No one to cheer for and drivers who are goofs

Okay, we’re really reaching here today; that was as boring a holiday Monday as you’ll get.

But still … we soldier on.

Somehow.

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Hmm.

David Stern doesn’t “feel optimistic about the players’ willingness to engage in a serious way.”

Derek Fisher says the sides are “still very, very far apart.”

Sounds like a typical day at the bargaining table to me.

No, nothing really good happened when the CBA talks resumed Monday in New York but – most important – nothing really bad happened, either.

It was a step, a baby one for sure, but a step nonetheless.

But you know what?

I wonder if anyone really cares.

This is one of those fights without a true favourite or a villain, isn’t it?

I can see the owners side – they have to have a system that allows them to make a profit on their business and there can be no doubt that some of the clubs are hemorrhaging money.

I can see the players side – they shouldn’t be asked to give away all that they’ve collectively bargained for in the past just to make sure that the weaker teams can make it.

I suppose, philosophically, I’d side with the workers, who are going to get screwed somehow no matter what. The players have already conceded money, length of contract, the guarantees that go with those deals and, eventually, don’t they have to say: “enough is enough?”

But it truly is difficult for me to get too worked up either way.

The money totals are astronomical and that’s hardly worth thinking about. Total revenues of more than $4 billion are entirely abstract, it’s impossible to even imagine how much money that really is.

I do know that – eventually – the NBA will be back, it’s too lucrative a business for some and too ingrained in sporting society to go away forever. But this is turning into one of the most boring work stoppages I can remember.

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Well, another first.

Am doing the Prime Time radio gig Monday night (not too much pucks and acquitted myself not too badly, I believe) and an out for a breath of fresh air with Mr. McCown during one of the breaks.

Here comes this rather large fellow walking down the street, Bob says, “oh, no, it’s Belli” and, sure enough, it’s the big old ex-CFL lineman.

You know the one, Adriano, the guy who likes to kiss people on the cheeks as a way of saying hello.

Yep, he gets Bob, I stick out my hand and say, “Hi, not sure we’ve met, I’m Doug Smith of The Star” and … bam!

A smooch on each cheek.

Pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve had a peck from a pro athlete while standing on a major Toronto downtown thoroughfare.

Or anywhere, for that matter.

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Thinking caps, kids.

Have a trip to Baltimore coming and while I have one great recommendation already, I could use some help.

Two night games so there’s not a lot of time but am staying at Camden Yards area and have lunches to kill.

Maybe I’ll go check out this guy’s birthplace.

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Couple of questions over the weekend about the differences between the TOD and HOTH.

Biggest one:

The ball players are ready more quickly to talk after games and the guys and gals who might be approaching deadline like that a lot.

The drill’s the same as with the basketball, we all convene in a room to talk to the coach, er, manager, and after he’s done, we toddle off to the locker room, er, clubhouse, to get the players.

In the basketball, we stand around at lockers and wait for guys; in the baseball, they bring whoever we need to a central location. Much easier. Of course, the clubhouse is about four times the size of the Raptor locker room and that helps.

But the speed with which the various players come out really struck me. I’ve seen instances in the past where pitchers iced their arms forever, position players went to lift weights before doing post-game media and we’ve had to stand around bored for half an hour.

Not now. At least not with this team or any of the guys we’ve needed to talk to at games I’ve been at.

It’s interesting, too, in one other regard.

John Farrell comes in, plops himself down at the microphone – not standing at a podium like with the Raptors – and immediately launches into his impressions of the game.

With the Raptors, it’s always been a question-first kind of thing and I think I like the Farrell way better, his comments might give us fodder for a line of questioning.

Anyway, hope that helps those who wondered.

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Things I Hate, Vol. 2,502,476

So, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time in The Smelly Ford Focus betwixt Hazelville and the peninsula of late (Hello, Mick and Angelo’s) and here’s a Top Two Irksome Things From Idiot Drivers On The QEW

Move over!

Seriously. There are three lanes. Right one for slowpokes, middle one for regulars, left on for speedsters. Know where you should be and get there.

Thank you.

