A day that should resonate everywhere

A bit personal here and not a lot of basketball because there wasn’t a lot of basketball yesterday, I hope you don’t mind.

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It is perhaps because I’ve spent a lot of time around Wayne Embry, Sam Mitchell and Alex English – three men who provide a context and perspective to history that I cannot truly comprehend – that this day resonates with me.

It is, of course, Martin Luther King Day and while it may not have the importance back home that it does down here, it is one of those days that should cause all of us to sit back and think.

What can we do to make this world, or at least our little corner of it, better? How can we live our lives so that others see compassion and caring and a sense of fairness and equality that will allow all others to live in peace as well?

It doesn’t just go to black and white these days, at least not where we’re from. The lessons preached by Dr. King back in the day can now be applied to the way we deal with all people of all different races, yellow, brown, black; everyone. We need to understand each other, whether it’s here in Atlanta or in Brampton or in Markham or in Vancouver. We need to live in peace and with respect for each other and in some kind of harmony.

This is not to diminish Dr. King’s efforts to correct unspeakable wrongs of a bygone era, nor is it to remotely suggest that his work is done and things are as they should be because they most definitely are not. There are still subtle signs of racism in our world that may not be as violent or disgusting as what occurred in the past but they are there and I am sure they hurt.

My life, as you well know, involves almost constant interaction with African-American men and women of all ages and backgrounds, young athletes, older coaches, oldtimers who lived through times more difficult than we can understand

Wayne (and you should read this old story I did one time; it’s among those I’m most proud to have written) and Alex and Sam have educated me about the struggles and the impact they had on them as youngsters. They, and others, also know there is work still to be done and they are trying to make sure the youngsters in their charge understand that.

They also have tried to make those kids understand how far they have come, how truly despicable things were in the past and how much men like Dr. King gave of themselves so that young men of this era can enjoy the creature comforts of life that they do.

What Dr. King and those who were with him did was simply to change the world. They suffered, gave their lives, so that others would benefit; they had to know what they were going to sacrifice yet they soldiered on simply to carve out a better existence for future generations they would never get to see.

The true end of their work would come after they were gone from this earth and they still did it.

Someone asked the other day what the good things about my job are and I gave a nice answer about seeing cool things and not having the “sameness” to days that make them boring.

But you know what?

The best thing about this job is the interesting people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve heard about, the perspective I’ve been able to glean.

The very, very best part of this gig is the people I’ve met and how they’ve enriched my life and today – a very significant day for men I consider friends – I realize the best part of my job is I can say I know people like Wayne and Sam and Alex and I thank them for making my life better.

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So, you saw this about Casey and the turnovers and how the Raptors are rather awful at giving up possessions, right?

Well, more than the lack of production at small forward or the gaping hole in the offence that the absence of Bargnani creates, it is the single biggest problem facing this team.

And it simply focus and intensity and basketball smarts that are the problem.

I, and any coach, can live with the odd bad pass, it’s going to happen; even those head-scratching length-of-the-court mistakes that end up in the fourth row are, well, part of the game.

But not setting good screens, dribbling the ball off your foot, committing an offensive foul because you’re way out of control on a drive are, to me, the worst kind.

And these guys might lead the league in them.

Look at it this way: They have a starting point guard who is among the most careful guys with the ball in the game, Jose turns it over fewer than two times a game despite his big minutes, and still as a group they’re among the worst turnover teams in the league?

That has to be the one area that needs cleaning up more than any other and until it gets better, this team won’t.

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We mentioned about checking in to find a Bridal Fair here in Atlanta – never saw so many zombie-ish young men being led around by the ears – and it’s the first convention-like thing I’ve seen on the road this season. But over the years …

The thing in LA

It was like Comic-Con Lite one weekend at the LAX Marriott, a whole bunch of relatively geeky young ‘uns in goofy costumes of their own making wandering the halls, lobby and lounges.

Since I have absolutely neither interest in nor knowledge of sci-fi or any of that stuff, it was, um, rather overwhelming. And if Super Son ever gets into it …

A whole lot of ink

I want to say it was in Phoenix but it might have been somewhere in Texas but the weekend we rolled up to the hotel to find the convention of tattoo artists – and the subjects of their art – made for some interesting people watching indeed.

