Some records were made to be not broken

Not sure how many of you found Nothin’ But Net on our website, it was kind of hidden when I went to make sure it got on-line this morning but here it is and here’s an accompanying chart of five unbreakable basketball records.

(The chart went with the NBN mention that this is the 50th anniversary of Wilt’s 100-point game, as unassailable a record as exists in sports anywhere)

And the list got me thinking about records that’ll never be broken and whether that’s all that big a deal.

The three I’ve come up with, in no particular order:

DiMaggio’s hit streak

The evolution of the game, especially with regards to relief-pitching specialists, makes it virtually impossible to get the kind of late-game at-bats against tiring and familiar starters that helped Joe. Also, it’s just damn hard to get a hit every day.

Gretzky’s point total

There might be solid NHLers who don’t get 215 points in a career, let alone a season. I’m told the game was so different back then that it’s not even funny but, man, that’s a lot of points, isn’t it?

Cy Young’s win total

You can make the case that we’ll never see another 300-game winner let alone anyone who’ll approach Cy’s 511 career victories.

Think about it? That number is absolutely mind-boggling and I know it was an entirely different era and game but, wow, that’s five freaking hundred and eleven wins!

This is the one, the absolute one that will never, ever, ever be threatened, let alone broken.

Now, I realize we’re talking apples and oranges for the most part here, some of those – and the other records I’m sure you’re thinking about – have as much to do with longevity as anything and few play the game as long as players in bygone eras.

But, still, records are set against the level of competition at the time and all are relative to those periods; to think what these guys did is, in some instances, shocking and they should be celebrated while being taken in context.

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Of course, it’s the Grizzlies and it’s Memphis and it’s Tennessee so why not Chuck Berry and Memphis Tennessee.

Makes entire sense to me.

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I’ll get this out of the way so no one will ask tonight when we’re doing the IGBT, okay.

Read from RaptorsPR yesterday (and I’m thinking doing one of those follow things with them on twitter might be fun) that Bargnani actually did some on-court work yesterday instead of just working with the team’s medical and training staff on the side, as he’s been doing for about a week.

Now, it doesn’t mean a return is imminent and if you simply apply common sense and look at the schedule, it’s probably going to be a week before he gets back.

He’ll need some practice time, legit work five-on-five with his teammates and they’ll practice tomorrow but with home back-to-backs on Sunday and Monday, they aren’t likely to do too much on Tuesday before the game here Wednesday.

But then they’ve got two days off before playing in Detroit on the Saturday and if three full practices are enough, that might be when he gets back.

So tonight, I’m going with the “asked and answered, your honour” reply when it comes up.

And if it’s not a comeback in Detroit, then when? Yeesh. Hard to say. They go back-to-back in Detroit on the Saturday at home, have the Monday off but go back-to-back Tuesday-Wednesday the next week at Cleveland and Jersey before heading to Memphis on – ta-da! – Trade Deadline Day!

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Two little reminders:

We’re still looking, of course, for mail for tomorrow and Sunday, thank you very much. And as a special treat, we’ll be here at noon for an hour or so to answer whatever questions you might have because we haven’t done one of those chats in a long while.

Talk to you then, right?

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Hey, remember Jamario Moon?

Well, I heard yesterday he got a job, signing with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the D League.

Good for him.

Was kind of surprised he didn’t at least find some kind of minor league work earlier in the season but, truth be told, I wasn’t at all surprised he didn’t find an NBA gig.

Not sure if the D League thing will lead to a 10-day deal with an NBA team later this year – no indication it was a precursor or anything like that – but I’m glad he’s got a job playing somewhere.

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I’ve got to get something far more in-depth at the first of next week – remind me to try and make some calls this weekend to get the story started, will you? – but we’re coming up on the final weekend of the first regular season for our friends at the National Basketball League of Canada.

I’ve been trying to keep tabs as the season has progresses and now that London, Halifax, Quebec and Saint John are about to head into the post-season, it’s time to take stock of how everything when.

But if you’re in one of those four cities where the playoffs will be held, I’d suggest, again, taking in a game because my spies keep telling me the calibre of play and competitiveness of the league is still outstanding and they probably deserve a big finish to a good season.

The one thing that stands out to me is that the seven cities and the league have done a good job progressing, none of the teams struggled so badly that their future was in peril during a first season and that’s always a possibility during a start-up year.

I know they’ve got a big all-star weekend planned for Halifax at the end of the month (all the details are here) and, to tell you the truth, all I’m hearing is good things. And that’s great because the league needs to survive and thrive for the good of the sport in those cities.

