It's the reality of the situation that makes Open week so special

This is enough the warm the cockles of an early-riser’s heart.

And that’s quite aside from it being one of the single best sports events on the calendar.

It’s The Open Championship week (that’s it’s name, it’s a tad pretentious but it shall forever be thus) and even for a guy whose interest in golf has waned considerably over the past few years, it’s a can’t-miss competition.

More than the U.S. Open, where they tend to trick up the course in an intentional attempt to make the best players struggle; more than The Masters, where the sap flows too incessantly, I get that azaleas are nice, I just don’t want to hear Jim Nance breathlessly tell me that 40 times an hour; and way more the PGA, which is pretty much just another Tour stop with a bunch of club pros providing some Thursday-Friday fodder.

So what is it about The Open?

I really think it’s the natural feel to it, it’s always on a golf course that’s “there” and not one that’s been “built”; it’s generally not a pretty track, it’s hard to follow the flow of the course, it’s golf reduced to what golf should be, in my opinion, a test of skill against the land with very limited messing around from humans.

It’s just got a more “real” feel to it than any other Tour event, the elements are always a factor, you’ve got these silly little bunker-potholes that pop up seemingly out nowhere and who can almost feel the wind and cold.

Because so many of us play golf, or purport to play something akin to golf, we want to see the best in the game battle real challenges presented by nature rather than some course architect.

We want holes in the ground rather than finger-shaped bunkers, we want windswept hay rather than six-inch rough. We don’t mind sideways rain and toques in July and argyle sweaters instead of logo-dominated shirts.

We, or at least I, appreciate The Open because it’s so damn unique; it’s not cookie-cutter and maybe that’s its greatest allure.

Plus, it’s on TV when I wake up, that’s never a bad thing.

Oh, one other thing: The Open always seems to have one or two guys you’ve never heard of stick around until late Saturday or Sunday. Some European Tour guy from some Scandinavian country who has some cool back story. It sure beats six hours of Tiger Woods walking from the carpark (I’m already into the British lingo, it would seem) to the clubhouse and then seeing every shot he strikes on the way to a 10th place finish.

Oh, and sometimes this happens:

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So, John Lucas III?

Guess there’s worse third point guards – not sure anyone connected with the team thought Ben Uzoh really was a practical full-timer – because Lucas can shoot it, he’s been a third guard before (Chicago, behind Rose and Watson) and they can get him relatively cheap.

Not sure it does anything to tilt the balance of power in the East (or the Atlantic, for that matter) but a good pickup for what it is.

And I’m told by friends in Chicago that he’s a great kid and a good interview and you can’t have enough guys like that around, even if he might not have great impacts on too many games.

Plus, he’s got to be a bit familiar with the team and the organization seeing how his dad worked here for half a season or so trying to coax TJ Ford back to full health and confidence.

Now, for all you linear people out there who think one step leads to the next step without fail, you got James Johnson for a season and a half for what turned out to Norris Cole and then you dealt James Johnson for what turned out to be John Lucas III.

No, things aren’t linear but that’s how it breaks down. Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Not sure why Super Son decided to find it on sale and pick it up with his Buggy Boy weekly salary but listening to him sit upstairs at 6 a.m. howling at one of the discs in Season 9 of Seinfeld does a father’s heart proud.

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Rest easy.

Raptors win in Vegas yesterday, I’m told; they’re 1-3, finish off the Summer League season this afternoon and life can get back to quasi-normal.

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Mail?

Could use a bit more, don’t be afraid to branch out, folks.

Click. Write. Send.

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You know, at some point you just have to shake your head at the fates.

They’ve got the best pitcher on the staff on the shelf, the closer’s about to have surgery, the supposed ace is having a crisis of skill and apparently confidence that’s shocking and the best hitter and best defensive outfield on the team wrecks his wrist taking a freaking swing.

And now Hobbs goes down doing what Hobbs does, going all-out to make a play, unworried about any consequences despite the circumstances.

And if Brett Lawrie, who banged himself up tumbling into a photographer’s bay chasing a foul ball at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday is out for any length of time, it might be the one, final, crippling blow to a season that is not yet in the toilet, shockingly given the circumstances.

I love the way Lawrie plays the game, balls-out every play, every at-bat, every time he’s remotely involved in the action and his crash yesterday was just typical, given his intensity and effort.

But, man.

I don’t know who pissed off the Baseball Gods but this is a season like we’ve never seen. Hitters, starters, relievers going down almost every day, a steady parade to the DL that’s entirely unexplainable. It’s not this guy’s fault, it’s not that guy’s fault; it’s one of those season of confluence that just cannot be described.

That they are some still within stiffing distance of that second wild card – and sure there are a handful of teams to leap over but they are definitely still in the race – might end up making this one of most interesting seasons in the last 15 or 20 years. For reasons good and bad, obviously.

I’m almost afraid to watch tomorrow or on the weekend for fear some other calamity will occur.

And if someone gets hurt or sick today on the off-day in Boston? Well, wouldn’t that be typical?

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Comments

[gdr]

Doug, in your opinion, is JL3 brought in as a 3rd PG or back-up? Doesn't this seem like Jose will be traded sooner rather than later? To me, it seems like the roster is yet to be finalized. Cheers.

Blogger's note: 3rd

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug, This squad may be rounding into form as your All-Time Raptor Pretty Good Interview Crew. Now if we could just add Shane Battier and get Oak back in as an assistant coach... you'd be set for life.
As for the TOD, how cool would it be if the Baseball Gods turned the tables, let some of these guys get healthy and back at it, and then gave their blessing to go ahead and tear the East a new A-hole in August and September? (With a little earthly help from AA in the pitching department, of course.)
Cheers. Oh, and I won't provide the link for 'family entertainment' purposes, but if you've never seen Robin Williams' take on how the Scots went about inventing golf, well, you really should google "Robin Williams golf (full version)".