Listen!

You hear that little “click, click, click, click” sound that’s driving you crazy?

It’s your directional signal and because I’m the guy behind you entirely confused as to your intentions, please, for the love of all that’s good in the world, turn it of.

Thank you.

What’s on your list?

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Oh yeah, Mighty Rockies are tomorrow night.

I’ll alert the scalpers that you’ll all be around.

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Comments

[Brian]

The worst driver habit... those idiots who try to merge onto the freeway while going 75!!! Argh!

[JHK]

The Cheaters

Some tools use the off-ramp on QEW to dodge the traffic and quickly move back into the highway before the off-ramp splits out. I get stuck behind these cheaters sometimes when I'm simply trying to exit the damn hell hole.

[Peter]

What's on my list? So the HOV lane is built for those who are environmentally friendly, or at least wouldn't mind saving a few bucks on gas. So why is it that while carpooling in a vehicle loaded with people and a not overpowered engine, that I'm getting tailgated for going 15 over the limit? The HOV lane is the economy lane, the "fast" lane in this case is the one just to the right. It's nearly impossible to take the HOV lane under 120km/h and not get aggressively tailgated!

[GT]

I have to agree with you Doug regarding the drivers. I love the ones who are in the fast lane, talking/playing on their black berry, who leave about 20 cars space between the next driver and all the other lanes are bumper to bumper.

[Chris Mayberry]

Smitty...

Just got back home from Maryland. Great drive along US-15 and I-83. Just make sure you head to the Inner Harbor. Any of the restaurants there are fine for crab-cakes and a sody pop. Hot as can be down there right now.

And yes, saw no less than three idiot drivers roaring away along the interstate with their turn signals merrily flashing away. Chowderheads.

Safe travels.

maybo...

[joe]

Thanks for the great video on Babe Ruth. You have to love old time baseball and its players. They had an aura of their own. I know you like the old classic ballparks too. Here's a link to a calendar MLB is offering about old time ballparks.
http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11933324
Enjoy

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
I'm normally a sweet, understanding, patient person. (Ask anyone!) Except when on the 401. Then I become easily irritated, unflinchingly judgemental and likely to utter words that would make a sailor blush. First irritant has to do with mattresses. Love 'em. But not on the roof of a KIA doing 140km with one hand attempting to secure it out of each window. (Hopefully belonging to two different people.) The laws of physics do not make this work. No matter how tightly you hold on. And here's another tip. Piling stuff on top of it will not stabilize it. Basically, if it won't fit inside your car, rent or hire a truck. And the other thing that really winds me up are the drivers who after having seen those signs indicating roadwork ahead and we're all nicely merging into the temporary lanes, these guys race ahead of the queue in the restricted lane and then blithely expect to be let into the lane when he suddenly (Shocking! What is that roadcrew doing on the road? Can it be a construction zone?) is confronted by a frontend loader. Let you in? To my lane? In front of me? Not on my watch, buster. Best stop now. Too early to drink. Am a little wound. Cheers. Breathe.

[doug]

yea I thought you acquitted yourself well on McCowans show, especially when Bob tried to go off on his getting tired anti-euro rant..plus you showed patience in talking b-ball with him as really it's a topic Bob should stay away from....I think Shannon is extremely well versed in a lot of subjects and I like him...I found it interesting though when the roundtable was discussing the Blue Jays, AA and moving forward when and how to acquire missing pieces etc..Farrell's name wasn't raised at all, I hope he doesn't get a free pass, as he is the key to the puzzle and to me right now the jury is still out on him..managers in baseball as you know are key to the clubhouse, running the ship, strategy etc...Farrell to me has a lot to prove, (and how he is handling Escobar is not the best, sometimes just a word a pat on the back and let him go back out there, as players don't react well to benchings that are suppose to send a message, they know when they screwed up treat your players like men)and the teams success depends on him to a great extent...this town has a habit of giving coaches/manager free passes, unless if your named Cito who was the best manager this town has seen and he was the one given the hardest time...interesting...plus in regards to the Jays DH position you fellows were discussing to me Thames will be the full-time DH down the road..he's a natural fit there...but it was a good roundtable, Bob aside :)) there was some good knowledge there yesterday and discussion...

