Of European plans, D League history and some song and dance

So, Deron Williams has an offer to go play in Turkey next year if the NBA lockout drags on, it seems.

Big bucks, too, if the reports are to be believed and there’s no reason not to.

But you know the skeptic in me, right?

I’ll believe Williams is headed to Turkey the day I see him in a Besiktas uniform and I am highly doubtful that any of his NBA brethren will head over for any long period of time.

Yes, it all sounds well and good that Europe is an option for locked-out NBA players and it certainly would give them an opportunity to play at a higher level than they’d get in the hometown gym running with their buddies.

But there are two or three huge issues that convince me this is not going to start a flood of guys signing contracts with big name teams over there.

First, and this is the biggest by far, is the fact there is little or no money for them. It’s hard enough for journeymen North Americans to get all the money they’re owed for playing in Europe and while organizations there might not want to stiff high profile guys, taking that money out of the budget – even if it’s from a sponsor – is going to cut into the cash available for the other guys. We’ve already heard of domestic players going on strike or withholding their talents over financial disputes, if they see an NBA guy making big bucks and their cheques aren’t clearing, it could get ugly.

Second, any NBA player with a contract who goes over there to play assumes a rather significant risk. None of their contracts will be insured since they’re playing in another league and one injury could cost them millions and millions of dollars. And NBA players guard their millions of guaranteed dollars like no one guards anything.

And, third is the fact the NBA could very well settle the dispute before the actual season begins and, trust me, anyone in Europe will come running back the first chance they get.

So, yes, the Williams story is intriguing, no doubt. But it is not over.

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Sadly, anyone sent to the minors by the Raptors next season won’t get to enjoy the delights that Erie, Pa., has to offer.

Now they’ll see what’s up in Bakersfield, Calif., and that’s got to be better, right?

Yep, it was D League Affiliate Day around the NBA yesterday and when they spun the wheel, the HOTH won the Bakersfield Jam!

(Wonder if the spin brought three crowns, a crown and anchor or a spade? Anyone?)

Anyway, it’s no big deal, that’s for sure. But it is Raptors “news” and we all know you’re dying for some of that.

And some of you will know this, some will have to go deep into the dark recesses of your mind to find out but the Jam (Jams?) are/is the fifth Raptor affiliate in the long and storied history of co-operation between the D League and the NBA.

Promise you won’t look down below until you’ve thought long and hard, okay?

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You gals and guys did okay on the mail yesterday but not as good as the day before and you’ve got one more shot to let me know what’s on your mind.

Do it here and we’ll get the weekend unfolding at its usual pace.

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Hey, anyone want to spoil the season-ended Treme episode for me?

Missed it Sunday ‘cause I was sitting on a stool at Legal Seafood sipping Harpoon and eating stuffed baked shrimp.

And since I probably won’t get an hour at On Demand for the next day or two …

(No, wait. Don’t. Please. I hate it when people give stuff away like that).

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Hmm.

Canada drops its first game of the classification round at the world juniors today, beaten by three by Latvia. Things are not going to plan, at all, over there.

Big day for the winning teams, though, the knockout quarter-finals go and Jonas Valanciunas and Lithuania get Poland.

We’ll catch up with him and how he’s doing as soon as I can talk to some Henchmen who’re taking in the tournament.

Next up for Basketball Canada’s programs?

The junior women are up in Barrie until Tuesday get ready for their worlds and Leo’s senior men’s team starts its first phase of camps here in a week or so. The men, still the marquee team in many eyes even if the women at the junior and senior level might be more legit threats to do well, have a lot of time to get ready, their Olympic qualifier doesn’t go until September.

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To a guy of a certain vintage, that’s a great picture and it was pretty sad news yesterday to hear of the passing of Dick Williams and I know this sounds a bit crass, but I wish I had still been in Boston when the news broke.