[Bob M]

A small correction.

JB isn't close to the Jays best defensive outfielder.

He's actually a bit below average in right but his strong arm makes some think that he's better than he is.

Rasmus is really good and Gose has a chance to be Devon White good.

Blogger's note: More an opinion than a correction. But as you wish

[Ren]

I think the John Lucas 3 pick up is a home run.
The guy played great in place of Rose last year for spurts and has proven he can play in the league. And then they pick him up as the third point guard. How much depth do we have there! Awesome backcourt now. Doug, can you think of a better move for this position?
Doug, how do you rate this pick up?

Blogger's note: Not bad; if you've got a guy who'll barely play, may as well be someone with experience

[Mike D.]

Doug, any sense from your sources as to whether Jonas really weighs 248-250 now, as indicated on the various news releases? It would be a very encouraging sign if it's true, because it takes him well out of the "slender Euro" category. Around the time of the draft he was being described in the 230 range.

Blogger's note: Am told he's put on weight, a natural thing at his age but I have no idea how much

[Juan]

Doug
I recall when Rose went down with his injury during the regular season Lucas (seemingly) came out of nowhere with arguably some of the hottest shooting of the season to launch the Bulls on an unexpected winning streak. I also recall the typical "how come we can never land a guy like that" comments from Raptor fans. Well now we have him. I like him as a 3rd PG.

[doug]

the Open to me has taken the place as my fav sport to watch,...other events that use to be perennial fav's such as Masters, U.S.open, Super Bowl etc have just become too americanized, to I don't know phony maybe is the word or contrived...the Open is a true golfers tourney, bunkers that punish, wind/weather elements and a course not re-done just for the sake of a tourney it' still just a event....I like the John Lucas signing and for one simple fact he's a gym rat, you can tell he loves the game, is passionate about it and knows his place, plus another good practice roster player.....so all in all not earth-shattering, but a solid move...cheerio mate

[Wallace]

Lucas is a fine pickup. In the case of Jose Calderon and his current contractual situation, if the Raptors were to decide to trade him now or sometime before the February trade deadline, do they have to take back salary or can it be a draft pick(s)?

Blogger's note: Depends on the cap situation of the other team

[john]

Hey Doug, is it me or does it seem like a lot of expectation is being put on JV coming in? Every 'big' takes a couple years to learn the NBA game before their true potential is really known. Everyone is talking playoffs but with 2 rookies in the rotation, 3 new starters and a hole at the 3 still I see this roster with a low lottery pick on its way...

As the roster stands now do you see enough improvement to make playoffs?

Blogger's note: No clue. Ask me in six months

[Steve]

@john I understand what you are saying about Rookies, but it seems to me that talk your suggestion that there is "a low lottery pick on its way" is just wishful thinking. They couldn't even get a low lottery pick last year playing D-league pickups as starters for the back half of the season.

[The J]

I had been thinking the only issue with losing Bayliss was that if you did trade Jose, you would need to make sure you at least get a back-up quality PG back. Now it gives them more flexibility in what they trade Jose for, if they do trade him. I only hope JL3 is good enough to be our backup point guard if that situation arises, though I guess he filled the role just fine in Chicago.

[Mike kovacs]

With all of the (near) max money being thrown around to non-max players - eg Lopez, Hibbert, Hump, Batum, Lin ( last year ) etc, etc, can we please put a moratorium on claims that BC has 'overpaid' Fields? Thanks!

[ditch]

There must be a reason why JL3 has been in this position on his two previous teams. With all due respect, it appears that the current NBA sees his as a third guy. Is it his skill set or just his current level of development?

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and sometimes a third point guard is just a third point guard.

Blogger's note: Which is exactly what the plan is here, regardless. He's Ben Uzoh only more accomplished

[john]

@Steve, by low pick I meant 13-14 not 1-3.

Cheers

[rsm]

Fabulous commentary on The Open. The tradition of this tournament is like no other in golf: Palmer winning back-to-back titles in the early sixties thereby putting the tournament on the golf world map where it belonged. Doug Sanderson ( Rickey Fowler and Ian Poulter are a distant second in the haberdashery department) reaching agonizingly for his missed gimme on the 72nd hole at St. Andrews which enabled Jack Nicklaus to win in a playoff. Ben Hogen conquering Carnoustie in his only Open appearance. Tiger demolishing the field at St. Andrews and winning at Royal Liverpool without hitting a driver all week except on the practice range . The unknown Ben Curtis besting Thomas Bjorn who took three to get out of a greenside bunker on the 16th hole the last day and even more unknown Todd Hamilton conquering Ernie Els in a four hole playoff. Five time winner Tom Watson's near miss at Tournberry at the age of 61. Ian Wosnam throwing the "extra" driver from his bag in disgust after playing the only opening par three hole in The Open rota. And of course the brain cramp 7 of JVV on the last at Carnoustie when a 6 would have given him the Claret Jug. What memories of human triumph and tragedy which are all too often played out on any course in the world on a golfing weekend. What does Royal Lytham and St. Annes have in store for us this weekend?

Enjoy Doug,
,

RSM

[Gordo]

I must have been seeing thing last year. JL3 was that guy on the floor late last year or a mirage. The dude can play and will a fine back up and that will be inevitable. Jose will be traded, period. It may not be before September but definitely before the season's finished. This is Lowry's team now.

[Jamie]

Man I wish the Raps would have signed CJ Watson - he went for cheap...great Steal.
@BoB M - about Joey Batts being a below average OF...He has one (if not the) strongest arm in baseball from right field...He leads the league (including senior circuit) in asists. How is that below average??? Best athlet in Toronto the past three years hands down!