More CanCon and a quick trip down memory lane

We’ve mentioned the National Basketball League here a time or two and they are coming up to their biggest weekend yet.

There’s a tryout combine Saturday and Sunday and the league’s draft on Sunday night as they get closer to actually being an entity that’s got rosters and players and something to talk about.

I have no idea of the calibre of basketball we’re in for, it’s impossible to figure out what kind of player is going to show up this weekend.

But is that really all that important?

If there’s good competition, close games, a couple of “wow” moments, does it matter if it’s Division 1 NCAA or Division 2 or small European league calibre?

Not sure.

Had a chance to talk to the CEO of the league, Andre Levingston, the other day and came away pretty impressed (you’ll read the fruits of that chat on the weekend) with the plans.

They know that going too big too soon is a recipe for disaster, which is why they are in smallish cities with solid ownership (although I am telling you now that there will be blips because there always are) and plans based in reality.

The only issue I have – and it’s one shared by a couple of other basketball types I’ve spoken with this week – is with the number of Canadians on each roster.

Don’t get me wrong, mandating that two spots be held for local talent is a good idea and quite admirable but maybe they should have gone to three or even four.

The league is as much about developing Canadian talent as anything, I’m told, and I wonder if there will be much difference between an American 10th or 11th guy on a roster or a Canadian in the same role.

Maybe that’s something they can think about as the league grows and, hopefully, prospers.

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So we’re at the golf outing yesterday (a big thank you to Coating Specialties for great hospitality and a great day) and it got me thinking, which is always a troublesome, and sometimes scary, thing.

There used to be a group of us who played rather regularly and when you play regularly, you tend to want to spice a game up with a wager or two, don’t you?

Silliest bet ever?

Well, I do remember a losing team having to ride back to Toronto from Glen Abbey in the back of a pickup truck one cold Halloween day, I believe.

Oh, and there’s a guy out there somewhere with a small tattoo courtesy of some ill-advised bogeys, if memory serves. That’s one I wasn’t directly involved in although there was a time when it was distinctly possible. Trouble was, I wasn’t sure if I lost how I’d explain a couple of another guy’s initials and a score etched on my skin to those closest to me.

Ah, youth. What a fun time.

Ever do anything stupid like that?

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Oh, what the heck, let’s do this one out of the mail since it’s been a few days since the last seamhead query.

(Apologies to Griff for cutting his grass).

Q: Hey Doug, I gotta admit, your baseball work is on point. Respect. I got a question for you relating to the TOD. 2012 has been advertised as the year we will begin to seriously compete, but with our pitching looking the way it is, do you see one winter of free agency and trades as enough to fill in the gaps?

Cheers

Fuzzy D, Devonshire

A: Now, you have to understand I am not fully up on the vagaries of contracts when I do this but …

No, I’m not sure they can fix what ails that staff in one winter with one or two signings.

They need to entirely revamp the bullpen (Janssen, Litsch, maybe Camp are keepers) to get a proven closer and while I definitely think Morrow, Cecil and Romero are a solid front end of a rotation what’s behind them worries me a bit so a starter or two are needed.

I think they can make major strides next season if they open the pocketbooks but they’ll need to catch lightning in a bottle to truly contend next year. It’s happened before but I’m thinking 2013 is more realistic.

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So, I notice that the Ex opens tomorrow.

I know this is going to perhaps bore those Irregulars who aren’t local but doesn’t that mean something to folks around here?

Now, I haven’t been to the CNE in years and years and years but as soon as I hear about it opening each August it brings back memories.

Of:

The Grandstand.

Can’t remember which was the best concert I saw there but it was always a great time.

The peewee ball tournament

Yeah, we’d come up each year as little kids from the Falls and be in awe for the most part. Best thing about it? If you won, you got to come back and spend another day wandering the midway after the game.

Tiny Tom Donuts

Man, were they ever good. Not good for you, just good. Could gobble them all day.

This ride

Man, now I’ve got to spend a good chunk of today coming up with other stories and memories for the morning. That’ll be fun. What have you got?

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Speaking of mail …

Here. Please.

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Comments

[jimt]

Doug hello, A year ago today I found myself in Athens sitting behind Coach Rautins and Todd scouting a game which included the gangster. I was lucky enough to get both their autographs before their mood changed courtesy of a Greek thumping.My Q is whats the delay in getting Bonner is it really an immigration issue still?Thx and ps to die hards spain-Lithu on at 2pm on firstrowsports.com

Blogger's note: Yes, it is; plus his commitments as a member of the NBA players association executive

[doug]

don't silly things and being young go hand in hand?...my buddies and I use to have these drink till dawn type get-togethers, everyone put $10 in the pot, be like 10 of us many years ago so the pot was a good amount...we had to do shots etc. throughout the night, well invariably as the night went on we just did silly things, such as trying to jump over my friends Lada, or jumping into the pool from 2nd floor rooftop, or going garage hopping (which is garages lined up in a alleyway and seeing who could jump the most rooftops in a row) etc....all sorts of things but the most scariest and stupidest thing I ever did and it scared the crap out of me...was this, in high school we were taking archery, shooting the arrow into the straw mounted target...well it got boring after a bit and we were in this long field...so I said to my buddy I wonder how far we can fire these things, and then commenced to see, spontaneously, as the field was empty....well at the exact moment I let it fly and I mean exact moment,at the opposite end of the field was a public school (we shared the grounds) and it's bell rang for recess....well kids came running out of the portables as public school kids at recess tend to do...to say my heart sank was a understatement, all I remember hearing is my friend going "oh my god" and seeing that arrow in the air made me sick...it seemed like a eternity but it came down and luckily never hit a soul, I was so thankful I was ready to join a monastery right then and there...so from there on in I learned if I am to do silly things make sure I am the only potential victim, which is the one rule I have always stood by....I haven't been to the CNE for years but I may have to go this year...why?..to try one of those donut burgers, they have to be tried, just once, they are now on the Bucket List of foods, so time to cross it off I think...

