Highlights, lowlights and New Year's Eve memories

So, do you look back today or forward? Recap or predict? Remember or resolve?

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Maybe look back today and look forward tomorrow?

Sounds good to me.

And herewith are five rather memorable moments, good and bad, of the calendar year that’s wrapping up.

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The last shot

For all the good stuff that Chris Bosh did for his seven years in Toronto – and surely we can all agree he did an awful lot of good – the fact that his final moment at the Air Canada Centre as a Raptor was that missed tip that would have won the Golden State game in such dramatic fashion is a shame.

Seeing him lying on the court in frustration, watching the Warriors celebrate Nellie passing Lenny and the Raptors losing a crucial game was tough, wasn’t it?

Now, we didn’t know he’d break his face in Cleveland a couple of nights later and never wear the uniform again but in hindsight, that was a tough way to go out.

Ball

‘Nuf said?

Not really. The whole Hedo Turkoglu saga was one that made 2010 memorable on a few levels.

He had some good nights, lots of bad ones, and the “ball” post-game interview with Jack Armstrong will be the enduring memory of a good signing that went terribly wrong, awfully quickly.

A feel good win

Raptors 106, Lakers 105

Toronto gets a good whistle with seconds left, Kobe misses at the buzzer (I swear it was going in from my angle) and it was the most electric the arena was in the calendar year.

The non-trade

Remember the excitement everyone felt in the summer when Jose and Reggie were off to Charlotte for Tyson Chandler and Boris Diaw?

Well, would you do that trade today?

Would everyone be comfortable with Jarrett Jack as the starting point guard, no Jerryd Bayless, no Reggie and a rather portly Diaw and Chandler providing interior defence perhaps at the expense of Ed Davis?

I wonder. Not sure I would.

The one no-show

Biggest game of the year, as it turns out. Playoffs on the line, a chance to salvage a terrible last half of the season, huge home crowd wanting something to cheer about.

Bulls 104, Raptors 88.

Season over.

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Oh yeah.

Remember I told you about the crazy deadlines that forced me to write an early plugger story on Fridays and meant we had more than a few papers published without the game story in them?

Well, they’re gone. Back to normal tonight and barring anything crazy, the gamer will be in every edition.

You’re welcome.

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My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you who gave me Pappas Brothers Steakhouse and St. Arnold’s.

Well done.

Or medium rare, I mean.

Oh, you know what I mean.

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Hey, how’s that junior pucks thing going?

None of my hotels have ESPN18 so I can’t see a highlight.

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Speaking of:

Q: This may have been covered before, but I'll give it a shot. I grew up playing many sports and gained an appreciation for all of them. While I enjoy watching/following some (hoops) more than others, you seem to show nothing but disdain for the pucks. Why is that? Perhaps you could compare the two sports to each other in light of clarifying your love/hate perspective of the two?

Dave M, Calgary

A: I don’t think it’s “disdain” as much as it is a desire to mock. You have to admit, the media sometimes goes, you know, over the top with its love for the pucks and its desire to bring every miniscule morsel of information breathlessly to the public.

And I love the fact a team that hasn’t sniffed a Stanley Cup in almost half a century can evoke such passion; it’s crazy.

For the game itself? I don’t understand the intricacies of it well enough to offer any comment on the various styles and skill levels of the players or teams so maybe it is a case of mocking that which you do not know.

But it’s fun.

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I guess the only thing approximating news with the HOTH (that’s Heroes Of The Hardcourt for all those who ask) was that Jose, Jerryd and Sonny all sat out practice yesterday in Dallas.

Can’t see any way that Sonny suits up tonight against the Rockets, the other two will most likely be game time decisions but we’re going to wander down to shootaround later this morning to see what’s up.

Go to the twitter thing and check later, I’ll put up any news I get.

Oh, if neither Calderon nor Bayless can go, it’ll be Leandro Barbosa as the starter and, Jay keeps telling us, Julian Wright as the backup point guard.

I’d kind of like to see that.

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Speaking of Houston, here’s what Jonathan’s got today in the Chronicle.

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I’m trying to think which of the three New Year’s Eve games these guys have played was the most memorable and it was easy.

