One hoops season ends; another in limbo and, of course, other stuff

If the incessant rain, chill in the air and leaves falling from the trees (stupid, stupid, stupid leaves!) isn’t signal enough, there’s another surefire sign that the summer is over.

The international basketball season is about wrapped up.

Whither Canada?

Well, as we know, the senior women finished third in their Olympic qualifier, good enough to get into next summer’s global 12-team event for five berths in London, and the men, while not in total disarray, are looking forward to pretty much a non-season in 2012 after falling on their faces at their qualification event.

Two things have to happen right now:

Canada Basketball has to announce – this week, I would say – that Allison McNeill is coming back to coach the senior women next summer. She’s done an incredible job developing that program – getting to two world championships after a 12-year drought, qualifying to play next summer – that it’d be ridiculous not to give her one more year to try to finish a process that’s so far along.

The other?

Not sure when they have their annual general meeting, or when the bean counters start parceling out cash for next year, but they have to devote a huge proportion of the available money to that women’s team.

That means as many training camps as they can fit into the women’s schedule, an ambitious exhibition season early next summer to prepare for the tournament and as many scouting, training trips as the staff can make to stay in touch with the core players from the team.

I know the general populace would rather discuss, or watch, or think about, the men’s program because it’s such a higher profile but the women are good and need to be provided with the resources to be as good as they can.

-

This ought to be a hoot.

Because of my incarnation into once-a-week gridiron scribe (you know, Cathal on Sunday and then me on Monday) I’ve been invited to take part in some hour-long chat at noon today.

Wonder how easy it’ll be to mock while I do?

Feel free to join. It’ll be like an IGBT only different.

-

And why not a trip down memory lane to start the week:

Q: Doug. It was interesting to see your commercial choices (how could you leave out Mean Joe Greene and the Kid?) but they did reveal a certain 'age' of watcher. So, when I ask you for your most annoying TV neighbours choices, I'm sure you'll have Gladys Kravitz ahead of Kramer.

List on.

Gary M, Brampton

A: Um, yes, I am of a certain vintage so I don’t imagine these will entirely surprise you and it’s sitcoms only. If these people moved next door, I might be convinced to put a sign on the lawn. Or a big electric fence between us:

Wilson

The dude from Home Improvement. Remember him?

A bit smarmy and what’s with the no showing his face?

Gladys Kravitz

Yeah, you nailed it. What a nosy pain in the bum.

Fred Mertz

Ethel, I didn’t mind, especially that one episode where she and Lucy got in some trouble. Fred? A bit of a pain.

Newman

I know, not technically a neighbour because he lives a few floors away but you know what I mean.

George Jefferson

Not sure why, he just bugged me.

-

Seriously, today is make-it-or-break-it day in the NBA contract talks.

I know. I know.

Same thing was said Friday, same thing was said Saturday and I’m pretty sure the same thing could very well be said tomorrow.

Yawn.

But, the truth is, I imagine the second week of pre-season games is going to be cancelled either today or tomorrow, robbing us of pretend games early in the exhibition season sometimes dominated by guys who don’t have a snowball’s chance of sticking around.

A shame.

-

So the National Basketball League’s got a big deal going on today, naming its first commissioner about noon as it marches on towards the start of the inaugural season.

From all reports, each of the seven teams has been doing a good job in the respective cities getting some advance publicity, getting out in the community and creating the kind of local buzz that’s necessary before any start-up endeavour.

Again, I like the way these guys are going about their business, nothing too flashy, nothing too big, build from the ground up and I think they might just have a successful inaugural season.

We’ll catch up with them every now and then but this is very much a “local” league, not sure there’s a lot of national or Toronto interest until things get going but I’m pretty sure you’ll get your fill of them around here once I convince The Tall Foreheads it’s worth a road trip or two.

-

Back to the NBA for a second ‘cause we’re a tad wistful today.

You see, today is supposed to be Media Day for NBA teams, a giant free-for-all of interviews, pictures, the renewing of acquaintances and standing around the announces the formal opening of training camps aside.

Some of us whine a bit about it – it can be mind-numbingly boring, there are waaaaaaaaay too many hangers-on getting in the way, news is always in short supply – but it is like the first day of school.

You get to see guys you haven’t seen all summer, there truly is a sense of optimism pervading it and in some ways, it’s fun.

Now?

Now we’re left to wonder when there will be one, when there might be some resolution to the mess they league and union have got themselves into and it’s kind of depressing.

I’m sure that’s not lost on the big shots who’ll gather in New York today to talk; at least I hope it isn’t because this is supposed to be a time of goodwill, not apathy with gusts to anger at not having camps, games or anything to look forward to.

-

Okay, big day at the Mother Ship, I think. We’re trying to figure out ways to expand this little fiefdom and maybe bring some different looks to it.

