No beaten-up old guys need apply

I read with great delight that Tracy McGrady is likely to sign with the Chicago Bulls.

Not so much for Tracy -- I don’t particularly care where he ends up -- but for me.

(And while it is all about me, this is also all about the Raptors so indulge me).

There won’t be a dozen of comments or e-mails suggesting the Raptors sign McGrady or Shaq or Allen Iverson or some other washed up star to fill out the roster.

Not only are their skills declining – McGrady’s been hurt forever, Shaq’s getting quite long in the tooth, Iverson was a ridiculous idea a year ago and even moreso now – but they are not the kind of guys anyone connected with this organization should give a second thought to.

This team, right now, is not a place for a veteran to come in and play out his dotage; they need young kids hungry to prove themselves or mid-20s guys ready to truly blossom.

I don’t care what word you use – rebuilding, re-tooling, changing, adjusting, whatever – this team this year is going to very much be a work in progress where you’ll have some kids still trying to figure it out, some trying to make their name and I’m wondering if it won’t be at least more entertaining a product that we’ve seen the last two years.

I think Bryan’s one last move – or maybe his two last moves – should be to add someone who can grow with the group, not someone like an aging star ending his career who might provide a couple of extra wins at the cost of the development of guys who may be here for a while.

So Tracy and Shaq and even Josh Howard, who is intriguing if he wasn’t hurt and most likely too expensive, should find other homes where they fit better because I don’t think any of them bring anything to a team trying to establish an identity.

-

How could you possibly not like a guy who sat around having beers waiting to see if he made the cut and a dude who lost some weight trying to get fit and found out he didn’t like it so he’s somewhat portly again?

Really?

Carl Pettersson – you can read about him here – has truly vaulted up my list of favourite PGA Tour guys now.

-

Dang!

Missed the tryouts for the June Taylor Dancers yesterday.

Hope it went well.

-

What’s up with the Raptors? Well, word I got over the weekend from folks was some things are “simmering” but nothing is imminent. Figure that’s just the normal state of affairs around there these days and probably doesn’t mean an awful lot.

But figured you’d want to know.

-

Bit of a digression but what the heck, it’s not like there’s a lot of basketball to digest. So …

You know, everyone’s job has some good points and some bad points and after almost a week of being Golf Boy, I have devised the following lists for your reading pleasure

The Good

No night games.

You do your interviews outside the scoring trailer and not in some stuff locker room.

For the most part, the guys you’re talking to want to talk to you.

They don’t play stupid music during competition and there aren’t 19,000 people screaming when you’re trying to file at the buzzer.

Fresh air and sunshine when you’re working doesn’t bite.

The Bad

The stadium’s so damn big.

Rain delays

Having to park kilometers away and be shuttled into the course.

No Chicken.

You watch those guys hit balls and you think, “what game is it that I play?”

-

So the Miami Herald did this big long takeout on Chris Bosh over the weekend and there’s some interesting stuff in there.

Takes a couple of shots at Toronto but praises the city but the one that kind of made me sit up and take notice – and there’s a comment in the comment section about it, too – was that now he’s happy that people will know where he plays and who his teammates are.

I’ve got to say this: If Bosh’s team had won, people would have known where he played and who was on his team. I saw first-hand with that other guy – if the Raptors are good, fans will find them. It was a bit of a rock star franchise for a little while in the early-2000s on Vince Carter’s talents; Chris, for all the good things that he does, was never on team that was that successful.

But, trust me, if a team wins, the fans and the networks and the folks back home know about it.

And that’s the thing to be mindful about first and foremost:

It’s not the market or the country or whatever; it’s success on the court that determines how a franchise is perceived.

-

You know what’s going to be cool?

Some actual basketball to watch in person.

Leo’s team starts dribbling into town this week, camp begins on the weekend to get ready for the worlds and I’m going to be quite interested to see how the team shakes out.

And hopefully it’ll provide some fodder for stories because other than that and any breaking news on the Raptors front this looks like a very uneventful week ahead.

-

Comments

[PK]

Just a thought: How come so much hate on this year's big 3 when everyone seemed to like the Boston big 3 back in few years? People accepted KG going there to be a contender but trashing CB? I don't think people of Minesota blamed KG this much.

[Dave]

Curious if you, Doug, or anyone, knows: I saw on the ticker on RaptorsTV this weekend that Portland is in talks with the Raps and the Rockets regarding a trade for Rudy Fernandez...Is this new or old news that has fallen through? Apparently was reported by D. Aldridge...who seems to leak everything under the sun, verified or not, but I think a lot of fans would like Rudy in Toronto...

Blogger's note: I think that was from the pre-draft period when the Blazers were shopping Fernandez to everyone.

