All about verticality and all kinds of other fun stuff

A rather smallish mailbag – I think I might have missed a bunch of questions or misplaced a file or something – but it’s full of fun stuff.

Peruse it as you like, I’m off to shootaround soon and will be back for the usual in-game hijinks later on.

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Q: Hi Doug. During Wednesday's Raptor game I asked a question during the in game blog, and you asked if I could submit it in the mail-bag:

During the Mavs/Clippers game Tuesday evening the play call guy referred more than once to the "principle of verticality". What does that mean?

You mentioned that it's an interesting concept about a defender having the right to "air space.”

Thanks

 

Peter L, Kingston

A: It might be the most missed call in the league and it’s a basic tenet of the “points of emphasis” we talk with referees about every season.

Basically, it’s this:

If a defender establishes position, he has that position from the ground to the sky. If he goes straight up and contact occurs, he’s still in what’s known as a “legal guarding position” and shouldn’t be called for a foul.

That’s why you see players and coaches standing rigid with their arms in the air pleading with the officials that they’d established “verticality” when there’s been contact under the basket.

It’s the most difficult call in all of basketball and I kind of like saying “principle of verticality” because it sounds cool.

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Q: Doug: I agree with your comment about Bargnani (A frustrating sight). Another thing that annoys me is watching him take a three and hightailing it back on defense rather than following his shot. He has a good idea where the rebound is going as soon as the ball leaves his hand. Is his retreat based on instruction from Jay or simply a personal habit to make sure that he gets back on 'D' before his match-up?

Paul B, Toronto

A: Entirely strategic and here’s why:

What’s one of the things this team does defensively? Get back in transition.

What’s one of the things that’s hard to do? Offensive rebound missed three’s.

So I think – and I know a lot of coaches concur – that it’s better to get back and try to stop teams than go to the offensive glass from at least 22 feet away and hope you can track the ball.

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Q: Hey Doug. I'm curious what you think the top five worst team names are in the league?

David S, Toronto

A: A good, old fashioned list.

Easy.

Utah Jazz.

Toronto Raptors.

New Jersey Nets.

Memphis Grizzlies.

Los Angeles Lakers.

What the heck do any of them mean?

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Q: Hey Doug. I was at the game against the Sacramentos a couple of weeks back, and noticed you shared a little pregame pow-wow with the legendary Dick Bavetta. Got any good stories about him, or care to share why he'd stop by to chat with an ol' grunt before the game?

 

Brian D, Hamilton

A: Oh, it was nothing, really. You travel around enough and you’ll run into more than a few officials in hotel concierge lounges and lobbies and you get to know one another.

And it’s always nice to say hi to a friend and that’s pretty much what it was.

Stories? Not really. A nice man, what you see is what you get and he’s always willing to explain what’s going on on the court during moments of confusion so guys like me and the TV folks can get the right information out there.

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Q: Dude, you mentioned the other morning that super family was reading the newspaper. Were you referring to the "actual" printed paper or laptops at the breakfast table?

I ask because I personally cannot remember the last time I had a newspaper in hand. It would seem that those are almost obsolete. Is the newspaper industry shrinking year over year (less subscriptions), and where do you see your business going in future?

 

Rob V, Conestogo

A: I was talking about the actual physical newspaper, a copy of which lands on the front porch at Casa Doug every morning and is read at breakfast each day by Super Son and Super Wife while I’m working on the blog.

Oh, the circulation figures are down across the industry, which is why management is offering buyouts, looking for ways to generate more revenue and exploring other financial options. Where’s it going? Well, the first publisher who figures out how to maximize earnings off websites will be a hero to everyone; until then we muddle through and try to “grow” the business in other ways, I guess.

To me, reading is as much a tactile exercise as anything but I’m an old codger.

