bosh, LBJ and Riley to a lie detector, what questions would you ask?
Change of topic: Eddie Curry.
AKA the 8 million reasons why Wade, Bosh and LBJ aren't with the Knicks.
Thank-you Isiah Thomas, having them play for that doofus Dolan would have been unstomachable.
Change of topic: bus
As in the one that ran over Bosh as the Raps moved on.
Amir Johnson is now the best thing since sliced bread, we're told. no pressure, kid.
General Rule: google
As in if you have to google his name to find out who he is, he ain't leading you to the promised land.

[ET]

I disagree on the Knicks rebuilding as their former management totally messed up their situation and traded away all the draft picks. They were quite limited on their rebuilding process. As for the Thunder, they may have not won a playoff series, but they are fun to watch and fun to root for. Plus if Toronto built a team like Thunder we have the financial support to afford all the players. Proper rebuilding is better than quick fixes and swinging for the fences and striking out!And We are no strangers to missing playoffs.

[liamC]

"But sports – thank goodness – is an inexact science, which is why we feel compelled to watch. We can argue and debate and make bold statements this way or that but none of us has any real answers.

And isn’t that the fun part? "

And that's why this cowardly collusion by the new Axis of Evil is so infuriating. It's like they want to sidestep all the wonderful uncertainty of sport.

[Samuel]

Dallas

let's be fair. Bosh's initial choice was the Bulls, but BC insisted on Noah in return (or no S&T). I, for one, think Chicago was the best fit for Bosh.

Blogger's note: I believe you to be 100 per cent wrong on that.