[sam]

The CNE always signals the end of summer and back to school.
First big concert I ever saw at the Grandstand was BTO.
I think the year was 1974. It's all a little fuzzy.

[Dave in BG]

Re the Ex. All I can say is
"Doggie, DAAAWWWWWWWWGGGGGGIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE"

[Lorie]

Hello Doug,
Well, there are really two kinds of Ex memories for me. First, were the years we went as a family with a picnic lunch, a couple of bucks spending money and dire warnings from my mother not to touch, smell, stare at and especially (and this was always said with the sternest of stern voices and the furrowedest of furrowed brows) EAT anything on the Midway!!! Yes, those trips were about The Better Living Centre looking at new advances by Westinghouse. But then came the good year! The years you'd head downtown on the TTC with a group of friends. And had our own money to do with what we wanted. And naturally we spent our entire day and night and all our money on the Midway. The greasier, the stickier, the sweeter the food the better! The more rickety-sounding the ride - especially the really fast ones that very nearly (if not actually) made you throw up previously-mentioned food with the sketchiest, most bored looking, if not absent-for-long-periods-of-time carney "operating" 'em - well these were the ones for us. And more than once! And you always got an extra dozen Tiny Tom's for the subway ride home. Those whose stomachs could handle them. And the Grandstand? Well, it was the summer of '69 and for a teenybopper from Willowdale, there has been no subsequent concert that's been able to measure up to the thrill of this one. Cheers!
http://youtu.be/XAAWTecIGD8

[Cluck Kent]

Growing up in a small town in eastern Ontario, we didn't get to the EX very often but a couple of buddies and I drove up one year when we were about 17. I played Whack a Mole until all my money was gone and I'd won the only giant teddy bear I would ever win. I'm not really sure now what plans a 17 year boy had for a giant teddy bear but before we left the grounds this sweet lass came up to me and asked me to sell it to her as she absolutley had to have it. She was stunning and I told her my price was a kiss. After some minor hesitation on her part we consummated the deal. Several decades later I still have the memory of that day and that kiss but I'll bet the bear is long gone.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

My hometown didn't have anything quite as extravagant as the Ex. Our version was proudly called, I kid you not, The National Dairy Cattle Congress. Yes, Cattle Congress. Or just The Cow Show, for short. Sculpted butter cows and everything.
Our version of those doughnuts were called Tom Thumbs, and, just like the Ex, you couldn't help but eat those by the barrel-load.
Oh, yes-sir-ee-bob, there were concerts, too. But while you guys were getting The Monkees, we were getting the likes of Jim Nabors and Festus, performing before fainting throngs of dozens in The Hippodrome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5KeGccP9Jk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWR6FLnPack
Whee doggies. Cheers.

[Mike]

I and my family go to the Ex at least twice each year, sometimes three. Along with Sam the Record Man it evokes fond memories of my "yute". Things have changed a lot but I still enjoy it. My memory's a bit hazy but I'm pretty sure I went to see a Jays game at old Exhibition Stadium while the Ex was on.

Re the NBL, I agree, 2 doesn't mean much especially if the two Canadians are sitting on the end of the bench. It's not even close to the CFL ratio: "Each team may have a maximum of 42 players, including 3 players who shall be identified as quarterbacks and 39 other players, of whom not more than 19 may be imports. Teams must have a minimum of 41 players, including two players who shall be identified as quarterbacks and 39 other players, of whom not more than 19 may be imports."

[Dadeo]

LOL D-Mac wins!!

[doug]

my fondest memories of the Western Fair and the CNE for some reason is CCR music...I think CCR music on the midway rides was mandated by Conklin...I can still hear Up Around the Bend echoing in my ears well on the Zipper...

[doug]

this is one of the ugliest b-ball brawls i have ever seen and it just occurred as part of a "goodwill " tour.......players may think twice about going to China to play after this...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/18/georgetown-brawls-china-basketball_n_930629.html

[Matt]

A big thanks to JimT for posting a link to the Lithuania vs. Spain game - JV certainly did not look out of place playing against an experienced Spanish team.

[Boko]

You wrote "I think they can make major strides next season if they open the pocketbooks but they’ll need to catch lightning in a bottle to truly contend next year. It’s happened before but I’m thinking 2013 is more realistic." about the Blue Jays, NOT the Raptors, right? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

[Simon]

Awesome find on the alpine photo doug, love the old dominion ads on front there. So many memories of taking that ride with my grandparents, and watching my grandpa march in the veterans parade at exhibition stadium every year...

[Peter]

I don't know if my irregular status is going to be revoked... I'm still reading everyday... still entertained everyday... but MAN am I going to miss basketball if it doesn't get going in the fall... and let's face it... it's not going to get going in the fall. Hopefully you know that your work is still appreciated!