Condensing things doesn't help and easiest gigs in sports

With two weeks lopped off the NBA schedule already (perhaps you’ve heard?) one of the questions around here is does it help or hurt the Raptors?

Quick answer?

Probably hurts.

There are several factors at play here with the HOTH, not the least of which is a condensed training camp, pre-season, regular season sure isn’t going to help a team in transition.

With a new coach implementing some kind of new system, and with so many roster questions to be answered, they really could benefit from as much time as possible.

They’ve got to find a way to defend, they have serious questions about a starting small forward, a backup shooting guard, maybe another big and who knows if they truly want Jerryd Bayless to challenge Jose Calderon as the starting point guard and the only thing that would help them, really, would be time to figure it out.

And time they don’t have.

Now, I’m not saying they can’t catch lightning in a bottle, or come out of the gate quickly against other teams still trying to figure things out, but it’s going to be far more difficult under these circumstances.

(I hate to belabour a point made last spring but everyone in the world figured something like this was coming, might it not have made a bit of sense to leave the then-coaching staff in place so a shortened season/camp wasn’t exacerbated by all kinds of new things to deal with? Just askin’.)

And if you look at the games they’ll miss – home to Philly, at Cleveland and Minnesota, home to Dallas and the Clippers and on the road at Memphis and Oklahoma City – it’s a mixed bag. No way they ever beat Dallas and Memphis-OKC on a back-to-back is fraught with peril but there might have been a couple of wins in there that could have given them some confidence as the early part of the season unfolded.

Now – and we have no idea if this indeed will turn out to be true so take things with grains of salt – they’ll open with Phoenix and Milwaukee at home before a trip to Boston, Orlando and Miami and then Boston again.

Yikes!

Of course, there is one flip side but I know you’ll know what I think of this.

Am sure there are “fans” who think another bad season to get another high draft pick to go along with Jonas is a good thing. Sorry, I can’t get onside with that train of thought, you need to win as many games as you can, regardless.

-

Hmm.

Seems I messed up and forgot a couple of things yesterday on that Facebook thing.

First off, here’s a link that might make it a tad easier for you to go to the page and hit that “like” button (I shall be eternally grateful, honest) and there are a couple of other things you need to know.

My “actor” friends were real live cool people, Jessica (who is not in any way a ditz, honest) and Greg (who I’m sure has rolled his eyes at me on more than a few occasions).

The hugely talented Randy Risling of our multi-media department shot it, edited it, made it foolproof for me and the kids and all I had to do was, you know, be myself.

And if you ever find yourself near Square 1 in Hazelville and are parched, the “set” was a stool at the Boston Pizza there and I owe them. So go take care of them if you can.

And to those who’ve hit the right buttons …

Thanks.

-

Guess the best thing to say about an American federal mediator getting involved in the NBA talks is this: Can’t hurt.

Now, it’s not binding arbitration or anything like that but a third set of eyes, and someone to maybe steer the conversation when it inevitably gets off course, certainly can’t hurt.

From all I’ve read about the mediator he’s first-class and hugely respected and if he can inch the process along, all the power to him.

But I wouldn’t be holding my breath that there’s a major breakthrough when they meet with him at the first of the week.

-

Okay, we know we’re of a certain, um, vintage around here so who doesn’t join me in going, “holy crap” when you find out Paul Simon’s 70 years old today?

And who couldn’t sing every word to every song on Bridge Over Troubled Water if they had to?

Well, for today’s musical interlude …

And wasn’t that concert in Central Park – which was in nineteen eighty freaking one!!! – one of the first true biggies that everyone can remember?

-

While watching and working that NLCS game last night (and thanks to the few Irregulars who turned out) I couldn’t quite figure out which lefty that Tony LaRussa Boy Genius would bring into face Not Cecil Fielder late in the game.

And who’s he go to? Well, no one other than Marc Repzsincki Rzepcinsky Zepchinkski … well, you know who, the guy who used to pitch for TOD.

Anyway, Zep gets him out, his night’s done and I’m thinking, isn’t left-handed situational reliever the greatest gig in all sports?

You can pitch unitl you’re about 60, it seems; if you fail every now and then they’ll just chalk it up to the law of averages; you might face three batters in a week and you’re very well compensated.

(I know Super Wife should have let me tie Super Son’s right arm behind his back for the first three years of his life so we could have an annuity for our dotage).

(I keed, I keed)

But on the list of great sports gigs, is it first?

What’s better?

Maybe backup field goal kicker but you probably have to play another position.

Backup goalie? Nah, too many pads to wear although you do get to sport a baseball hat and be seen by the fans.

Twelfth man on an NBA team? Yeah, that’d be awful close, I imagine. No pressure, good pay and good perks but that’d have to get boring, no?

Yep, to my money, lefty situational reliever’s the best gig in the games.

-

Mail?

Look, here’s the deal. They want to run a couple of questions in Saturday’s paper as a way to show folks what we do around here but the e-mail basket is pretty darn empty.

Help a fellow out, would you?

Click here now.

-

 

 

Bonding, schmonding; it's winning that counts

Yeah, we’re kind of all over the map today, think that might be the case more often than not as we move forward into some uncharted waters.

-

So, the Leaves are on one of those “bonding” trips, where they pack up and move out of town for a few days of practice – this time at a Canadian Forces base as opposed to some holiday lodge – and I wonder if it’s all worth it.

It’s been my experience with athletes I’ve spoken to about it that these trips can be mind-numbing, it’s not as much about bonding as it as about coaches having the undivided attention of their athletes during slow times in the schedule.

Bonding, methinks, is vastly over-rated; I don’t think teammates need to necessarily love each other as long as they play hard and I don’t think a guy plays harder because he’s spent time singing Kumbaya around a campfire or having dinner with the guy on his line or whatever.

Sure, it’s nice to see a Hercules aircraft and there might be a thing or two to do that’s out of the normal and a unique experience but I bet if you asked the players honestly – and anonymously – the vast majority of them would rather be at home, living as they usually do on their usual schedules, rather than be trundled off to some hideaway where they are rather limited in the things they can do.

And if you ask coaches, they’d want to have it like that all the time, where there are fewer distractions, no real-life tugs on the players time and – perhaps most important – fewer media members around to get in the way.

But as for some weird team-building exercise?

Nah.