[Matthew]

i think Jeff Blair was BORN with a bug up his Ass. He like to trash BC but doesn't add very much to the discussion

[J]

Don't stop at the air smelling different; your first taste of Toronto tap water should tell you you're no longer in Kansas (or any other US location). I apologize in advance if Toronto tap water has changed over the last 13 years but the first day I stepped on American soil, my love affair with tap water completely ended. I don't think anyone here has been offended by my constant reminiscing of Toronto tap water. I also told anyone who would listen that I hated moving to the States, but hey, my worldview was so different back then.

And just to add onto what GM said, it's not just a difference between American and Canadian cities. Every American city is different in its own right. Having been to Chicago and Boston, and having lived in Philadelphia and NYC, how can one be offended if a city just isn't someone's taste? NYC is amazing (to me), Chicago is an inferior version of NYC (and I can't believe someone said earlier in the comment section that Chicago, NYC and Toronto have the same weather... NYC is so much warmer and barely gets any snow), Boston is nice and quaint and doesn't really feel like a big city, and aside from a few small areas, Philadelphia has no redeeming qualities. And I haven't even mentioned Indiana (all of it), Newark, or Detroit. Until I moved to NYC (which was a good 6-7 years into my stay in the US), I hated everything this country had to offer. My family likes Detroit and hates NYC. Everyone has their own taste. No need to get all up in arms over it.

[Andres]

hey doug
The raptors suck they lost the only good player they had, bosh..they dont have any skill and if they were to get shaq,t-mac,or allen iverson that would make them better no doubt..RAPTORS are going to get destroyed this season they are going to be the nets of last season any of those 3 players would help them no be an emberrasing team..sorry but no good future in this team for a while

[Frederick]

Why is Bosh being depicted as Batgirl all over the Web, is third banana hard to Photoshop?

BC did a brilliant job on Bosh this afternoon.

[Ryan]

Italy falls to Croatia, two times - Jul 26, 2010 (by Gianni Pascucci)
Team Italy had to face an hard truth from the test matches played in two consecutive nights over the past weekend in Croatia. The local National Team defeated Italy 89-72 in Game 1 and 80-71 yesterday night. The good signs came out from the first games of Simone Pianigiani 's tenure seemed to dissolve in Game 1, where he Azzurri have been almost overwhelmed by a more phisycal and expert opponent, but a good reaction in Game 2, where some of Team Italy members were really tough on the court and all the team played with more intensity and defensive dedication, liked to coach Pianigiani, who stated to media to be enough satisfied. With 28 pts in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2, Andrea Bargnani (209-F/C-85) was Team Italy best scorer, Marco Belinelli (196-G-86) added 23 and 15 points, respectively, confinrming that the two NBAers have finally taken the leadership in the team. With 15 pts apiece, Bojan Bogdanovic (202-G/F-89) and Luka Zoric (211-C/F-84) led Croatia in Game 1, Marko Tomas (201-G-85) was the top performer in Game 2 with 16.
Now Team Italy starts the second phase of preparation in Rome, from where will move to Bari for the first game of Qualifying Round, August 2 vs. Israel.

[Rob.V]

J (the capologist -meant in a good way!).

I can only speak for myself: I dont really care if Bosh liked/disliked or thought otherwise of this city. He was here to do a job, and did it. You're absolutely right, everyone is entitled to their opinion HOWEVER:

Why talk city at all?

Why not just stick to the fact that there wasn't a lot of success in Toronto, peroid!

I suppose Colangelo or someone at MLSE could state their opinion which might go something along these lines.

The truth is: We drafted Bosh 4th overall and gave him the team however Bosh really did "nothing" to lift the play of his teamates, he certainly "wasn't" the leader we hoped he would be, he couldn't stay healthy, and in the end he milked us for a "max" deal... and bolted upon his first opportunity after cementing himself as a star (on our dime).

My point being: What's the point? MLSE could write a novel, they could have also investigated tampering.... he needs to grow up.

He owes us nothing... but all he had to say, was, well NOTHING!

Silence would have been better than a few parting shots. There's no need, you got what you wanted from us. Move on!

All I really expect (as mentioned earlier) is for him to... keep his TRAP SHUT!

Personally, I feel nothing, and have been one to suggest (for a long time) that it was time for him to go - but I imagine there are alot of fans out there that may be deeply offended by those simple words of his.

All all the tweeting and stuff... keeping a lot of Canadian fans on the edge of their seat... then to "subtley" make unecesary coments? Come on.

A little more class and dignity on his end would have been nice!. But then again, I guess we cannot really expect an American to act like, well, a Canadian. You see, it's silly.. isn't it?

