Jays need Darvish for a whole lot of reasons

So you’re all up on this Yu Darvish thing, right?

The Japanese pitcher who is in the “posting” process (Griff’s got it all laid out here so we can all understand) and the Jays are in on the bidding. In fact, there are “sources” who say they made the highest bid and will get a chance to negotiate with him after Tuesday, if in fact that’s true.

Now, I don’t know Yu Darvish from Darvin Ham (you try and find a better line?) but I do know this:

If I read that he’s got some magical gyroball up his sleeve, I’m gonna be quite skeptical of his talents.

(Go google that one, non-seamheads).

Anyway, the thing with Darvish, from this angle at least, is that it is exactly what the Blue Jays need in so many different ways, landing him would be the biggest boost for the franchise in I don't know how long.

He is, by all accounts, a singularly gifted pitcher who would fit perfectly with Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow at the top of the rotation and would hasten the TOD's rise to American League prominence.

But it's more than that.

It would be a signal, a much-needed public signal, that, yes, Alex Anthopoulos is able to spend oodles of money on the right guy at the right time. Forever, we've heard that ownership would spend when it had to and that story's been getting old. Fans see the Yankees and Red Sox and now the Angels spending like drunken sailors and wonder when it might happen here.

If it does? Well, those complaints will stop if they win the right to spend upwards of $100 million on a piece they so desperately need.

There was some angst when AA came back from the winter meetings without having made a big splash. Everyone expected something, it seems, and got very little.

This? This would be huge.

I don't know if they'll win the posting battle -- suggestions are that they have -- and, if they do, they simply have to find a way to get a contract signed, almost regardless of the cost.

The Jays seem primed to do something good with an excellent young group; this will be the message the fans need to hear.

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There is a guy we shall call Mr. X and he gets to see almost every minute of every Raptors practice unlike we grunts who see a whole lot of the third-floor concourse at the ACC and a whole lot of free-throw shooting each day.

Anyway, I’ve known Mr. X for a number of years, have come to rely on him for some insight, some inside information, some guidance on what’s actually going with the HOTH.

Hadn’t talked to him in a while but ran into him the other day in a private moment and I’ll share the start of the conversation, almost verbatim:

Me: How’s camp?

Mr. X: It’s really good, everybody’s working hard, getting a lot of stuff done. Don’t know how good we’ll be but they’re really working.

Me: Oh yeah? Who’s been the best?

Mr. X: Hmmm. Amir’s been good, Jerryd, Jamaal’s been banging people. Best guy in camp? Andrea.

Me: Andrea? Bargnani? Tall kid?

Mr. X: Seriously, I know. Yes. He’s at least trying to play defence and rebound, he’s banging people, he looks really good.

Now, I can hear you scoffing and snickering already but if in fact what I’m hearing is true – and I have no reason to believe it isn’t, Mr. X has been known to rip a player or two privately over the years – that’s got to be good, right?

Before you all start laughing, let me say this for, oh, the billionth time: Andrea is not going to get 10 rebounds a night; hell, he might not get seven. But if he can be a better help defender, box out more effectively and simply be more engaged on the defensive end, he has a chance to be a huge part of that team.

Whether he does or not is entirely up to him but it would appear – and, again, this is from someone who often provides brutally frank assessments of players – that he’s working at it harder than perhaps he ever has.

And that’s what Dwane told us the other day discussing Bargnani’s play:

I think age has something to do with that, maturity, understanding when you can get in there and how you can get in there. I think that has a lot to do with it …

I’m going to stay on him, he’s going to get tired of me telling him to go rebound but until a player decides to improve that area of his game at this level … it’s on him. I do believe he’s going to make an effort to do that …

I told him we need two (rebounds) a quarter, you’re up to eight and you can fall into a couple more. That’s our goal with him and he’s made a concentrated effort of doing that, we had diner the other night and we talked about that extensively.

We, as they say, shall see. This is training camp, after all; it’ll be a whole different ball of wax starting Sunday. The enigmatic Bargnani has teased coaches, teammates, writers and fans before, I have no idea whether this time it’ll stick but there are those who think it will.

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Driving the Smelly Ford Focus down the highway to practice, passed a car with – get this – faux antlers sticking out of the windows.

Really?

Don’t they get in the way of the Leaves flags?

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Hey, remember the movie scene from the other day – Lost In Translation as a response an Irregular’s list request?

Where’s this one fit?

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Just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in.

Chris Paul gets traded and one NBA mess seems cleared up at least and that comes a day or so after, or maybe on the same day since they all seem to meld together, there are breathless reports and Dwight Howard is off the market.

Peace in our time?

Hold your horses, cowboys.

Now the story is that, yes, Dwight still wants out this is going to hang over the Magic and the league like the stench from a stinkbomb until it’s resolved.

Personally, I hope it drags on right until the trade deadline in March because it’ll make the all-star weekend in Orlando a whole lot of fun.

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Speak of the devil …

Walked into the end of practice yesterday and who’s standing there? Alvin Williams. Was in town for a chat with the bosses, heading back out to do some scouting soon and quite likes the fact he’ll be on the road a bit doing some NBA scouting because player personnel is where he sees himself ultimately ending up.

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Ho, ho ho.

It’s that time again.

(Thankfully, there are more than enough ditties to get us through another week or so).

This one’s kinda catchy if you can get past the 1980s hair.

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Yes, I know, the subject matter is a shame and the world has lost a great one but this is a very good and, um, entertaining obituary.

And for a guy whose two must-reads in the magazine world are The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, the fact Christopher Hitchens will no longer grace the pages of the latter is a shame.

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Seriously, all I’m doing is sitting around puttering on some mail when ace photographers walk by and suddenly it’s picture time.

Randy Risling’s one of the best; kinda captures me, don’t you think?

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Okay, have to monitor practice (Cathal’s got the writing duties for tomorrow unless something big happens and we need two guys) and then do a chat with the wonderful Irregulars (noon, be there or be square) and then roll on down the highway Niagara-bound for a Super Grandpa thing (hello, Mick and Angelo’s, will stop by and pay my respects for a minute).

But …

There’s always time for mail.

Do. It. Here. Please.

 

 

 

No one wins in latest NBA mess; and new Raptors titles

And so ends one of the sorriest sagas in recent NBA history with the Chris Paul to the Clippers trade that was – finally, thankfully, mercifully – consummated last night.

We can sit here and debate the relative merits of the deal six ways to Sunday – personally, I think both the teams are life and death to make the playoffs, the Clippers are a two-man team, the Hornets something less – but there is one undeniable truth:

No one won. Really. And the league lost big time.

