With Carter, what you saw was genuine and real

I certainly can’t profess to know Gary Carter as others in the local gang of the craft did, I didn’t cover him a team he played for, maybe spoke to him in scrums a half dozen times if that but I was a big enough fan of the game and student of our industry to know a wee bit about him.

His playing bonafides are well documented, he could frame pitches like few other catchers, he played hard when playing hard was expected rather than hoped for, he ran out every ground ball and walk, he truly handled himself the right way on the field.

Off the field, we got a picture all those years of simply a good guy, genuine and real and if his personality came across as too genuine or too nice or too “something” for others to handle without a small tinge of jealousy or a measure of snickering, well, that says more about the people talking and writing about him than it does about Carter.

We kind of half expect our sports stars to be a bit fake, it’s the kind of give-and-take we put up with; you give me a good sound bite, I won’t mock you and I won’t care a lot how you treat people when the lights are off.

Trust me, there are people who try to carry themselves like Carter who are frauds, total and utter users of the podium and medium who are out to advance their own selves and don’t mind putting on a “show” for the media, and therefore the fans. There are guys who are simply disingenuous; when the cameras on, they are sweetness and light when the bright lights are on, they can be surly and put-upon when it’s just them and a guy holding a notebook.

You never, ever got the sense that Carter was like that. He was chatty and friendly, always respectful of the people doing their jobs because he knew they were the conduit to the fans.

He spoke of his family often, of his faith just as much and he simply came across as a well-meaning fellow.

Like I said, I didn’t know Gary Carter at all but everything I’ve read (and My Man Griff nailed it from Carter’s Montreal days, Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci killed with memories of his New York time) paints a picture of a good and honest man in a sports world not heavily populated by them.

Canadian sports fans of a certain vintage will always know Carter as the hustling, smiling, hard-playing Expos icon who would have to be considered one of the most popular baseball players to ever call Canada home.

His loss evokes sadness as so many levels; his memory will today bring smiles to the faces of a lot of baseball fans.

-

Neverest?

Um, okay.

For those unfamiliar (and it’s only through the good graces of Google and Youtube that I am), it’s the, um, boy band that will sing O Canada before the all-star game, the league breathlessly informed me Thursday.

I guess they must be popular but the initial reaction of a couple of oldsters in the office Thursday was, ‘hm, a boy band that wants to sound like the Beiber lad; yeah, that says Canada like nothing else.’

Anyway, we’ve got Mary J. Blige doing the Star Spangled Banner (her, I’ve heard of) and halftime’s got Pitbull (yes, I’ve heard the song and it’s okay) with someone called Neyo and another songster called Nayer and, continuing her Tour Of Big Sports Events, that Nicki Minaj, who may or may not have overwhelmed at the Super Bowl.

Sure ain’t Madonna, is it?

-

Hang on one cotton picking moment, here.

This tennis playing Roanic guy pulls out of the Davis Cup thing on Sunday because he’s hurt and now I’m reading that he’s into the third round of one of the endless ATP tournaments?

Hmm.

Guess we know where that lad’s priorities are, right?

Not that there’s anything too, too, too wrong with it; but perhaps someone will ask him about it if he deigns to speak to us before strapping on the Maple Leaf at the London Olympics this summer.

Just sayin’ …

-

What am I going to do this afternoon post-shootaround and pre-game?

Well, I could knock off some mail so I can maybe get a few more minutes of shuteye tomorrow morning. But that depends, of course, on how you fine Irregulars help me out.

You know the drill.

-

There was never a doubt in my mind that the NBA was going to find a way to get Jeremy Lin involved in the all-star weekend, it’s just too good a story that reaches people on too many different levels to be ignored.

I thought they might put him in the guy-gal-old person shooting thingamabob on the Saturday night since he probably isn’t skilled enough to go in the punt-pass-and-kick thing that night, the three-point shooting contest or, obviously, the dunk contest, which is totally underwhelming as Nothing But Net explains.

And while it would have been something of a travesty to name him as an injury replacement for the real game, I was fearful they’d do that in some shameless effort to turn it into more of a circus.

Thankfully, at least for them, they decided to add him to the kids game on the Friday night, a perfect solution.

Of all events at the all-star weekend, that abomination might be the most boring. The players aren’t nearly as electric as the guys in the big game, there is even less effort put forth in that one than there is in the first quarter of the real game (although the real game does tend to get competitive in the final six or seven minutes) and now that rookie-sophomore event at least has a little bit of juice.

And Linsanity can play out on an even bigger stage, which is precisely what the league wants.

-

Guy gets a Thursday night on the couch, decides to flip through something other than Bulls-Celtics and what happens?

The networks have scheduled Big Bang Theory directly against 30 Rock?

That stinks.

Gotta say, though, Tina Fey trumps all.

-

 

 

Comments

[Tom]

Doug, Doug, Doug. You have to pick yourself up a PVR. You won't have to worry about the TV scheduling conflicts, watch one and then the other. I didn't think that I wanted to pay the money for one in the beginning, but know that I have one I'm not sure how I got by without it. It also means that you can watch your shows later on and fastforward all the commercials.

