A TV deal may be coming soon; and a busy week ahead for Canada

This is probably going to come as good news to a few of you, and will ease the load of e-mails I’ve been getting.

I understand we should hear soon – maybe as early as today – some resolution to the television situation for the world championships that start a week from Saturday.

I don’t have details on who will do the games or how many they will show but history would suggest we’ll see all the Canadian games and we’ll have to be on our own to watch any playoff round games (I’m thinking maybe Canada doesn’t make the quarter-finals) wherever we can.

(The trip over here is to do Canada’s first round, the round of 16 and come home unless there’s some shock-the-world Canadian results).

Anyway, any television package they can put together is a great idea because, as we know, the programs can use some exposure it doesn’t now get.

I know that one of the qualifiers recently, might have been the Olympic one in 2007, came together as a TV package at the final minute because of negotiations over cost (which is not unsubstantial) and airtime availability.

The good thing going for broadcasters this time around is the time change between here and Turkey.

According to my research (which involves google), it’s a seven-hour difference between here and Izmir, putting Canada’s games at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. Eastern time in the first round.

Besides, if we’re going to do live blogs off these games – and that’s certainly the plan at the moment, still to be finalized with the big cheeses – it’s better if you can see what I’m seeing, I guess.

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This might be one of those cases where news is so old it becomes new again.

Had a couple of calls from people yesterday telling me the Raptors had hired a coach and lost a player and I’m like, ‘duh.’

But, yes, it’s official.

Scott Roth joins Jay’s staff as an assistant and Dwayne Jones cleared waivers and was released.

And that, folks, is what passes as Raptors news for the day.

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Speaking of Canada, the national team’s got a pretty busy week ahead starting today.

They’re in Athens to play Serbia, Greece and Slovenia on consecutive days starting today and then they move on to Ankara to play Argentina, Turkey and Lebanon on three straight days starting Aug. 21.

That’s a pretty ambitious schedule but it’s also pretty important. Not so much to get an idea of what other teams might do (everyone’s going to be playing possum to some degree less than two weeks from the worlds) but so they can get used to the officiating, the logistics of being in Europe and, frankly, work on aspects of their game that really need it before the begin in Izmir on Aug. 28.

So don’t put a whole lot of stock in the results but it’ll be interesting to hear from dispassionate observers – and I have some at both tournaments – about how they actually look for real.

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Let’s kick off a bit of the mail, shall we?

Q: Hi Doug, what are the odds that a newspaper journalist from Toronto will ever get a spot on a programme like Around the Horn. Toronto's a pretty big market and never get's any representation on the show (while markets like Denver and Miami continue to have reporters on the show). As someone who seems to have a lot to say about a lot of sports (not just basketball) I would think you would make a great panelist on one of these "south of the border" shows. Think you should mention it to your friend Jackie MacMullan..

Farhan L, London, UK

A: Great idea except for one thing: No one down there cares a lick what we think up here, really.

What I’d like to see is some forward-thinking programmer at some all-sports station here develop some kind of daily show that involves some of us in some form. I honestly think there are some sportswriters who have lots to say on a lot of topics, and I don’t mean just screaming into some radio microphone in a “hey, listen to me” format.

But it takes money and organization and a commitment to a five-day-a-week show that we haven’t seen.

I think TV viewers up here get short shrift on those kinds of shows – although I am so not a fan of Around The Horn it’s not funny – but until someone makes it work in a Canadian format with recognizable Canadian names, we’ll be force fed American opinions. And that’s too bad.

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This is a day late but I read it somewhere yesterday and it’s way, way worth the diversion.

Here’s a Did You Know that’s kind of odd. Very odd.

Aug. 16 seems to be a pretty weird day for big names dying.

These folks all drew their last breath:

Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth, John Diefenbaker, Idi Amin, Bela Lugosi, Margaret Mitchell.

Oh, and a true giant of my craft, the incomparable Jim Murray.

Cue the scary music.

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My name?

Mud.

Seems I misheard Super Wife the other day (yeah, like that never happens) and the mighty Catch 22s dragon boat team won its division on the weekend.

Oops. More Alpo for dinner.