The league looked foolish from the start and David Stern’s public profile took another hammering, he’s now seen not only as not being able to control loudmouth owners like Dan Gilbert but as a meddlesome commissioner putting too much of his own imprint on the game.

The league also looks foolish for having decided to own the Hornets in the first place and this has to serve as a cautionary tale when the same situation arises again. And it will.

The Hornets? They lose because it is the latest franchise to have its best player force his way out of town. That’s always going to happen – it is a collectively bargained right of employees and as distasteful as it is, it’s not going away – but it still stings.

The Clippers gutted their team for perhaps two years of an oft-injured point guard and while Paul to Blake Griffin is sexy, it’s only one of the top twosomes in the league and as long as Kobe’s playing with Pau Gasol, it might not be the top twosome in Los Angeles. Oh, and Vinny Del Negro still coaches there, right?

Fans? Well, they’ll get some pretty cool highlights and will come flocking to see the Clippers even more than they did last season and I guess that’s good.

The saddest part?

It’s going to be seeing how the despicable Donald Sterling screws this up because you know he will. And there are those among us who hope nothing good ever happens over an extended period of time to that guy.

Guess now at least we can put this mess behind us and get on with actually anticipating a season and not wondering what soap opera will engulf the league for days.

Oh, until Dwight Howard wants to get traded again, I guess.

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So the story goes LeBron James finishes his post-practice scrum yesterday and says “God bless” to the assembled reporters before turning to someone and stage-whispering “Just went Tebow on them.”

Makes a guy think that if he really wanted to just go Tebow he’d show up in the fourth quarter of big games.

But maybe that’s just me.

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Hey, here’s one that kind of slipped by for too long, sorry about that.

People who wonder what Jay Triano and Maurizio Gherardini and Marc Eversely are doing now, pay attention!

They got promotions.

According to the Raptors pre-season guide, Jay’s the vice-president, pro-scouting; Maurizio’s the vice-president, international scouting; Evs is the vice-president, college scouting.

Of course, they remain Henchmen to me.

What’s it mean, though? Not a lot. The front office shakes out just the way I figured it would. Three guys with distinct areas of responsibility reporting to Ed Stefanski and Bryan.

Oh, one other?

Alvin Williams is basically gone from the scene. He’s now a scout – based in Philadelphia, I’m told – and he’ll see kids and teams and do his advising from there.

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Digression?

(You knew I would)

About the only thing that would have made the whole Trudeau dropping the excrement expletive in the House of Commons worse was if he’d done it wearing jeans.

(Irregulars will know).

Seriously, the utter lack of decorum from our elected representatives is, at times, appalling.

I know we live in a more relaxed society today – I’ll debate the relative merits with that one anytime with anyone – but is it really too much to ask, ahem, cough, cough, leaders to act with dignity? I don’t mean white tie and tails and the King’s English at every turn but they need – and have needed for years – to simply grow up and be better.

We deserve it. The country deserves it. We do not need heckling, childlike behaviour from the men and women who are supposed to be leading the country.

We need honest debate, a level of class too many of them seem to a lack, a sense of civility.

It’s the House of Commons, for goodness sake, not a sandbox.

No wonder so many people hate politicians, they act like six-year-olds too often.

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It would appear, reading between the lines and listening live and in person that as the HOTH pre-season approaches there is one, maybe two, openings in the starting lineup.

I know Dwane made of saying he hadn’t decided on a starting point guard but the key quote is this one:

“With him (Jerryd Bayless), he does give us juice off the bench as far as coming in, changing the game, pushing the basketball and if I was leaning one way, it’d be that way right now but, again, I haven’t made my mind up 100 per cent.”

Okay, maybe 99 per cent.

Anyway, the interesting one to me is what he’ll do at small forward because you know DeRozan starts, I guarantee you Bargnani starts and I presume he goes with Amir Johnson but that might become a bit of a battle if Amir’s ankle’s not 100 per cent or one of the other, tough bigs has a great camp.

Is it James Johnson? Rasual Butler? Gary Forbes as a longshot?

Butler’s a better three-point shooter on a team that is among the worst in the league at that particular skill.

Johnson’s probably a better defender who is more familiar with the other guys on the roster.

Forbes? A longshot, as I mentioned.

I’d probably lean towards Johnson if they really want to have defence as the key and use Butler as some kind of shooting specialist off the bench. But that’s just me and Dwane’s been telling us all week he’s not sure what he’s going to do with his rotation or the guys at his disposal, making the two Boston games at least a bit more interesting.

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Parents, you’ll know what I’m talking about here.

About this time of year, we all have to drag our sorry butts to school Christmas concerts – or holiday celebrations in these times of ours – and, you know I’m right here, sometimes it’s like a couple of hours of anesthetic-free dental surgery.

Then your kid gets in some regional arts program and all of a sudden the night’s actually quite good and watching talented kids doing stuff they like to do instead of stuff they are forced to do is fun.

Way to go, Cawthra.

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Speaking of, today’s offering:

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Mail?

Give it a shot here if you like.

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Is a rush to get out "news" a good idea; and Forbes is coming

It was about noon Monday, I guess, and we were standing around the concourse outside the practice gym waiting for Dwane to finish one of his three-hour practices.

(As an aside, and to be elaborated on later: This guy runs the consistently longest training camp practices for the Raptors since Brendan Malone).

Word comes down that, egads, the Chris-Paul-to-the-Clippers deal is dead, done, over.

Turned to someone and said, probably out loud: It’ll be back on by five tonight, don’t worry.

And here we are, almost 48 hours later and according to reports, not only is Paul to the Clips alive, so is Paul to the Lakers and, well, and yawn.

The bigger point is: How crazy is this whole twitter thing and is it the end of civilization as we know it.

Do we need minute-by-minute updates? Do we need people to make declarative statements in 140 characters or so that can’t possibly provide the greater context needed? Do we believe what we read in hurried transmissions from cell phones or whatever, knowing most if it comes from a single conversation or two and, often, is a simple fact of one side in an issue using a third party to get a message to the other?

I can see where short bursts of information serve a purpose – I used it not six hours ago to get the Gary Forbes news out there – but that was for something definitive. I know we live in a media world that’s too “immediate” for my liking, in a rush to get “news” out – even in less than two or three sentences – we lose the opportunity to provide depth of information, or context so often needed.

It’s not going to change, I fear it’s only going to get worse and I honestly wonder who is best served.

Now, making snide comments, providing definitive news, taking gratuitous shots may be fun; passing something off as “done” without the ability, or willingness, to provide a “why” or even a caution that it may not be actually, you know, “done” seems counter-productive to me.

