Hesjedal gives us one of those moments that just gets you

There really isn’t anything like a sport win that comes somewhat out of nowhere in the eyes of the general populace and stirs that patriotic heartstrings, is there?

Yes, Ryder Hesjedal’s win in the Giro d’Italia on Sunday (Cathal’s take on it is here; basic reportage by yours truly here) was one of those moments and even if I hadn’t been part of it on the periphery, it would have been cool.

It would have sent people who have no knowledge whatsoever to their TV screens or computer laptops to find out just how he did what he did, just as, say, non-golf fans went to learn more about Mike Weir that year he won the Masters.

And that’s another great thing about sports; men and women we don’t know doing something we weren’t all that aware of but something that is truly significant and substantial.

Every now and then something happens and we collectively sit back and go, “hey, that’s cool, I didn’t know that guy. Good for him.”

Sure, there are diehard cycling fans out there – we had the Giro on the TV by our sports desk all last week and I learned a fair amount more thanks to a poobah in the photo department who is a huge race fan – and they were able to follow things far more closely and appreciate Hesjedal’s efforts better than you and I.

But we got into it at some point on Sunday – at least I imagine more than a few of us did – and for a very little while it made us feel good.

We were proud of the fact a Canadian did something a Canadian has never done; we were proud of the fact on of us worked so hard for so long for relatively little glory in his home country because we want our athletes to compete for the right reasons.

I’m sure a few of you smiled when you saw his eyes glisten as they played O Canada and he stood in that gaudy pink jersey; a few of you smiled when he started celebrating and they showed he and his family sharing what has to be an incredible moment.

Now, I don’t imagine Hesjedal’s accomplishment – and it truly was something special – will spawn a new generation of devoted cycling fans across this land. He will become a bit more famous, when people see or hear his name in the next few months they’ll say “hey, that’s the guy who won the thing in Italy, isn’t it?”

But for a day or two, Hesjedal made us feel a bit better, he made us a bit proud that he was out there representing our country and doing well.

Another aspect of the beauty of sport.

-

This is how my mind works and it’s a scary, scary place.

For some reason – I have no clue why – this song got in my head and I can’t get rid of it.

And, no, you cannot get enough Tennessee Ernie Ford on a Monday morning.

-

How fitting is this?

It’s Bike To Work Day!

No, I’m not; not sure I’m leaving Hazelville today after a rather busy weekend and facing a 7:30 a.m. flight tomorrow and a whole bunch of work this week.

-

The pucks final start yet?

Doesn’t it seem like forever ago when they figured out who was in it?

-

This whole Kyle Lowry-Kevin McHale thing that’s been going on in Houston over the weekend (Jon Feigen’s got the dope here) may end up being little more than a tempest in a teapot.

And I don’t know what anyone out there really thinks of Lowry as a guy but I do know he comes with a huge recommendation from one guy I know who is, and always has been, a pretty good judge of character and talent.

Alvin Williams.

Al and Lowry are boys, they are Villanova cats who have hung out for years, Al has worked as some kind of summer mentor to Lowry the past few years and when Williams tells me the kid is a tough-minded, first-rate guy, I believe him.

Now, it wouldn’t surprise at all if, after this first little public brouhaha blows over a bit, that the Rockets don’t explore trade options for Lowry.

And, yes, there will be maybe a couple of dozen teams that will call the Rockets but I promise you that Alvin will be in Bryan’s office urging him to see what he can do.

-

Now that’s what basketball looks like.

Hope many of you got to see a bit of Spurs-Thunder on Sunday night because after the relative slop we’ve been subjected to here in the East, it was a pleasure to see a game played at what looked like warp speed.

It wasn’t the greatest of games – too many turnovers – but it did have all the things we want: various runs by each team, a game not decided until the final couple of minutes and at a tempo that at times made the head spin.

I will say this: If Manu Ginobili can play like he did, and if James Harden plays like he did, this one might not last seven and not be nearly as great as we hope.

I don’t think that’s going happen – and I really hope it doesn’t – because this series could salvage what really has been a ho-hum post-season.

-

Draft lottery Wednesday? Everyone pumped?

Thought so.

-

So the Shawinigans win the Memorial Cup, I see.

Good on them.

Now, I know why they do a four-team tournament in a site selected a year earlier; it’s good for cross-country interest and TV and whatnot and it’s always nice when the host team doesn’t embarrassed itself but …

How many of you Irregulars remember the days of “8-point” finals, where it was team-against-team in a best-of-seven series that didn’t have overtime games (so it could conceivably go eight or even nine or 10 games) and it was played all in one city.

I can remember lying around the house late at night with the transistor radio listening to Paul and Hap Emms lead the Niagara Falls Flyers against, I believe, the Estevan Bruins one year and being amazed at the enthusiasm of the play-by-play guy on old CJRN Niagara.

His name?

Rick Jeanneret.

Maybe you Buffalo Sabres fans have heard of him.

And thus endeth today’s trip down memory lane.

-

 

 

 

Comments

[sportschick]

Great performance! I developed a 'passing' interest in the Giro d'Italia a few years ago when I was in Palermo the day the race started there. It's a huge event in Italy. I see a lot of comments here and there on the 'maglia rosa', but the sponsor of the race is the pink paper (literally it's on pink newsprint) so it's their colour.

Here's the English version of their Web site.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2012/en/?lang=en

Blogger's note: Maurizio and I are always chatting about the "pink paper"

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
Hmmm...Tennessee Ernie Ford. 16 Tons. Monday morning. I just don't get it. But there's no weigh I'll try and scale the measure of this puzzle until after a Timmie's double-double and a donut. But don't want to waist this opportunity to acknowledge Mayor Ford's 43rd. Cheers!

