Strange times in many regards

Is this what nuclear winter looks like?

No one can talk about anything or anyone (check out the various websites, they can’t even show pictures of anybody) and information is non-existent, really, about where the lockout is or where it’s going.

I don’t recall the clamps being put on as strictly the last time we went through this exercise but there is a cone of silence that’s impenetrable.

And try to decode what’s out there?

Impossible.

The two sides seemed to be playing nice when they broke off talks on Friday; there was no vitriol spewed, they talked about getting back to the table in a couple of weeks and there seemed to a sense that “yes, we knew this was coming, let’s really get to work now” from both sides.

And as far as we can tell, the entire situation is simply about money and numbers and equitable sharing of ridiculous wealth and that’s all quite negotiable.

But when?

As has been mentioned, the next real crises point would seem to be about Labour Day, when players start drifting back to their cities to get ready for camp. Until then, no one gets paid, there is no sense of urgency so my best guess would be that, sure, there might be some minor meetings in the next month or so but the real work begins sometime about mid-August with an aim to an early-September settlement.

Until then?

Play ball!

-

When last we left the Canadian juniors, the first round of the worlds had begun with a win over Korea and today we find them with the second round about to begin.

They get the United States today, Egypt tomorrow and Serbia on Wednesday and if they’ve got any shot to creep into the single-elimination quarter-finals, they are going to need two wins and I’m not even sure that’ll be enough.

But they can get them, you’d think. There are no true “easy touches” in a tournament like this (I don’t imagine too many saw Korea knocking off Croatia in the first round) but if they play to their capabilities, getting the last two games in this round is entirely doable.

Then they wait and see how that sets them up for a quarter-final berth. And, yes, getting out of their first-round group was a public goal; not getting to the final eight will be a disappointment.

-

How odd is this?

Stop by the concierge lounge at this Marriott I’m at and there’s not an NBA ref or another writer to be seen.

Seems like an odd road trip and it’s going to take some getting used to.

Get to the park around 9:30 a.m. for today’s afternoon affair; get there tomorrow about 3 p.m. for the night game and if there’s rain, I understand they don’t play!

This is going to be odd.

I don’t remember the last baseball road game I’ve covered, to tell you the truth. I used to poach a home series or two when I could (although I don’t think I had one last year) but cover a road game?

Man, it’s probably been more than a decade. Hope I don’t do anything stupid.

-

This being the Fourth of July – which is some kind of celebration down here – why not get this one leftover from the mail to give us a list

Q: Hey Doug, how about a list of the top 5 things that the States do better than us, and another 5 that we do better than them? We do better at: health care, they do better at M&M's vs Smarties. We do better at beer, they do better at ESPN vs TSN. And so on and so forth.

Lee Z, Ottawa

A: Here we go

Advantage us

Driving skills.

I know that may not strike a chord with too many of you but the next time you’re behind some dolt going slow in the fast lane, I bet you dollars to donuts he’s got an American licence plate. People down there just don’t get the concept of slower traffic moving to the right.

Donuts

Tim’s vs. Dunkin’.

Nolo contendere.

Roads

Seriously, ours are like putting greens compared to the pockmarked interstates you run into in the States.

Health care

Yeah, I’m stealing one from your list but, really, our system may have its flaws but it’s a damn sight better than one where you can go bankrupt simply because you get sick.

Potato chips

It’d take a snack expert like me to know this but until I can find a Miss Vickies in some American city, we win.

Advantage them

Jingoism

Guess that’s a good thing; they tend to wave the flag far more openly, and far more often. Probably too much but I think some of us could be more proud.

TV

I know. Forget ESPN vs. TSN, which is another no contest; even their bad TV is better than ours. Corner Gas is good but it’s no Modern Family.

Buffets

Yes, it helps exacerbate the morbid obesity issues that plague society but …

Neon

Next time you’re driving somewhere south of the border, check out the signage. It’s everywhere. And it’s often a garish, which is another thing they do better than us.

Invade

‘Nuff said?

The tie

Since you brought it up, I can’t in all good conscience give either country an edge in the adult beverage department. A couple of Sam’s Summer and a Harpoon last night were as good as almost anything I can get back home.

Sure, Labatt’s and Molson are exponentially better than, say, Bud or Coors but who drinks that stuff anyway?