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Oh yeah, that midnight or so tweet from me (too late for the paper, missed the web people, I guess) was this:

Gary Forbes is coming.

Not a huge surprise and ends Bryan’s off-season free agent shopping and the guy should be here sometime today.

The thing I want to know (in a joking kind of way, in case you don’t get it) is how Leo’s going to react when Forbes checks into his first game.

He is, after all, the guy who dropped 39 points on Canada for Panama in the final Olympic qualification loss last summer; a defeat that hastened Leo’s departure as the national team coach.

Forbes will be forgiven by all involved, right?

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Oh yeah, there’s this from a while ago and I’ve been saving it.

Q: Ahhh, the immortal "you want me to hold the chicken?" scene. (Editor’s note: It was Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces, in response to a mailbag question). One of the greatest movie scenes of all time.

Doug, I smell a top five list: all-time favourite scenes (not just one line, like Frankly my dear I don't give a damn", but a full scene. So, in addition to Five Easy Pieces, I'd include the scene in Casablanca where Bogie has the speech about "people's problems don't amount to a hill of beans".

Maybe the scene in Annie Hall when that pseudo-intellectual in the movie theatre line blathers on about the medium and the message, and Woody gets the real Marshall McLuan to confront the putz and tell him, sir, you know NOTHING about my work. And then there was that scene in Porky's when...er...never mind.

How about you, Doug?

Lee Z, Ottawa

A: I know it’s taken a while, sorry. Was caught up in other stuff and now I think one every other day or so from the personal list will be a good idea.

One of the top five:

Has to be this one, right?

Now, you’ll let me have my fun between now and the end of the year or so, parcel ‘em out bit by bit? Thanks.

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You will have noticed, no doubt, that neither Reggie Evans nor Julian Wright – the former somewhat of an icon here in Toronto, the latter just a wee bit behind him – have yet to find gainful NBA employment this season.

I am a bit surprised about Reggie, although I would think now with Nene signed in Denver, a few big-man dominos may fall and he’ll get a gig shortly.

I had heard Boston had some interest, I know Portland took a long look before signing 74-year-old Kurt Thomas and someone out there – now that a lot of rosters are actually taking shape – will likely give a serviceable backup big man a contract.

As one NBA guy told me recently: "If Reggie plays 18-20 minutes a night for you, he’ll get you six extra possessions and he’s a good add; if he has to play 35 minutes a night for you, your team’s no good.”

Now, Julian?

Well, that’s an entirely different story. I like the guy a lot, he always had time for us, worked hard, solid teammate it seemed by all accounts. Trouble is, and I was saying this in the middle of last season and I’m not sure people were paying attention: He’s really not that good, at least not to get a lot of minutes. I’m not sure there’s a job for him right now or if there will be as camps progress. I do know he’s done a lot of work producing music over the summer, it’s a passion of his; hope it keeps working out.

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Guess we best get started.

Mail. Here. Please.

And can we please, as we do most weeks, avoid the minutia of “Why can’t Bargnani rebound? Why didn’t they sign Jeremy Lin? Shouldn’t they amnesty Jose?”

You’ve done a great job making the mail a variety of things, basketball and non, would love to keep that going.

Thank you.

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And, finally, nothing says Christmas like a lovely little ditty about a couple of drunks, right?

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The Lou Marsh Award: As much about why as who

Sometime today, the greatest minds in Canadian sports journalism – with one notable exception, mind you – will sit down to decide who wins the Lou Marsh Award as the country’s top 2011 athlete.

It is not, nor will it ever be, an easy task – although it would be made easier with the presence of one other guy, mind you – because there always are so many worthy candidates, each of whom is deserving of some monstrous accolade.

But one of the most burning questions – and it would be more easily answered by the addition of one guy to the panel mind you (okay, end of shameless self-promotion) – doesn’t have to do with who wins it.

It’s why does he or she win?

It’s one of those impossible questions to answer and why debates, in whatever room those Tall Foreheads occupy or whatever saloon you and your buddies are sitting in, and it is, in my opinion, one of the essences of sport.

PHOTOS: Top 15 contenders for the Lou Marsh trophy

Should it be someone who had a breakthrough year; can it be someone one dominated a sport not widely played; can it be a member of a team or does it have to be an individual; is it for career achievement or a one-time accomplishment; does greatness over time count for anything.

Tough one, no?

Some of the worthy nominees are here in this excellent slide show someone with some technical acumen at our place put together and you can see the breadth of our sporting excellence.

But could you vote for, say, Patrick Chan, whose world figure skating title is an incredible feat, even if half the world doesn’t, you know, figure skate?

Could you vote Christine Sinclair, a singular soccer talent who played for a team that flamed out on the biggest stage in shocking fashion?

How about George St. Pierre, who is as much pitchman for a sport as pugilist but whose athletic skills cannot be denied?

How about John Axford, who only got his opportunity at fame because his baseball teammates put him in a position to do it and who plays a sport entire foreign to a great part of the globe?

Same with, say, Dwayne De Rosario, who dominated a second-rate league?

All good choices, all a tad flawed in my opinion.

Me? I’m coming down to Milos Raonic or Dylan Armstrong.

The former was brilliant at times in a sport played around the world, who defied convention to become a Canadian tennis star, something in short supply if you look through our history books. But there is the fact he missed a huge chunk of 2011 because he was hurt and that’s not his fault but it’s a fact.

Armstrong? Well, a Pan-Am Games gold doesn’t hold much significance to be because the field is not too deep but a silver medal in a world championship, against competitors from pretty much the entire world is an accomplishment that needs to be recognized. As does his fighting against sporting convention to be a Canadian star in a sport not associated with our country.

Yeah, Armstrong would get my vote.

If I was in the room, that is.

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Hey, wanna know what an old friend is doing?

My Man Monroe catches up with T.J. in this piece.

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Okay, this is a tad self-serving but, man, do I think I’m going to be glad the HOTH signed Anthony Carter.

In this “all about me” world – and, yes, it’s all about me and us – finding a go-to quote on a team you cover is like finding a $100 bill stuck in an old pair of jeans just when you’re headed to the saloon.

We had Oak and we had Reggie and we had Jalen and when we were going down this year’s roster, we had good guys who were relatively, um, uninteresting quote-machines.

And then Carter arrives, a grown up, self-confident, well-spoken.

Thanks.

A few snippets from yesterday:

On his willingness to speak his mind:

I tell them all the time, you ain’t got to like me off the court but you’ve got to play with me on the court. I’m your friend on the court, off the court, I ain’t got to see you. I’m going to yell at you, I’m going to do what I’ve got to do and you do the same to me. Off the court, I don’t have to hang with you. I can go back to my place but when we come in this gym, we’re going to get the job done then you go your way and I’ll go my way.