What builds teams is wins, everyone likes each other when things are going well and if they’re not, it doesn’t matter if they’ve spent time at an armed forces base or a Vegas hotel or some swanky lodge, there will be tension.

-

Department of Ridiculous?

Driving in the neighbourhood the other night, turned a corner to see – believe it or not – Christmas lights on a house.

Seriously.

Not even halfway through October, not even to Halloween, a day after the Thanksgiving weekend and people not only have their Christmas lights up but turned on?

I don’t know, strikes me as a tad early, and silly, and if you’ve got yours up, please don’t turn them on.

-

Oh yeah, the Facebook thing.

Not sure how many of you saw it, hope it was more than a few, but we’re branching out a wee bit.

I have no clue what it’s ultimately going to mean – a bit more work, I’d imagine, without the commensurate increase in annual salary, sadly – but it could be a bit of a fun, I guess.

But it’s an add-on; I know there are probably a few of you out there who have no time for Faceoff Facebook and that’s cool, we’ll still have the usual fare in this corner of the interweb.

But go there, please, hit the “like” button because I guess that means something and the good folks who set up the page and are walking me through it – slowly, very slowly – need to be rewarded.

Thanks.

And check there every now and then, you might find new and different stuff.

-

In case you were wondering, the D League draft lottery was last night and Your Bakersfield Jam came away with picks No. 6, 8 and 13 in the first round.

The big event is Nov. 3, giving us all kinds of time to work up a mock draft, right?

I don’t imagine the D League holds much interest for any of you, and I imagine it’d be hard for HOTH fans to get too hyped about a team in California (that’s where Bakersfield is, right?) but it’s one of the two pro leagues in North America that are operating so I guess that’s something.

-

Speaking of leagues in North America, I see the Oshawa Power of the NBL signed Denham Brown yesterday, a familiar name/face if ever there was one.

Good on them, it’s nice to provide an outlet for Canadian guys to play at home but what I need to see are younger kids deciding to stay home rather than chase lower-division European jobs that don’t provide the kind of competition or salary that make it truly worthwhile.

If the NBA is to fulfill its mandate of growing the game, it’s got to use those two Canadian spots per team on younger players.

-

Quiz time:

Who’s more inconsequential to the casual sports fan today in the Toronto area:

TFC?

Argos?

Both have fallen so far off the radar to the average guy and gal it’s amazing.

Guess it does show that if you don’t win, most people don’t care.

Remember when their games used to be “events?” That certainly doesn’t seem to be the case now, does it?

-

This is how far we’ve come with this social networking world we live in.

Got up this morning to discover the Twitter feed on the Blackberry wasn’t working, bbm was dead, e-mails took forever to go through and it was really quite frustrating.

Not sure why it galled me but I guess we get so used to being in constant contact with people and the world at large that any disruption’s a pain.

I still contend we live in a world that’s too fast but it would appear I’ve been caught up in the lifestyle. Not sure I like it; not much time for true peace and quiet.

But at least it might take the Tall Foreheads a bit longer to reach me if they want to.

Oh, and the wireless was down at Super Grandpa’s place this morning, hence the somewhat tardy posting of this.

-

So I’m watching the ball game last night (poor attendance for the IGBT, by the way) and I continue to marvel at the skills of the professionals who can hit, field, throw and run like none of us mere humans.

And then I get this from My Man Dave D.

Now, that’s hitting. And juggling.

Just like we used to do at BP with the Niagara Falls Lions back in the day.

Or not.

-

Oh yeah, it’s one of those short weeks that always screws me up.

So let’s begin the weakly weekly plea for mail.

Do it here and don’t forget, we’ll still take a video submission if you want, that might be fun. Had no takers last week, I figure it’s ‘cause some of you are shy.

-

 

 

 

And now more boredom sets in, except here

Now what?

I have to admit I was caught a bit off-guard by the speed with which the NBA cancelled games; I, like many, thought there was a sense of optimism that common sense would prevail, especially with somewhat optimistic reports emanating from New York over the weekend.

And now?

Nuclear winter?

Probably.

Any momentum has been entirely lost – there is no urgency now at all – and I really think things are going to get worse before they get better.

Stern was ominous Monday night talking about further cancellations and a pullback of whatever offer was on the table and if the players truly are “united” they aren’t going to cave as quickly as they usually do.

Now, I don’t have a “side” in this thing, the owners and players are being entirely idiotic killing such a golden beast.

But the union has already given back an awful lot in percentage of BRI, they know the length of contracts will be shortened, the mid-level exception will be less valuable and the fully-guaranteed nature of their deals will be in question.

I was stunned to hear Stern talk about “concessions” the league has made because if I say you’re going to get 50 per cent less than what I’ve been giving you and then I cut that to 25 per cent, that’s not a “concession” to me. That’s simply not true and I imagine there are right-thinking fans who can see through that ruse rather easily.

But it really doesn’t matter, does it?

The game’s gone, there’s more than enough blame to go around and fans, once any sense of immediate anger is gone, will go about their lives with little or no disruption, I think.

The over-riding sense through this entire ordeal has been boredom, I believe; I can’t see it all of sudden changing now.

-

This is not a shameless request to make sure the hits keep on coming but we’ve got something a little bit new in store for you today.

Details – and a shocking new bit of schtick – are coming to thestar.com today, my people tell me – and we’re sure you’re going to like it. Or at least hope a lot of you do.

Anyway, it kind of ties in to what we’re going to have to do now that we’ve got no basketball until at least the middle of November so pay attention here today.

Please.

-

Well, we are sure going to be grasping at straws every now and then, aren’t we? I guess it’s just a continuation of what we’ve been doing but it seems more, I don’t know, definite now.

Anyway …

Remember the worst TV neighbours from a week or so ago?

If these folks lived in the area, I might call a real estate agent and look to buy.

The Best

Kramer

Duh! Sure he steals borrows food and is a general pain but the hilarity makes it worth it.

Squidward

If you’re a pineapple that lives under the sea, why not have a squid buddy.

Ed Norton

Yes, this guy might be at the very top of the list. I wish the show was still in syndication.

Rhoda

Some angst but someone had to make it easy for Mary to be Mary and solve all the world’s problems. After all, Carlton The Doorman couldn’t do it all.

Barney Rubble

Second to Norton? Perhaps

-

I really wish I could cover a sport where the season opens with two games in three nights and then you get a week off.