[LeeZ]

K, so here's the thing with Milos: he couldn't push off on the leg with the injured knee. This had a huge impact on his serve (in tennis, most of the power you generate on your serve comes from your lower body, which begins with bending your knees. Can't bend your knees? You're SOL.) This led to Canada losing the doubles. The only realistic chance Canada had of winning the tie (and it was an extremely small chance to begin with) was if Canada won the doubles; then "all" they'd have to do is knock off either the 6th ranked player in the world or the 13th. But once they lost the doubles, they were effectively without a prayer. Seen in that light, plus the fact that the guy was in real pain and the injury took away his prime weapon, thus rendering him ineffective, plus the fact that the guy has a career to worry about, well, the decision not to play makes perfect sense any way you slice it.

[LeeZ]

Right after posting my previous explanation of why Milos shouldn't have played, I came across this on tennis.com, which introduces a completely different element: Canada’s Milos Raonic says that a misread echography on his injured left knee forced him to pull out of his Davis Cup match against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and that if it had been read correctly he would have played.

Frank Dancevic subbed in for Canada’s top player and lost to Tsonga, clinching the tie for France, 3-1.

"It was bad luck last week," Raonic told TENNIS.com in San Jose. “After we lost to doubles I went to have an echography [in Vancouver] and I was told I had four-millimeter tear in the tendon and it was month-long recovery. I was told that if I played on Sunday it could completely snap and I’d be out for eight to 12 months. So it was a no-brainer not to play. So I spoke to my doctor in Spain and I came here because I knew the services were really good at the Stanford Medical Clinic. I did an MRI and I was told it was just misplaced fluid instead of a tear and it was just showing tendonitis and I could play through, it won’t get any worse. It was little a disheartening because I was in the dark and I wish I could have played. If I knew I wasn’t taking a risk, I would have played Tsonga. I was sore, but I knew if I could take a pain killer, I could probably have played through the pain."

[Michael]

LeeZ is correct, if it wasn't for the ultrasound that was interpreted incorrectly, Milos would have played. Not his fault at all, anyone would have made the same decision given the circumstances.

[Thomas]

Big Bang Theory over 3rd Rock any day of the week!....any-day!

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Thanks for the great words about Gary Carter. Although I was never an Expos fan (TOD was on TV more often), whenever I saw Gary play, he always seemed as if was thrilled to be getting paid to do something he loved. That type of athlete is indeed a rarity these days - oh, I am sure that there are some who will talk the talk, but Carter walked the walk.
Great job, as usual.

[DannyFromFreddy]

Doug, I am of that certain vintage that remembers Gary Carter fondly. He was my favourite baseball player for a long time.

If I see one more article on Jeremy Lin, my head is going to implode.

[Tim H.]

Just got around to reading yesterday's blog/comments, and I wanted to give a huge THANK YOU to Gerry Tanner for serving our country, and protecting my right to post comments expressing my opinion. Sometimes I think we take our 'rights' for granted, and we definitely take for granted the many men and women who have fought - and given their lives - to protect those rights.

So, once again, Gerry Tanner, thank you!

[valit]

Morning Doug,
I dont know if this is a question for mail bag or you can answer here pretty quickly , but I would like to know where some raps players are staying while in Toronto. I read about Andreea, but what about the young guys?. I know Jose has a baby..is the family living all here or back in Spain?..how about Carter, Butler or Bayless? Thank you very much...

Blogger's note: Frankly, that's mostly private stuff that's not mine to share

[chili]

Bing Bang Theory or 30 Rock.. Who's more irritating? Sheldon or Tracy?
Sheldon, hands down. I'd watch Storage Wars instead.
Yuuuuuppppppppp!!!!

[tman]

LeeZ: thanks for researching a little bit...

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
Since you've been a fan of Tina Fey for awhile you've probably read her book "Bossypants". Right? Well, if not, set aside a few hours and you'll be chuckling at passages like these:
"And, you know, politics aside, the success of Sarah Palin and women like her is good for all women - except, of course - those who will end up, you know, like, paying for their own rape 'kit n' stuff. But for everbody else, it's a win-win. Unless you're a gay woman who wants to marry your partner of 20 years - whatever. But for most women, the success of conservative women is good for all of us. Unless you believe in evolution. You know - actually, I take it back. The whole thing's a disaster." And finally, these words: "To say I'm an overrated troll, when you have never even seen me guard a bridge, is patently unfair." (And her description of her reaction to here first period is a complete scream. I'd post that passage in its entirety, but fairly certain I've never seen menstruation mentioned here before and don't know if your gentle readers are ready for it.) Cheers! And (30) Rock On! :)

[Rob. V]

It's somewhat slow so why dont we do this for fun:
-
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7yewdts. The Raptors would also get a pick from Boston.
-
Or how about this one:
-
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7kyayqr
-
There's an arguement as to why I like (and dislike) both of these scenarios...what do you think?
-
Cancer really sucks, doesn't it? Wouldn't it be great if we could all be here to witness the day we find a cure for this horrible disease.
-
I was young however was Gary Carter part of that Expos TOD that lost it's pennant run due to a league strike or something? I recall them having one of the best teams (if not the best) one year when they shut the season down for some reason or another. Was Carter part of that team?