What kind of coach does he like to play for?

I think a defensive coach is better for me because I’m like a coach out there. If I’m playing for a defensive coach … nothing against New York but that was an offensive team and I didn’t feel comfortable because we didn’t hold guys accountable for their actions on the defensive tend and I felt like I wasn’t really getting into it. But here, it starts with the defence.

What he does for teammates:

These guys can play defence, they just need someone to motivate them and that’s me. It starts with the point guard.

He’s a beaut.

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Holy crap.

It’s Dec. 13?

Christmas is soon, right?

Well, we better start doing this kind of thing every other day or so, no?

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More Raptors?

Today, if the mail delivery worked well, should be Gary Forbes day, when we find out if the Denver Nuggets will match the offer sheet the Raptors gave him.

Not sure what they’re going to do, Masai hasn’t texted me back (hey, Masai, text me back!!!) but if they do match, there are a couple of alternatives in play.

Reggie Williams, linked some tweet I saw yesterday, is a legit possibility, they like the scoring prowess of the young small forward who played at Golden State last season.

There is a modicum of interest in Andy Rautins, waived or about to be waived in Dallas, if he’ll take a non-guaranteed deal.

But I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be wise for Bryan to leave the 15th spot open, just in case something else presents itself in the next couple of weeks.

Anyway, should be some resolution in the next 24 hours and then they’ve got the team they’ll open the season.

 

 

 

Braun saga a sorry one, and Raptors waiting on the Nuggets

If Ryan Braun comes up with “someone put a murky white substance in my water” as his excuse for an apparent positive drug test, I’m gonna go all The Champ and snap.

In case you missed it – and don’t imagine many did – there are various reports that Braun, merely the reigning National League MVP, tested positive for a high level of testosterone – a sign of PED use, as we all know – and faces not only a 50-game suspension but a blow to his reputation he may never shake.

For once, though, I’d like a guy to come clean, to man up and take the punishment for getting caught. Say something like, “yes, I did it; I was wrong, I got caught, I’ll take the sanctions I knew I’d get when I was trying to get away with it.”

But, no.

We get, from a spokesman:

“There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated."

Guess that could all be true (although “no intentional violation of the program” sends red flares flying into the sky) but if it isn’t, the blow to his character will be huge and unforgiveable.

But the story does bring to light the place we are with drug testing these days, which is an interesting situation.

There is no question that drug testing in all North American pro sports leagues is flawed but maybe it’s getting better.

I was going to touch on this when the NBA did its new CBA because they put some out-of-season testing into its program and at least that’s a start; the Braun story gives all testing a new prominence.

The best way – and one that no major league sports union is ever going to agree to, I don’t think – is to have random, out-of-season testing with no limits. Testers find you, you pee in a cup and if it’s in the middle of your off-season, tough noogies. You don’t take the test, you get suspended. That’s the only way to make it palatable and saleable to an increasingly skeptical general public and even then, it probably won’t be enough.

But it’d be a start and since the current message doesn’t seem to be getting through it has to be the next step.

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To the Raptors for a second or two.

There are those who fear the Denver Nuggets may indeed match the offer sheet to Gary Forbes, which will leave the HOTH down a player.

After Milwaukee matched Denver’s offer to Luc Mbah a Moute, the simple fact is the Nuggets, with three guys playing in China, may need bodies and Forbes certainly is one of those.

Masai didn’t return a text over the weekend to see what he was thinking – can’t blame him, he’s been busy – but it wouldn’t surprise some people here if he didn’t keep Forbes.

And what would these guys do?

Probably not much; they may wait with an open roster spot, the could revisit Pietrus when he gets another month or so of rehab done on his knee or Bryan may find some other young one-year guy to come in and be a body.

Tomorrow’s the deadline so at least we may have something newsy to write about then.

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Best sports event of the weekend?

Forget Manning, never mind Tebow, yawn to the UFC and who cares about the pucks.

I don’t care what you think of soccer, if you don’t watch El Clasico – Real Madrid vs. Barcelona – you’re cheating yourself.

Great game (although Real supporter Jose was singing a different tune Sunday – and as an “event” it’s unsurpassed for passion.

I know we don’t have anything even remotely resembling it here in Toronto, or in all of North America, and that’s just too bad. Again, it’s probably the proliferation of teams and the watered down nature of every season but we truly are missing out on something.

Even the most anticipated regular season games – Lakers-Heat, for instance, or Yankees-Red Sox – can’t hold a candle to it.

Too bad, we’re absolutely missing out.

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Oh yeah, Dwane Casey says they’ve gone about 80-20 on defence through four practices with the Raptors and so far, none of the players I’ve talked to are bored.

Tells me it’s still very early in the process because that’s true grunt work and players want to get out and run rather than learn, history suggests.

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This, saved from the weekend may get the masses chattering, I hope:

Q: Doug. Find myself agreeing with most of your musical choices. Thought there was no contest of " The Last waltz" as best music video - until I had watched Roy Orbison and his Black and White special.

When you have Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Warnes, and K.D. Lang as three of the backup singers - a sign of how good it can be - take a look if you haven't; if you have, where does it fit in your judgement? It even has a sports connection - Kris Kristofferson is one of the celebs in the smoke filled nightclub audience.

(You knew he was a football/rugby player didn't you )

Bill W, Dresden

A: I knew of this but had forgotten and if you’re looking for one of the most impressive groups of artist on one stage, check this out.

(It’s still behind The Last Waltz, though)

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Back to the Raptors?

Anthony Carter got into town late Sunday night, just at the end of the day’s second practice, I’m told, and his official signing should take place this morning.

He’ll be the third point guard – and that’ll thankfully quiet all the Jeremy Lin, Andy Rautins e-mails – and there is nothing at all wrong with the move.

This team needed to get older, to have some guys around who’ve been around, pros who can help a youngish team on its learning curve.

I have no clue how much Carter’s got left in the tank but that’s not the issue. He knows Casey from the time they were together in Minnesota, he can convey messages with a different voice, do the small things to help make kids better.

As backups go, he’s about a perfect fit. The very last thing this team needed in that spot is some young kid just starting out.

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As full a mailbag as we've had in a while; have fun with it

My goodness. You people have gone berserk.

(And I mean that in the best possible way).

Anyway, there are some left for the week, when we’ll chat about such thing as amnestied players telling teams not to make claims on them, and music documentaries because all sports would make this a very dull place to be.

Have fun with this, though.

No news to start – you know about Anthony Carter and Aaron Gray and I think Bryan’s pretty much done – although the women’s national team will play its last-gasp Olympic qualification tournament in Turkey next summer.