-

I counted four guys on various stools various distances away from me last night recounting tales of Meetings With Stanley.

Guess this pucks thing is big and the Cup’s something to see.

-

Sonny Weems is headed to Europe?

That was the talk on the weekend although nothing’s done and if we know one thing around these parts, nothing’s done until something’s done.

Makes sense, though.

He doesn’t have a contract for next year – and those with NBA contracts will have to get clearance from FIBA and their national federations and no one knows how easy that will be to get – and Sonny needs to play.

He needs to play for one simple reason: So he can show NBA bosses that he still can. One report I read said he was going to sign a one-year deal with no NBA out-clause and I think that’s kind of risky. You wonder about an “out of sight, out of mind” situation arising; he’d probably be best to make sure he can come back right away whenever this lockout is settled.

 

 

 

Comments

[Joe]

Hi Doug,

Couple of questions for you:

1. Should the lockout head into the season, are NBA players, who are under contract with their teams, allowed to play in other leagues such as Europe or is that not permitted?

2. How often do NBA players practice fundamental skills like dribbling, passing, shooting etc.? I recall reading an article on Kobe Bryant last fall. In it, the author stated that Bryant routinely took 500 shots after every Lakers practice. That's amazing.

Thanks and have a good day in Boston.

Blogger's note: Answered in the blog and every single day

[Matt M]

Congrats to Sonny for heading overseas. Sonny seems like a smart and hard working person and I see no reason that he can't come back to the NBA as good as Anthony Parker was after his stint in the Euroleague. I personally think that the competition in the NBA would be a lot stronger if every kid spent a year or three in a Euroleague before coming to the NBA.

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
With the Olympic qualifier coming up later this summer, what are the chances that NBA or future NBA players won't be able to or will choose not to suit up for their national teams because of the lockout? Are there insurance issues that need to be addressed?

Blogger's note: There are; but don't forget the United States isn't sending a team of NBAers anywhere; they've already qualified as world champs so it's a summer off

[Jay Menard]

Doug, I think you need to place a caveat in your roads section. As a proud Montrealer (currently displaced), I can assure you that the roads in Quebec are worse than anything you'll find in the U.S. As soon as the 401 turns into the 20, you notice it. Other than that, good list.

[John]

"Blogger's note: There are; but don't forget the United States isn't sending a team of NBAers anywhere; they've already qualified as world champs so it's a summer off"
-
Hey Doug, who cares about the USA team!
Any idea how this will effect the Canadian roster?

Blogger's note: No

[Dave]

Please move this to the mailbag if you can't answer it here. It seems that Andrea Bargnani, has become everyone's favorite Piñata. My question is about his work ethic. We all have heard about Dirk being one of the hardest working players in the NBA and it may have helped him become the player he is. We are also familiar with the Hedo Turkoglu do the minimum philosophy. Where does Andrea fit in. Does he work very hard to improve his game or is he closer to the Hedo work practices? He leaves the inpression he is closer to Hedo and this may explain some of the angst.

[Lorie]

Hello Doug!
Independence Day in Boston has got to be pretty cool. Do you know if they've lined up a Really Big Celebrity for the ceremonial pitch today? Perhaps even a member of the Bruins?
Cheers! Big Sam's Summer and/or Harpoon Ones! (And speaking of Them vs Us, the rest stops along the NY Interstate and Mass Turnpike are waaaaaay better and waaaaaay more plentiful than anything on the 400-Series!)

[LeeZ]

Doug, you mentioned buffets in your "us versus them" list, and alluded to obesity issues. I remember one time a couple of friends and I went to Pittsburgh for the East Regionals (March Madness). Before we went, I checked out the best places to eat, and found this one place that is legendary for their breakfasts. We went, and here is what we got for $4.99 (this was maybe 8 years ago, so they probably still charge something similar): a platter HEAPED HIGH with 2 pounds (yes, TWO POUNDS) of homefries, over top of which were SIX eggs and six strips of bacon. Pretty much everyone ordered this the day we were there, and plate after plate after plate were carted back to the kitchen still AT LEAST half full of food by the busboy. Never mind the fact that It was absolutely delicious (never had such great homefries in my life), but each plate could easily feed four people. Can you imagine some starving Ethiopian staring through the restaurant window? Speaks to America's obesity problem, and to its ridiculous farm subsidies system.