[Tim H.]

@Tom (or anyone else) - is there a PVR NOT connected to a cable or satellite service? I simply use an OTA antenna, and all the TV i want/need.
But, I would like to have the ability to 'tape' shows when I'm not available. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Mike kovacs]

I will always have fond memories of The Expos and Gary Carter, living in Richmond Hill and pulling in the games from 1430 CKFH. Night games were sometimes tough with the AM reception and i had wires connected to the antenna to try to bring the games in better. I was so happy that he went in Cooperstown as an Expo. He was a great role model for kids!

[doug]

Carter was 5 years older then me, when I read that it occurred to me why I was such a avid Expos fan, as I could relate to a team that when I was 16,17 had 22 years old starring for them, Dawson,Carter,Valentine,Cromartie,Parrish,Rogers and a couple years later Raines....talking about scouting and drafting what a bunch to all come up at the same time, D

[LeeZ]

@Lorie: By all rights, I should love Tina Fey. Very witty and funny, cute as a button, political leanings sympatico with my own. But I JUST CAN'T watch her show for more than three minutes before I turn it off out of boredom or annoyance or both. It's one of life's great mysteries. But having said that, the bit you quoted is very funny, and something tells me I'd like her written material much more. Actually, I wish you WOULD share the excerpt about her first period. Speaking of periods, the very first time I went out on an e-date (Lavalife), my date launched into an explanation of why she was ordering decaf coffee ("I'm having a very heavy menstrual flow this week, and caffeine makes it worse"), followed by an unsolicited affirmation that she's "a vomitter". All this within seconds of our having set eyes on one another. So by this point, nothing having to do with menstruation can shock me. Hit me with your best shot!

[doug]

I sent that by mistake....the Denver Bears were a heck of a minor league team, the Hawk was my fav, then Valentine( as his raw talent was awe inspiring) I learned to appreciate Carter as the years went on, like now watching a guy like J.P. and how he could learn so much from a guy like Carter, giving a pitcher a target, framing a pitch, blocking the plate etc, plus he could hit.....fine player, and a finer man, as his daughter kept a running blog on his cancer odyssey....the strike was the 94 season...Carter was gone by then, Pedro, Wetteland, Walker,Grissom,Alou were the nucleus of that superb team.....another way to watch shows is on Rogers channel 100 on demand, any tv show from the last 2 weeks is there in HD and free, I watch Modern Family or Big Bang or whatever late at night to relax on my own schedule....cheers and thanks "Kid" for the memories...

[LeeZ]

@Doug (the poster): How come you're back? Last time we heard from you, you said that Doug Smith sucked. What gives? Does Mr. Smith no longer suck? And if he indeed no longer sucks, what act or gesture has the latter made to restore his good name? Inquiring readers demand to know!

[Cluck Kent]

I own 2 TIVOs and a HD PVR and hardly ever watch 'live' TV anymore. I watch what I want, when I want, I don't have phone calls or doorbells ruin the last 5 minutes of something I've waited a week to watch and I don't have to sit through all the painful ads. I can record 2 programs at the same time I'm watching a third and that's handy cause almost everything I want to watch is on at the same time. I save 8 minutes an hour on regular programming and I watch basketball games in a far more convenient 90 minutes.

And I don't work for Rogers - or Bell. For a guy that likes to watch a fair bit of the Tube, it is one of the very best bits of technology I own.

[Lorie]

@LeeZ:
This is for you. So, Tina, like most of us were raised by mothers who for some reason found the entire menarche thing totally embarrassing to discuss with their daughters. Instead we were given pamphlets written by the Modess company with titles that seemed more like veiled threats. The ones I got were entitled: "Growing Up And Liking It" and "How Shall I Tell My Daughter?", which was kind of funny because most of us weren't "told" anything. I found mine under my pillow like the Tooth Fairy was moonlighting. Anyway, that's my issue. Here's Tina's: "I was ten. I had noticed something was weird earlier in the day, but I knew from commercials that one's menstrual period was a blue liquid that you poured like laundry detergent onto maxi pads to test their absorbency. This wasn't blue, so...I ignored it for a few hours." (And enquiring minds want to know, just how much fun was that date when she, you know, got over her shyness and really opened up?) Cheers!

[doug]

@LeeZ...nope just away for a golf holiday plus figured I needed to exercise my freedom of speech in support for my opposition to the Tories and their bill 30-C which all should be up in arms about no matter what their political stripe...plus Doug knows I know he doesn't "suck", I have been a long time supporter....we just agree to disagree about some issues, as that's the beauty of life...cheers...