Road trip!!!!

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Q: Hi Doug, I know you have done this in past seasons, but if any season cries out for a road trip it is this one. What are your recommendations? I am thinking either a quick trip to NYC to take in games for the Knicks, Nets and Boston or Philly (via train) or perhaps something into the heart of Texas to see the Mavs but I am not sure how drivable the other close teams are (OKC, San Antonio etc.) Play travel agent and give your thoughts please. Thanks.

David W, Oakville

A: You can do Oklahoma City-Dallas pretty easily (maybe 3-3 1-2 hours) and while it’s not the most scenic of trips, given the relative merits of the teams, that’d be one to consider. Oklahoma’s an under-rated city for downtown stools and restaurants, too.

Of course, if you’ve got lots and lots and lots of time, staying in San Francisco, taking in games in Oakland and Sacramento (about 90 minutes away) and then taking one of the best drives around -- down Highway 101 along the coast to Los Angeles, probably take you a full day but it’s gorgeous – would be a pretty good trip, in my opinion.

It’s long but if I had a week, that’s the one I might take, three nights in San Fran, a day or two drive, two or three days in L.A.

The easiest? Park yourself in New York by Penn Station and do Knicks, Nets, Celtics, Sixers and maybe even the Wizards by rail.

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Q: Hi Doug. As I was watching highlights of NBA games from many years ago, it is interesting that players never seemed to wear any padding or protection. Given that many players are now wearing various forms of leg, rib and shoulder pads, is that a function of rule changes allowing for the padding or just changes in attitude? Also, I assume there are some restrictions on the equipment that NBA players can wear?

Thanks

Martin J, Toronto

A: I think it’s mostly a function of (a) the size of the players and the relative violence of the collisions they have every game and (b) the lightweight nature of the padding, which is not restrictive at all and comes after huge breakthroughs in manufacturing.

And the league needs to approve all “undergarments” so they don’t interfere with standard uniform looks.

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Q: Lefty Frizzel...Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight vs. Doug, 12 days on the road with the HOTC.

Least likely to be a C and W song?

What size carry bag? Any disposable clothing? Wash in the sink, sox?

Bob E, Kanata

A: I’ve got to tell you, you sent me scurrying to Youtube with the Lefty Frizzel one, and that’s out of the ordinary because I generally get your esoteric mentions and love ‘em.

But now that I have found him, how can I not think about adapting Cigarette and Coffee Blues as a quasi-anthem?

Now, as for the other part, it’s all about carryon so the miserable airlines can’t lose a bag and I can get a four-game road trip into one little roller bag.

And avail myself of hotel laundry services (thanks, boss!) any time I can.

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Q: So with 13-14 hours of basketball on Christmas day and all your super familial obligations and potentially getting ready for the Raptors opening day at Cleveland, how much time will our favourite Grunt dedicate to watching on Christmas day? How do you rank the games?

Cluck K, Mississauga

A: Well, considering my Christmas Day is going to include, aside from the regular family duties, likely a practice and a drive/flight to Cleveland, there’s a great chance I won’t see any basketball until the late evening, if at all.

But if I had an entire day on a couch with no obligations, I’d go with the obvious: Heat/Mavs first, Lakers/Bulls second, Thunder/Magic, Celtics/Knicks and Clippers/Warriors.

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Q: I keep getting the feeling that Sam got a raw deal. Jay surely didn't work out in his time, and we'll see what the new guy can do to motivate Bargnani and the rest of the misfits. Think the record would've been any different if Mitchell stays as the head coach here?

Jon K, Hamilton

A: Not sure it would have been appreciably different either way, coaches are only as good as their talent. That said, I’ve contended from the very day it happened that they pulled the pin on him too quickly that season.

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Q: Doug. Saw Sam Mitchell on NBA Game Time Friday night. Very, very impressed. Didn't hoot and holler, just made good insights, often in an amusing way. Forget the coaching gig, Sam's a TV Star in the making. Don't know if he could do colour on play-by-play. But on a panel, very much YES.

Gary M, Brampton

A: Oh, I’ve always thought Sam was a natural for TV and really like the stuff I’ve seen him do. Not sure what’s in his future plans but that should definitely be a fallback gig for him and I’d presume you’ll see him a fair bit on NBA TV this year.

And how cool would a radio talk show hosted by Sam and Butch Carte be? Bet it blows all of Toronto away. We should make that happen, methinks. I could be the third wheel!

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Q: When I read the comments of your blog, I try to figure out the ages of the people who are commenting. It seems like some of them are adults, as they mention their kids. Just wondering, what do you think is the demographic of the people who follow your blog? Also, is the following of the Raptors a younger, middle aged or older type thing? I mean what do you see at a typical game?

Eric M, Toronto

A: I don’t know for sure – and I’d have no way of tracking it, I don’t think – but I believe we tend to skew a wee bit older here, which is perfectly fine with me. After all, I think our friend Grace is the Official Mascot Of The Doug Smith Sports Blog and she's of a certain vintage.

What impresses me most about the Irregulars – almost all of them, that is – is the depth of knowledge they have on so many different things. We do music and books and movies and sitcoms here and each day, I’m floored by how cool some of the comments.

It’s absolutely unique to a sports blog or a basketball blog and it makes us what we are.

At a typical game? I see the game and my computer screen, mostly (although I do sneak a look at The Chicken and the June Taylor Dancers every now and then) but I’d say it’s a “youngish” audience in the arena.

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Some news before we get to the weekend mail

First, the news.

You might want to hold off on putting those Mickeal Pietrus Raptors jerseys under the Christmas tree.

Every indication I got last night was, after seeing Pietrus and seeing what else was out there, the Raptors might be pulling back a bit and “going in a different direction.”

Not sure why, entirely. Maybe the chance to get a younger Gary Forbes (the details are somewhere in here) came out of the blue; maybe it’s Pietrus’s knee, maybe it’s the money in deal but it’s looking less likely today than it was yesterday.

Like we always say with this team: Nothing’s ever done until it’s done.

Oh, and here’s a name – and this is entirely as an end-of-the-roster guy and, again, contingent on health – that you might want to look up: Rasual Butler. Old guy, likely close to done but affordable a guy who’ll fill a uniform.

Whatever happens, it should happen soon; word overnight was a third PG, a big and a wing no later than Sunday.

And now … the mail.

(Lots left, one last shot to get in on the fun by clicking here)

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Q: Hey Doug: Since you obviously enjoy riling the canaille (I've missed your Word of the Day!) by stating your opinion, how about you do so once again by answering this question: Which North American city (or more than one, if you would like to make this a list question) do you consider the best overall sports city?