[ET]

Doug,
The Americans also have a much better Thanksgiving, putting it on a Thursday so everyone has that extra long weekend.. Even their 4th of July seems seems to have more traditions than our Canada Day.

[Mike]

Doug,

I love how much fun that blog post was. Maybe the lockout won't be so bad. Have to agree with the above poster though. As a frequent driver for work, I've found the roads in the states to be a million times better than the 401-hwy 20 catastrophe between Toronto and Montreal. I'm glad we can disagree without someone hating Europeans though...

[skiff]

Hey Doug,

I think you might be right on the brews in the US. I always assumed ours were better, but the micro breweries down there are doing some amazing things that I've not seen to this point in Canada. I got home yesterday from a week long vacation through various spots in New England (Boston, Portland, Burlington VT, etc.) and I had some incredible beers. I mean, there were tastes I never imagined in beers before, and none of it gimmicky stuff...just well made, complex straight ahead beer. If you can find a Sneaky Peak from the Portland Brew Co., grab it, or the Shipyard Summer Ale! Deeeeelicious! Far too many to choose from!!

Enjoy!

[John Bastedo]

Gotta disagree on the American drivers point. I spent four plus years in the States, and the exact example you use (if you're not passing - move right!) is rarely observed on our side of the boarder, while it was followed near-religiously, on the south side. And when you did get behind some guy who didn't get it - Canadian plates. Never failed.

J.

[Mark]

I'm wary of making blanket comments on either Canada or the US, as things can vary so strongly regionally... but of course, it's a fun thing to do! Still, as far as adult beverages go, the local brew scene in the States needs consideration. When it comes to big market beer, we're just as guilty for pushing Coors Light and Bud, and Molson Which Ain't Much Better, up here. Many areas of the US have intriguing local brew cultures. I'm still enjoying the banana bread-flavoured beer I brought back from Philly recently. :) it's not the *best*, but it's fun and interesting. Not saying they get an edge here, certainly, but it's a facet of the industry that we, from the outside, don't give fair due to the USA.
One thing USA wins at is getting international products before we do. I'm waiting for a car right now, and of course I have to wait a couple of extra months on top of the US launch date. NO FAIR.

[Anthony R]

Hey Doug, I've got a lockout salary question. Every player and office personnel that is signed to a contract has a timeline associated to it. eg. Dwayne Casey just signed a 2yr contract with a team option for the 3rd if I'm not mistaken. (Please correct me if I am wrong.) If the season is lost due to a lockout, what happens to everyone's salary that year? Does it get pushed out or voided?

Blogger's note: The team employees get paid; and there's no change to their contracts

[Keith]

One thing I noticed when driving in the States is that when there is a lane closure sign or lane ending sign they start to move over immediately instead of charging right up to the final two yards then trying to jam themselves in. Result -- traffic flows much more smoothly.

[doug]

the highways/interstates near many large american cities are unbelievably bad, my buddies and I go on many ball trips/golf trips and their just bad....case in point we had just paid our toll on one of the Chicago area toll roads and all of a sudden it felt like the car had been swallowed whole, we had just hit a "pothole", sinkhole more like it, I asked my buddy to look out his passenger side window and check it out as car was not reacting well...he looks towards the front tire, says flat, turns looks towards the back tire says flat...2 flat tires on one pothole and this was on a toll road...but it was the start of a interesting few hours we'll never forget, as we only had one spare so we sat off on a adventure that involved a drive in a pick-up truck we had to bail on at a stop-sign, being chased by police on foot, (why we never knew but we weren't going to find out why), it made for classic memories and a good laugh afterwards..so yea the roads are bad...

[D-Mac Ottawa]

How do, Doug,
This being my 20th year in Canada, I'll add a couple of comparisons that I've learned to appreciate. One: Pay scales seem to be more equitable here. I could not even think of freelancing south of the border the way I do here: the pay sale for my line of work is 70%–90% higher here; plus I'd have to lay out an extra grand or three – per month – south of the border just to cover myself for health care. Impossible. And two: taxes. Yes, they're higher here. But yes, I'm 1,000% convinced you get FAR more for your tax dollar here than happens south of the 48th – just look at education and health care again, for starters. No comparison.
On the road, meanwhile, I'll give the US a thumbs up for signage. They do signage way better than here.
Happy 4th, everybody. So glad to be celebrating it as an afterthought to Canada Day! Cheers!!

