Who doesn't like watching the circus

Well, that was a rather boring basketball night, wasn’t it?

You’re going to get them over the course of almost two months of games every night and, frankly, if you’re going to watch all the time, maybe a night totally void of drama is a good thing.

But I have a feeling we’re going to get something tonight, thanks to the on-going circus that is the New York Knicks.

All season, they’ve been a better story than a team; sure, they won some games and made the playoffs and all that but, really, hasn’t it been a rather wild journey that’s caught the attention of fans more than the game?

You had a fatally flawed roster right off the bat – not sure who they thought would be the point guard coming out training camp – and then obviously some issues between Carmelo Anthony and Mike D’Antoni.

You had Jeremy Lin ride to a brief rescue – I still don’t think we’ve seen nearly a large enough body of work to consider him among the top half point guards in the NBA on a regular basis – and that was a great story.

Then you had the D’Antoni firing, or departure, or whatever you want to call it and another example of inmates running the asylum.

Mike Woodson came in, there was calm, Lin got hurt, Carmelo went all Carmelo and it became more obvious that, like a Lin-Anthony tandem that Anthony-Stoudemire wasn’t a particularly nice fit.

And now? Now we’ve got the guy smacking the fire extinguisher casing and slicing his hand and another couple of days of angst and comment and the sorry saga goes on.

The attention the Knicks get is out of all proportion to their place in the league and there are a few reasons for it:

First, we all love a car wreck as long as no one gets hurt and that’s been a car wreck since the season began.

But it’s also attributable to the voracious New York media, the fact that television networks tend to place far too much emphasis on New York simply because it’s New York and they think people will eat it up as long as they show Spike Lee every now and then and keep talking about the Knicks.

There are several better NBA stories out there right now – the Spurs, Kobe, what the Bulls do without Rose, the Pacers with no stars, Chris Paul.

But we are far too often forcefed the Knicks by dint of the city they represent and sometimes it just gets a wee bit tiring, doesn’t it?

That said, as soon as I get done Super Son’s spring concert tonight, I’ll be tuning in to see what kind of crash awaits us this time around.

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I still say the Tiger Woods fire hydrant beats the Amar’e Stoudemire fire extinguisher six ways to Sunday.

But not sure where Gus Frerotte’s goal post fits in to the trilogy but those have to be three of wildest, no?

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Mail? We can handle a little bit more if you like.

You know the drill.

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So, here’s one:

Is there anything comparable to a no-hitter in all of sports?

Now, I’m not saying it’s greatest accomplishment in sports – although it could very well be – but for what it is, it’s pretty special.

Sure, there might be one great game-saving defensive play that keeps a no-no alive but, generally, it’s a handful of routine ground balls, popups and strikeouts, all fashioned by the one guy in total control.

There is not much more fascinating in sports to me than watching a pitcher at the absolute top of his game dispatch every hitter he faces without giving up a hit.

It truly is something. How they can go side to side on the plate, up and down the strike zone, getting just enough sink on pitches to make them unhittable, breaking off curves that dart at precisely the right moment.

I know how to make a jump shot; I can hit a golf ball a fair distance; way back in the day I could skate; I could never, ever imagine the skill it takes to throw a baseball 60 feet, six inches and make it go exactly where I want it to when I wanted it to.

It might be the single most impressive sports thing out there; it truly is a craft and when it’s done to near perfection, it is incredible to watch.

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Here’s one for major league baseball:

Every team shall be required to play one mid-week day game every week for the entire regular season.

It helps ease travel for some teams and keeping players fresh is always a good idea; it gives some fans who have obligations at night a chance to either go to or watch a game close and, most important, day baseball is great.

I bet the players would like it, I know I would and I presume a whole lot of fans would.

And if it ticks off TV networks, well, tough noogies. It’s not like they don’t get their way when they want it.

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There was this buntoss last night (Hello, Aurora Strategy Group!) and as a part of helping out, I was responsible for picking up the donated beer – thanks Molson! – and making it sure it got in hands of the organizers.

Of course it did and among the several varieties donated was one I had never seen before, but had heard of.

Now, we know there are blonde beers and red beers and beers tinged with lime and all kinds of microbrewed wheat beers that need nice fresh slices of orange to go with them.

But ice tea and beer?

Really.

In the same can.

Now, I dunno – I fully admit I haven’t tasted one yet and am not sure that I will – but doesn’t it strike you that if you want ice tea, you’ll have ice tea. The corollary being that if you’d like a beer, you’ll have a beer.

What’s next?

Boneless chicken wings?

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Hey, TFCs didn’t lose last night!

Didn’t score but didn’t lose.

Baby steps, fans. Baby steps.

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Comments

[Jeff S]

Doug, I am involved with two sets of season tickets for Jays games and the problem games always seem to be the weekday games. Not everyone going to games lives in the city, and/or can get time off work.