Anyway, a tug-of-war between two teams involves tying a rope to the back of each boat, pointing them in opposite directions and letting them go. Sounds fun.

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Okay, first shot at mail.

Click here to send because I think I’ve got Friday afternoon off and it could be a nice afternoon on a stool getting the answers done so the weekend can be comprised of just one mailbag and a day off for moi. Wouldn’t that be cool? I think it would be.

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Yes, I was indeed Argo Boy for a one-day emergency fill-in yesterday and I have to tell you, that’s a pretty good gig when things are going well.

Not only was it a great day to sit outside and watch practice (if I knew what I was seeing it would have helped a bit but the weather was good) and to see a large group of athletes having as much fun as they seemed to be having was pretty cool.

I know it probably has everything to do with their record and the somewhat unexpected success they’ve been having but it was fun.

Anyway, end of digressions, end of transmission.

If I’m here tomorrow it may be a slow morning. Super Son and I are off to see Aerosmith tonight and who knows what kind of impact that may have on an aged fellow.

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Comments

[DougG]

In the WWF, 3 super star era of the NBA, I guess a team that doesn't even have one star needs to beef up their coaching staff. It's too bad Toronto can't add some star players as well.

[CM]

I'm sure your seats will be much better than mine but nevertheless, 'see you tonight'

Blogger's note: I don't know about that, mine were pretty, um, inexpensive.

[Cluck Kent]

Take earplugs, tinitus is no fun and lasts forever.

[Terence]

Hey Doug, I'm wondering if you could make a wee comment and offer your insight about the recently-launched Sportsnet One. Any idea if this will turn into a debacle similar to when TSN2 went on the air i.e. when viewers were essentially held at ransom while the various big wigs were 'negotiating' over the broadcasting rights?

If I'm not mistaken, it'll be carrying 35 Raptors games this coming season.

Blogger's note: Will make a note to do it tomorrow morning.

[Bill from NS]

Great news on a TV deal getting done for the Worlds. I hope they will air the games live and replay the Canada games in the evening as well. I will be able to follow your live blog from work, but will not be able to watch. Go Canada Go!

[Derek H]

Hey Doug, maybe you mentioned this already. Sorry if you have. I am behind on the blog but trying to catch up. I was wondering what happened to Carl English. Is he injured or did he not have a good camp and got cut or maybe he chose to sit out this year?

I am looking forward to seeing how the team performs in Turkey. I went to see them play last Friday. I was most disappointed in the low attendance. These guys who sacrifice alot to represent their country deserve better. Maybe if ticket prices for all seats where fixed at $20 and those greedy $$$holes at ticketmaster didn't charge $13 a ticket for 'service' more would have come to watch them. Of course if there were some stars (ie. Nash, Parker) and more NBA players it may also have been different.
The Raptors should have been in attendance. Perhaps they could have learned from the national team how to play defense and with some grit. It was the best defense and most grit played by a home basketball team in years at the ACC.

Wouldn't it be ironic if they get out of the first round and face Turkey in an elimination game. I know it is exhibition Doug and they played 3 home games and seemed to play well but what odds do you give them to make it out of their pool to the next round?

Blogger's note: English is hurt and I've got them 50-50 to advance right now

[Ben F]

Doesn't "The Reporters with Dave Hodge" act as, effectively, a Canadian version of "Around the Horn"? I know that ESPN has their own American version of The Reporters, but it seems to be what you're describing - a roundtable discussion featuring Canadian personalities talking about Canadian sports issues.

Now if we could only get some variety. I don't mind Cox, Simmons, Naylor or Farber, but there are more sports journalists out there with an opinion than those four (yourself included).

Blogger's note: It's a good show; I'm talking more a five-day-a-week broadcast

[Danny]

Hey Doug, I think the guys that will be on stage (Aerosmith) are actually older than you.

[Chris]

Prime Time Sports or whatever McCowan's show is seems more like the Canadian equivalent of a show where they have a bunch of sportswriters come on to talk about things.

[Nick]

Hey Doug, with all this hopping around from sport to sport, do you think there might be a chance that you could become UFC boy when they host the first sanctioned event in Ontario? Would be quite the experience no?