(I know it's not basketball/NBA/Raptors, but you can probably get at least one of those words in your answer somehow.)

Thanks for keeping us informed and entertained on a daily basis!

Tim H, Windsor

A: The usual answer to this from the brainiacs who do my job around the continent is Boston because of the passion of the fans, the depth of their knowledge, the success of the teams from there and the area.

I can see it, might even agree with it but I tend to think it’s Philadelphia.

Sure, the fans are over-the-top nutty sometimes but isn’t that part of the fun? Teams are generally good, ownership tends to spend money, the city’s had some, um, colourful characters parade through its teams.

It’s working class and harsh on its athletes and the visiting teams but I’d have it right at the top of my list.

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Q: Doug keep up the good blogging and I glad we finally have some B-ball to talk about. A couple questions about the shortened season. Although our new coach was brought in mainly for his defensive acumen, how realistic is to think he can implement anything with so short of a training camp?

Second with so little prep time and a compressed schedule making injuries more likely our teams building up their training staffs, insurance coverage etc?

Terry S, Durham region

A: I don’t think a week’s long enough to put everything in, at all. But over the course of the first few weeks, there should be enough time to get everything in and to let the players work at it but I know there will be times in early-season games when they will look absolutely lost.

I don’t think it was done with the lockout first in their minds but the Raptors added one of the most respected trainers in all of pro sports when they brought on Alex McKechnie, formerly of the Lakers, to be the new director of sports science. It was a significant commitment to training and, possibly, rehab, and he will be among the most important employees of the organization this year. But, no, they didn’t add any more staff or insurance other than that.

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Q: Doug. I would like to pose a hypothetical question, or maybe it actually has happened. If anyone knows I expect you would.

Curious about grunts in general and you in particular. If a grunt were to see a kid playing in the CBL (or D league or any other for that matter) who was way above the league level, would a grunt pass a suggestion to a scout or GM or coach that they may want to take a look at someone who is a bit rough with a lot of talent? I realize that this is a faint possibility but its like lightening. It has to strike somewhere.

Gerry T, Halifax

A: I don’t presume to know nearly enough to make my opinion count for anything, or my suggestions to be taken. What I might do, in search or a story or a note, would be to saddle up to a GM or a scout and say, “hey, I saw this kid at this game and I thought he was really something. What’s your take on him?” And then we’d go from there to see if my thoughts were validated.

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Q: Hello Doug! So, we've drawn the Office Secret Santa names and this year, sadly, I didn't draw the name of the Fabulous Fashionista (who's so easy to shop for - why, it's like shopping for myself!) but rather the serious of mind and dour of disposition fellow in Estimating. I don't know him very well, but I understand he enjoys reading about 20th century history and accessorizing his F-450 SuperDuty. Well, for me, accessorizing involves suede shoes and silk scarves, so I'm thinking a book is the way to go. So, I know you and many of your Irregulars read a bit of history now and then, and I'm wondering if you'd mind if I used this space to ask for some recommended titles? Thanks so much!

Lorie P, London

A: Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?

Can you help an Irregular out?

We’re part information, part entertainment, part mockery and cynicism and part service-oriented here.

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Q: Doug, I just don’t find the enthusiasm any more... to find out what's happening with the Raptors? It's a wash of a season and we all hope they tank it bad and get a crack at Anthony Davis, Harrison Barnes or Andre Drummond... With the young team that we do have, we don’t want to be middle of the pack in the lottery once again.

Still, I will watch the occasional games and might even go to watch a live game JUST because I fundamentally support the team... but that support is starting to wear thin, especially with my wife's team of Boston doing quite well in the past few years.

Give us some hope that this team knows where its going Doug! And have a word with Colangelo too...

Nisarg S, Toronto

A: Hope? Sorry, doctor, this ain’t the place for hope. Maybe some mockery and information and a bit of pop culture and some news every now and then but hope? Not my gig.

But I will speak – sternly (not Sternly) – to Bryan.

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Q: What do you think of the Raptors signing Vince Carter to a 1 year deal at the veterans minimum? It’s probably a long shot but how interesting would that be?

Gerdie S, Scarborough

A: No way.

I want him to sign with Miami so we have the single greatest boo-fest in the history of Toronto professional sports.

How cool would that be?

(Guess that’s not going to happen, either. Word is Carter’s likely going to Dallas and that means fans here won’t even get a chance to vent since the Mavs don’t come here)

Raptors will add Pietrus for 2nd round pick

News!

This is why I get up early, I guess.

Just got a note from an alert reader pointing out this to me, a report that says the Raptors are going to sign Mickeal Pietrus when the free agency period opens this afternoon.

Haven’t got confirmation yet – some people must not be up yet – but, on its face, it’s not a bad deal as long as it meets Bryan’s criteria of not being too expensive or too long a contract.

Guess I’ll have something to do this morning.

(And it's done; a conditional second round pick goes out to Phoenix, if Pietrus passes a physical and the fact he's got one year and $5.3 million left on his deal makes it a perfect fit for what Bryan wants to do)

Pietrus, in case you forgot, is a 6-6 small forward, played in Golden State, Orlando and finished last year in Phoenix and has long been a favourite of some of the folks in Toronto’s front office.

Stick around, we’ll get more when we can.

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Wow.

Chris Paul’s a Laker when a guy goes to bed and a few hours later when the alarm rings Chris Paul’s still a Hornet and the NBA is the laughingstock of professional sports on a day when it was supposed to re-open for business and start asking fans for forgiveness.

Guess none of us should sleep.

In case you missed it, the league – for “basketball reasons” – nixed a blockbuster trade that would have seen Paul go from the Hornets to Lakers, Houston get Pau Gasol and the New Orleans get Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic and a first-round draft pick.

Funny thing? Since there was no way that Paul was staying in New Orleans when his contract expires after this bastardized 66-game season, grabbing Odom, Scola, Martin, Dragic and a pick (originally New York’s and likely in the middle of the first round of what everyone says is a stellar draft) is more than I thought they’d ever get.

That’s not Aaron Williams, Eric Williams, the right to pay Alonzo Mourning not to show and Joey Graham, that’s for sure.

These were veteran, wise NBA GMs who put this deal together – Daryl Morey in Houston, Mitch Kupchak in Los Angeles, Dell Demps doing what he could to maximize a difficult situation – and the league blew smoke in their faces. This was not Ted Steptien, this was, on its face, as good a deal as was out there.

That aside, and you can even debate if a gutted Lakers team would have been any better, the totality of the ridiculousness of the situation is what’s most troubling.

The league, of course, owns the Hornets, a scary and stupid proposition to begin with because situations like this could arise.