Gotta love the pucks.

No idea how that happens – I’d presume Mr. TV has something to do with it – but doesn’t it kill any true momentum that was built up over the first two games.

I always wondered about the difference, in a usual season that is, in the schedules between the pucks and hoops.

Generally, the hockey plays exactly the same number of games, 82, in about a month’s less time; the grind over on our side seems a bit harsh in that light, on us and on the players.

-

Lions are 5-1. 5-0.

Tigers play an ALCS game at home tonight and have the most dominant pitcher in the game.

I presume the Red Wings are still good.

The Pistons aren’t playing, which means no losses to worry about.

Yes, it is renaissance time in Detroit.

But you know, when I watch the Tigers now I can’t really get into it as much. I know that new park has been there for years (not entirely sure how many) but if there was a better old ballpark than Tiger Stadium, I don’t know what it was.

I recall the first time I was there, walking up an aisle to a box seat and walking into the greenest piece of earth I’d ever seen. A crown on the field. The smell. The feel. Amazing.

Sitting in that upper deck behind the plate, where your seat might have been closer to the field than some people in the good seats because of the way it hung over the lower boxes.

Sitting in the right field bleachers watching, I believe, the 1984 World Series and escaping just before they starting lighting cars on fire.

Maybe it was my southern Ontario upbringing and the fact I didn’t get to a lot of the older stadiums because they’d been replaced by the time I was travelling around but nothing – nothing – beat that old ballyard.

-

Someone told me Cher cried watching her offspring on DWTS?

Man, I’ve got to get back to my regular TV-watching schedule somehow.

I just hope the tears didn’t crack her face.

But it does give us this, and who didn’t love the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour?

-

 

 

 

 

Winners, losers and what's in a name

What’d they go? Five hours of talks in New York on Sunday and back at it Monday afternoon on what’s being termed Deadline Day to save the first two weeks of the NBA regular season?

Okay, good for them.

Wake us when it’s resolved one way or the other.

There has still be no resolution to anything, really. They haven’t decided on the split of Basketball Related Income (I know 49-51 works, so does 50-50, it’s a matter of them realizing it) but there are still things like lengths of contracts, the “firmness” of the cap, what kind of luxury tax that have to be dealt with.

So even if things don’t blow up tonight, and I imagine I’ll be sitting around working e-mails and phones before having to write (Happy Thanksgiving) making sure they don’t, there remains all kinds of work to do and the fellas will be dutifully reporting wee snippets of news as the week drones on.

Me? I’ll be watching baseball and waiting for a resolution.

And what I don’t want to hear, whenever this thing gets settled, is endless gnashing of teeth over who “won” the labour dispute.

We’re talking about a business that generates more than $4 billion in revenues a year with 30 ownership groups and 450 players.

Everybody wins. Everybody is still going to get rich beyond the wildest dreams of any sane and rational purpose. Yes, there may be less wealth for the players and, sure, there may be franchises that don’t turn astronomical profits every year and instead make their money on resale value but everybody wins when they get back to playing a game.

I guess if there are true winners, it’s the women and men who depend on the NBA for their salaries, the ticket takers and concession workers and TV cameramen and cable pullers who don’t work if they don’t play.

The owners and players? They’ve won for years and will win for years to come.

-

Do me a favour, fine people.

At some point today – even if you did it yesterday – take a small pause of the day and think about things you’re thankful for.

Think about family and special friends.

Think about your good health, if indeed you enjoy it.

Think about the fact we can do pretty much as we please in this wonderful country we call home because of the freedoms we’re afforded.

Think about all the great things in your life, the peace of mind you may have, the lifestyle you live.

Think about what’s truly important to you.

And say thanks.

You might enjoy the thoughts and the day might be better.

Then go eat some leftover turkey.

-

Okay, folks.

Tomorrow’s a big day.

Can’t tell you why, or exactly what it all means because I’m still a bit cloudy on what the impact will be on me (and, as we know, it’s all about me) but make sure you’re here.

Please.

-

List time to help pass the day, and fill the space.

Q: Hi Doug: How about a list? Best named athletes, and sport, any time.

On a side note, when did you start the blog on the interweb thingy?

Take care!

Tim H, Windsor

A: Oh, there are almost too many names to mention, and that goes without taking into consideration such “acquired” names as Metta World Peace or even World Be Free.

And I know this should spark many contributions from Irregulars so thanks for helping engage the others.

Mine? And it’s quick one off the top of my head, would be:

Coco Crisp.

Milton Bradley.

Stubby Clapp.

God Shammgod.

I.M. Hipp.

How, those are just funny to me, nothing more nothing less and I’m sure a lot of you are heading to what I’ll call the “Tee-Hee List.”

Like ..

Dick Trickle.

Kaka.

Gregor Fucka.

Now, a story about Fucka (pronounce Fooch-ka and that’s him if I got the picture to go in the right place).

He remains, I believe, the only athlete ever to have his named banned from a major, international newswire service.

I think it was the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Fucka was playing for Italy, as he did for years, and My Man Sheridan – or maybe it was Jim O’Connell, I can’t recall for sure – is writing a game story.

Well, one of the Tallest Foreheads at the Associated Press gets the silly idea that headline writers and dubious copy editors around the world may have too much fun with intentional typos so the guy’s name is banned from stories.

Like they were supposed to write:

SYDNEY, Aus. – Some guy whose name can’t be written scored the winning basket at buzzer …”

Seriously, they banned a guy’s name.

Lasted about half a day before Sheridan snapped and the TFs came to their senses.

As for me? Think I've been doing this on a relatively constant basis since we went to Italy for HOTH training camp in '07, although we've been here in some form for a few mor years than that.

-

I don’t know what it is about the Buffalo Bills but it should harkens back to the good old days, no?

Remember this?

That turned into this?

-

I didn’t see the Return Of The Jets in the pucks on Sunday but I do have a question:

Is there still a huge portrait of the Queen hanging on the wall at the end of the arena?

Wasn’t that one of the most iconic images of the hockey ever?

Not being quite a fan of the Royals – mostly ‘cause Liz didn’t answer the door when I knocked back in March and also because Kate and Whatshisname didn’t stop by when they were in the neighbourhood in the summer -- I found the tribute somewhat odd. But it was quaint. And decidedly Canadian.