Dick Williams was a giant and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. Aside from Boston’s Impossible Dream of ’67 (first Series I really paid close attention to), he took two other teams to the World Series, won with the old A’s and was known as one of the toughest, no-nonsense managers in the history of the game.

He probably wouldn’t last a homestand in this day and age and that’s too bad.

Anyway, his Toronto links are solid – a couple of International League titles back when the International League mattered – and I’m waiting for Griff and Perk to regale us with some stories.

Here’s the best tribute I found out there, give it a read.

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So we’re in the car listening to a homemade CD and on comes a song from the soundtrack of Rent. It’s one of the songs featuring Jesse Martin and the question immediately popped to mind:

The greatest multi-faceted actor from the various Law and Order franchises was …?

Really, when can you think of a TV show about cops and robbers and lawyers that’s had a couple of guys like Martin and perhaps my all-time fave Lenny Briscoe in it over the years?

And while I like Martin in Rent, how can you not go with Jerry Orbach as the answer to that question?

(Oh, yeah, we’re branching out here big-time every now and then)

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In case you didn’t get the answer: Arkansas Rimrockers, Colorado 14ers, Idaho Stampede, Erie Bayhawks and now the Jam (Jams?).

You’re welcome.

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Comments

[Matty-Pix]

Tragic news from the Rangers game ... i'm guessing Josh Hamilton didn't sleep very well last night.
I can't remember anything of this magnitude happening with the TOD.

[hap]

Hey Doug, How bout a list of the best characters from Law and Order???

Blogger's note: Eventually, we'll need it to fill out a day

[coachd]

RIP Dick Williams. Outstanding manager for the Montreal Expos. I spent many a glorious a day in the outfield bleachers watching his teams play.

[SEAN]

I can't believe it. I was singing "GASTON" when I scroll down to see your Beauty and The Beast link. It's going to be a good day!

[Shaun]

Sounds like our man JV went off vs. Poland!

[Tudor]

Now I know that JV plays against kids his age there, but he leads in points AND rebounds, just droped 26 and 24 on Poland... I would say it is good news for the Raps.

[SheikYurbouti]

@coachd, ditto on all. Thank you Dick Williams.
Sport would have far fewer prima donnas if there was still room for managers like him. Imagine,,,, benching Yaz for not hustling on a play. Oh, for the old days......

[doug]

Dick Williams was a helluva manager and somehow he has fallen thru the cracks as one of the all-time greats.. ...he was tough as nails but then you have someone like Andre Dawson saying "he was my favorite manager to play for", then you know there also had to be another side to him...I loved him with the Expos and also he was one of the few men in sports that coach/manage etc that stood up for his own principles..he may have been the manager to walk away from the most jobs due to there being situations he didn't agree with....stand-up guy and R.I.P.

[Travis]

Lithuania beat Poland 87-75 behind 26-24-5 from JV... not a bad day at the office...

[David in Oakville]

Speaking of Law & Order... where is the last place you would expect an ex Law & Order actor to turn up? the longest running British soap... Coronation Street?

Once I did a little digging it all made sense in a surprising way.

Finally got to Five Guys two weeks ago... another great recommendation Doug.. thanks.

Let me return the favour.... if you are ever in the Hamilton / Stoney Creek / Winona area (peaches?) and feeling peckish.. be sure to visit Memphis Fire BBQ on Hwy 8.

Blogger's note: With all the sojourns I take to the peninsula, I will definitely make a quick detour. Thanks

[The J]

You think somewhere there is a European blogger being inundated with complaints in his comments section over Besiktas signing another American player. "Not another Yankee.....The American Experiment has failed....Fire Everybody!!"
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I was right on the D-League question. All five affiliations have been with the "Anytown Horrible Team Names".
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Great, now I'll have Mr. Burns singing "See my Vest" stuck in my head all day. "See these loafers, former gofers...".