[sam]

Hap Emms is a sports legend in Barrie. He founded the Barrie Flyers in the mid 40's and moved them to Niagara Falls in 1960.

I'm puzzled by the Kyle Lowry Story - He's gone all Dwight Howard on us. To openly campaign to be traded or have someone else relieved of thier duties seems a bit over the top to me. Players play - Coaches coach and the GM puts the coach and players in place. What part of the pecking order doesn't he undertand?

A pleasure to wake up this morning - enjoy a cup of coffee and and ease into the day reading the IGBT...

[David in Oakville]

Ryder Hesjedal wins the GIRO! "Everybody clap your hands"!

Lol, Doug, I don't know what your issue is with this but my wife and I always giggle when we hear it and I can pretty much make her giggle anytime I repeat it.

Hope Ryder participates in the Tour this summer because we will be in France for the last week of the Tour and I would love to have a reason to wave a Canadian flag.

Here's hoping the East final delivers some compelling basketball. Would love to see Rondo emerge as a star.

[AT]

Being from the falls, I remember Rick Jeanerette. He was quite the homer!. And since I was a leaf fan, I hate hearing him call games for the Sabres.

Whats your opinion about that Doug, would you rather have the home town announcers call the games as Homers (say like a chuck swirsky) or be impartial like a team that is broadcasting nationally?

Blogger's note: I don't mind a little over-the-top enthusiasm every now and then, as long as it's tempered with criticism when it's warranted

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Manu Ginoboli does not look one bit like a Slinky toy, but he sure maneuvers like one. It made me think the dude must practice yoga big time... so I looked it up... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cmMG9ByU7k
Cheers. Go TOD?
P.S. Commiserations, @Lorie, re the Knights... and the TOD... and the Raps... We are truly a long-suffering bunch of fans, aren't we? 10,000 moments of disappointment waiting for The Big One... and then we wait some more...

[james]

Enormous fun catching up today after a week on the road without the Internet. Thank you one and all. I have only one comment to offer: D-Mac hasn't lived if he never saw Doug and the Slugs.

[LeeZ]

Doug, nice piece on Bargs. There's a typo you might want to correct, however:
Bargnani is about to suggest what kind of specific improvements he wants to see.

(I assume you meant to write: isn't about to suggest)

Blogger's note: Got my people on it, thanks

[john]

Hey Doug are you heading to where the ping pong balls are to be drawn? Bringing a rabbit foot or lucky shirt?

Blogger's note: Um, no. I don't particularly care what happens as long as it's easy for me

[LeeZ]

"Blogger's note: Got my people on it, thanks"
Speaking of your "people", do you have any? I mean, in this day and age of cutbacks at newspapers, does the position "copy editor" or proofreader even exist anymore? Obviously, your blog is not subject to proofing, but run-of-the-mill articles: is there ever a second set of eyes like in the good old days, or are you basically flying solo now?

Blogger's note: No, there's still a second set of eyes but it's a tired set because we've been cut to the bone in the editing process. And even after I post the blog in the mornings, someone takes a look at it in the aftermath; there's no one on the desk when I put it up there

[D-Mac Ottawa]

@james, You are so right, I have not lived in that regard, and can't believe I failed to mention that miss along with the Beatles, etc. My far better half was a perennial live-stage Slugger during Stampede festivities many a year ago, though, and a couple of their tunes do reside on our iPod, so hope that counts as a fractional! And @LeeZ, I do believe Steve Goodman was alongside Mr. Prine that night when I saw him/them, but that really was one of the 'foggier' concerts... anyway, cheers and back at ya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCkHUp0qPCo

[LeeZ]

Ah, D-Mac, you didn't let me down after all. Goodman was a treasure. Died in his 30s or maybe early 40s of leukemia. Was a HUGE (and thus, extraordinarily disappointed) Cubs fan, as evidenced by this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBxZGQ1dJk
Four days after Goodman's death, the Chicago Cubs clinched the Eastern Division title in the National League for the first time ever, earning them their first post-season appearance since 1945, three years before Goodman's birth. Eight days later, on October 2, the Cubs played their first post-season game since the 1945 World Series. Goodman had been asked to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before it; his good buddy Jimmy Buffett filled in, and dedicated the song to Goodman.

[Lorie]

Thanks, @D-Mac, I'll bet there are tears aplenty being shed into beers today in London. But then again with the heat today they're more than likely to be droplets of sweat. Yikes! Holy Heat 'n Humidity. And, yes, the big moments of victory can be few and far between - if at all! - but my oh my, the journey's grand, isn't it! Anyway, congrats to the deserving lads from Shawinigan and their fans. We here in London remember well the exhiliaration of watching the home team win that first Memorial Cup. Well done, Cataractes; hope to see you next year in Saskatoon! So that's my hockey done. Now onto the next issue at hand: what's to be done about the TOD starting rotation? :) But first, over to you, Hank!
http://youtu.be/mA67y3mqjMs

[jc]

Hey Doug,
Any pre dfaft spa-like routine planned? For months, you have been able to quiet the masses with "let's wait to see where the Raps are picking". It all ends wednesday. Have a good sleep tomorrow :)

Blogger's note: Rest is planned

[doug]

that was a doozy of a game last night what sport is suppose to be about be entertaining...at first I was skeptical of the Casey hiring as I thought another defensive minded coach, but he also has a mentality that knows offense is equally important and can be combined...the east is just mind numbing dreadful b-ball....this is what the Jays need to do, get J.P. to learn how to play first, keep his bat in lineup, and also gets Mathis in games as he is a better catcher....I hope AA doesn't panic, as his roster moves lately have been all over the map, bad series happen, good series happen....its the beauty of baseball....ok cheers..