-

 

 

The Thanksgiving edition of the weekend mail

Happy Thanksgiving, Irregulars.

If you get some time between cooking the turkey and avoiding that Old Odd Uncle who makes everyone uncomfortable, there’s some fun stuff in here.

-

Q: Doug: While watching some of the MLB playoff games, I noticed that some of the home teams have the dugout that’s on the 1st base side, while the Jays have theirs on the 3rd base side. Is this just a team preference? Is there an advantage to one side or the other? Thanks for an informative blog.

Ken B, Matheson

A: There are no hard and fast rules about which teams sit on which side of the stadium and a few factors go into the decision whenever the park is being constructed or renovated.

Sometimes it’s as simple as home team doesn’t want to have the dugout that faces into the sun, sometimes it’s the position of the palatial home team clubhouse that determines it, sometimes it’s just the way it is.

I know I would also prefer to be on the third base side because it made it easier to rely signals from the dugout to the third base coach but that was simply a personal preference. It may factor into a decision every now and then but there are a few things to consider.

-

Q: Hey Doug! So, if you ever get tired of listening to good music - or the sound of your own voice accompanying said good music - on yours road trips around the Golden Horseshoe to the Niagara Peninsula and back, a suggestion: audiobooks. They're a marvellous way to catch up on new reads and revisit some old classics while driving. For example: I recently enjoyed listening to "The Scarlet Pimpernel" with "vintage" voices of Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland, and The Old Man and The Sea as narrated by the one and only Donald Sutherland. It's so important to match the right voice to the right book, wouldn't you say? So, do you listen to books? And if not, could you name a favourite story and the person whose voice you would enjoy hearing tell it to you? (For example I've always thought Diana Rigg narrating Agatha Christie would be a match made in mystery-lovers heaven!) Thanks!

Lorie P, London

A: I haven’t done a lot of Books on Tape over the years, I recall Super Family passing the drive to Ottawa with them every now and then but I presume I was on the road and not with them.

But …

Wouldn’t Richard Burton doing Dickens fit?

Or James Earl Jones doing, well, doing anything, be kind of cool. I can see him reading a biography and bringing the subject to life.

Other than that, I’m tossing this out there to see what the Irregulars can come up with.

Have at it, folks.

-

Q: I don't remember you doing this list and the Honeymooners clip this week made me think of the old TV. game show with Groucho Marx called You bet Your Life, I am not old enough to remember seeing it live but it was on after school in repeats on channel 10 in London, Ont., years ago and it cracked me up, it was classic stuff along with Little Rascals....but my question is this, what are your top 5 game shows??....mine are Newlywed game, some of those answers were hilarious and still funny to watch the bloopers or outtakes on Youtube, then Dating Game, Match game, Hollywood Squares, and Jeopardy are my top 5, with You Bet Your Life and Love Connection honourable mentions...and maybe What's Your Line as well....ok Happy Thanksgiving weekend

Doug B, Toronto

A: I’m usually tied up in Criminal Minds marathons or old Law and Order re-runs or a Seinfeld or Modern Family to really pay any attention to modern game shows, if such a thing even exists.

The one exception:

Jeopardy.

Great show to play along with others and still something I try to click on to every now and then in the evening.

After that, it’s a rather sharp drop off and if you’re looking to the past, I’ll give you:

Hollywood Squares.

The Paul Lydne was a hoot.

To Tell The Truth

How about that Kitty Carlisle? Or the zany Soupy Sales?

What’s My Line?

 Wasn’t that where we first heard Johnny Olson?

Front Page Challenge

No, this isn’t a fop to Canadiana, it was actually a very cool show.

Now, I do remember laughing at the Newlywed Game and I can recall wanting to check out the contestants at the Dating Game so we’ll toss those on as alternates.

-

Q: Hi Doug, I love the split mailbag now that news is pretty sparse. Where I used to make the rounds to a ton of different basketball websites, spending some time over in Europe this year, with the time difference, turned reading about basketball into more of a casual thing than a full-time hobby. But Doug Smith's blog has remained full-time daily reading. I may fall a day or two behind, occasionally, but I've probably read every single one, even if a few days late, for a couple of years at least.

Anyway, on to the question. And I hope it wasn't covered (I think maybe you mentioned it once, but hopefully was a long time ago). As a sportswriter, you spend a lot of time with the "heroes of the (insert sport's playing surface here)". Furthermore, I'd imagine the hero-worship has to die immediately, or else you'd have been out of a job many years ago. But are there a couple of basketballers (or in any sport) who have come through the cracks? Where you just said to yourself "Oh my... I can't believe I'm talking to …"?

I think Red Auerbach at one time, Bill Russell or Kareem Abdul-Jabaar would do it for me.

David T, Ottawa

A: You know what? I don’t know that there’s been a present-day basketball player that’s caused that kind of reaction, to tell you the truth.

It’s been more like guys like, yes, Bill Russell and Wayne Embry who’ve made my eyes widened, guys who have lived and have stories to tell and who have helped get the game where it is to do.

I will admit to being a bit awestruck once, though.

It was as the pre-Games press party for the Sydney Olympics, they had us in a private tented area right at the top of the homestretch with our own bookies and their chalk and the like and when this guy came walking through, jaws dropped, including mine.

There was no conversation as such but there was no doubt you were in the presence of an amazing man.

First and only time I was ever close to Muhammad Ali.

If it's Saturday, the weekend mail begins

Well done, my friends.

Late flurry made this pretty good and there’s more left over for tomorrow including some lists. Still time if you’d like to get into the fun.

You know the drill.

-

Q: In honour of the Ontario election, today's question:

Best politician/ basketballer?

Dave Bing, Bill Bradley, Barry Obama?

Musically reflecting the election results...How about J Cash's " I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way."

Regards!

Bob E, Kanata

 

A: I’ll give you Bill Bradley for sure but I think I might be putting Kevin Johnson, His Worship the Mayor of the (not so) Great City Of Sacramento ahead of Bing and that kicks POTUS down to fourth at least.

And is this what you were talking about? With a bit of a bonus.

-

Q: Hey Doug. Sorry for the lack of mail lately - I'm having a hard time coming up with questions when there might not even be a season (yes, we fans like to be dramatic sometimes).