[D-Mac OIttawa]

Hi Doug,
Sonny's off to JV Land, I see. Good move for him, in your opinion?
Now, do the Raps maintain their right to match any NBA offers if he comes back this way in 2012-13?
Cheers. Feeling a little less curmudgeonly today, btw, thanks, but just a little.

Blogger's note: He'll make money next year so that can't be bad thing; and am checking

[Blake Kennedy]

Longtime Law and Order fan. With all due respect to Messrs. Orbach and Martin, nobody touches the radiant grace and class of Angie Harmon. Her smouldering voice and subtle portrayal of the couldron of fury that raged inside the character of Abbie Carmichael really does take a big step up from her castmates on that series.

Plus, she's really, really, stunningly beautiful.

Blogger's note: Best. ADA. Ever.

[The J]

Re: Weems to Europe. Feschuk's article the other day said the Raps will retain the right to match any offer whenever he comes back. I think it was a similar case with Klieza and Denver last year.

I think it might be a great thing from the Raptors perspective. If he can prove his worth in Europe, then they have first rights to him. If not, oh well, nothing lost for them. And if they do bring him back next year, and the season is lost this year, they can atleast be happy he was developing while others were golfiing, much like in JV's case.

Blogger's note: Yeah, it is; same as Delfino to Russia and I should have realized that right off the bat

[doug]

I was a fan of Law and Order up until Orbach was no longer there, after that it just wasn't the same.... Angie Harmon was/is beautiful, married happily to Jason Sehorn ex of the New York Giants i believe but her character also had depth..and speaking of cast changes one of the best lately has to be James Spader being named to the Office cast, he was superb in The Practice...he can just act...Bill Elliot had a few good quotes stories about Dick Williams today, one of them was Dick Williams saying after a game how impressive Rodney Scott was that day going 3-5, Bill Elliot afterwards saying to Dick "he was 1-4", Dick then replied "he had a walk, hit and moved a runner over, to me how I keep score he was 3-5" now that's managing and why most players liked playing for him and why he was so successful...Earl Weaver and Dick Williams would have been the 2 ex-managers I would have loved to play for, they just managed and let players play and look at there results not bad...the one today that I most would love to play for is a fairly new one and he has been doing quite well as a manager and that is Kirk Gibson with the D-Backs as I am sure he looks at stats but he also understands the other side of the game, emotion, and playing the game right, look at how he played...

[doug]

not to be a bother but you know I was just listening to this song repeatedly well doing some work and to those that lament the state of music today or the lack of talent...I must say this is one of the best top 5 singles I have ever heard and it's somewhat new...it's beautifully composed how it ebb and flows, dynamic musically with the driving bass, and most of all just one of the most perfectly songs I have heard, all from a 21,22 year old, with a voice that is just something to hear and behold..it has to be one of the best 4 minutes of music I have heard in a long ,long time...good music lives on and look at the amount of hits this song has, good to see...this girl can just plain flat out sing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw

[Mike]

JV is absolutely the steal of the draft. Leading tourney in Pts, Reb and Blk by big margin and is 3d in FT shooting at 84%. By the way links to live streams are always posted on Draftexpress.com for those who want to watch him live. Don't be lazy, watch it and you will see player with Noah's motor, Gasol's soft touch around the basket and R.Evans energy on rebounding.... kid is going to be great!

[kelsey]

I really dont understand why people think if there is a strike that the players arent practing and working out. Yes there would certainly be slackers, but real competitve players will make sure they get games in.

If D Williams reallys signs then wow!! I guess the guy really wants to play, however I doubt it will happen. I heard interview with player rep for Raptors J Bayless and he stated he was realy surprised to hear a player of Williams staure would sign over there.

Blue Jays starving for proper consistant pitching last night was a killer.

RIP to that man who lost his life trying to get a flippn baseball. My heart goes out to the family especially his son.. Oh my!!

[m]

@doug, that is a great voice and song.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Best A.D.A. ever huh??

Hands down Jill Hennessy. And a Canadian lass to boot!!!

Ciao Amigo,

marc in panama