Believe it or not, there's a little basketball here; among other things

So, today’s the day?

All the reports after the short meeting between the league and union yesterday suggest the owners have made some movement on the hard cap – unsure what kind of pound of flesh they want in return – and the chat they’ll have today could be the make or break moment in these boring, drawn-out negotiations.

I love that we’re at the point where everyone’s trying to guess what’s going on by body language and dissecting snippets of quotes. I can’t imagine how mind-numbingly boring it must be to stand around Manhattan waiting for meetings to wind up so you can really be told nothing of substance.

It’s one of the worst parts of the job and I’m glad I’ve been able to avoid it.

I can recall sitting outside too many meeting rooms waiting for too many hours only to get nothing.

These are the kinds of situations that make the job more drudgery than glamorous. It’s important work and guys like Aschburner and Mahoney and Berger and Beck and Woj have done a tremendous job with it ever since the first of July.

I thank them. You should, too.

But the fact of the matter is, this might be the last day for a while that any of them have to do it.

The sense is that if they can’t get to the heart of an agreement today that some kind of nuclear negotiation winter will set it, with cancellations of the rest of the pre-season coming and serious questions about the chance of the season starting on time.

There comes a moment in every negotiation when it’s time to fish or cut bait. We’re at that moment in the NBA, it would appear. And after all we’ve heard and read and the snippets of information we’ve had to decipher, I don’t think anyone outside of the six or eight guys in the room really knows what today will bring.

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In a shocking development, I somehow missed The Great Ontario Leaders Debate last night.

Can someone catch up me up?

On second thought, I’ve seen and heard enough ads to know that no matter which way I vote, the party that obtains power will make sure the roads are paved with gold, there’s a chicken in every pot, no taxes, the sun will shine every single day for the rest of time and the Evil Doers from the other three or four or six parties will be banished forever to, oh, I dunno, to North Dakota or somewhere like that.

But you people in Ontario better vote or I’ll be dismayed and a Dismayed Doug is not a pretty sight.

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Can’t wait for the China-Tunisia men’s basketball game at the London Olympics next year.

That ought to be a cracker.

Anyway, we’ve got the men’s field set except for the three spots coming out of the final qualifier next July.

It’s United States, Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil, Tunisia, Australia, China and Great Britain.

But the cool thing is we also now know who’s going to be in that final event:

It’s Greece, Lithuania, Macedonia, Russia, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Angola, Nigeria, Jordan, Korea and New Zealand and if I had to guess the three that’ll earn Olympic berths right now, I’d go all Europe with Greece, Russia and Lithuania.

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Toronto’s the worst sports city in the world, eh?

Well, if no less a global authority than ESPN says it, it must be true, right?

Anyway, Cathal’s got a nice little piece here – wonder if he consulted the Magic 8-ball for assistance? – that you should take a look at.

Me?

I’ve been in enough major American cities to know that if we’re bad, we’ve certainly got company, regardless of the criteria you use.

No, the streets haven’t been closed very often for championships parades but I’m guessing none of the Peachtrees or Peach Trees in Atlanta have bleachers up for celebrations.

And I don’t recall of late too many titles in, say, Milwaukee.

But even if you use other criteria – like fan support, quality of the facilities, concentration of media attention on pro sports – Toronto’s not that bad off, at all.

The thing that makes me laugh about these polls and lists and such is the angst and anger they cause in some circles. EPSN doesn’t think Toronto’s very good? Who gives a rat’s bum? They do those things to generate (a) conversation and (b) awareness of themselves. And it always works; shame on us.

Oh, and I will give you these two numbers:

22,820

18,772

Those were the two crowds in Tampa Bay for the final series of the major league season, against the Yankees as the Rays tried to complete one of the greatest late-season comebacks in baseball history.

22,820 and 18,722. They ought to move that franchise today.

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Man, I love my Irregulars!

I wish for chocolate beer like some people can’t wait for bacon jam and I’m told it does exist.

I (heart) you.

Well, most of you.

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Hey!!!!!!

Raptors news.

Well, not really news, but a wee bit of an update.

Talking to a couple of guys yesterday – yes, I still keep my hand in every now and then just to make sure nothing major is going on – and a couple of things came up.

There’s no movement on a front office addition – whatever the new job will entail – because there’s still some due diligence being done, calls being made, conversations being had. No timetable – there hasn’t been one since the process started way back last April or so – and there is no “front-runner” for the job.

Oh, and they might not have anything much to do but the coaches are starting to drift back into town and should all be around the first of next week.

They’ll meet to come up with practice plans and schedules, do some video work to scout their own guys and other NBAers and, hopefully, provide all kinds of news and insights to bored ex-baseball grunts.

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This was pretty disheartening news last night:

Arvydas Sabonis had a heart attack and while details were sketchy at first, late reports are he’s out of danger and should be fine.

As Irregulars know, he’s one of the guys I truly wish I’d seen play in his prime; and I wish the people in North America had been given the chance, too, because everything I hear about him is amazing.

Here’s a bit of a look:

Now, there are others, too.

I wish I’d seen Oscar Schmidt more than I did, the great Brazilian was one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the game and I only got to see him a couple of times at the tail end of his career.

Want four more and hopefully get some details from Irregulars?

Dejan Bodiroga, who I did see quite a bit of and who would have been an excellent NBA guard.

Sergie Belov, who I vaguely recall from the 1972 Munich Olympic final.