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Q: Hi Sir. I have a draft question in general not specifics. I know it is early for you regarding the draft but I will submit it anyway. It appears clear that Jose plays his best when he is the undisputed number 1. There are a couple of highly touted point guards who are projected to be in the range of the Raps when they draft (ie Kemba Walker). So the question is, if the current roster goes unchanged, would you steer away from drafting a potential stud point guard to avoid potential issues with Jose? Or would you draft one anyway knowing that he is getting a little older and will need to be replaced sooner or later? Or is the issue moot because the Raps perspective is to draft best available or is there a specific need they are targeting? Lastly with things as they stand currently, how many draft picks do they have this year?

Thanks

 

Randy M, Crystal Beach

A: No, I would draft the best player regardless of position; have always said that and it’s not going to change. Besides, except in the truly unique cases, point guards need some time for grooming.

Picks? They have two in the first round – their own and Miami’s – and their own in the second round.

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Q: Hey Doug. Quick question. Does Mother Star care whether or not your readers prefer to read your print articles, or your blog, or both? I know that I tend to come to your blog first (in a feed reader) and only click over to your articles if you post that there's something interesting in them, and I was just curious if the Star has any particular interest in a particular type of traffic on the site? Do they ever ask you to try to drive more traffic to your articles?

 

Darren A, Toronto

A: You know, they’ve never really said. I think they’re just glad someone’s still reading.

Seriously, I find they just want stuff well done and quick and wherever people see it, they’re fine with. Of course, the immediacy of the web drives the news of the moment so I guess that’s where the most traffic starts.

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Q: Hi Doug. Thanks again for the hard work you put in everyday to keep us fans on top of everything Raptors, and even non-Raptors related (hello, DWTS)!

You need some mailbag filler so here it goes: How does a jersey number get picked if the player doesn't have a care as to what number he receives? Eg "Ajinca? He’ll be No. 42."

Thanks Doug!

 

Mark H, Toronto

A: Actually, Ajinca told us he asked for No. 42, something to do with his hometown in France. But if there’s no real interest by a player in any specific number, the team would just assign one. Mostly, though, a player will have some reason (one he’s had forever, homage to something or somebody, superstition) for asking for one.

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Q: Sending this in not to complain or moan, but just genuinely looking for basketball counseling. I like basketball. I went to the first Raptors game. I have been every year to a game here, a game there. Went to playoff games, preseason games, regular season games. But I just can't find it in me to cheer for them any more. It's not that I hate them or want them to fail, I just don't care. I still watch basketball, just can't watch the Raptors any more. Is there any way to renew my love of the team? Is there any basketball hope for the people of Toronto?

 

Daniel D, Toronto

A: From what you say, there would appear to be no way to renew your “love of the team.” Too bad. And I have no clue whether there’s basketball “hope” for the people of Toronto; I think this team has some nice pieces and won’t be 21 games below .500 forever but if you’re looking for assurances from me, you’re too far gone.

However, as long as the game brings you enjoyment, watch and have fun.

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Q: Hey Doug, does the slide that the Cavs are currently in say more about how good LeBron is, or how little he actually had to work with in Cleveland? There is little surprise that they are not nearly as good without him but did anyone expect them to be this bad when they only lost one player?

 

Reid B, Guelph

A: I certainly didn’t think the Cavs would be good at all before the season started – I figured they’d be the worst team because the remaining players wouldn’t be able to handle the attention they’d get from opponents in the post-LeBron era. But I think you need to take into account the loss of Anderson Varejao for the season, the step back that J.J. Hickson’s taken and a couple of other injuries as contributing factors to them being this bad.

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Q: Greetings, while considering the amount of time that, it would appear, that it takes for someone to acclimate themselves to the NBA game I have began to wonder if there might be a reason, not obvious, as to why there does not appear to be a real development league for basketball players. I wonder if it is impossible to populate a group of teams that would play under the same rule structure as the NBA or whether there is a business reason to keep the last step as big as it is?

 

Doug T, Brantford

A: I would venture to say that because there are so few jobs that come up open each year and such a wide variety of players to take them (collegians, non-North Americans, free agents) it’s really not worth the time and effort.

