A hoops dynasty may continue and bounties shouldn't

Who do these guys think they are, the male equivalents of the Edmonton Grads.

(Google it, kids)

What may unfold in Halifax this weekend at the CIS men’s basketball final is the continuation of one of the great, under-reported basketball stories of the past decade as the Carleton Ravens chase their eighth national title in 10 years.

The reasons are many and varied, I’ve come to learn in the few times I’ve covered the CIS (couple of times in Halifax, a big Saskatchewan win in Ottawa one year), and run from excellent coaching from Dave Smart to an abundance of talent to a wide disparity in ability between the top teams in the country.

As this release from the CIS tells us, this Ravens team may be the best of ‘em all, they are unbeaten in domestic play, win by more than 30 points a game and have been seriously challenged in Canada just once – a three-point win over Lakehead.

But in talking to people who know the game far better than I do, the depth of talent is far superior now than it’s been in quite some time. There are all kinds of good players playing at a high level and even if the Ravens roll, the other seven teams in Halifax are probably better than the other seven behind the winner at any championship.

I talked a bit to Roy Rana of Ryerson for this piece and when we talked about keeping the talent at home, and allowing programs to build, the age-old point was made:

Most of the kids who are drawn to the allure of the NCAA are wasted or forgotten when they get there; they are fodder, end-of-the-bench guys who don’t get better as players and don’t get nearly the quality of education they are likely to get here in Canada.

If they stay home – and many should – they will play, they will get top-notch coaching, their skills will develop and – most important – if they are good enough to be pros in the NBL here or somewhere in the lower divisions of Europe, they will be found.

And they will be found at places like the CIS championships because people who scout the game will be there and be watching.

That’s more than you can say for some Canadian kid stuck on the end of the bench at some low-level NCAA school no one ever hears about or sees.

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Hey, look what’s here?

Yes, it’s a part of our weekly Nothing But Net stuff (main story and a chart) and part of what turned into a busy Thursday.

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Oh, and since I may loafing around a London hotel this afternoon waiting for my first Lightning game, if you’ve got mail, I’d be glad to read it.

You know the drill, right?

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I’m not sure how closely any of you have been following this NFL story about the bounties placed on players by teams; financial rewards for everything from knocking a guy senseless to knocking him out of the game.

It centres on the New Orleans Saints and assistant coach Greg Williams, a franchise and an individual sure to be hammered with fines and penalties by commissioner Roger Goodell whenever he gets through all the investigation.

This is a guy who drilled the New England Patriots for money and picks for spying on opponent; I can only imagine what he’ll do in this instance.

Now, I would guess that bounties – or financial rewards for big hits – have been around forever in some form. I cannot imagine some coach didn’t slip a guy a $50 bill or $100 or whatever years ago for some momentum-turning, particularly-impressive hit in a game.

But that was then, as they say, and this is now.

Now the players are bigger and stronger, the equipment is harder and less forgiving. Now players could be paralysed or worse from some especially hard hit, I would suggest the back in the day that wasn’t as much the case.

And the financial incentive is, frankly, meaningless. There was a time when $500 or $1,000 meant something to a pro athlete, now it’s pocket change or tip money for the clubhouse kids.

So it is time to police this issue more seriously, I’d suggest; time for teams and coaches and the league to crack down hard in the name of player safety more than anything else.

It’s no longer fun to ring a guy’s bell or knock the snot out of him; it’s not funny, it’s a part of a dangerous game and there really is no need for it for any reason.

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This stinks a bit. But is kind of telling.

Let’s say you wanted to watch the CIS semifinals tomorrow night or the final on Sunday afternoon.

Unless you have access to EastLink TV, or want to watch on your computer you are out of luck.

Oh yeah, the good folks at NBA TV Canada will let you see the semis and final on tape delay late Saturday night, early Sunday morning and late Sunday night but other than that?

Nada.

It’s curling and golf on TSN, which has done these in the past, the out-of-touch programmers at NBA TV have a nondescript NBA game against the national championships and that’s simply a bad decision.

I understand there might be something of a broader appeal to an NBA game than a CIS game but at some point, someone has to step a bit outside the box and do what’s right for the game in the country.

It’s not like NBA TV would be losing a lot of revenue – NBA games are not a huge money-maker for them – and it would be better if they did them live.

End of rant.

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Quick question:

If I have an afternoon to kill – and I’m not sure I will – or if I want to wind down for an hour or so post-game, where would London Irregulars send a fella who’ll be at the John Labatt Centre and staying in the neighbourhood?

Thanks.

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You know it’s almost playoff time at the Brier (I know this because I was checking TV schedules to see why the CIS semis and finals weren’t on TSN) and I haven’t watched a single end of curling this entire season.

I feel un-Canadian or something.

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Raptors?

Relatively quiet yesterday, this tiny piece on Bargnani’s impending return was about the only news but if you’ve been reading and following the IGBT (as you all have, right?) we’ve been pointing to a return this weekend for a while.

But what kind of return?

Dwane says he’s not going to leave it up to Andrea to let him know – truthfully – how he’s feeling and whether he needs a rest. And Andrea told us he’ll do what the coach says and not push it.

Makes entire sense not to make him play 40 minutes a night but if the guy’s healthy – and enough medical people have cleared him so that shouldn’t be an issue – I don’t see why they can’t trot him out there for his usual 34-36 minutes a night.

Conditioning, and being up to game speed, would be the only reason not to.

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Comments

[+1]

Chaucer's Pub on Carling is THE BEST place for you. A large selection of belgian (and other nationality) beers on tap. Great atmosphere and friendly crowd. It is also attached to the Mairanbad resturant, so the food is good too.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Irrespective of the events, would you rather be heading to London or Halifax today? Do I recall correctly that have an 'attachment' to Halifax? Or was it somewhere else in the Maritimes?

