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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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Comments

[doug]

that "fucka" name is just to good, so many possibilities and uses...imagine if he was a NBA player and they showed his mom in the crowd...I'd love to hear the announcer describe and get out of that one....today is out families thanksgiving feast it's just evolved that way due to in-laws, situations etc..so thanks will be given for sure...here is a classic commercial and I mean classic, not popular classic but Bewitched and Vin Scully doing a promo for the rose Bowl parade, rare and priceless...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkNWsY3eMGo&feature=related

[EricNS]

Names? Hard to be beat Razor Shines of the Expos from the 1980's.

And, just catching up on your weekend blog... I didn't think your TOD acronym for the Jays referred to the 2011 season alone. I thought you'd bought in to the solid approach and clever manouevres of Alex Anthopoulos in support of a consistent winner and a not-too-distant championship. Could work.

[Lorie]

Morning Doug!
Isn't this the best part of the Thanksgiving Weekend? Leftovers for breakfast: mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie with whipped cream! And the same for lunch!!! Great names in sports? To start, a disclaimer: even though we were distant relatives, I always thought that "Boom-Boom Geoffrion" was a fabulous sports name. Especially for hockey. Especially for the Habs. But the best of the best? Dick Butkus. You're born with that name and - like Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue" - bet it makes you grow up tough. And together with another NFL player with a great name (Doug - anyone ever call you "Bubba"?) they did one of the greatest series of TV commercials ever. Cheers! With an extra dollop of whipped cream on that slice of pie, please!
http://youtu.be/VSj8gWqs2B0

[Striker 77]

Hey Doug,

Im usually working and to busy to respond during the week days, but I still read you every day! Thanks man.

Quick question: (its not about next year's draft, no worries)

When we hear about these guys have a bargaining session for "5 hours" or "7 hours" or whatever, and they come out with "nothing accomplished", what in the name of all that is good are they doing in those talks? If this was asked already once, forgive me.

Blogger's note: I wish I knew

[billy]

Does anything Canadian interest you?
Or does it have to be from that hallowed land down south before you consider it worthy?

And about the NBA strike?
Like, who cares except for the sports media at the Star?
If the NBA never came back, Canadians wouldn't even notice.
Sorry to tell it like it is.

Blogger's note: Parents forget to lock the basement when they went to the city for the weekend? No plowing to do? See ya. Forever.

[saatuk]

I enjoyed Chief Kickingstallionsims, who played college ball for a small conference southern team (Alabama State ?). You miss a lot when you don't follow college ball. :)

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Don't know if you've ever seen the video of Marv Levy singing the "Go Bills" fight song, but it's a hoot!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, sir!

marc in panama

[Ian Murray]

My personal favorite sports name lies in the so called "tee hee list", Johnny Dickshot. Was an MLB player in the 30's and 40's. Another one that I heard recently that I thought was amusing was NHL'er Dit Clapper.
.
As for great names I always thought Will Power had a pretty solid handle.

[sam]

@billy...you miss the point about a basketball (with some pop culture leanings) blog. If you want a hockey blog - I'm sure there are many out there that would satisfy your curiosity....
If you are looking for a reaction - -- - - all the best and hope you had a Happy Thanks giving.

[Ari]

Incredibly-named athletes has always been a great topic of conversation since way back in high school. Johnny Dickshot was a favourite of ours. We used to call each other on the phone and say "Is Van Lingle Mungo there?" and laugh hysterically, because, well, that's what you do in high school.

On this topic, I've since found Name Of The Year, which started off as sports-related wacky names but has blossomed into something much, much more...

http://nameoftheyear.blogspot.com/

[doug]

well this writer hit the proverbial nail on the head....and it's my sympathies and feelings exactly concerning this strike and more specifically the owners...

http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/id/7083903/nba-phony-deadline-absurd-nonsense