Celebrating a birthday and an unusual night ahead

Here we go, once more into the breach with little or no basketball and just more ruminations of a wandering soul.

(Not to worry, I’m heading home and we’ll be back to normal in a couple of days).

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Best.

Pub.

Ever.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

In an alley off Fleet Street – yes, that Fleet Street – built in 1667, a hang out of Charles Dickens, Alfred Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and if that doesn’t get my writing mojo going, I don’t know what will.

Anyway, it was a must-see spot, it’s like a rabbit warren of tiny rooms and small staircases and it just oozes old and something memorable.

Forget that it sells the beer that tops my list – Samuel Smith’s Organic Lager and a new No. 2 in Samuel Smith’s Pure Brewed Lager – it’s the atmosphere and the people who make it.

I’m standing there by myself, soaking up the ambiance and talking to the bartender when a fine gentleman approaches the bar, orders for himself and his three cronies and looks over at me and says, “let me get you a pint, young man.”

Of course.

And that’s how I ended up being invited to the table to celebrate Derek’s 75th birthday with him and John and Roger and Steve and our two new German friends Michaela and Jochan.

The stories are flowing, at one point John starts reciting “If” by Kipling, the old lads break out in song every now and then for no other reason than they wanted to and it turned into one of the great pub days of a life.

Yes, this gig does provide some pretty good perks every now and then.

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Seriously, how much of a train wreck is the Miami Heat?

Coaches talking about players crying in the locker room after losses, players quick to say it wasn’t them shedding tears, an “us against them” bunker mentality with references to going to “war” with each other.

And I imagine tens of thousands of fans just love it.

I can’t believe anyone connected with that team could possibly be surprised by the over-analysis that comes with everything they do.

After all, they made a spectacle of themselves last summer with the over-the-top party to celebrate the creation of Super Friends, they referred to themselves as The Heatles and they have told everyone who’ll listen that they know they have targets on their backs.

They are getting what they asked for and had to expect and, frankly, they are not handling well at all.

And I’m sure most of you love it.

I think I do.

-

I’ve just realized tomorrow night will be the first Utah Jazz game I’ve covered in my career that Jerry Sloan won’t coach.

That’s going to be quite odd.

-

This happens all the time in Toronto, right?

We get in a cab the other night not entirely sure where we’re going, we’ve got the name of a pub and a vague idea of the corner it’s near in Leicester Square and the cab driver’s never heard of it.

No big deal, we say, drop us here, we’ll ask a local and find it no problem.

“Right,” the driver says, as the meter shows about 5 pounds 60, “just make it a fiver and it’s fine.”

No, no, no. Make it seven and it’s all cool.

Nope, the guy not only wouldn’t take a tip, he wouldn’t take the full fare because he wasn’t able to drop us precisely where we wanted to go, even if we weren’t entirely sure ourselves.

I’m sure that happens all the time in Toronto.

-

The most fascinating thing about the London Underground? How far underground it is.

Really.

To get down to the Jubliee Line here at Canary Wharf, you take two escalators, each about three storeys down, to get to the tube.

That’s deep underground; messes up the Blackberry reception but it’s kind of cool.

-

When it doubt, always ask an old gent for a nice pub.

Wandering and looking for a respite from huge throngs of tourists, I ask a fellow on the street for a recommendation.

“Right, then. Go down the road, turn to your right, along the way about two or three turn-ins to your left, you’ll see one. Better class of people there.”

Where’s he send me?

To The Red Lion – which had come highly recommended by a fine research assistant/friend back home and a place I hadn’t found.

It was built in 1821, redesigned in the 1870s and one of the few places that completely survived the Blitz.

It’s full of these gorgeous ornate engraved mirrors that, according the blurb on the menu, are there because the local magistrate commissioned them to reduce the privacy of snugs and the activities of local prostitutes.

I don’t think I’ve ever been in a joint that’s had snugs where local prostitutes are a concern.

Check another thing off the bucket list.

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I’ve just realized that tomorrow night will be the first game I’ve ever covered where an ex-Raptor was the head coach of the other team.

That’s going to be quite odd.

(Of course, I somehow forgot Mike Curry so ... never mind)

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This is bizarre.

A guy goes into Lillywhite’s (this big sports store at Picadilly Circus) to perhaps find a Super Son souvenir or something and it’s jam-packed with jerseys and kits and all sorts of stuff.

Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, England, Scotland, Wales, you name it.

There’s one teeny tiny rack of basketball jerseys over the corner, I could see a Kobe one, there was a Gasol one and there was one that really stood out.

Yes, deep in the heart of London, a bloke could buy for 7 pounds a red No. 15 Raptors jersey.

With “Garbajosa” on the back!

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At some point yesterday, I’m standing in a pub that was built more than 400 years ago, there’s a real coal fire burning just behind me and I’m typing notes on a Blackberry and I’m thinking “this is a case of worlds colliding.”

And then I had another pint and BBM’d a friend.

-

All right, I’ve got to go run through the shops at Canary Wharf to knock off the last of shopping and then head to Heathrow.

Wish me luck, you know that Air Canada and I haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye lately.

-

 

 

Comments

[sam]

Travels with Doug_
The tour of the old pubs of London is now on my bucket list......
Sounds like you had a grand time......
Safe travels home -

[GK]

Excellent blog these last couple of days. I've very much enjoyed the break for the HOTH and listening to how grunts spend their time on foreign assignments!

[Peter]

Great blog! It's like we're there! (which would have sucked for you, so... be glad we're here!)

[Marlon]

Sounds like you really had a good time over there. Good on you Doug.

[Mike D.]

Enjoying the spectacle that is the Heat? Us???

Why am I thinking that none of the recent scenes will be featured in the movies made by Lebron, Wade or that third guy?