We’re in Washington in ’97 for what should be a dull night except that before the game, Darrell Walker says Tracy McGrady, then a rookie, better smarten up or he’d be out of the league in three years. Yikes. News to write. Ugh.

So we do, work a bit harder than expected and there’s a concert going on in the arena after and I can still remember sitting in the media room listening to Gladys Knight (sans Pips, as I recall) warble Auld Lang Syne.

And then it’s back to the hotel to ring in the New Year except – get this! – the lobby bar is closed and 1998 was welcomed with two Miller Lites out of the minibar. Livin’ large!

The other two New Year’s were rather ho-hum.

New Orleans in ’07, a quick walk up Bourbon Street was something everyone needs to see once. Just once.

Home to Denver in ’09. Boring.

And that’s it, a rather ho-hum New Year’s Eve history.

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Comments

[Eddy]

The Leafs may suck and be overly hyped but some of us can actually remember them winning a cup. None of us can remember the Raptors winning anything, or even coming close.

Blogger's note: Man, you're old :)

[Juan]

Doug
Long time between comments for me but I've been reading every day. Thanks for the commitment to the blog this past year and all the best for 2011.

[Mike kovacs]

Doug I'm sure you have noticed how well Hedo has been playing. For someone who showed so litle effort since his signing do you think he can keep this up? Thanks and happy New Year from us.

Blogger's note: I'm dubious

[Ray Ray]

"Well done.
Or medium rare, I mean." Another classic!

Doug - thank you for your blog, and thank you or giving all of us something to look forward to every morning.
All the best for you and the family in 2011.

[Penny]

Hi Doug

Was just wondering if you know whether the technical foul given to Jose for arguing the out of bounds call that was reversed was negated after review by the front office.
I enjoy reading the blog every morning including the nonbasketball content.
Hope you and and your family have a good 2011.

Blogger's note: I don't believe it was

[CC]

Doug, nice reply on the first comment above... :)
Happy New Year!

[Christa]

Happy New Year to you and the Super Family! Thanks for the daily and IGBT. Here's hoping that 2011 is the Year of the Raptors;)

[dave]

Happy New Year! Thanks for the daily good read of snark, HOTH, and all that other stuff that makes this blog such a good read. Any up date on Reggie? ;)

[Kejben]

All the best for You and Your family in 2011 and a lot of interesting things to write about!

[doug]

I must say the season thus far has been one of my most enjoyable to watch in a long time as far as the Raptors are concerned,,,,a lot of bad b-ball mixed in with stretches of good b-ball, which just leads to interesting games...as Forrest Gump once said "life is like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to get"..that describes this years team...on another note, we frequently discuss pop culture etc. on here...well yesterday I was channel surfing (the only kind of surfing I am proficient at) and stumbled upon the movie "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad,Mad World" a oldie but I swear it has to have the greatest cast ever assembled for one movie, the list is virtually a who's,who of all that days comics along with Spencer Tracy and Jimmy Durante, what a classic...try to sit thru it and name every actor that appears it's quite a ride....anyways Happy New years to all, i know I am getting old when these New Years Eve shows are saying who they will be having on performing and my first reaction is "who??..oh times they are a achanging...

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
If I may, my own favorite Raptors' memory of 2010 was the game against the Mavs the other night. Not just because it was an oh-so-deserving win for the local HOTH, but because it reminded me why I love sports, and this game in particular. In a year that was very nearly hijacked by misdeeds and misbehaviours, it renewed my affirmation that each new game is an opportunity to experience new possibilities - like opening a new book, discovering a new musician, cultivating a new friendship. So, as we embark on a new year, I hope we can all welcome it as an opportunity to be open to the possibilities that each new day - and each new game - brings. And Doug, a special wish for you in 2011; and that is may your relationship with the TSA remain (however tenuously!) positive so that you are able to keep doing what you do here! Now, enough sappy stuff! Doug, a question for you: what intrigues you most in a possible Barbosa/Wright PG combo?