Teacher talk

I remember sitting in a lobby somewhere – could have been Charlotte, or maybe Memphis – listening to four or five tables of people at a teachers convention ripping on their students, their bosses, their pay and their duties.

And I stopped wondering why some of America’s public school system is, um, lacking.

Oh, and there was the time – for a much younger, different breed of grunt – when we ran into the convention of student nurses in Philly. The kids had fun.

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How good were the Golden Globes?

Yeah, the post-football evening (and Suns-Spurs was a bore for the most part) there was an awful lot of time spent watching them and they seemed to me to be the kind of awards thing I’d go to.

Fun? There were bottles on the table.

Relaxed? There was hooting and hollering when winners were announced.

The Oscars? Way too stuffy and self-important; I now have a new favourite awards show.

You?

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Comments

[Matthieu]

Thanks Doug, good piece today. Must be cool to be in Atlanta on a day like this. I don't think MLK has the same resonance in Europe than in North America but for sure people here also could learn from him.
Is the story on Wayne available online and if yes, could you put a link to it?

Blogger's note: Here it is, I'll put it in blog now
http://www.thestar.com/article/573048

[Tim Hommel]

Hey Doug:

If you could see me right now, you would see me giving you a standing ovation for the part about MLK. You certainly know how to express thoughts and feelings. An excellent job. Thank you!

[Wilber]

Well said, Doug.

Do you pick the images beside blog entries, or is that someone back at Mother Star? I was just amused by the picture of Ed Davis beside this statement: "And it simply focus and intensity and basketball smarts that are the problem."

Enjoy the ATL.

Blogger's note: I pick 'em but there was nothing to that one except an illustration

[Peter]

Thanks for the blog Doug, nicely said.

[Dave]

Happy Martin Luther King day. He was remarkable as were the Kennedys in leading to the progress we have today. I think many of us could learn from his message as many new immigrants come to our country every year. As you state, there is still a lot of racism.

As for the need for the Raptors to clean things up, a day to practice would go a long way. I read an article yesterday about how the Heat are approaching a tough part of their schedule which led me to check their schedule. I think Casey would be very happy with it. They appear to get a much easier schedule with things such as two days off after their back to back to back. There are other times when they get two days off after back to backs. It seems that the teams that are expected to do well are also helped by the schedule makers. I don't know if it is intentional or just the luck of the draw. It any case, it makes it difficult for "building" teams to improve.

[TLI]

Thanks for linking us to the original Wayne Embry story, Doug. No wonder you're of it; it's a wonderful read. The things we should know... but don't. There's a lot of hope in the story, and we can sure use some of that these days.

[TLI]

"No wonder you're proud of it; it's a wonderful read..."
(Sorry for sending to quickly.)

[Nasko]

Hey Doug, great work on the blog today and that linked article. I always like your writing but I must say that the blog entries usually have more effect on me than the articles in the paper. It seems the blog writing is a bit more personal, more you, so to speak. Do you enjoy one of the styles of writing more than the other?
Again, great work and truly enjoying this little space you got here.
p.s. that might be better for the mailbag, if so I could send it there as well.

Blogger's note: If you could ... thanks
Cheers

[Angela]

Lovely passionate writing about Martin Luther King Day, Doug. Thank you for bringing it home so eloquently! I was in Memphis on Martin Luther King Day several years ago and it was chilling to see the patio where Dr. King was assassinated and to be in a place so full of the hard history of the black rights movement; and yes, sadly, there's still soooo much work to be done. It's good there's a day to remind us that there has been progress, too.

Here's to some progress for the Raptors, as well!

Blogger's note: That's a pretty powerful spot, indeed

[Jason]

Another gem, Doug -- well done. And your list of conventions reminded me of an event I worked in NYC a few years back for an IT company. At the same time the hotel was hosting a Ford Modeling Agency competition, and I walked into the elevator and at 6'1" was the shortest person there. Made for some very happy customers at our event.
On an entirely different topic, it's that fun 'goal setting' time of year for many of us in the corporate world and I wonder if such a thing exists in the journalism world. Do you and the Tall Foreheads agree on a certain set of 'metrics' (I don't know, maybe # of IGBTs, % increase in site visitors, # of frosty beverages sampled)? Just curious.
Thanks as always.