Having superstar players demand trades – and it’s happened in the past, is happening now, will happen in the future, get used to it – is nothing to get worked up about.

Chris Paul did what he was contracted to do. He played in New Orleans, gave it his best, made the franchise relevant and if he wanted to move eventually, that’s his right. The fact he gave his employer notice can even be seen as a good thing, he didn’t pull a LeBron or a Bosh and walk away for nothing.

Apparently, according to everything I read, a group of owners – chief among them Cleveland’s Dan Gilbert, who should really just keep quiet and count the money LeBron James made him – scuttled by complaining to David Stern about the “competitive balance” issue.

Right. They should be more concerned with making their own franchises better, hiring better people, making bold moves, doing something rather than whining.

Anyway … the biggest loser seems to be David Stern, who looks a bit like an ineffectual puppet to a new group of aggressive owners who will whine and complain until they get their way.

What happens now is anyone’s guess. There are conflicting reports on whether or not Paul will report when camp opens today, Gasol and Scola and the others are in limbo and the league’s a joke, a punchline, a comedy, just when it needs to be most forward-looking, more apologetic, most thankful that fans seem interested after being screwed around all summer.

Kinda sucks, doesn’t it?

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Now, back to, you know, stuff.

I cannot believe I missed it yesterday.

Dec. 8, 1980. John Lennon. Shot.

And if this isn't the single greatest song ever written, for lyrics and music and message, I don’t know what is.

I remember walking into the work at the Woodstock Sentinel-Review the Tuesday morning after the assassination, a bit stunned, having heard the news from Howard Cosell, and seeing a crusty old wire editor at his desk.

He gave it a bit of a yawn, said something like “one down, three to go” and he should have been slapped. But I was a respectful kid.

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The Raptors?

Hmm, let’s see.

Magloire’s and will be done today (read all about it here), everyone under contract is here and all we need now to find out today who the other two or three inconsequential free agents and how many warm bodies they might invite in a fodder.

Usually, a team likes to have 17 or 18 guys in camp, just so everyone doesn’t get too worn down or banged up with the two-a-day-workouts. Wasn’t able to reach any of The Henchmen yesterday to find out what’s up here but if they have more than 15 in, I’d be surprised. There isn’t any time to waste with guys who are simply warm bodies, Dwane Casey needs to maximize his teaching with the players who’ll be here.

Oh yeah, had a nice chat with Linas Kleiza after he got some work in.

Looks like mid-January for him to be back.

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Is it just me or has some of the air come out, locally at least, of this UFC thing?

Am told you can still buy a ticket for Saturday’s big roll-around-on-the-mat-kicking-and-holding-for-eternity event and there seems to be a distinct lack of buzz.

I’m quite fine with that, actually. If they had it in my back yard I’d sit on the front porch and all it’s going to do this weekend is screw with the grunts trying to do their training camp jobs.

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Twitter’s new slogan is Yours To Discover.

What? They don’t have google at their office?

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How are the Raptors different from the Blue Jays?

So, how’s your Friday shaping up?

Gonna be a tad busy around the basketball, that’s for sure. And late.

Sounds like the gloves come off at 2 p.m. our time, not before as some of us with ridiculously early Friday deadlines had hoped.

That’s when camps can officially open, teams can officially add players and it takes away the chance for coaches to hold two practices on opening day.

What’s it mean here?

Well, since it looks like almost a given that Jamaal Magloire’s coming home to finish his career (I’d put that at 95-5 given conversations I had after yesterday morning’s note), all Bryan is really going to do – if you take him at his word after his little media buntoss Wednesday afternoon that Cathal summed up here – is to add a small forward and a third point guard and maybe one other warm body for the end of the bench.

Yawn.

Now, I understand his philosophy entirely. Save your money, find out what you’ve got, add bits on short term deals and move forward with fingers crossed that the kids can learn from a new coach and see where you are next summer.

Tough to sell tickets? Probably. But if they play hard and entertaining basketball, win some games right off the bat on their youthfulness in a grind of a season fans will watch.

This whole “let’s keep our flexibility” thing is simply a case of semantics in a lot of ways.

What if he had said, ala the TOD, that “we like where we are, we’re planning to spend and contend for a playoff spot next year, we like our kids, watch us grow.”

Would it engender the kind of unbridled optimism about the Raptors as exists with the Blue Jays, an optimism that’s more rampant in many circles than it has been in years.

They have a good young core (DeRozan, Davis, Bayless, Johnson vs. Lawrie, Arencibia, Romero, Morrow), talent in the pipeline (Valanciunas, likely another high draft pick vs. Hecchevaria, D’Arnaud), a new coaching staff (Casey vs. Farrell) and money to spend the next time free agents come on the market.

See the similarities?

But one seems to offer hope and one seems to be creating more disdain than it should.

Maybe it speaks to the basic impatience of Raptors fans, which could be generational, and maybe it’s the way the message is being delivered.

They are the same and in spring it was going to be fun to watch the baseball team grow; maybe in the fall it should be fun to see what transpires on the court.

Whaddya think?

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I don’t believe the Leaves did anything of significance yesterday.

Just letting you know.

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You guys okay with Kelly Johnson being the TOD’s second baseman next year?

(And, yes, I now have an even greater interest in the baseball from having been around it a lot this summer)

Griff’s got the gory details here as usual, Johnson accepts arbitration, gets a one-year non-guaranteed deal, and with no other real prospects on the horizon quite yet, the job as the team’s every day second baseman next season.

(Although, Alex Anthopoulos did put forth the idea of Johnson as a left-fielder, which is going to make it awfully crowded out there with him, Travis Snider, Eric Thames, Edwin Encarnacion and, who knows who else)

The Johnson thing doesn’t really bother me. He was okay when he was here, he’s sure not Brandon Phillips but he’s a serviceable big-leaguer and with the way the market was, I’m not sure there was a better option out there.

But for those of you hoping Alex made a big splash, these have been pretty boring meetings. And with Mark Buehle going to Florida, Huston Street traded (yeah, he’d have looked good in the bullpen), Albert Pujols going to wait ‘til the meetings are over and a lot of cold water being thrown on the Prince Fielder thing, this may be an uneventful week.

Too bad.

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Oh oh.

Is my friend Mike Monroe in for a long season watching the San Antonio Spurs and “engaging” with the team’s fans?

Yep, T.J. Ford reports he’s going to sign with the Spurs and I wonder how long until the T.J.-Tony thing starts heating up?

Kidding, sort of. But it’s a great place for T.J., whom I quite like as a guy. Close to home, good organization that’s taking another shot at winning, and a defined role.