Besides, they really do already have two -- the NCAA and the D League – that do an all right job.

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Q: Hey Doug not sure that Robbie Burns day is a good enough excuse for haggis.

Have a couple of questions: Who would you say are the greatest Raptor killers guys like Bibby who just go nuts against them.

Also wondering after 16 years in the league how many teams do the raptors have a winning record against.

 

Mike C, Elliott Lake

A: Raptor killers? Pick a journeyman, any journeyman. (I keed, a little). Think you’d probably have to put Vince, Tracy and Jamal Crawford on that list and then from there, right?

Winning records? Going into this season, that list would be Charlotte, the Clippers, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

‘-

Q: Someone asks a question where you know the answer, but it puts a player in a bad light (eg. ritual for 10 day contract guys is that they have to buy first dance at a bar... or something similar). Do you answer honestly, don't answer, so that you don't put the player/team in a bad light, or claim that you don't know the answer? What do your professional morals make you do in this situation?

 

Paul B, Toronto

A: Nah, I wouldn’t pull back at all. The thing is, in some aspects of my job – the In-Game Blog Thingy, the comments section of the blog – there’s not a chance to engage in debate and unless there’s a rather clear cut answer I sometimes hold off until I find some appropriate time.

The thing is, I’d love to make my points more often than I can but if I do and don’t encourage discussion, I’m accused of cutting off debate and that’s probably not fair.

But if it’s something I think I can answer definitively, I do.

I will say this, though: During the game, I get so many comments and questions disguised as comments that it’s hard to pick ones that are in equal parts entertaining and informative and relevant to that night’s game.

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Q: Hi Doug. The pundits all have Reggie on his way out before the trade deadline. A defining characteristic of the Raptors for years has been a lack of toughness and rebounding. It’s a young team that needs a veteran presence to teach a strong work ethic. Reggie does all these things. The players and fans like Reggie. Why shouldn't BC resign this guy?

 

David D, Toronto

A: I think there can be a very good case to be made to bring back Reggie, but I wonder if he’d be willing to be the fourth big man on a team that likes to play three bigs and would be willing to take a cut in pay to do it?

If they can turn him into a younger player and a draft pick at the trade deadline in some package deal, I think they should do it.

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Q: Doug: This season is going down the drain as fast as my new Kohler super toilet flushes waste. I still can't understand the dynamics of the Jarret Jack trade? What did we get in return for him, Bayless?????? Peja gets bought out, so I don't see this as a one for one trade in any positive way. Jack was pretty much as good as Caulderon, and Bayless is a huge step back from those two. What was the sense in that, and I know it doesn't rival the Alonzo Mourning fiasco, but it is close. Your thoughts?

 

Frank K, Orillia

A: I disagree with you and so do the coaches. They see Bayless as a better pure backup point guard who may grow into that position as a starter and they also feel – and I agree wholeheartedly and always have – that Jose is better knowing the job is his without having to look over his shoulder.

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Q: Hey Doug. What do you think about the Vernon Wells trade??? Can you think of any NBA players that have "owned up" to bad contracts?

Thanks

 

M L, Toronto

A: Not sure what you mean by “owned up” and if you’re hinting that Wells did since I don’t recall Vernon telling the Jays to rip up his deal and pay him less money.

And I think it was a good trade, leaves them with more money to spent on Bautista if they want (and I think they should) and it was probably time for a new start for Wells.

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Q: Hi Doug. Mentioning the Premiere League sort of poses a question. How many professional basketball teams are there in Canada?

(By the way, the Premier League lost a team from Vermont yesterday. The owners ran out of money.)

And a second “by the way,” the team in Saint John seems to be drawing reasonably well. The Mill Rats moved to Saint John from Manchester, New Hampshire for this season. The Mill Rats also have a former NBA player as their coach. Research time for you.

 

Dave M, Sussex, NB

A: You mean Jaren Jackson?