Blogger's note: No, no real "goals" other than to do good stories, well told

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Another standing ovation here, Doug. Well scribed, sir.
Today's MLK date serves as the perfect segue-way to tomorrow's 70th birthday of another poet, prophet, king, champ: The Greatest. Of all time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6xb-lejyRk&feature=related
Cheers. Go Raps!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Forgot to add "philosopher". Ali, boo-ma-yay.

[Kelsey]

Nice blog today Doug, me as you can tell many others appreciate it. MLK Jr was did awesome work. Every time we go down to Atlanta we visit the centre. This year we took my 4mth old son, he wont remember but the pictures will last!!

MLK jr was working for equality..doing that shed light on the "Maafa" Afrikan Holocaust where HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of Africans were killed, raped, castrated etc!!

Oh how I will never forget what my ancestors have gone thru and people continue to go thru!! ahhhh!!...That being said truly there is only one race, the human race.

Hard to Raptors after that, but Ill be watching and hoping for the best!!!

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

I didn't get a chance to re-read (from the original posting) the Wayne Embry article until just now. He sounds like a fine person. It sounds as if every African-American person in the NBA should write him a "Thank You" note. He must hate it when he hears people saying things like "not another Euro player." Bigotry is bigotry - regardless of what 'thing' is being prejudged.

[Lorie]

Thank you very much, Doug for your wonderful writing today. Hopefully as we listen to Dr. King's words today, we think about living its message everyday with everyone we encounter. And it's that thought that reminded me of June Callwood's (final) interview with George Strombolopolous that took place shortly before her death. He asked her (and I'm going from memory here) if she wondered what was next and did she believe in God. And she said "No. I believe in kindness. I believe it is communicable...every act of it creates a tiny, tiny little shift in the plates. Consideration for one another - that's what's going to save the world." Amen.

[doug]

excellent piece of writing on MLK...we use the term great far too often, but in this case to call MLK a great man does him a disservice, there really is no adjective to effectively sum up all he represents.....you know i love it when arrogance loses in sport and in life, they never consciously did it but the Packers as did the Colts as few years before were arrogant and it cost them, they rested players and never played out the string...I don't get how executives, Gm's, coaches don't get that you are only fueling your oppositions fire and motivation...as it's arrogant to think you can rest starters in the last couple games of the season, have a bye week and then play a top tier team and expect to win....it's ridiculous and they got what they deserved, you play out the string until the end, the Pats always do as there is a fine line between winning and losing especially in pro sports and the playoffs, why give your opponents a advantage???...I don't get it...

[SheikYurbouti]

@Kelsey
Human race; right on man, and we're getting there, slowly but perhaps quicker than MLK Jr even dreamed of.
When I moved from Montreal to Calgary 30 years ago, it didn't take long to encounter enough of the stereotypical redneck attitude to make me question my sanity in leaving my roots and a city I love. I'd have bet my life against this city having a gay, black, muslim mayor today. We're getting there.

Thank you Martin Luther King Jr, and all those who fought before and since.

[Eric-in-NS]

Thank you for today's words and your 2009 article on MLK.
The man's impact on racial equality alone, of course, makes him a great man.

At the same time, if he were alive today he would be challenging us on all three of what he called the 'triple evils' : racism, militarism and economic exploitation. We don't seem to associate him as much with the last two these days.

I think he would be disappointed.

[Boko]

BRAVO for the MLK wrote-up!

The lack of production at swing IS a significant reason for the turnovers. A talented swing with basketball IQ would keep the O in rhythm. Some day DD might get there. JJ & LK are role players. Up front ED might get there. AJ looks like a role player now. We DO miss AB, but need to get the rest of the team to practice playing without him more. We rely on José & Andrea too much.

A related problem is the lack of commitment to keeping a block of granite on the floor at all times. A solid screen is easier to shoot over & rebound off of. A good pick is easier to score off of, and rebound off of.

When we don't have them, players try to do too much by themselves, and get out of control, and charge.

Finally, better D is supposed to lead to easier O with transition buckets. How are we doing in that regard?