[Brad]

Sonny Weems: perhaps his Euro team insisted so they would know that they had him for the whole season?

[LeeZ]

Some great stories (especially @doug) about roads and potholes, but can we all at least agree on the one thing that the States does that is a thousand times better than what we Canadians do? M&M's vs Smarties!!!!!!! Theirs has a soft yet crunchie outer coating, with a rich chocolate filling Ours are brittle and hard, and you're always left with little shards of the candy coating between your teeth. And the taste is less chocolatey and more sugary. Come on, people, work with me here!!! (and don't even get me started on Mounds bars vs. that dreadful Canadian equivalent (can't even remember the name; blotted it out of my memory)

[Kelsey]

I Agree with John B in regards to the driving Especially on the highways, people stay to the right unless passing. I just drove from Toronto to Pittsburgh and I was showing my wife how people should drive. In Canada(or at least Toronto Area) people on the roads and highway drive like grandmas in the left lane and block up the flow of traffic, if your not passing dont sit in left lane it kills me!!!!

@ ET I totally disagree well maybe due to the fact that Im a black man, that is conscious
of what has and is taking place. The American July 4th is independence day is for SOME not all..I guess yes Independance from British. But African Americans were still in slavery at that time, how sick is that.
There nation built off FREE labour!! So it kills me that so little people are aware of this!! Also there Thanksgiving I guess good for shopping but that event wasnt to nice for the first nations people of the land in America either. (Canada also has its nasty dirt with regards to 1st Nations people)...
Just some food for thought!!

[Lorie]

@LeeZ
So, you want to turn this into something? You're like a dog with a bone with this Smarties vs M&M's debate. Or Kelsey with his trade Bargnani. Or was it Jose? Well, you get the drift. OK. I disagree with your M&M preference. Here's why:
10. Smarties are bigger. (1.5 cm vs 1 cm for M&M)
9. Smarties are flatter - more aerodynamic equals more at once.
8. Smarties have a cinnamon-y taste. M&M's don't.
7. Smarties chocolate is sweeter. M&M's use only semi-sweet chocolate.
6 Orange-coloured Smarties have an orange flavour.
5. Smarties had the better commercial jingle: "When you eat your Smarties do you eat the red ones last?....".
4. Smarties are prettier...like PINK!!!
3. Smarties crunch better.
2. Smarties half-eaten can make lipstick. (Or is it only me that does that?)
1. Smarties make you SMART. :)

[The J]

@LeeZ, you probably missed it but I wrote this on Friday:

@LeeZ - First you mock the Legend and now you take M&Ms over smarties. You and I could not be farther apart right now.

You can add your dislike of the "Bounty" chocolate bar to the list of things that separate us.

[Drew Ebanks]

***NBL CANADA***

Hey guys...the NBA lockout may be on but a new fledgling Basketball league called the NBL Canada is in near completion stages...
Check it out at www.nblcanada.com or on twitter at @NBLCanada.
7 teams so far, Halifax, Saint John, Quebec, Moncton, PEI, London and a GTA team in Oshawa!

So if the Raptors don't get back on the court this season or after a long lockout...head out to Durham(General Motors Centre) to check out some high-level hoops.
There are videos on the website of the calibre of play.

Doug great job as always covering ALL levels of hoops! You can contact me if you need more information on the Oshawa team of the NBL at any time!

Blogger's note: One and only free shot; that'll be it.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

That 8th inning eruption the Jays had yesterday vs. Lee might have sparked something. Hopefully, it's a long, slow spark. Hopefully, it'll get these guys back to TOD status. Always hopeful, eh.
You are what you eat, and I've never had a Smartie, so there you go. I like my M&Ms far better with peanuts, though. And Milk Duds at the movies. Miss those. Cheers.

[doug]

all I can say about this M&M versus Smarties discussion is this...when I was younger my brothers use to tease me as i would buy a box of smarties open them an line them up by colour on the carpet and the colour that was the most prolific would be the one eaten first until they all balanced out..and so on..then up and down the line until they were all gone...it was my Smartie ritual, and I loved it and them...but let's face it there both good candies...