 

I find it interesting that Adam Silver (Deputy Commissioner and COO for those who don't know) seems to be getting so much face time in the media during these latest labour talks, and it seems clear to me that with David Stern close to 70, he's starting to think about handing the reins over to someone else.

 

My question is whether you've noticed the same thing, and if so, what you think Stern's legacy will be (besides allowing the Grizzlies to leave our beautiful, if wet, city). I've also read interesting things about Silver, who appears to be no slouch himself.

 

Discuss.

 

Graham V, Vancouver

 

A: Oh, I’m sure David’s starting to at least think about the end of his tenure and I’m also sure these contract negotiations and how they turn out will be a huge part of his legacy. But right now, and if they don’t miss any regular season games, I think he will be remembered as a guy who presided over a period of unimaginable global growth and economic prosperity that made billions of dollars for a lot of people. We’re talking about a truly global industry worth more than $4 billion a year that 30 years ago couldn’t get games in its championship series shown live on network television.

As for Adam, it’s widely thought that he’s the leading candidate to replace David but I don’t think he’s being more “public” than Russ Granik was the last time something like this happened. Russ was David’s right-hand man forever, it seemed, and was always around.

-

Q: Doug, you have to admit though that the retro Nets, or Golden State Warriors jerseys are worth their weight in gold! Retro NBA, not all of course. That green Mavericks one should be worn more often.

 

Drew L, Edmonton

 

A: I will absolutely concur on the Warriors (I love those old cable car jerseys and hope they wear them a lot this season) but I can’t find much love in my heart for the green Dallas ones.

I’d say Golden State might have the best series of alternate jerseys in all of sports.

-

Q: Doug: When do the players actually start to lose money? For e.g. does training camp cost them a certain amount, or is it just games in the regular season that are lost?

 

Ken B, Matheson

 

A: First paycheques are handed out in the middle of November, all they’d miss in training camp is some per diem money that’s a drop in the bucket. There are still a few weeks to go before the real financial pinch hits.

-

Q: Hello Doug! Well, say what you will about the fear, the greed, the inane tweets that have reared their ugly little heads during this lockout, I for one have enjoyed seeing you spread your wings and cover baseball, the NFL and even (and I never did think I'd see this one) pucks - and not just any old pucks, but Leaves pucks. And you know what's even more fun than getting your take on stuff going on in other sports? It's reading and/or joining in on the interaction between you and Griff, you and Cathal, you and...not sure who it'll be for pucks: I would've enjoyed you and Beezer! So, I'm enjoying all this sporty wit - or is it witty sport - and I'm wondering whether a well-developed sense of humour is a requirement to being a sports writer? Or does it just help? A lot! Or are The Mother Ship's Tall Foreheads merely suckers for writers who can tell a tale and tickle their funny bones all at the same time? Thanks!

 

(Now, think you might want to try some rugby on for size next? If so, will you be taking part in Cathal's live blog? And before you answer, it will probably be starting at 8PM New Zealand time. That's 4AM Hazelville time.)

 

Lorie P, London

 

A: I would say, as a whole, we’re a rather jolly lot with a few stories to impart and quick repartee honed over years and years and years of sitting it through endless, oft-boring, regular season sports events, wasting time in airport waiting areas or sitting around media rooms before and after games mocking each other, what we just saw and whatever else strikes our fancy.

Now, I do think the bigger picture is that our bosses want more “engagement” with the readers and if that means putting a little bit more of ourselves out there, and becoming more conversational, well a bit more of our personalities will come through.

And we’re basically good fellows.

But, no, there will be no 4 a.m. discussion of rugby at 4 a.m. involving this guy.

-

Q: Doug. Carpenter versus Halladay (two ex-Blue Jays)in the playoffs. Does this make Jays' fans proud of the organization's past or does it make them frustrated about "what could have been"?

 

Danny H, Fredericton

 

A: Fans? Oh, I’m sure there’s a large amount of “what could have been” running through their minds, which is too bad because, as we all know, nothing in pro sports is linear and just because one guy left and had great success (Carpenter) doesn’t mean it would have happened the exact same way here.

In Halladay’s case, though, he held such a special place in the minds of so many fans that I bet there were a lot of people happy to see him have success.

-

Q: Hey Doug, I'm very hopeful that there is some secret meetings going on right now, it seems things get done when the media doesn't know what's up. Anyways, not quite sure what the talent level is going to be for this new league (Division I? III? CIS?), but can we expect some fringe NBA'ers (11th and 12th guys) to sign a deal? Also, will there be rules about how many Canadians have to be on the roster? Not a big fan of rules like that, should always just be the best players play. As well, I've been running four fantasy leagues a year for the past ten years, so pass along my name for Commissioner candidates - thanks!

 

Shawn L, Bowmanville

 

A: Given all that I read Friday night, there are no meetings – secret or otherwise – planned at all.

I’m kind of anxious to see what this new NBL is like, too, I’d sure hope it’s of a higher calibre than anything any college or university league would provide but I just don’t know. Guess the greatest hope is that it’s consistently competitive so that fans have fun at games.

And, no, I don’t expect any current NBA “fringe” guys to sign and I hope they don’t because I think these teams need to build some goodwill with their fans through having players become part of the community and I don’t think you’d want a guy who was presumably one of the best players on the team bolting back to the NBA as soon as things get settled.

Goats and games and great one-on-one battles

Now that was a great, great game.

(No, not the pucks, that was just one of 82, right?).

We’re talking about Tigers-Yankees and that was pretty much one of those instant classics you get in playoff baseball and one guy will be remembered more than any other and raised this question:

Can Alex Rodriguez come back?

Of all the drama in all the games of that series, the two at-bats that are going to resonate for a very, very long time are his bases-loaded appearance in the seventh and the strikeout that ended the Yankees season.

It is totally unfair to put it all on him but that’s what we do, don’t we? We look for goats and readily place blame and when you’ve got a kabillion dollar contract like A Rod and you’re a lightning rod for criticism throughout the league anyway, you have to know that the knives are going to be out.

I don’t know Rodriguez at all and certainly can’t offer the insight of a guy like Griff or any other “real” baseball writer but it strikes me that he gets more than his fair share of the blame.

As well he should.

When you’re that guy, the guy with the brilliant career stats, the guy with the big contract, the guy who is supposed to come through in the clutch, it doesn’t matter that teammates didn’t do their jobs, or the manager made some questionable calls or the other team was just a little bit better when it counted most.