Theo Papaloukas, one of those guys from Greece who just know how to play.

And Dino Meneghin, Mr. Basketball in Italy.

Anyone got anything on them?

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May as well get started on the usual schedule, no?

Have an afternoon TOD game to sit and watch somewhere, may as well have some mail to answer while I do it, right?

Click. Tell me things. Entertain me.

Thanks.

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Comments

[skiff]

The ESPN (via Grantland) article actually is interesting, because it's not a poll and never claims to be more than an opinion piece.

However, note that it was written by a Torontonian who actually lives here, not somewhere in the US, and the thrust of his article is that Toronto is too easily satisfied with "lunch bucket" type players, and makes them out to be way bigger than they are. The cost of this is that it takes the pressure off management to go out and actually try to get the best players in the world. We've seen it in out NHL, NBA, MLB, and MLS teams, so it's pretty astute really.

Good article to discuss if people actually read it instead of reading the headline and judging from there.....

[doug]

I haven't read the Toronto article but I will get around to it at some point, but one thing that has always perplexed me is how Toronto sports fans can love players like Domi and Tucker but yet boo someone like Larry Murphy (a much more skilled and gifted player) out of town, or with the Raps have this love for all things Pops or the junkyard dog and yet heap total scorn on a guy like Barg's who yes has his faults but averages over 20 points a game in the NBA,which is not a easy thing to do..Toronto sports fans have a skewed eye when it comes to judging talent , so if that is the gist of the article I have to totally agree....and in regards to the NBA I am going to say something here that is politically incorrect and comes from no personal views or feelings at all as I embrace all religious beliefs, but I am only making this point as it is something that to me shows Sterns hypocrisy and lack of empathy towards anything but the almighty dollar and yes the television networks are complicit it in as well, but they are what they are, here is a quote from a article from yesterday on the S.I. site...."It's been expected there would be no talks Thursday because members of both bargaining teams will be observing the Jewish holiday, but they could resume before the weekend if progress is being made." which is fine to respect the holiday but what about Christmas day which in some religious circles is a pretty special day, but yet Stern and the NBA jams 5-6 games down our throats, necessitating the need for television crews to be away from their families, concession workers, players,coaches etc..where is the respect for that day??..it will never be discussed but if you respect observance of one holiday shouldn't respect be extended to others??....just saying, the hypocrisy and the lies from Stern and the owners is mind-numbing at times...

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
I posted a brilliant response to this morning's Blog, but it's gone! Or did I hit "delete" rather than "post"? Wouldn't have been the first time for that to happen! Anyway, there was the usual brilliant insights (including opinion on the length of those mid-80's basketball shorts) but the one thing I really wanted to be certain to share with you and Irregulars is a reminder that the Canadian women play Jamaica tonight (An Almost Live Broadcast With A Mere 2-1/2 Hour Tape Delay!!!) at 10:30pm. Right after the Wild Card Wrap Up! Cheers. Hoping I hit "post" this time... :)

Blogger's note: Think you might have hit "delete" 'cause I don't see it here anywhere

[The J]

@doug - not sure if you would count this but he does technically give them Christmas eve off, instead of x-mas day. Not that I mean to defend Stern but I enjoy the entertainment on that day. Though it did feel more special when it was only a couple of important games, rather than 5 or 6 random ones.

Oh, well. Since the games chosen are usually between contenders, star based teams, or high rating teams, I can only assume us Raptors fans will always have the day off.

[Nick M]

I would have to add Drazen Petrovic to your list. The circumstances may not be the same, but I feel Basketball fans were robbed of seeing him in his prime.

[doug]

I know you are big on the integrity of the game and players respecting it in any sport as I am, and her is a example that goes against all that it stands for...to me it is a repulsive act and shows no character by any of the parties involved...

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7031134/batting-title-line-new-york-mets-jose-reyes-pulled-hit

[D-Mac Ottawa]

How do, Doug,
Regarding this new Raps front-office addition, still in the works: Are you able to expand on the due diligence part, considering the position hasn't really even been defined or labelled yet? Is there a "standard" due diligence that happens regardless? More along the lines of a general background check, no ghosts in the closets, etc.? Are the job position details entirely flexible here, based on who BCo decides to bring on board? Do you have inkling what area(s) of expertise/management/admin he's looking to pump up with this hire?
And @doug, I don't find anything politically incorrect whatsoever with raising the point you make. The question is as valid as the answer(s) might be, which is to say that I'd guess there may be legitimate, or at least sincere, reasons, based in faith, tradition, dogma, dietary requirements, whatever, why observing certain holidays one way is okay but another way not so much. It's a great question. Anyone?
Cheers.

Blogger's note: Am trying to get the answers to all your questions.

[Cluck Kent]

I don't think I've mentioned it lately, so thanks again for the daily Blog. I love those guys who hate the sight of every word you write but still religiously read them all every day. Surely, there is a psych major among the irregulars who could share with us the proper term for that type of affliction.

So thank you, always a fun time here.

@doug, I think most Toronto sports fans have too high an expectation for the 'stars' on the team and too low an expectation for the workaday players.

@Lorie, every brilliant response I have ever written has been deleted. It seems like HWWTB (He Who Writes This Blog) only posts my drivel.

[Lorie]

@Cluck Kent
Brilliance may be monitored by HWWTB, but he can't take away your name. Makes me smile everytime I read it. Oh, and that other one too - @Sheik Yarbuti. Great stuff. :)