Any ideas?

Oh, and it will, of course, be a week of huge anticipation, excitement and fervor.

Pucks Starts Thursday!!!!!

Can’t wait.

-

 

 

Comments

[JHK]

Is it just you and me that put pucks at the bottom of favorite sports list?
Not looking forward to seeing these puck heads wearing blue jerseys to work on Fridays...

[Lyndon]

Hey doug, I heard something about a heated exchange between D. Wade and H. Stern. Do you by chance have any insight into said "Exchange"?

Thanks

Blogger's note: Am told over-blown reaction to a typically emotionally-charged bargaining session. Nothing more or less

[Marc M]

With due respect to the current women's senior team members, how will the coaches ensure that the squad fields the best players available? Noticed there were at least two or three absentees (for one reason or other) that would have given the team a better chance of qualifying outright.

Blogger's note: Won't be just coaches, that's as much on the management and the athletes as anything.

[Mike kovacs]

How about 1 click links to NBA stats and standings?

[Matty-Pix]

Here's a new look. Since your blog is the profession, non-willing to get into the wandering wonders of many Raps fans ... along comes my blog called "The low road", where you pass along all the "who will we draft in 2012", "Sign Pops-Mensah Bonsu", "What about TMac coming back", "Trade Bargnani for a washing machine" questions ... and I answer them with my great knowledge of the Raptors squad. You eliminate certain headaches; certain fanatics get to play fantasy; I begin my rise to superstardom ... win-win-win.

[Paul]

An idea to expand this site?

Two words - "grunt sexting"...

[D-Mac Ottawa]

How do, Doug,
Seems like the NBL picked a good year to introduce itself. Far less likely to be overlooked with the NBA in mothballs right now. Was that intentional, or just one of those breaks of the game? Sounds like you're planning to give them some coverage – that's great! How about TV? Anything shaking there?
Re tweaking the blog here, wouldn't at all mind seeing you resurrect Grunt TV and/or your Game Report once the season finally gets under way. If you could include interviews and/or special guest spots, so much the better. Cheers!

[doug]

sometimes it seems some G.M's most get scotch-guarded at times as nothing sticks to them no matter how bad they are....and this to me is a example how players aren't greedy it's management that hasn't a clue and this G.M. is suppose to be a knowledgeable one..."Theo Epstein, whose major free-agent signings since 2005 are Edgar Renteria, Julio Lugo, J.D. Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lackey, Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron, Carl Crawford and Bobby Jenks. Epstein also has signed those nine players to contracts totaling $462 million, with an additional $51.1 million paid to a Japanese team to acquire Matsuzaka. Of that $513 million spent, and those nine players, only Scutaro has been worth every dime of his contract -- and his deal was only for two years and $12.5 million' ...yet Tito is gone and Esptein is deciding whether he stays or not if I were the owner his only decision would be what movers to use to get his stuff out of there.......Stern never had a good weekend, first a ill-advised from a P.R. perspective encounter with Wade, then backtracking on his "extreme consequences" statement and calling out a reporter Marc Stein specifically for saying it....plus he was admonished it was reported by the executive committee for continually stating he would cancel the season, when in fact it is the executive committee's decision, it needs 16 votes to do so and right now there aren't near that many votes to support any such resolution...Jeff Van Gundy was right a few months ago it appears when he chided Stern for not liking "free speech"and likened him to a dictator....and as far as neighbours go on Everybody Loves Raymond his mother was a piece of work...and that Larry dude on Three's Company wasn't to likable a sort and in fact defined a classic 70's disco sleazeball...

[jimt]

an option to agree or disagree on comments would be cool and interactive with the readers and also maybe some fun polls as TMZ conducts on their site.As for Pauls comment above...WTF,lol,gotta love mondays!

[LeeZ]

Nearly peed myself when I read this:
An idea to expand this site?

Two words - "grunt sexting"...

Three words: Ding ding ding!!! (sorry Doug, but you're a mite bit miserly when it comes to handing out ding ding dings, so I thought I'd do it for you. Forgive the presumptuousness on my part.)
Millie Helper on the Dick Van Dyke show was a bit of an annoying neighbour, as was Phylis on the MTM Show.

[LeeZ]

Hey, I've even come up with what could be your first grunt sext:

"Ooooh you sexy Irregulars you. What are you wearing right now? A basketball hoop and nothing else, you say? Ooooh!!!"

Or maybe not...
:)

[Lorie]

Okay. If you guys insist on sexting each other, 3 rules:
1. Change the name. Doug may be a "grunt". And the phenomenon is known as "sexting". But keep those two words separate. Grunting while sexting doesn't sound appealing. Especially in public.
2. Guys, keep it to words only. No matter how delightful (you think) the...ahhh...package, keep it underwraps. Remember The Favre!
3. Never sext while tipsy. Never. You sext the wrong person and life as you know it may be over. Not saying it mighn't improve. But things'll change. :)
Cheers!