[Avery Mason]

Hey Doug,

Did you read this article about the Bhullar brother who played for Team Canada on the U18 team? Talk about size - I hope they develop well, you can't teach height and they have that in spades.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/luke_winn/07/01/sim-bhullar/index.html

Thanks

[jc]

blame bosh for what you will (and i do) but the "7 years to make up for" is an easy, yet stray, target. He is not taking about being in Miami and needing to make up for time spent in Toronto. He is in his home town in Texas and saying for whatever time he is there, he has to make up for seven years of being away from home. Move on to the part about Toronto smelling different...(maybe it was the fresh air and relative lack of gunpowder)

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I'm not sure if I like the way things are going in the league. At first I figured if Bosh and Wade and James wanted to team up, why not? But then Paul starts making noise about a competing Knicks trifecta. And we already have the hated Lakers on the west coast and what do we end up with? Big markets, big teams and everybody else (though why ANYONE would want to live in Miami is a mystery to me).

And then Charles Barkley says the Raps are irrelevant.

Doug--I have always taken to heart your line, that the Raptors are a better story than a basketball team. To me, that means anything is possible. I see you say that this is a young team in need of direction. Me? I'm sick of this team trying to find its direction. I'm really tired of waiting for Bargnani--because seriously, that guy is not going to arrive.

I say sign McGrady, Iverson and O'Neal-make them offers that Coangelo can work with. Trade out the deadwood for draft picks. Put a team on the court with one-year contracts that we'd all pay to watch. Reincarnate the ABA. Bring the attention back to the ACC.

Seriously. If you told me that the starting lineup in November was Shaq, Iverson, McGrady, Bargnani and DeRozan, I'd be there in the front row. And you know who else would be there? ALL of the American broadcasters. Better yet, the books would be cleared at the end of next season. That gets me more excited than thinking about the Linas Klieza era.

The NBA is in the business of entertainment. Toronto is no closer to a championship now than it was when VC missed that jump shot against the Sixers. As far as I am concerned it's time for the Raps to put on a show. Dress the vets and let's see what they can do.

I'm very tired of Coangelo's zigging and zagging. Let's all admit that it is going nowhere. Really--Doug: explain to me how these moves are making Toronto better. They aren't. This is a mess of Babcock proportions. Roll out the hall of famers and give them the ball...

AG, Toronto

[erc]

@Chris Bosh

Your play at the beginning of last season was scintillating. The team began to follow your lead. All-star break. Second half --same soul-less crew as season before.
With two studs and a talented coat-tail -rider (that would be you) Miami should remove your angst for wins. Follow the Big Dogs, little Chris.
The city of Toronto smells much better now.
@DS -- Good point on old guys. Give kids a chance. If they surprise, then look to add something solid to mix. It would be refreshing to see a Toronto basketball team compete every night. Team needs a true centre who can anchor defense even more than a SF. Much more.

[Adrian]

Have some respect. iverson, shaq and T-mac were once dominating the game. and still have the ability to take over when needed. Ex. 51 points vs. kobe just 2 years ago when he was in the "decline" of his career. Toronto is in need of a HUGE change. your young guys in Chris Bosh, Jose, Andrea have simply not done ANYTHING. Shaq has 4 championships, Allen has been to the finals and deep into the playoffs. T-mac is the only one who hasnt been able to do anything in the playoffs. PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER on the same team. you would fulfill 3 major needs in the team. Shaq- Center, Tracy- Small Forward and Allen Iverson could play either point guard or shooting guard. if he played point you could trade away Jose for a decent shooting guard or YOUNG energy guy.

and you have to stop the whole ego thing. If these 3 still potential all stars were together they would play like veterans win 40-45 games. make the playoffs in 5th or 6th seed and have a chance to match up with Orlando or boston. If anything you should worry about miami and thier egos considering none of them havent run the show themselves for the last 7 years. but bottem line if toronto wants a shot at a championship run this year- sign all 3 to minimum contracts and let the boys play.

Blogger's note: If you see Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal as potential all-stars I suggest you check the calendar.

[J]

@Rob V:

You're right that the best thing for Bosh to have done was simply say "No comment" or "I'm focused on the team I'm on now". It would have saved us a lot of grief (on the boards). If anything, I think we've learned that Bosh is no different from most people his age, and what he lacks is a PR manager who knows what it means to be professional.

That said, Toronto fans tend to be a passionate lot, and even Halladay's departure from the Jays was met by a good amount of vitriol despite the night and day difference in his behavior (super professional). I really think no matter what Bosh said or did, a good number of TO fans were going to get up in arms anyway, and Bosh just made their job easier.