As for Canadian teams, there are the two you know about and at last glance there were teams in Vancouver and Edmonton in something known as the International Basketball League but, truth be told, I have no idea if that league or those teams still exists. Minor league hoops is a rather dicey proposition for the most part.

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Q: Hey Doug. Seeing the results from the fan voting of the 2011 All Star game, you're right, we got it right. For once....

My question is this, seeing as the fans vote for the starters for the All Star game. The one major event for All Star weekend, why don't the fans vote for the participants for all the skills competitions for All Star Saturday night? We voted for Demar in as the last participant last year and we voted for the winner, Nate Robinson. (We got that one wrong)

For the most part, the participants in the Skills Comp, and 3pt Shootout are right. I like watching Steve Nash and Derrick Rose go head to head. I like seeing Paul Pierce and Stephan Curry shoot the lights out. But, like all the other fans, we would like to see and have the opportunity to vote for LeBron, Derrick Rose, Demar and Blake Griffin to fly through the sky only to throw down a furious dunk that leaves us amazed.

Thanks for your time!

 

Anthony R, Milton

A: From your lips to the NBA’s ears. I understand you can vote for the participants in the punt-pass-kick thing or whatever they call it, but you’re limited to guys who actually will be in L.A. and might want to take part.

And that’s the problem with the other stuff like the dunk contest and three-point shooting thing. If a guy doesn’t want to do it, or plans to be away from the idiocy of all-star weekend, the league’s not going to compel him to be there for the Saturday night shenanigans just because the fans voted for him.

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Q: Doug. There are four ways to improve or make changes to your team. 1. Trades, 2. Free Agent Signing 3. Draft 4. Improve internally.

All the trades and transactions this season thus far suggest the Raps are leaning towards improving through draft and development of young guys.

Do you feel the success of the Thunder developing their young players is causing GM's to follow their model?

Thanks!

 

Jeff M, Saint John

A: No, I don’t. I think circumstances dictate what way teams go: Whether they have the financial resources to be players in free agency or have enough desirable assets to make significant trades to improve their teams. It’s hard to follow a “model” if you’re not operating from the same starting point.

That said, with few truly desirable assets they want to divest themselves of, I think in Toronto it’s going to be a combination of drafts and the development of young players that’s at the base of whatever growth they have.

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Q: Hey Doug. What is the situation with the Raptors 1st round pick they received from the Miami Heat? Is there conditions on it or will the Raptors have a late 1st rounder no strings attached?

Thanks

 

Will U, Sarnia

A: The only “protection” on the pick is if the Heat don’t make the playoffs, which is a virtual impossibility at the moment so Toronto will have two first-rounders this year—their own and the Heat’s.

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Comments

[Smalahove]

@Rob.V:
Ramones fan, are we? Game ops should start playing that song, it would be a huge hit in the stands. Doug, can you pass that along? :)
***
It wasn't just the Jurassic Park thing, they thought having "rap" in the name would appeal to the young hip-hop crowd. Rap-tors, get it? Same thing for the Blue Jays, Labatts owned the team and they thought having "blue" in the name would get people to think about a certain brand of suds. And that's how we got stuck with two awful team names. Marketing people are such dweebs.

[CC]

raptors came from a creature that is already extinct which this squad will soon to be....

[Fergie]

Doug,

Didn't the Bosh sign and trade just return our pick to us (from the Jermaine O'Neal deal)? Did we get the Heat pick, too? I thought that went to Cleveland for LeBron...

Thanks!

[Shawn F]

Hate to hate but Jack Armstrong and Matt Devlin are embarrassing. Jack may or may not be an unfunny muppet. I have to watch the game with the sound off because of the cringe worthy commentary coming from these guys. And Jack just doesn't shut up. I'm sure they are nice guys but come on! Anyone know what their contract lengths are?

[kelsey]

Raptors is one of the worst, as its so jurrasic park(if thats correct name of movie)..Anyways it would be nice if one day they do move to the name "Huskies" with White and blue, to follow suit of of Toronto teams, Argos, Blue Jays and dare I say it Leafs!!!