Blogger's note: Thanks very much

[doug]

plus I forgot, it was good to see your Mighty Rockies get some quality air-time....maybe AA was listening, your phone may be ringing "coach"...

[Mike kovacs]

Everyone thinks they are driving fast and so has a 'right' to stay in the left lane. As far as TOD - my impression is that since Joey Bats has been at 3rd he is not hitting as well - do you get that impression too?

Blogger's note: Not sure about his average but his HR numbers are down the last two weeks or so

[Zow]

a hh to live in the big city, my biggest traffic concern is tractors pulling big crop sprayers on highways!! on another note, since we dont get to talk basketball,Saskatoon band The Sheepdogs have become the first unsigned band to get the cover of the ROLLIN STONE!!!!!! Great band ,that reminds me of the Guess Who.

[Nick Kajganich]

It drives me nuts to be going the speed of traffic and leave 2 or so car lengths of space to the vehicle in front of you, to only have some idiot behind you pass on the inside and cut in between you and the car ahead of you.

[ed]

when a lane is ending, drivers who wait for the last possible inch to merge.

[joeu]

My personal annoyance is with the herd of sheep driving in the middle / 1 from the left lane on every 3+ lane highway I happen to use.

@Peter: Time is money, and I'm in the HOV to economize my time, and get someplace before I'm old. If you want to drive closer to the "minimum" speed, that's what the right-most lane is for, especially when all lanes are moving.

[Headshots Los Angeles]

It's all about money. The owners want more and they want to take it from the players. This is bad for the NBA. David stern should be working to end the lockout and get the season started. The NBA is very popular and could be even more popular. Stern should be working with the struggling markets to help them improve their fan base and make more money, not miss a season and ruin the NBA for the 2011 season.

[Kevin Murray]

Tailgaters are my peeve. You're cruising at 120 at here is somebody six feet behind you when there is no gap to your right for you to move into. I've noticed pick up trucks and SUV bullies are the worst.

[Lost City]

It's the idiotic, backwards-thinking, lying, cheating, dishonest, unethical, clueless, neanderthal drivers that bug me most. You know the type: carbon-guzzling civic leaders driven by hateful, selfish ideology who insist on driving while distracted by talking on their cell phones. Yeah, it's those drivers who usually push me towards the edge of committing heinous crimes.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

So now SternCo is suing the players union? Does this send it all going downhill in a hurry or what? Has he just borrowed a line from Ted Knight: "You'll get nothing and like it..."?
Going to be watching a lot more football than usual, I'm guessing. Cheers. Sort of.

[Brian67]

Doug, I'll be in Baltimore this weekend too, also staying in the inner harbour area. Living in southern Maryland I don't get a chance to see many Jays games so I'm looking forward to Saturday night. Don't know Baltimore (other than Fells Point is supposed to be an interesting area) so please pass on any suggestions you get.

Blogger's note: Done. I hear it's going to be hot, like 40 C hot

[Mike kovacs]

if someone is passing you on the 'inside' it means that you should have been over at least 1 lane...

[Lindsay]

I thought you were off the "fresh air"?

Blogger's note: Bit of a relapse, hopefully only a short one

[tim]

but isn't anyone drivng faster than you a butthole, and anyone driving slower than you a butthole?

[doug]

"when a lane is ending, drivers who wait for the last possible inch to merge."...what I do is look in my rear view mirror and if I see someone trying to sneak up and merge I straddle both lanes, like a solid screen in basketball, I block their way...as it's the thing that irritates me the most, I drive a Jeep TJ so my top is always down (on the jeep) and I hear them yelling at me to pull over...I just turn up the tunes and ignore them...you wanna be a ass so can I...driving is a adventure but driving here is nothing compared to some other locales in the world...where it's a free for all....

[Peter]

@joeu So you're the guy tailgating me! If time is money, then get in the fast lane! The HOV lane wasn't made for you!

[m]

Sounds like most of the goofs on the highway are reporting in here.