Blogger's note: Big fan of St. John's; but Halifax is a great town, have had lots of good times there. And if I didn't have back-to-back games Saturday-Sunday, I'd pick the CIS. Sadly, other work calls

[Mike D.]

Doug, were the folks sitting in the area behind you specifically instructed to remain absolutely motionless during the taping, or was it just a slow news day?

Blogger's note: Not any real hustle and bustle of a newsroom, was it?

[WhereisBisonDele?]

Hey Doug -- Gambrinus is right across the street from the JLC, in the market, and has the widest selection of beers in London. A little farther down the road is the Morrissey House, which has a better environment and various screens - as well as a wide selection of good beers on tap/bottle.

[james]

The CIAU (er, sorry, CIS) tournament was an annual signpost of spring in the twenty-odd years I lived in Halifax, a welcome break from shovelling snow and chipping away concrete-like ice from the car windshield. It is a little disheartening to discover that the 50th anniversary tournament is not deemed worthy of live television coverage (where was the CBC on this one?), confirmation, I suppose, of the sport's cult-like status in this country. Still, if one of the two Atlantic teams in the tournament make it to the final, the place will be rocking. Perhaps Hope Caper will be there to send us a report.

[Dan White]

Hey Doug, Chaucer's is a good choice. I know I have mentioned before, but The Gambrinus is great as well. And right across the street from the JLC. http://www.gambrinusbistro.com/our-beers/

[Nick]

I would avoid the bars on 'Richmond Row' unless you want to do shots with undergraduates (so basically, any of Jack's, Ceeps, Jim Bob's, Molly Blooms etc.) That being said, I think ceeps has a pretty nice environment before 9ish - and great wings if your into that stuff. But ya, you can't go wrong with Chaucer's as the above poster mentioned.
Cheers!

[TLI]

I don't do much bar hopping these days, Doug, but Chaucer's was a always a great pick back when I did a bit.I think +1 is steering you right.

Optionally, if you don't feel like venturing far into the cold, you could actually do a lot worse than Robinson Hall, right across the street from JLC.

Enjoy our Lightning tonight! Sorry I won't be there.

[Hope Caper]

Good point on the CIS coverage. Maybe some giant media company which makes money on the professioanl teams might consider sponsoring a feeder league which it could be if they got more coverage. As entertaining as the March madness is, it's more about the race than the basketball. There are many paths to the NBA in today''s game. Why not Canada?

[jmd]

The winner of the CIS Basketball Final 8 will have accomplished -- and accomplishes each year to win -- one of the tougher things to do in any level of basketball: win three games in three nights. That doesn't happen in the NCAA tournament, and it is rarely scheduled historically in the NBA: the lockout this season has forced many teams into back-to-back-to-back sets during the season this year and only three teams so far have run the table, winning all three games: the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.

[BigMitch]

Hey Doug, I agree %100 about Canadians staying in the CIS opposed to jumping across the border. I was one of those Canadian ball players who spent my time at the end of a bench at an NCAA school. Although I met some great friends, my advice to anyone who isn't going to the NBA (which is statisticlly almost all of you) stay here in Canada at one of our many great ball/accademic programs.

Enjoy your first Lightning game, and watch for Gabe Freeman. He plays with more heart than any NBA player I have seen since Allen Iverson's departure.

[Nick M]

I agree with all the posters above who mentioned Chaucer's. Great place and and good food, especially the beef steak tartar!
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I also must agree with @James. These other TV stations have to make money, I guess, but where is the CBC and their history of being amatuer sport friendly.

[Mike kovacs]

Chaucer's is good but I don't remember a lot of TV's. Winks is another good choice with plenty of TV's and beer.

[Lorie]

Why only pubs, London Irregulars? I happen to know this great little martini bar... :) But, if beer is the beverage of choice, Doug, Chaucers is a very good place to chill after the game. And very close to the JLC. Now, Gambrinus is a good choice, as well - but I find it a bit on the small side - although it does offer a fine assortment of beers and very yummy sweet potato fries. So, hopefully a great game tonight, (and Gabe Freeman is a thrill to watch play!) and while you'll not see a Chicken at the John Labatt Centre, we do have the One And Only L'il Spark. And he/she/it's tremendously entertaining. Do say "hi"! And will there be a London Lightning IGBT? :)

Blogger's note: I most certainly will; and, sadly, have a feature to write during game so IGBT has to take the night off

[GM]

@james hit it on the head. I went to four CIAU national tournaments in Halifax in the early '90s and the local crowds will go nuts if one of the two Atlantic teams does anything. But that's the problem. Everyone talks about how basketball crazy they are there, but that's a crock. They're basketball crazy if and only if a local team is playing. They're homers. Put two teams from outside the area in the final and it's an indifferent crowd. And not much of a crowd, either.

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
Great comments regarding the CIS. It's a shame that more good Canadian players don't stay and play at home. Hopefully, with the NBL around maybe that'll become something that we see more and more. Also, if Dave Smart was coaching in the NCAA he'd be right up there with the best ones. He's that good of a coach. The man knows his way around a basketball court.

[Greg M]

Doug, head down Richmond st to Jack Astor's. Lively place, descent food and a good atmosphere.Plus, you get a feel for what London is like when the student are there, it could yield a good story.

[Andrew Potter]

I can put you on guestlist at Jim Bob's before 11. They only serve Bud, Bud Light and Canadian. Get ready to dance, Dougie!

[Tim]

Chaucer's is the best. I used to go there all the time back in the day. Also look close by and you will find Spaghetti Eddy's in a basement. Best food ever