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Okay, that’ll be it for now; got a Grunt TV taping later this morning and the big game tonight.

Have a good day.

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Comments

[Peter]

511 games won. Yeah, that's more than 25 and a half seasons of 20 wins per season. That seems pretty safe! Wow. Also, was thinking that Cal Ripken Jr.'s record could have been mentioned.

[Pablo Eguren]

Greetings from Spain! You have another recordman in your blog today. In Jamario's photo you can see Juan Carlos Navarro (playing for Memphis Grizzlies in his only year in NBA), who is Euroleague's all time top scorer.
Euro Update: Siena-Olympiacos, Barcelona-Unics Kazan, CSKA-Bilbao (Spain) and Panathinaikos-Maccabi Tel Aviv, will be the quarterfinals. The Raptor connections are Nathan Jawai in Unics Kazan (Russia) and Joey Dorsey in Olympiacos (Greece).

[Heath]

How about a hoops spin; 33 straight wins for the Lakers or Russell's 11 rings?

Blogger's note: They're in the basketball-only one I linked to as part of Nothing But Net

[Rob. V]

I should probably be embarrassed however I had to google this because the only time I paid attention to Baseball was I believe 1993(?).
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Joe D's hit streak: 56 consecutive games in 1941 which began on May 15 and ended July 17

[Rob. V]

Oh, and I sure hope Colangelo is looking at Rondo.
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I love Calderon. Really!, it would be sad to see him go... but Rondo (with maturity) HAS to be one of the "younger vets" that Colangelo and Stefanski would want to add to this roster for the next 3-4 years.
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The Raptors have the pieces to get this deal done, it will be intersting to see if they are indeed in the mix for him.

[Tom]

@Rob. V - I guess it's a difference of opinion, but I really hope they don't look at Rondo. He may be a good point-guard but his attitude sucks and could disrupt a locker room. Calderon is just as good at facilitating and much better leader and locker-room guy. I prefer Doug's idea of adding Nash.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

A couple of other records I can think of that will likely never be topped include those seven straight NCAA championships by UCLA; Rocky Marciano: 49-0, 43 by knockout!; and maybe the most impressive of all: Edwin Moses, with 127 consecutive wins in the 400-metre hurdles.
Memphis blues with a twist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxL3yIRzEiw&feature=related
Cheers. Go Raps!

[doug]

in your unbreakable records statement you make a interesting point or rather state one others make....and that is in relation to Gretzky you say the game has changed, that statement always cracks me up when people make it.....as you can take Gretzky, Wilt and Joe place them into their respective sports today and they will dominate again, there that good......usually it's young'uns like the talking heads on TSN that have never seen Gretzky play that just don't get it.....the NHL was a defensive minded game before the Oilers came along, Tony O had set a goaltending single season shutout record of 15 in a shorter schedule, you had the Habs with the Big 3 and Dryden, the Islanders with Poitvin and Billy Smith all those teams won on defense....then along came the Oilers with Gretzky,Coffey,Kurri,Anderson etc and they turned the hockey world on it's ear and would do say today if that team were plunked down to play.....the game never changed they changed the game and how it was played back then, to compete you had to score, as you couldn't shut them down, now it has reverted to the post-Oiler era, so the game was no different...that's why the great ones are the great ones, no matter what the era, whatever the sport....Joe D would get his hits, Gretzky his points and Wilt would be Wilt even today....cheers...

[Steve]

No way in hell you want Rondo in the Raptors locker room. We're supposed to be trying to build a squad not destroy it. Regardless of that, I doubt we have the pieces Boston want for him anyway.

[Rob. V]

I see your point Tom however I don't get to see inside the locker room. Could be a lot of regurgitated information by the media on Rondo.
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On the court? Rondo's a top 5 PG and these cats are hard to get.
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I don't disagree with you in being cautious on players however Rondo and Bargnani get me .500 (and back in the playoffs) + cap room + JV + potential 2012 pick... I'll address team chemistry (or lack of) then.

Again, I see your point however I guess the argument is when you're a 16-66 team, should we really be worried about team chemistry or talent?. Maybe the anwser is both.
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The Raptors need a legitmate NBA (frontline) starter to play with Bargnani. If they could get Rondo this gives the Raptors 2 legitimate All Stars... and the leverage to buy your #3 guy in the off season.
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Add JV coming over next season, and suddenly the future is starting to take shape for the Raptors.
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I love Nash too, but I'm not sure thats our heart wanting to see that happen. The business in me says Rondo!.