Blogger's note: If they had a UFC card in my backyard, I'd go sit on the front porch

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
Aerosmith!? Well that is pretty cool, and just leave the earplugs at home. I think those of us of a certain age should relax and wear our tinnitus, bifocals, wrinkles, lapses in memory, silvery manes, etc. etc. proudly as testament to years lived well, fully and at top volume. (What the heck - ask them to crank it up a bit tonight.) Now what does one wear to an Aerosmith concert these days - you know, to "blend"? Think you might even give us a mini-review in the morning? Rock on, Doug!

Blogger's note: I'm pretty sure I'll chronicle some of it in the morning :). And I'm pretty sure I've got torn black t-shirts here somewhere

[Mike D.]

Doug, if your seats are inexpensive you might want to bring a gas mask. The only time I saw Aerosmith we were up in the nosebleeds and the fumes from various substances that were floating up from below were pretty potent. Of course, that was 20 years ago and most of their fan base is probably retired by now and smoking nothing stronger than dried prunes.....

[Timmy]

Any reason why a Jose deal is taking so long? Any progress?

[james]

Are they not Boston boys? Perhaps something in Celtic green.

[Joe]

Doug,

Is Turkoglu still going to play in the worlds? It will be interesting to see if he uses the world championships as a springboard for a better season with Phoenix.

Blogger's note: He's playing

[Pipit]

Doug, I'm just curious and maybe you can give us a bit of the Grunt's history. 15 years ago when there is no Raptors team yet, what are you covering mainly and how did you get this Raptors gig?

Blogger's note: 16 years ago I was covering baseball and international basketball at Canadian Press and they were looking for someone to do basketball. Since I'd played a bit and covered a lot, it was a natural fit; and that's what the Star thought in 1997.

[saatuk]

Interesting Basketball thing. Last night on the internet I watched U of Kentucky playing Western Ontario in Windsor. Amazing what one can find online.. Western gave Kentucky a good game. It was a little sloppy as Western had only 7 practises and Kentucky 6, but still quite watchable. A lot of experienced players on Western and, of course, Kentucky is full of NBA talent as usual. Kentucky pulled away in the second half.

For this exhibition there were unlimited time-outs and unlimited fouls so it was different . . .

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Douglas,
How long have you been growing your hair for this blessed event? You should see if you could borrow DeMar's horned rims and, sporting that torn black T, we'll be watching for your posted version of Garth (a la Dana Carvey) in the morning. Rock on, Ziggy Star Grunt! Cheers.

[The J]

"off to see Aerosmith tonight and who knows what kind of impact that may have on an aged fellow."
Are you talking about yourself or Steve Tyler?
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Also what do you think of Off the Record? Does that kind of fit the bill or are the panelists not knowledgable enough?

[CARLoS M.]

Isn't "Off the Record" the type of daily round-table show you are describing? Although Landsberg should lay off the morgue make-up!

[Peter]

So when you're sitting out on the back deck with Super Dog, eating that Alpo on his front porch, just remember there's a bright side to all of this... APPARENTLY SUPER WIFE READS YOUR BLOG!!!!

We're as shocked as you are!

[doug]

so as reported in your paper...is this real or fake...I honestly don't know, but I can say this, pro athletes much to the chagrin of "amateurs", (ask a scratch golfer to go and play with a pro for a dose of reality) are good, dam good...the elite are the elite...so who knows good conversation piece...hope Tyler doesn't fall off the stage...but he's a good one, one of a dieing breed...

[doug]

oops forgot the link...

www.thestar.com/sports/tennis/article/848844--did-roger-federer-really-do-this?bn=1

[de]

http://www.galanissportsdata.com/basketball/online/popupAcro.asp?game=2

Greece: Canada stats...don't open unless you are sitting down

[Lorie]

Doug,
Sadly, another illustrious name must be added to those who have died on the 16th day of August: Bobby Thomson. Cue Mozart's "Requiem" (aka "the scary music"): "Lacrimosa dies illa...".

Blogger's note: Wow. Heckuva day