When you don’t, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel for everyone; it’s not entirely right but it’s the way sports is.

Now, I don’t know Alex Rodriguez at all, not sure I’ve ever spoken to him outside of maybe one post-game scrum one night long ago, but there does seem to be something dislikeable about him, isn’t there?

Maybe it’s because he’s not Derek Jeter, maybe it’s because of all the money he’s made, maybe there are still people irked by the way he left Seattle to chase the franchise-killing big bucks in Texas.

Whatever it is, people seem to like to see him fail.

Nice of him to oblige.

-

Okay, story time, thanks to this from the mail the other day.

Q: So, Mr. Music Man, sir, how many tunes do you have loaded on your iPod these days? (I was pretty proud of my 900 until I started hearing people bragging about their 10,000. 10,000?!) I'd bet you probably have some rare gems tucked away in your playlist. Would you like to recommend maybe a top five list of Doug's Fave-o-Rite Musical Artists That Irregulars Might Have Overlooked But Should Know About? Thanks for all the musical diversions, Doug. Good stuff!

David M, Ottawa

I don’t have a lot of rare gems, nor do I have a lot of relatively unheard-of bands to offer up, but I do have this, since you jogged my mind.

It was perhaps the very first story I ever wrote, back when I was wet behind the ears in high school. Used to deliver a weekly free TV listings magazine to stores – This Week In Niagara? Niagara This Week? – with my boy Cool Hand Luke.

Well, for some reason they asked me to do an interview and write a story (I’m sure it was to accompany some advertisement) and – yes – it was on a band that was playing in some St. Catharines saloon.

Now, I have no idea how I specifically remember that tale but when you asked about overlooked bands somehow I made the connection.

I can’t imagine anyone’s heard of them, especially anyone young, but thanks the power of youtube, you can.

Anyone recall these guys? I remember wearing out the vinyl on two or three records of theirs.

Still with that, and as another example of my mis-spent youth, we used to get paid the same day so Luke and I would gather meager pittance right after lunch and do what every teen should do with his salary:

We’d head to Fort Erie and bet the ponies.

Ah, the good old days.

-

People!

Mail!

Now. Here. Fast. There’s hardly any and the weekend’s approaching. And nothing – squat, nada, zilch – in the way of video but that’s okay.

-

I am of the belief that one of the things that should draw casual fans to baseball is either a specific pitcher or a pitching matchup.

When Super Son and I used to go every now and then it was to see Roy Halladay, now we’d probably schedule a weekend day when Ricky Romero was on the mound.

Well, you can be sure I’ll find my way in front of some TV set tonight to see Halladay and Chris Carpenter in Game 5 of the NLDS.

It’s not often that you get two of the best – and, yes, I still have Carpenter on that list – go head-to-head with so much on the line.

(Verlander-Sabathia would have been great in Game 1, not so much with a weary CC on short rest).

It’s what makes playoff baseball so great, a highly-anticipated pitching matchup that should have ‘em drooling.

I’ve got Halladay. Just seems to be the kind of game where he’ll throw a three-hit shutout, doesn’t it?

Not sure there’s a guy who better rises to the occasion with so much bulldog in him than that guy.

-

Oh yeah, right.

Basketball.

Nothing’s going on; there’s another of those dreary, over-hyped exhibitions this weekend down in Miami you should ignore.

But other than that?

Nothing going on at all although I would think Sunday someone would call someone else and maybe see if they can’t salvage the start of the season.

If they don’t at least talk, every season ticket holder in every city in the league ought to call their franchises on Monday, demand their full refunds and go spend the money somewhere else so they won’t have it when the teams come begging for forgiveness whenever they get around to settling.

-

I’m not entirely sure in the dawn of a new day but at some point while watching the Yankees-Tigers last night, one of those “separated at birth” things came to mind.

Does the guy on the left look a bit like the guy on the right?

Or is it just me?

-

Lots of fun with the pucks crowd last night, no?

Yes, I agree a day-long blog might have been, you know, waaaaaaaaaaay too much but what the heck.

The iGBT went okay, don’t think I embarrassed myself and maybe we do more since there might not be any basketball to worry about.

Whaddya think?

-

 

 

New starts and old cases of fans in the way, among other things

So, I hear it’s opening night?

Ah, hope springs eternal in all those cities and all those arenas and with all those fans.

(Including the six-year-olds who’ve never known the glory of a Leaves playoff triumph).

But the dawn of a new pucks season also brings out one of the silliest things in all of professional sports, quite aside from the scripted fights that really add nothing to a game.

The reward for losing.

Yeah, that whole “we get a point even though we lost the shootout” thing kind of rankles, doesn’t it?

The whole premise of professional sports is that there should be a winner and a loser (soccer being the exception and I have an issue with the plethora of regular-season ties in that sport, too) and rewarding teams with a point in the standings for losing seems a tad ridiculous to me.

I’m a bit of a fan of the shootout, actually, and overtime with one less skater on the ice can be far more entertaining than regulation time but if the object is to win, shouldn’t the winner get all the glory?

Let ‘em have shootouts for all the points; let ‘em know that playing for a tie late in the third period of a game or in overtime isn’t going to bring some miniscule reward.

Let ‘em figure out every game who won and who lost and parcel out the benefits – points in the standings – in an equitable manner

End o’ rant.

-

So, I hear it’s opening night?

And not to pick on the hockey but the only “real” opening day to me, one that truly marks the opening of a new season with something special, is baseball.

For most fans, it’s the first chance they’ll get to see that season’s team in person, the clubs have been hiding out mostly in Florida or Arizona and they come “home” to start things for real and the fans flock.

The other sports – basketball, football, hockey – have all those home exhibition games that tend to water down the official opening in some way.

I know tonight’s for real, and the pretend games don’t ever have the same intensity or even the same lineups but for the simple fact of seeing a team in person for the first time, baseball Opening Day takes the cake.

-

Memory lane?

Not quite sure how this came up but a friend’s asking the other day about sports fans and how they can, um, get in the way of the actual playing of the game.

That, of course, gets me to thinking about cases of fan interference and the most egregious instances and since it’s kind of timely …

How about that Steve Bartman?

Yeah, the kid who cost Cubs an out in an NLCS game they should have won had they not screwed it up themselves and here’s the cool part.

