Rants, ripping a boy singer and a goalie sings. What a place!

Oh yeah, we are soooooooo all over the map it’s not even funny.

Get used to it, folks.

-

Hmm.

Edwin Encarnacion as a left-fielder?

Sure, why not.

It’s not like that was the most solid of positions in the TOD lineup last season – we saw the ups and downs of Snider, watched Eric Thames try to find his way and the funniest thing I saw all season was Corey Patterson and Thames trying to play left at Fenway – so why not give Encarnacion a long look?

He’ll have winter ball, spring training and the work he put in late last season and if he doesn’t catch on, there’d be no problem going back to Thames, I don’t think.

Besides, there are far more pressing needs, as we all know and Alex alluded to on the call.

They need a starter or two, a closer, more bullpen depth, a decision at second base and probably a backup catcher. DH and left field are so far down the list of priorities, it was best they got it at least partially resolved with the Encarnacion option decision.

One thing I like about Anthopoulos the more I deal with him?

He makes sense.

He tells you that, no, there is no “list” of things he wants to get done in any specific order; if something comes up out of some perceived need of moves, he’ll do it; if not, he’ll move on.

Putting together a team – in any sport – is not a linear exercise.

You don’t spend this week dealing with a small forward or a lefty starter or a wide receiver and then move on to shooting guard, second baseman, offensive lineman.

You see what’s out there when it’s out there; make your move when it makes sense and then start looking around for other people to fill your holes.

It might look to some fans like you’re all over the map – as in, “Why did they do that now when there are so many other things they have to get done?” – but, to me, it just makes entire sense.

Eventually, all the tasks on the list get completed; the order in which they do doesn’t matter a whit.

-

Oh, oh.

Dilemma time.

Since Mavs-Bulls and Lakers-Thunder couldn’t keep me entertained, it was a couch night and I’m torn:

NCIS?

NCIS Los Angeles?

Usually, I’m in favour of originals in almost all cases – primarily Law Order and CSI – but this is tough.

I’m leaning towards LA.

You?

(See what life is reduced to?)

-

So let me get this straight.

The other day, Derek Fisher sends a note to NBA players – dutifully and immediately offered to several media sites – defending himself against an anonymously-sourced report that suggests he’s in David Stern’s pocket, as ridiculous a charge as I can imagine.

Yesterday, Billy Hunter send a note to NBA players – dutifully and immediately offered to several media sites – urging union solidarity and fighting the good fight and all that jazz.

I see and read that the league has now set up a separate twitter account -- @NBA_Labor – to make its points in 160 characters or less and, I presume, to refute the tweets of the union.

Oh, and then I pick up the physical copy of my paper and see a full page ad from the HOTH extolling all the good things they’ll be doing in the next little while like a free run at a local gym and some court resurfacings in the city, all nice things indeed.

And the immediate reaction?

Go away.

The next time I want to see or hear from either the league or the union is when David and Billy are sitting side-by-side at some table, both holding their noses, and signing a new CBA that will let part-time arena employees to get back to work and allow businesses in the area of arenas to avoid laying off servers and staff because there’s no one around to fill the seats.

I don’t want tweets. I don’t want letters. I don’t want self-serving announcements solely trying to curry favour with the very people they’ve screwed over by messing around so long trying to figure out how to equitably split a pot of money that’s so incomprehensibly big no one can actually comprehend it.

I don’t want to see Kevin Durant play flag football, as cute as that can be; I don’t want to hear about some cockamamie “world tour” of NBA players that’s got a snowball’s chance of ever coming off and whoever believed it did should be setting up the house for the impending arrival of Santa Claus.

Just go away and get a deal done.

And then apologize, grovel, offer discounted tickets to every game in every seating level of every arena and pray to whatever deity it is that you pray to that the people you’ve utterly disregarded since July will forgive you and line your pockets with gold, again.

End o’ rant.

-

Best.

Conversation.

Of The Night.

Super Wife: Hey, Super Son! Your favourite’s on TV: Bieber!.

Super Son: He’s annoying.

Me: Yay! Why?

Super Son: He can’t sing. Wait ‘til he hits puberty. Oh, and he’s annoying.

Beaming, I retire to couch.

-

We’re apparently polling the zillions of pucks fans about who might have been the greatest of Leaves goalies of all time (And I don’t see an option for The Monster!) and it’s causing me all kinds of trouble.

The answers are going into the same spot the usual mail goes and, as you’d imagine, there are pages and pages and pages of replies and it’s quite a pain in my butt to waft through them to look from Missives From Irregulars.

But it being Wednesday and all, it’s time to solicit mail so click here, let me know how you feel and I’ll find the questions.

Oh, yeah:

I’ve got Broda, Bower, Sawchuk.

But then I remembered this and it doesn’t matter what they did on the ice, Johnny Bower Rules!

-

So we’re running this little poll over at the Facebook thingy (go here, find it, hit the like button if you so choose, let the Tall Foreheads know I’m working over there) on who’s to blame for this NBA mess.

So far, A Pox On Both Their Houses is killing Owners and Players and I suppose that’s kind of telling.

But it truly is unscientific and I’m wondering if it’s really how the majority of you feel.

Is it?

-

 

 

Comments

[sam]

I think Edwin proved himself as a professional major league hitter last season...
He can catch the ball - throwing is the issue: The left field experiment, Yikes!
The only gloves he should be wearing are btting gloves.

Back up Catcher: Why not retain Jose Molina - the guy hit well and seems to be a solid citizen and role model for the younger players.

If the NBA owners and players, as reported, are very close to a deal, whats the holding things up? Agreed - get it done and over with already.