[JT]

Day games are great as long as you don't work downtown. Sorry but the Jays games during mid-day cause traffic nightmares for the rush hour in the core of the City. Day games, with kids and all tend to get 25,000-35,000 people or more than the average game. Game ends at 3-3:30 and people trickle out. It's insane. It always adds an extra 30-45 minutes to my commute home

[AT]

that circus in NY sounds a bit like the circus in TO for the leafs, doesn't it?
I also agree with the mid week game day for baseball. It is probably the best sport to listen to on the radio and is a great way to pass time on the road...

[Mike K.]

My father-in-law brought home a case of Coors Light which included a free can of that "iced tea" nonsense - I think giving it away is the only way they'll get anyone to actually drink it (we threw the can out without even opening it)!

[Lyndon]

Doug, you should try the Mill Street Lemon Tea beer this summer. You'll be surprised, it doesn't taste much like ice tea, as it does beer. The tea flavor is very subtle, and refreshing.

[Anthony Clausf]

"we all love a car wreck"?

Sir, my little brother was in a terrible car accident when he was 4 and my family still misses him today. This is not a topic that should be made light of. Truly disparaging.

Blogger's note: Perhaps you should have kept reading.
First, we all love a car wreck as long as no one gets hurt and that’s been a car wreck since the season began.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Iced Tea and Coors Light combined? That's not for the kiddies is it? Nah, couldn't be. Fully expecting Molsons to rollout the Coors Light and breast milk combo next week...

Ciao amigo,

marc in panama

[Wilber]

Not wildest, but perhaps saddest: you probably need to add Boban Janković to your list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boban_Jankovi%C4%87

[Bill]

Bosh is gonna miss tonight's game 3 for the birth of his child. So what's more important, being with you wife when she gives birth or being with your teammates in the playoffs? What if this is game 7?

Blogger's note: It's not Game 7 and he should be with his wife

[jc]

"All season, they’ve been a better story than a team"
That sums it up pretty well but it also made me think of another New York related quirk this year. Isn't the draft this year being held in New Jersey? I realize MSG might have been booked but shouldn't you choose a place that hasn't just been shafted by the NBA? A bit of salt in the wound, no?

[Lorie]

Hello, Doug!
Well, I don't know about a beer-and-breast-milk-concoction per se, but I do know there was something (galactagogues, I believe they're called) about the hops in dark beer that helped with milk supply. Whatever. I just recall that 6 oz of Guinness carefully scheduled between feedings helped maintain production for months. Now, it could've been those galactagogues. Or maybe it was the calmed nerves and relaxed disposition. :) Cheers!

[ashm]

Hey Dough
yes there is something better and harder that no hitter and that is not allowing goals for 1142 min in soccer (Dino Zoff)

[Rob.V]

Net's yesterday, Knicks today - it's all the same to me.
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As long as both of those teams continue along the path of being really really terrible I'm fine. Thank you Amare. I love you Melo... you keep hanging onto that ball on the wing like it's the last pot of gold on earth brother.
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Baseball? See here's the thing to a novice like me. I get it, it's a skill. No question about it. But if I had to sit at the ballpark for what... 16 hours? to essentially watch "nothing" happen on the field during a no hitter... what's the point? I've got 800 other things I could be doing with my time. Yawn!! IMO.
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I want to see a 15-13 (or whatever the score was) playoff shootout like when Robbie Alomar hit that very late home run to seal the fate of the Philly's back when I was a kid.
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Now that's Baseball.
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Nil Nil soccer games. Meh!.. same thing. Yawn!

[JHK]

About the Bosh thing above, what if Heat were down 0-2 instead of being up two.
Does he still go to the wife or play?

Blogger's note: No clue; I'd go

[NLP]

I bet Shawn Kemp wouldn't skip a playoff game for the birth of a child. Am I right???

[james]

@Jeff S: Your group needs a retired senior citizen or two to take your day tickets. If I were closer, I'd volunteer.

[David in Oakville]

Hey, today's post and picture reminded me of... the circus. I mean the real Barnum and Baileys.. probably the first time many of us as kids entered a place like Maple Leaf Gardens. I think I was seven or eight and it was probably the first "live" performance event I ever attended.

But circuses aside... there is no denying that New York and MSG are special places for basketball. A strong, competent franchise in NYC serves basketball well. A circus.. not so much.

I agree with Doug, a no hitter is a special achievement. Contrary to what Rob V thinks... a lot happens because in a no hitter every little thing matters and that kind of tension is stand up riveting. Some of the best ball games I have been to have been 1 - 1 pitcher's duals. The Jays - Tigers, end of season, Jimmy Key dual with Doyle Alexander comes to mind... think it went 11 innings and I remember cheering on every pitch and every Jays at bat.

As for Iced Tea & Beer.. saw the ads and thought, yup, that product needs a pink ribbon because this is another beer marketer's idea to increase sales to women. Why not! Its about time someone put an end to those awful wine coolers. If George Lucas can have cute, furry Ewoks in Star Wars to broaden appeal, I am okay with Iced Tea in beer.