[doug]

@Rob V it's not my heart wanting that to happen it's my side that wants a good solid ball player in the lead position.....did you see Nash's line and some of the action from last night?? against Rubio's Timberwolves team, 13 points 17 assists 8 rebounds, forget his age Nash is what he is a HOF NBA guard that still has a few years left in him as a starter and after that a couple as a back-up, give me Nash over Rondo anyday of the week...listen to players, as players will tell you, Howard wants him, the Lakers want him, the Blazers,Knicks....Rondo not so much...I wouldn't touch Rondo, not hard to read between those lines he is playing with a strong personality in Garnett and a solid coach in Rivers and they are having their moments with him, take him away from that he could implode...plus why are the Celts intent on trading him??, and don't believe the strong asset story...he is what he is and any team is taking a big ,big gamble on him...

[Dan White]

Hey Doug, thanks for taking time to write about the NBL Canada. I know earlier in the season you mentioned that you are planning on getting to a game in London. Is this still on the agenda? If so, I highly recommend it - the atmosphere is amazing and the crowds are only getting bigger and bigger. Last night there was over 3700. First home playoff game March 9 agaisnt St John. Also, I know your love of quality beers. If you do visit London, make sure to stop by the Gambrinius. Located right across from the JLC. Fantastic selection of Ontario Craft brews and really turning into a fan hangout before and after the Lightning games.

Blogger's note: I'm actually working on some planning right now

[KD]

Never say never when it comes to records. I'm sure that at one time, a lot of people thought Terry Sawchuck's 103 shutouts were untouchable record, too.

[mark]

Unassailable record: Byron Nelson wins 11 consecutive tournaments in 1945. Sure it's golf, it's wartime, and fields may have been thin, but he still went up against 100 other guys and came out on top 11 straight times. Nobody will do that again.

[leefan]

Glenn Hall's 502 consecutive starts seems pretty safe, as no goalie plays all their teams games anymore. How about Gretzky's 50 goals in 39 games? Bossy's 9 (or 10?) straight 50+ goal seasons? No one has done that 3 years in a row for a generation.

[Adam McDonald]

2 records never to be broken - 1. Gretzky's Career points. 2. Cal Ripkin's consecutive games played.

I would suggest that any single game/single season records (Gretzky's 215, Wilt's 100 points, even Dimaggio's hitting streak) are more likely to be broken than either of the above. Quite simply, longevity isn't what it used to be, and as such (Gretzky's 2857 and Ripkin's 2632) will stand the test of time.

[doug]

to those that aren't familiar with Wilt, he wasn't just as some have said in the past a big man that was playing against smaller weaker men...this is a excerpt from a article on the S.I. website today....Wilt may have been the greatest athlete that ever lived, read what he did while going to Kansas,

"Chamberlain, of course, was much more than tall. The Philadelphia native was one of the most imposing blends of strength, speed and agility that the United States has ever produced. As a collegian at Kansas, the 7-foot-1 marvel ran 400 meters in under 50 seconds, high-jumped 6 feet, 7 inches when the world record was a fraction over 7 feet, long-jumped 23 feet and surpassed 53 feet in the shot put. He could dead-lift more than 600 pounds and was said to have defeated future Olympic shot put champion Bill Nieder in arm wrestling."

good to see him get his due and to Wilt the record he cherished the most and which he publicly attested to was getting 55 rebounds in a game against the "best defensive" center of all time Bill Russell, he averaged 50.4 pts a game and 25.7 rebounds in the 61-62 season, there's 3 more records right their that will never be broken....Wilt the Stilt was one impressive athlete and he knew it....cheers WIlt..

[The J]

Do you think the Raptors should sign Jamario?

Just kidding. But I will always have my fingers crossed about Pops Mensah Bonsou.

[james]

John Stockton's career assists total is pretty impressive. Jason Kidd might catch him if he plays until his late 40s. But then you never know when the season might be increased to 100 games. That would be tough on grunts and career statistics.

[Thane]

I'm not sure if you can have a list of unbreakable records without mentioning Darryl Sittler's 10 point game.

As much as Wilt's 100 point game is considered unbreakable, I think it may eventually happen (although probably not in the next 50 years). Teams score 100+ points regularly, and if somebody is on fire, totals can get high (especially with triple OT being a possibility).

Now with Sittler though, when was the last time a TEAM scored 10 goals on their opponent? And to have one player involved in all of them? Wow, just wow.