I was at that game.

Helping out Griff on my way to the Quad Cities for a HOTH exhibition game (remember those?) and I was writing the “scene” out on Waveland Ave. behind Wrigley when the whole thing went down.

Anyway, that’s got to be the one that sticks in everyone’s mind, right?

Others? Here are three and I’m sure you’ve got more.

Jeffrey Maier

Remember him? The kid who reached over the wall in right field at old Yankee Stadium in the 1996 ALCS to knock a Derek Jeter fly ball that might have been an out into the stands where it was – incorrectly – ruled a homer?

Yankees eventually beat Baltimore in extra innings; kid got the key to the city and an appearance on Letterman, if memory serves.

Bibbles Bawel

Isn’t that one of the great names of all time?

Anyway, no clue how I remembered this but Bibbles was a defensive back with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1957 Grey Cup. He picks off a pass, heads seemingly unimpeded down the field for a touchdown when – oops! – a fan sticks out his foot and trips him.

Here’s photographic evidence, and here’s a very cool story that recounts just who did what and if it doesn’t make you think a little bit less of the judicial system and the men who used to dominate it, I don’t know what will.

And, finally

Don’t mess with a stuffed animal at a basketball game.

Can’t imagine the fun-loving Chicken getting involved in anything like this, but this is classic.

-

Hey, people.

I understand there might not be enough technological savvy for many, or any, of you to send video questions (I have none) but the old-fashioned mail stuff is still available to you and you’re really slacking this week.

Here. Words or pictures, whatever you like.

Thanks.

-

Five things I fully expect you’ll hear before now and whenever the pucks season ends.

“If Toronto wins seven of its next 10, they’ve got a shot at eighth. Go Leafs, Go!”

“Sydney Crosby is almost cleared for full contact practices.”

“He only got suspended how many games for that head shot?”

“The Phoenix Coyotes are in Glendale to stay. Where they gonna go? Winnipeg?”

“Hey, when did Winnipeg get a team?”

-

Ontario Irregulars:

Vote!

Please.

Or forfeit any right to complain until the next election, which I believe will be in about six weeks.

-

You know me and the D League, right?

Hardly kissing cousins but what the heck, a few of you may hold out scant hope of being real men’s professional basketball players and who am I to deny you your dream.

If you got any love for the Bakersfield Jam – this year’s version of the Erie Baycats, Colorado 14ers, what have you – there’s an open tryout this weekend and for the small price of $150, you can take a shot.

Details here and if you make it, let me know what the D League’s really like. Last guy who did got me in some soup with the folks in Ohio when I pointed out it wasn’t, you know, all that good.

-

RIP Steve Jobs.

This is long but a friend once showed it to me and I know it resonates with many.

Know what kind of visionary that dude was?

Simply realize that I was able to put that and other clips up here because these new-fangled computer things are so easy.

-

You folks are in for a treat.

At the urging of several Tall Foreheads, yours truly has been invited to take part in the IGBT for tonight’s Leaves opener!

I can’t promise insight, I’ll be doing it from a stool so I can’t even promise mockery of people in the arena or action on the ice but I can promise at least some of the usual fun and frivolity we have.

Be here around 7 p.m., I’m part of a gaggle of guys and gals who’ll be in on it and we need to show ‘em what a real IGBT is like.

-

Believe what you want and then some old-school laughs

Okay, so here we are.

No pre-season – and I know that’s a huge loss to some of you, to some of us not so much – and less than a week to salvage the first two weeks of the NBA regular season.

Can they do it?

Sure.

As we’d figured all along, this is about the money and how to split it and if each side was telling the truth yesterday – and I know each side was spinning but there were large grains of reality in each news conference – the gap certainly doesn’t seem so wide.

If it’s 50-50 like the owners want or 53-47 like the players say they’ll take, there has to be middle ground that can be reached this week if one of the big shots will pick up the phone and kickstart the stalled talk.

Of course, 50-50 isn’t exactly 50-50 because there might be money coming off the top (perfectly understandable to have the resources to run the league and promote the game) and I’m not sure 53-47 is real because we don’t know the absolute specifics of what the players would want in the Basketball Related Income.

But doesn’t it sound like it’s all about crunching numbers? And if you crunch long enough, give a little here, take a little away from there, you’d think a common ground could easily be reached.

Now there are those commentators out there painting doom and gloom, just like there are some painting a picture that can see a settlement before David Stern makes good on his promise to whack the first two weeks of the regular season next Monday.

I continue to be entirely bored by it and the sense I get is that many fans are, too.

But we’re not at the end yet so there are more angst-filled days of “sourced” reports to come.

Believe what you want; I’m of the opinion that a good dose of skepticism is necessary with every sentence or story digested.

These are the days when both sides like to get their message out, be leery of what it says, the truth always lies somewhere in the middle.

-

Oops.

This kind of fell through the cracks yesterday because I was spending too much time remembering how to do GruntTV.

Anyway, remember how I told you the NBL was going to name its first commissioner before lauding it for having things seemingly under control and headed in the right direction?

Um. Scratch that.

Some glitch, and no one’s saying exactly what it was, came up and the guy or gal they though they had won’t be in place, isn’t in place and there’s no suggestion when someone might be around to run the show.

The official statement, which was more a series of tweets, actually, was along the lines of “unforeseen circumstances” that “would have put the league in an uncompromising financial position” scuttled the deal.

As we’ve said repeatedly, there are going to be glitches along the way, always are in any significant start-up and it’s better to deal with them before they become too serious.

Now, I have to go polish my resume.

Be right back.

-

Okay, I guess one of the dangers of the whole new video thingamabob is that I don’t make myself entirely clear.

So …

Yes, we still want mail the old-fashioned way – click here to do it as you usually do – and we’ll also take a video submission or two each weekend. I figure some of you will have the capabilities and know-how to do that (not sure I could) but we’re still taking the usual questions, hellos, chats by the regular method.

-

You know me and fashion, right.

Well, I have to tell you, I figure the only reason the Tampa Bay Rays lost yesterday was because of that gawdawful baby-blue-top-white-pants combination.

That look would be booed off the runways over at Paris Fashion Week, I’m sure. (Yes, I know Paris Fashion Week is on ‘cause I are smrt).