Listen, I know none of you want to put the hedgehammer on Bargnani or Triano, but I will. Andrea is good for his skill set,BUT TORONTO WILL NEVER BE A WINNING TEAM WITH HIM BEING A MAIN OPTION NEVER!!!! Dirk is way way better and Dallas had 1 legitimate run. No Team wins with a7ft jump shooting player.

I know there is injuries, but they were in enough close games where I believe coaching may have put them over the top...This team has no line of order, any player can just come on the court and jack up shots, we have seen this for the last 2 yrs!!!..

I hate the word tank, but it serves no purpose for Raptors to win more games unless they make 1st round, if not forget it..Draft pick cant hurt, they cant screw up again?? Can they? Raptors need Good Scouts!!!!!!!!

[JohnnyB]

Hey Doug,
Noticed JYD is attending several more games this year. Is in in position to join the Toronto offices again?

Blogger's note: Not on the basketball side

[SLR]

PERRY JONES pleeease... probably need a top 2 pick to get him tho... 6-10 SG/SF (and still growing)... i wouldnt be surprised if he is the only franchise player out of this draft!

Looks like a young T Mac!

For all those mentioning Thabeet, kwami brown, olawakandi...

dont forget the other end of the spectrum... blake griffin, dwight howard, LBJ!!!... i'd rather win 20 games and pick in the top two or three and have a shot at a franchise changer...than win 35 games and pick 9th!

[Lake Simcoe]

My super cat spell Rap....Tor....ontorian...s, hmm... kind of opposite in the reality!?

[GM]

Yeah, it costs a lot of money to buy season tickets. Or single games, for that matter. If you like going to games, and feel it's worth it, go for it. If not, don't. Easy-peasy. Personally, I don't care so much about the bigger picture (winning championships). I like watching individual games so if I lived in Toronto, I'd continue going to games even in a losing season. But that's just my opinion. Obviously it would be better if the team were competitive with a .500 record or even a championship-calibre team, but not at any cost. If the Raptors got a bunch of better players I didn't like, I'd stop cheering for them and find a different team to root for. I used to bleed Laker purple and gold when Kareem, Magic, Nixon, McAdoo, Worthy, Wilkes, et. al. played for them. I even loved them when they were awful with Divac as the star and Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones. But when they got Rodman and Shaq and Phil Jackson, I stopped liking them. So I like championships when it's a team I can get behind. Otherwise I'll take losing over players I don't like. I'll never understand jumping on a bandwagon when a team gets good, or off, for that matter, when a team stinks.

[The J]

Heres another piece of trivia about team names. The Memphis Grizzlies were originally from Vancouver ( I think it was Vancouver, maybe Calgary), where there are hundreds of Grizzly Bears, hence the name Grizzlies. Very interesting info you can find on Wikipedia these days.

[The J]

Oh, even more team trivia I found. Apparently the Raptors was a team that played their games in Toronto. Their location is still Toronto, but they are not "in" any games any more.

[sam]

@kelsey - If the Raps had a tough as nails - widebody - shot blocking - rebounding 7 footer to clog the lane and make it difficult to get to the rim - Andrea would be a star! The problem as you know is finding tough as nails - widebody - shot blocking - rebounding 7 footer to clog the lane and make it difficult to get to the rim -

Agreed - Jack and Matt are a little over the top at times -They were refreshing after the Skirsky years, but now they need to drop it down a few notches,

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Raptors isn't such a bad moniker. It could easily evolve toward the bird variety, which wouldn't be all that bad an idea. It's true that the Jurassic thing was in play back in 94-95; apparently a lot of people were on that wavelength when they were fielding name suggestions back then. I remember submitting "Toronto Sore Ass Wrecks", and see, the name would still apply today!
So cheers, and go Raps? Doug, any hint of a hint of trade rumblings? Any spidey senses? Anything at all? Time to start making stuff up?