Blogger's note: I'd just like to see Wright play there a bit

[sparky chewbarky]

Think back fans, to a 2 week period of time in November.
The raps had won 4 in a row, including a win in Orlando.
They gave the Lakers, Heat, and Boston all they could handle.
Andrea was showing us that we were wrong to have tried to make him into something that he's not (a power low post guy).
He's great at the high post, BUT when he's hanging around up high, we need a presence down low, which is what a healthy Reggie was giving us.
Looking ahead...
The injuries have sucked, but they have allowed some valuable experience for some of the younger guys.
When we get healthy again, let's pick up where we left off in Nov., in developing a unique game.
I don't think that this is a particularly strong draft, so let's make a run for the playoffs, and see what happens.
There ARE some good pieces on this team.

[Smalahove]

No Raptor coach has been asked by ownership to wear a paper bag over his head... yet. :) (I think Butch might have come close.)

[striker77]

Great blog as usual, Doug... Happy new year.

[Tim W.]

Speaking of the Calderon-Chandler-Diaw trade, any thoughts on the top 5 Raptor trades that never happened?

Blogger's note: I don't know that there were five; the only other one I can think of off the top of my head was Alvin to Boston

[doug]

ok rant time..I know your a seamhead...as i am ...I am not a stats man and although there is a place for it in sports and to use it in evaluating players it can't be the only factor taken into account..Bill James just bothers me how he has used sabermetrics to evaluate players..the latest example is this "Bill James has come away with the contrary conclusion that Alomar was wildly overrated defensively",,,anyone that saw Alomar play everyday which I did moreorless knows he was a unbelievable defensive player best I ever saw...stats, smats..watch the games.....how's "moneyball" playing out...??

[Trev]

I'm glad you enjoyed the recommendations Doug.
Pappas Bros. and St. Arnold were two of my favourite things while living in Houston.
Have a good New Years in H-Town!

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
Funny that you mention that game against Golden State. Not sure why, but when Bosh missed that shot (which should have been an easy tip-in for a player of his ability and size) I got the feeling that that would be the enduring on-the-court moment of his legacy as a Raptor. It was a sad conclusion to what was really a fine career as a Raptor. Great Blog as always. Happy New Year to you and to all the Irregulars.

[np]

To Eddy's statement, when the Leafs won a cup, there were only 6 teams in the league! Tell me what have they done since? The Leafs and the Raptors are in the same bucket!! lol

[Eddy]

"To Eddy's statement, when the Leafs won a cup, there were only 6 teams in the league! Tell me what have they done since?"
.
They have wondered, aimlessly, in the desert, for 40 years.
.
"The Leafs and the Raptors are in the same bucket!! lol"
.
Don't lose hope, it could all turn around at any moment.
.
Have faith, and a happy new year.

[Michel G]

To np's statement, the Leafs have a long and storied history. It's been lean for a while but the Raptors accomplishments can't compare. Great blog Doug. Bonne et heureuse année!

[Joe]

Happy New Year to you and your family Doug. Thanks for the retrospective on 2010. Bosh's last few games in a Raptor uniform were tough to see. Apart from the Raptors, what would be your most memorable game of the year. I vote for game 7 of the Celtics/Lakers last June. That 4th quarter was outstanding basketball.

[m]

I've long given up on hockey, a sport where the sport shows show the fights before they give the scores of the games.

[Lorie]

I could start out all old and cranky with a grouchy comment like "they don't make those great old ensemble flics anymore" even though it's true (well, except for the occasionally funny "Rat Race", I guess) but, wasn't that a stellar cast? Everyone who was anyone was in it (Joe E. Brown! Buster Keaton! The Three Stooges! Jack Benny AND Rochester!!!) and that reminded me of another classic ensemble movie from that era (another one that featured Jonathon Winters and Carl Reiner) - The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! Lots of good ones in that cast, too. Next time you watch it try and find Lee Marvin in a very small role! Hey, might be a good one for tonight...after the Raptors' game, that is. (Oh, and speaking of 1980's Rock Concerts in South Western Ontario, tonight, guess who's here in London to help us ring in the New Year? None other than Lighthouse! Let's all sway in unison, flick our Bic's and groove on.)

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug, not much to add except I really enoyed the last Raps win. Anybody want to gripe about heart just needs to watch that game. I wish a very maritime Happy New Year ( I guess we can still do that without offending anyone) to you and all of the blogites (irregulars) that frequent these digital halls. Lets hope for more wins and some great games in the new year.