I’m somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to baseball uniforms – you can imagine, then, how happy I am to see the Detroit-New York series because those are perhaps two of the best looks in the game – and that Rays look was mind-numbing.

No wonder they lost.

Not surprisingly, given my somewhat curmudgeonly ways, I’m kind of against “third” jerseys of any kind; I understand the marketing and I understand the fans might like something of a different hue but it’s become ridiculous.

The HOTH, for instance, have about eight jerseys – red, white, black, green, ones with piping of the Italian flag, the Spanish flag, there’s the Huskies throwback and I’m sure I’m missing one or two – and it’s silly.

But, please, spend your money, it helps them greatly.

-

Okay, one reminder today, another tomorrow.

If you’re an Ontario Irregular, and I presume there’s more than a few out there, please make arrangements to go vote.

Don’t really care who you vote for but it’s the one thing that you need to do to (a) live in a free society or (b) have the right to complain when they inevitably screw up during their tenure or (c) be a functioning member of the population.

Now, I once told you I had a candidate once tell me: “Don’t vote, it only encourages them” but he was joking.

I think.

-

This is apropos of nothing, really, but it was brought to my attention that this is a red letter day in old time TV history.

It was the Cavalcade of Stars back in ’51 (no, I did not see the original) that one of the all-time great shows debuted.

The Honeymooners has to be near the top of the list, no?

(Not sure it’d be politically correct to run it today but …)

Have a laugh.

-

Because I’ve been dragged kicking and screaming into the 2000s, every now and then I’ll got to that twitter thingy and see what’s up.

Guys having dinner, athletes talking to each other, Sonny Weems wondering why things in Lithuania aren’t like that are in Arkansas. It’s a cornucopia of wildly uninteresting snippets of other people’s lives.

And yesterday, there were a number of abject tweets from NBA guys lamenting the breakdown in talks, the possible cancellation of regular season games and a handful of apologies to arena workers and the like who’ll get killed financially if this thing drags on much longer.

Oh, then there was Ron Artest, Metta World Peace.

Funny guy. Mid-day there’s one from him that says something to the effect that the lockout was over. Much wonderment at how he’d ever find that out and then this one …

Wow Didn't think about all those people who really are out of jobs. Sorry bout the lockout tweet. Mainly for ball fans who miss ball!!

No, some people don’t think before they tweet, which is the biggest problem with the whole thing.

-

 

 

 

A big day and a return of something special

So now the agents are fully in the fray as the NBA lockout reaches its most critical day yet and all I can say to that is:

Good grief.

If you’ve read all the stuff from yesterday – there’s a good recap here – a handful of high-powered agents are insinuating themselves into the lockout by suggesting players reject any deal that calls for any reduction in the percentage of basketball related income they get (it’s at 57 per cent now, owners originally proposed 46 and I think a 50-50 split might get it done) and the agents are still calling for decertification of the union and the wretched legal battle that will bring on.

Me?

I think they should go away.

I think the players are fully capable of making a decision for themselves – and there will be a full vote on whatever deal the negotiating teams come up with – and if there is a more transparent conflict of interest with agents to stand to make all their money off whatever new contracts their clients sign, I can’t think of what it is.

And for a guy who generally sided with the players in this dispute because they are giving back and giving back and seemingly getting nothing in return, it’s kind of distasteful to think they’d not be able to come to their own conclusions on what, or what doesn’t, constitute a deal they live with.

I’ve long thought that basketball agents have held far too much sway in the way the game is operated, either through engineering trades for their clients with complicit general managers or complaining behind the scenes about how their clients are being used by any specific coach/team/organization.

I understand that they can be used as resources, to give advice, help with contract negotiations and things like that, but at the same time, that should only be when they’re asked by players, not as a pre-emptive strike like this seems to be.

I can only imagine how Billy Hunter and Derek Fisher feel, being so undermined by men whose primary interest is making money off their clients.

Could be a wild day in New York today and I have a feeling we’ll know by this evening what the prognosis is for the rest of the exhibition games and the planned start of the season.

-

What’s this????

Yes, we are in uncharted territory here.

And there would appear to be more to come.

Stay tuned.

-

So, I’m watching the ball game last night and one thing come quickly to mind:

How, um, chunky is C.C. Sabathia?

Wow.

Yes, I know baseball players – some of them, at least – are far from svelte or athletic or in anything remotely close to top physical condition but, my Lord.

He’s huge.

That’s a caboose that more shelf than anything else and the size of his legs is, well, quite something.

Anyway, I guess it proves that girth and bulk count for something the game because he’s been good for a very long time.

But, man.

That’s a large fellow and I’m wondering if his late-season swoon – his numbers in the last five or six weeks are quite pedestrian – doesn’t have something to do with his physical condition.

-

One of the all-time great “sing at the top of your lungs while driving” songs and it’s been 31 41 (you know me and math) years since Janis Joplin died.

Just our usual musical interlude.

-

I’m guessing my Yankees-Tampa ALCS is close to dead, isn’t it?

And what’s going on in the baseball playoffs hammers home one point we’ve made here often:

Home field advantage in baseball counts less than in any other sport, I think.

Probably has to do with how much pitching controls the post-season and good pitching travels anywhere so we’ve seen in the Tampa series, the first two games of the Yankees-Tigers series and in the Phillies-Cards thing that home field doesn’t mean an awful lot.

If I had to rank the major pro sports and the impact that playing home has, it’d probably go this way:

Basketball

Maybe it’s the rims, maybe it’s the momentum a team gets from the crowd, maybe it’s something entirely different but there probably isn’t any question that it’s the most pronounced advantage of the major North American pro sports.

Football

It’s probably got as much to do with weather – or the lack of weather for teams built to play in domes – but home teams do seem to have a bit of an edge, don’t they?

Hockey

I guess it’s the standard size of the playing surface, and the fact in-game momentum or “runs” don’t play as big a part in the outcome as they do in, say, the basketball but it strikes me that a lot of road hockey teams win.

Baseball

Pitching. Pitching. Pitching.

Now, it might be a bit different for games that go extra innings but that’s not all that a common occurrence.

You concur?

-

Hey!

Pucks start Thursday here and for some reason known only to the Tall Foreheads who plan these things, they’re conscripting me to be part of some IGBT.

Just wanted to let you know so you can plan your week, it out to be a hoot.

-

Okay, off the Mother Ship to see what other fun things we can change around here.

-