[DannyFromFreddy]

This season for the Knicks was doomed the minute the owner traded away half of their good players to get Melo (who doesn't mesh with the players they kept)against the wishes/advice of a very good GM.

[Mike kovacs]

Re birth or game: A good way to evaluate these things is to ask yourself which decision you would be most happy with and proud of in 10-20 years. I think most would choose those that involve family!

[Peter]

Tyson Chandler, after winning the Defensive Player of the Year award says in his speech, "I would like to thank my teammates, because without their poor defense and letting their man fly by them, my defensive talents wouldn't have been recognized."
That's gotta be the kind of quote that Grunts live for! I thought it was pretty funny... mostly because it's not that far from the truth!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Don't know how you do it, Doug, or what exactly it is you do to do it, but for some reason today's blog is like hitting the motherlode of enjoyment, info, snark, intrigue, general excellence, open invitation to praise or plutz as the heart desires, and just generally talk turkey – or horses!
1) Circuses. Sort of loved them as a kid, but even as a kid, I always had that queazy, uneasy sense of embarrassment/concern regarding the poor, underpaid animals (hey, these guys are stars – they should be making crazy star-level big bucks money and living the life of a true one-percenter!). But ever since seeing Cirque du Soleil the first time, and now several times since, yes, I will agree – I absolutely do love that incredible circus!! And yes, the Knicks are almost as entertaining (great comments, @Rob V.).
2) Goofy sports injuries. Leave us not forget Ricky Henderson's frostbite in midsummer... from an ice pack. Lionel Simmons' tendinitis... from playing video games. Glenn Healy stabbing himself... with a bagpipe. Oh, and hey, John Smoltz burning himself... while ironing... a shirt he was wearing at the moment...
3) Beer. How can we not touch upon this topic... I mean, really! Bacon beer, anyone? Pizza beer? Why not charcoal-grilled pork chop and green onion beer? (And again, great comments, as usual, @marc in panama and @lorie.)
4) Birth. I really should not even go there, but if I were ever to give birth, which is something I consider to be highly unlikely, I swear I would stomp out the Big Guilt Thingy well ahead of the blessed event... "You just go run off and play with your friends now, CB3 honey, and I'll assemble a posse of very capable people to tend to things here in a way that will actually be far more helpful and assuring than anything you could possibly contribute under the circumstances... and you be sure to play your ass off, CB3 honey, to bring home as much bacon beer and one-percenter moolah as you possibly can for lord knows how many years to come because, once again, how on godsgreen earth could you possibly do anything more helpful or productive than that for me, the family, yourself and a very large entourage under the circumstances." But I really digress.
4) Horses! Right now, I've got it Geneologist to win, I'll Have Another to place, and Alpha to show. Anyone? Will you be putting up a humongous tote board, Doug, to handicap the entries and keep some semblance of order among the Irregulars through the proceedings?
Cheers. Go Geneologist!

[Mike kovacs]

Does HWSNBN wish that he had skipped his graduation?

Blogger's note: Not in the least

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Oh yeah, forgot...
5) Pitching. Not sure if it's still there, but the Ontario Science Centre in T.O. used to have a full pitcher's mound/home plate battery set-up, with net sides to protect gawkers from truly wayward tosses, and a painted catcher and strike zone board right behind home plate, all wired to fill you in on your speed and accuracy. I threw my first ever MLB-length pitch about two feet short of the plate. After that, I didn't really have all that much trouble hitting the strike zone, but I never did manage to jack my fastball in there with anything that topped 45 mph... which is why I was a weiny-armed second baseman. I absolutely admire the feat of a no-no. And I absolutely appreciate and enjoy a 1-0 pitchers' duel.
Cheers. Yeah, go Geneologist!

[Bill]

Bosh is flying back for the game. Now that's what we should expect from a max player. And that's what makes him the best Raptor ever (excluding Hakeem who was past his prime when he was here). The way he left the team kinda turned me against him but this is a professional decision and I respect him for it.

[Ren]

Ridiculous comment, Bill.
There is nothing more important than being a dad. He plays basketball for a living - it's his job!
Think of the last time you called in "sick" to work. Did it matter to you that you were not performing for your bosses? Did it really make a difference? Did you worry about the problems your absence from work caused in the daily routine / income / strategies / etc. of your employer?
Give me a break.

It is his right to be with his family, and I am sure that his contract addresses this very clearly.

The "professional decision" you talk of really has no implications for him and his place on the team. He would actually be doing the right thing, and the legal thing.

The problem is that you see a "professional decision" as it relates to the team winning, the fans watching, the television promoting, and the money flowing.

While I am sure Bosh has a moral obligation to his team, a greater one lies somewhere else.

"Daddy, when I was born, what happened?"

"The doctor gave you to me, I looked at you, and I was sure I saw a smile. Then I gave you to mom and we stared at you for hours."

"I am not sure, I wasn't there, I was at work."

Which answer would you give your kid?

Basketball playoffs or no basketball playoffs, it's a job, just like yours.