[sparky chewbarky]

"Worlds colliding" indeed. Well said.
We were in the original Durty Nellie's in Ireland many years ago, with its dirt floors, and patrons in for a pint while their dogs lay at their feet.
To be able to sit in an ancient establishment, connected, in spirit, to the generations before us, or on a dock overlooking a lake in the middle of nowhere; open up your laptop or blackberry or whatever, and instantly be linked to the entire world, is still "magical" to me.

[Paul]

What great travel stories, thanks for sharing them! I've really got to get back to Britain for a vacation. I hope I meet Derek and his lads!

[ditch]

I'm sick of athletes talking about going to "war." I admit there is intense commradery and trust fostered on any well balanced team involved in reaching any goal be it sport, business or the military. Playing a game of basketball or football ain't like being a member of the PPCLI and being in Afghanistan.
My shovel and I are going to war with some snow. Gotta run. Sheen and I are getting blood transfusions later. Tiger blood is hard to get.

[Andre]

Where are the pics doug??

[Chris]

Oh Doug, have you forgot about the Michael Curry year in Detroit already?

Blogger's note: I most certainly did forget; and have now made the necessary correction. Thanks

[james]

Have you tried at least one Watney's Red Barrel?

[N]

If you need to do some more shopping, Heathrow just happens to be a world class mall, oh ya as well as that busiest airport thing.

[Rob]

speaking of ex-raptors how about Nesterovic being named euroleague MVP for the month of february....

[Lorie]

Lovely blog, today, Doug. Such vivid descriptions; one could almost feel the ambiance. Sounds as though you're coming home with some wonderful memories of the people you've met and places you've stumbled upon. Thanks for sharing it with us. And Rudyard Kipling. Do they still read him at school these days? Such timeless words:
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
...If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;"
Marvellous to think of it again. And do you suppose there might be three fellows in Miami right now who'd benefit from reading some Kipling? Cheers, and Safe Travels.

[Kent]

I have a feeling though that the Heat will get the last laugh on everybody when they win a championship, if not this year, maybe the next.

[Ren]

I think you have a new gig that Mother Star needs to think about in the off season: travel writing. I have been all over the place in Europe, and I find myself reading through your blog with excitement, trying to see what you are seeing, and remembering the places I have been as well. Yep, Doug Smith - Travel Writer. Sounds good to me.

[Smalahove]

Loved the #15 jersey story. You can't fool a Brit, they know something about guts and determination over there. No momma's (mummy's?) boys for them!

[Michel G]

Here's a link to an article reporting on Rasho's Euroleague mvp award for the month of February that Rob mentions in a earlier post.

http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/83185/180

[doug]

excellent blog, Mother Star has received their money's worth from you on this trip...some sports reporting, a travel/bar log, fashion views, ale reviews...and personal anecdotes...well done ole chap, or young chap...depending on your audience...even Grange at the Globe has used your bar story in his article today...your in line for residuals, or he owes you a brew at least...happy flying....and @Lori great quote from Kipling, timeless words...

[GM]

I'm not usually big on the non-basketball blog items but I gotta say I enjoyed this one a whole lot. Makes me want to go, which is the aim of any good travel writer. Well done.

[Jeff Steele, Victoria, BC]

Hey Doug,

Now that Reggie is almost fully healthy, what do you expect Jay to do with the minutes at PF?

Since Amir and Ed have been playing so well and are more in need of in game experience at this point in their careers, is there a chance they will keep their current roles while Reggie is used as a third option?

Reggie's contract will expire after this season so would it make more sense to let him be sort of a mentor in the locker room and in practices? Or would giving him back the starting PF role with the 30 mpg he had at the beginning of the season be more beneficial since he is clearly the team's best rebounder?

I'm hoping Ed and Amir continue to improve as much as possible by keeping their roles as I see them being big factors in the Raptors future success.

Blogger's note: I'm sure it'll be a tough balancing act but things come up

[Brian67]

Hi Doug, Enjoyed the blog as usual. London is one of my favourite cities (having once lived there for a number of years) and your last few blogs have made me quite nostalgic.

As an addendum to your London cabbie story, this from the 'Transport for London' website:

"All licensed London taxi drivers need to pass a special test before they can drive one of the Capital's famous black cabs. This test is called the Knowledge. All-London drivers have to learn 320 routes (or runs). They also need to know all the landmarks and places of interest along the runs.

It takes between two and four years to pass the All-London Knowledge."

[Dave]

Doug:
Even though I live 400 km away, I have been in this restaurant in Toronto, but not in a snug.

http://www.loveintoronto.com/2007/07/31/snugs-at-the-southern-accent-restaurant/

[Blake Kennedy]

I haven't made it to London yet (it's far down my list from St. Petersburg and Glasgow, honestly), but I wonder if the tubes were put as far underground as they are to function as makeshift bomb shelters?

Paris' Metro was fantastic, and I've heard great things about Moscow's as well. I suppose I'll have to try them all on for size.

Thanks for the tips on the pub. I'm definitely circling that location for when I do get there.

[Peter]

Hi Doug,

I just read Dave Feschuk's article about Sonny Weems where he says the following: “It is my contract year, and I want to feed my family,”
It also mentions that Weems makes $854,389 (U.S.). I work for a charity that deals with low income people every day, where the realities of feeding a family really are front and centre. If you ever get a chance to talk to these players, can you please help eliminate that phrase from every NBA player's mouth. I respect the players, and the game, but it's just a completely ridiculous phrase. With that kind of money, and the recognition, and abilities of these players, they have options that many people couldn't even dream of, including education. Sorry for the rant, but it's getting to be ridiculous. Let them say anything, but don't let them say that.