Blogger's note: Dead quiet; maybe fabrication time indeed :)

[Delroy]

Sam Mitchell got fired for the performance that team did that year, don't you think they need to fire jay. I dont think he has a good coaching method and he has so many excuses when the team plays badly.

[Binder]

GM .. regarding "schtick" I could not have said it any better. I remeber a few years ago, Norma Wick was interviewing a no name Dback from the Buffalo Bills during a Raps game. I swear we missed 3 to 4 minutes of commentary and action, TSN, or CBC or Score or Raps Net did not even cut back to the action during the interview. Do you think ESPN whould have acted that way?

[DougG]

I used to post here all the time but stopped this year because I have lost interest in the Raptors, the same way I lost interest in the Leafs. There is only so much losing a fan can take. I was very hopeful when they hired Colangelo but quite frankly now I don't know if the guy has a clue as to what he is doing, or he forgot it all once he got to Toronto. This has got to be the low point in the franchise history. The only thing that amazes me this year is how loyal the Toronto fan base is, given the losing and somewhat hopeless future, and the prices MLSE charges to go see the games live. From the sounds of it they plan to keep Colangelo, probably because they are still making money, so I don't suppose there is much to look forward to for years to come. I wish someone could figure out what the problem is because the sports fans in Toronto deserve a break and I'm running out of sports to get interested in. The only hope is the Blue Jays seem to be coming around, although Rodgers is still reluctant to spend money, so that hope may not last either.

[Lorie]

D-Mac Ottawa!
We've just now all picked ourselves up off the floor! (Which is good 'cause it's time to pack up and blow this rice paddy for another day.) Hysterical. Absolutely and utterly hysterical. See ya' at the DSIGBT! Still chuckling....Toronto Sore Ass Wrecks.... :) :)

[Manale]

I hate the name Raptors, but a dinosaur mascot is about as cool as it comes if you're 6 years old.

[Dave]

Posted by: jhp | January 30, 2011 at 08:21 PM http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/01/30/durant-bosh-is-fake-tough-guy/?ls=iref:nbahpt2

any comment on this Bosh story?

Blogger's note: Let me think on it a day

OK your Day is up! So Feb 01 at 8am I want to read on your main blog your answer to this story! There is lots to talk about!

[J]

@Fergie: Yes, we got the Heat's late 1st round pick as well. Cleveland got two 1st rounders too. They're obviously spread out over many years.

@DougG, who stated, "This has got to be the low point in the franchise history":

I know we all have our own opinions, but while this is a low point, it is certainly far from the lowest. I don't suppose you remember when we had a GM who traded Vince for nothing (not to be confused with Bosh for nothing, since Vince still had a couple years left on his deal) and made the Araujo pick? The GM who seemingly couldn't do anything right, even on the most basic level. That team, full of vets and journeymen, was headed nowhere. The only bright spot was a young Chris Bosh, who apparently has been declared by most people (not me) to be not that good anyway. There was literally no other prospect on that team, unless you count the likes of Araujo, Sow or Moiso.

We're sucking now, and while it is yet to be determined whether our youngsters are any good, it is far better to suck due to youth and inexperience than from whatever plagued that 2004-2005 team. Though they might never be all-stars (and it's too early to tell), I'm hopeful because of the likes of DeRozen, Davis and Bayless. And while BC has indeed not been the Midas we foolishly expected, he has shown himself to not be one who sits around doing nothing. It's easy to say look at Pitino or look at Otis Smith, but both GMs are as much a product of circumstances and timing as anything else. Imagine had the Magic tanked in 2005-2006 instead of 2003-2004; it's much easier building a winner when you have a MVP-candidate and All-NBA defensive player anchoring your team.

@GM:

Your words are truth to my ears. If a fan is only a fan of a team that is a championship contender, they should probably follow the Lakers (until Kobe retires or leaves). Even such a vaunted team as the Celtics went through FOURTEEN years of mediocrity (with only 3 seasons of above .500 ball) -- occasionally making the playoffs but never a true contender. We follow for the entertainment, and the process is just as exciting as the result.