[Cluck Kent]

Regular giveaways. People love stuff for free. You could get sponsors for your Blog and they could supply the freebies and pay you big, big for advertising space.

But don't go too extreme; you don't want to give it a 'Fernwood Tonight' kind of atmosphere.

I'll be disappointed if I ever read something like,

So after the game I'm standing around talking to Nav Bhatia, Super Fan and a great guy for giving me a chance to drive one of his fine cars free for the entire season - and let me tell you it drives like a dream. If you don't have one like it, you want to get right over there'...

[Andrew Potter]

Would love some podcast stuff... maybe bi-weekly? Maybe bring someone else in once every two weeks to shoot the breeze over topics 'x' 'y' and 'z', then delve into the mail bag.

Also, the Blog has reached a cult-popularity level that warrants a little bit of a design overhaul... I feel like a new banner would be nice; maybe put the Star's blue and white hospital ward colour scheme to bed?

[doug]

if Doug were to begin sexting...it would give b-ball terms like double dribbling, palming and slam dunk all new meanings...read your football chat thing just a bit ago, I think that the running game will be more evident by a lot of teams as the season progresses...as the strike and shortened training camps influenced a lot of teams in that area, as the blocking schemes for running plays are more complex then for passing plays, as all linemen have the basic skillset (one hopes) for pass blocking...but to run block one needs to learn that teams schemes, not easy...so as the season progresses and the inclement weather as well becomes a issue , running games will start to have a better balance, so that will be when to jump on some unders as they will be inflated due to this outburst of offense (or not who knows)...but it is fun right now, it's like arena football/CFL are now the NFL game...and how happy do you think ESPN is for paying those big bucks for MNF now?/...the games they have coming up and tonights are complete dogs...

[doug]

I think it's time for MNF to dump are you ready for some football..as Hank Williams Jr. is comparing Obama to Hitler...good ole Tennessee boy...how can this song be the song on MNF anymore...if it is they lost me as a viewer...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/03/hank-williams-compares-obama-to-hitler_n_992513.html

[Lorie]

Well, as far as changes...giveaways and free stuff are usually free and given away for a reason. Unless someone from Gucci wants to give away some of their of cuir leather platform boots. Don't need the handbag. Too much. And you know those places where you're encouraged to "agree" or "disagree" with the commenter? Well, who really gives a crap if people agree with you or not? What is really the point of those things? And who - or what - is using the information? And for what purpose? This is probably no help, Doug. So much changes and it seems for no reason other than to make a change. I just like that you have music and that for the most part we all respect each other's right to offer thoughts and opinions and sometimes laughs. Mainly the laughs.

[EricNS]

A couple of road trips to NBL cities? Halifax! We'll have an Irregular (Maritime Branch) reception for you, Doug! By reception I mean a gathering at a pleasant lounge near the Metro Centre.

BTW, the cable companies here have been carrying Rainmen games on their community channels for the last couple of years. Helpful to people like us, who live a distance from the city -- though we have managed to get to at least one game a year.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Totally agree with @Lorie that the "agree"/"disagree" thing is, like, totally disagreeable. An opinion's an opinion, a fact's a fact, and sometimes commenters are just shooting the breeze and telling good stories. What's to agree or disagree with?
I also like @Matty-Pix's idea of taking "The low road" to lighten your load. Takes big shoulders, but could be an instant classic, especially if full carte blanche is given for full-on political and social incorrectness. You could bat the billys around like a cat toy for awhile and then kick them downstairs for the Matty-Pix once-over. Yeah, I like that one! Cheers.

[doug]

I agree those thumbs up and down things are ridiculous...and in fact anyone that expresses a opinion gets a thumbs up from me...as whether I disagree with it or not is irrelevant, to me too many people nowadays feel they have to either agree or disagree, is it really that simple??? what about just listening,respecting and trying to see where another is coming from?? if someone listed all the actors both female and male that went on to do bigger roles after being on Seinfeld, whether it was for just a scene or maybe a couple(and there were more then a few)..at the head of that list has to include Bryan Cranston, the dentist who told jewish jokes and wasn't jewish...his work on Breaking Bad is superb, it's the best hour anyone could spend watching t.v. in my view...

[doug]

well kudos to ESPN...they have pulled hank Williams Jr from MNF...guess i can watch now...i am sure they will use faith Hill's version from here on in...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/10/03/espn.williams.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a16&eref=sihp

[D-Mac Ottawa]

P.S. I think Frank Nelson would also probably qualify as an annoying neighbour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsKOaKG_V6M&feature=related
All right, cheers...