Just wonder what it’ll mean for Toronto dude Cory Joseph, who might have otherwise tried to find some minutes.

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Could I have some mail, please?

Thank you.

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Remember last week when I told you Super Son was destined for greatness after asking crack sax teacher Pat Carey for the Yakkety Sax sheet music?

Well, at several points the last couple of days, there’s been uproarious laughter coming from his downstairs lair and I figure he’s down there watching some teen show I wouldn’t ever understand, like Suite Life or Wizards of Waverely.

But, noooooo.

He’s got the box set out, DVD’s running in a marathon and his taste in old comedies makes an old man proud.

Now, if he gets a crush on Barbara Feldon, we’re off to the races!

Yep. Kid loves Get Smart and he could very well end up being President Of The World someday.

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Speaking of the Spurs it’s no, no, no; a thousand times no, to the several “Should the HOTH sign Richard Jefferson now that he’s going to be amnesty’d” questions I got.

Yes, if those are popping up in the inbox, the NBA season truly is upon us.

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This little aside:

Unless it’s someone of huge significance, and there is no indication whatsoever that it will be (although things change), I am not waiting breathlessly to find out who the fifth Raptors big is, or who will be the third, maybe fourth, point guard behind Calderon, Bayless and perhaps Barbosa.

Doesn’t matter, won’t get excited about it, just hope they’re good guys to get along with. And you should feel the same. Please.

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Could Magloire be the first Canadian Raptor?

Guess there was an interloper around the gym Tuesday when Jamaal Magloire stopped by to get a workout in.

He is, after all, an NBA player, NBA gyms are open to all and it’s something he’s done a time or two before when he’s been home.

But is there more?

Maybe.

I keep hearing that Magloire, coming off his 11th NBA season, is on Toronto’s radar as a free agent; a big, veteran centre they could get for the minimum who might be good in practice and the odd game when his mixture of brawn and a willingness to bang some bodies around would help out.

I guess I can see the sense it makes since Bryan has given every indication he’s going to fill out the roster with one-year veterans and other short-termers so he can be a big player either next summer or around the trade deadline as a deal facilitator.

Here’s something else to consider: If you’re looking at a fourth big, would you rather have a veteran like Magloire or a kid like Solomon Alabi.

No offence to Alabi, who they tell me has improved, but simple math would tell you his long-term prognosis isn’t great. You’ve got Bargnani, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis ahead of him now, those three (probably) along with Jonas Valanciunas next season will crowd it any more.

Anyway, I have no idea if a one-year veteran minimum deal (with a remote chance of a non-guaranteed second) would be something that would appeal to Jamaal – I’m also not sure there’ll be a lot teams making calls to him and his people this week – but it would give the HOTH a first: A Canadian guy to have in uniform.

It would also, of course, mean the absolute end of any chance Reggie Evans would be back but I’m hearing that’s rather remote anyway; too much money, likely too many years, too dicey with regards to injury and there are other suitors (Boston among them) who have some interest.

Now, I also don’t know how much Jamaal’s got left in the tank but I guess he doesn’t need much, does he, for the role he’s going to be asked to fill. I also think he’s mature enough to handle the near-daily questions he’ll get about being the first Canadian Raptor and why he doesn’t play much and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah (I won’t ask, except for maybe the first day). I like Jamaal, I remember talking with him in the Miami Heat practice facility last season about his future and him telling me he saw himself as some veteran presence willing to mentor and play a specific role and that’s precisely what’s likely to be offered here.

(Oh, and I’m told the Raptors had some interest a year ago but were rebuffed for a season with the rock-star Heat).

Anyway … there’s some news.

Happy now?

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Okay, I’m not going to kill the good folks who work in the passport office I was at yesterday because I absolutely know the kind of horror stories they can tell about The People but lining up to get a number to line up?

Ugh.

Good news? I can do the pre-season game and the season across the border.

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Time to start.

Send mail here, tell me your innermost thoughts. Okay, maybe not innermost but …

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Speaking of the schedule …

Wow, does it suck.

Not only for the poor saps who have to sell tickets (those gory details are here) but for Grunts it’s as bad as I expected.

Five games in six nights. A road trip that’s LA-Phoenix-Utah-Denver-New Jersey?????

But know who it might even be worse for?

Dwane Casey.

If, and this is traditional throughout the league, the team won’t practice coming off back-to-backs, my rudimentary count shows there will be just 28 practice days for the entire season. And that’s not taking into consideration that he’ll have to give ‘em five or six others days off just to heal their broken down bodies.

New coach. Young team. Short camp. Maybe 22 days of practice in an entire season.

Oh yeah, this is going to be delightful.

And, yeah, we talking ‘bout practice.

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Digression, slightly

This came out yesterday late morning but I’m not sure how many of you heard the news, and even for those who did, I’m going to repeat it.

There are few true giants in our industry, especially in Canada, but Bob Elliott of the Sun is one. He is the leading authority by a country mile on baseball in our country, he has been the definitive voice on the Jays for decades and I absolutely defy you to find anyone in our business who has a bad thing to say about Boxing Bob, won’t happen. There is no more proud a Canadian than him, there is no more proud a Seamhead than him, he is a giant.

It’s been my privilege to know him for years, he taught me a whole bunch of beat grunt lessons over the years and I am a better man for knowing him.

Bob got into Cooperstown yesterday, the recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for excellence in baseball writing and I cannot think of a more worthy recipient.

Want to know what kind of guy he is? Read Ruts here; and Sy here. I sure can’t say it better.

But neither Mike nor Steve touched on the essence of Boxer. Country music. Now, I'm no expert, and not much of a fan, but spies tell me this might be a way to pay homage to one of the greats. I doubt Bob reads this but ...

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Right, obligatory Leaves reference.

Guy sent this to me overnight, it’s a bit old and who cares about the goal but a baby and a goal? How cute is that.

No barfing.

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Oh oh.

Thin edge of the wedge in pro sports?

Am sure not many of you care a whit about this story but major league baseball has now instituted a dress code for reporters covering games. No see-through stuff, no short shorts, no flip-flops, no bare midriffs, nothing with a team logo.

There have been, in my experience, more than too many cases of inappropriate attire, dudes showing up decked out in team gear, some slovenly looks, and, yes, some totally racy, revealing and over-the-top outfits that I don’t see as professional at all.

As you know, I’m shirt and tie guy for basketball, far more relaxed for baseball because it was acceptable but I have no problem with dressing professionally and think everyone who practices our craft should.

Not sure it needs to be league-mandated (and I hope the NBA guys aren’t reading this) but if that’s what it takes for a gentle nudge in some directions, then that’s what it takes.

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