Had the pleasure of meeting Johnny Bower at a charity event a few years back. He a gracious, kind to all who approached him and in every sense of the word a Gentleman. As a singer he makes a pretty good goalie.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Oh lordy, I'm watching pucks now... Cheers?

[Lorie]

Good Morning!
Terry Sawchuk, because he inspired Randall Maggs to write a book of poetry about him called "Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems" and whether or not you're a fan of the glory days of the Six Team NHL, or the Maple Leaves or goalies in general, this is a Must-Read for all sports fans. An incredibly moving read. And, isn't a book of poetry and a dram (or 3!) of whiskey enjoyed beside a roaring fire just the thing to pass these NBA-less nights? And about The Biebs...did I just read he's been presented with a paternity suit? Doesn't this mean he's attained some form of puberty? Although, it's a new world out there these days and I may be confused about this. Cheers!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Okay Doug, no hoops, no daily grind o' gigs, no tellin' when/if you're back in the HOTH saddle... time to bit the bullet and get your talk show going, isn't it? Just do it! Call it "Grunt and Center with Doug Smith", call it "Sportz Unzipped", get yourself an Ed McMahon and do it! Here, save you some time... here's your theme music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7A67OezSnI
Just do it, Doug! Canada awaits. Cheers.

[Mike D.]

I'd take NCIS over NCIS Los Angeles any day, partially because I prefer the original characters but also on principle: I'm tired of seeing concurrent releases of shows where the original is fine and the second release has weaker characters but takes place in a more exotic city. I'm skimming the Wikipedia list of US military installations here; what's wrong with making, say, NCIS Mississippi or NCIS North Dakota and focusing on characters and plot?

[Lorie]

Doug and @D-Mac!
I've long said Grunt TV has enormous untapped entertainment potential! That is so great! "Grunt and Centre (spelling! I know you were born a Yank, but really!!!) with Doug Smith" has a certain panache...but this is the music I would like for theme - as a tribute to June Taylor Dancers everywhere. Oh, and what a hoot to see Doug lean back in his La-Z-Boy, and as his Stella is served oblige us with his own version of "How sweet it is!"
http://youtu.be/gEQg-L-Rbp0

[Mike D.]

@D-Mac, I like it! My second choice would be the first part of "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", before the chorus.

[LeeZ]

@D-Mac: Grunt and Centre? (note correct spelling of centre, btw, you American you) I LOVE it! Great name!!!
And as for SuperSon's remarks, all I can say is: fair dollop of snark in there, eh? I can't possibly imagine where he gets that from. Must be SuperWife.

[Dennis]

Who's fault is the lockout? The word lockout tells you all you need to know. This is a work stoppage imposed by the owners. This is not a player\labour strike. It is a LOCKOUT. These issues could have been resolved months ago without missing any games but the owners decided the best way to squeeze the most they can out of the players is to break their will by having them miss paycheques. The decision to miss games is 100% made by the league and its owners. Not to say the players union doesn't have any responsibility or blame in this whole fiasco, but the tactic of hardball negotiations and waiting for players to miss paycheques before coming to an agreement falls solely on the league and the owners.

[drew]

Doug thank you for stating what needed to be said. Like you I am truly disgusted by this whole lock out thing and just wish it all to end, and for this Twitter BS.... yea anyways. I can actually say for 100% certainty that my days of watching Basketball are over because of the disgust I have for childish groups arguing about a sum of money that NON of the people on here would make in a life time. Reality check

[Cluck Kent]

While it's easiest to blame the owners cause they have the most money but still easy to blame the players cause, you know, they make too much money, I place the blame squarely on the fans because they're too addicted to the sport to organize and send a real message to the owners and players.

Well, going forward, I for one will pay for no more games nor will I buy any merchandize, nor will I pay for extra TV channels. I'll still watch when it's free and I'll read what I can find for free, but I'm not going to give those self absorbed ego maniacs anymore of my hard earned money. They are arguing over my money and depriving me of something that I enjoy. Kind of reminds me of a wife I used to have.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Man, you coulda killed me over "bit" way more than "center" (and I do know bettre...) but that's what happens when I post before a third coffee. Love the Jackie Gleason theme and Doug as The Great One intro scene!!
And @Cluck Kent, great post! Exactly, exactly what I had in mind when I said we're going to need to start voting with our wallets. Watch games when they're available at no extra cost. Otherwise, no tickets, no merchandise! That can include taking a pass on whoever advertises on the televised games that week, too. There's always an alternative beer, an alternative pasta, certainly an alternative pizza... That won't kill the game we love, but it might twig something in our favour for a change. (Note "favour", eh, okay)
So, just do it, Doug! There'd be plenty of sponsors lining up to back you – and we'll support those guys! Canada awaits. The world is your oyster. Bob's yer uncle. And time zips along. Hatch that golden egg – do it! Cheers!

[Snizzoop]

Hey Doug,

Just wondering what your take is on Vince and T-Mac's appearance on Off the Record on TSN tomorrow evening? I think Oak will be involved too. Gonna watch it?

Blogger's note: Might. Depends on the day. Could be cool, Oak always is

[Lorie]

@D-Mac Ottawa:
Thought "bit the bullet" was one of your American Mid-Western folksy Iowan (or is it Idahon) sayings meaning something akin to "git 'er done" - which is a Mid-Western Ontario saying for "time's a-wastin"...but now I know 'twas nothing more than inadequate consumption of caffeine.

[james]

Why not Jacques Plante? Terry Sawchuk was no more a Leaf than he was a Bruin or a Ranger. He was the king of Red Wing goalies, period. I suppose you'd have to give it to Broda based on team record, but since I never saw him, I'll go with Bower. Not that I care all that much about hockey . . .

[GM]

"Git 'er done" is a midwestern Ontario saying? Is that where Larry the Cable Guy stole it from?!