All the right answers from Valanciunas, and Garbo's here!

I think I might end up liking this Jonas Valanciunas guy quite well.

Finally got to see him play in person yesterday and he actually wasn’t that bad. Ran the floor extremely well, good on pick-and-roll offence, not so good on pick and roll or post defence but big and quick and he’s going to be a player. A pretty darn good player it looks like right now.

Not sure he’s a favourite of the Lithuanian coach, who buried him on the bench most of yesterday to go with a small lineup that got drubbed by big, and very good, Russia.

But that’s one game, no sense rushing to too much judgement on the kid, I still go back to various reports from people I respect with no affiliation with the Raptors who say he’ll be just fine.

He does give a pretty good quote.

After introducing myself as a scribbler from Toronto, to which he replied “good to meet you” and that puts him ahead in my books, first question out was what did you learn here?

“I learned how not to foul out.”

Badda-bing!

Gotta love a kid who can deliver a line and someone who knows what he’s up against.

“I get tough lessons on how hard the fight is under the basket, I need to gain some pounds and gain some power. But I’m still young.”

Dwane? Have you been telling the kid what to say?

Next up for him is a couple of weeks off – he’s been on the go pretty steadily for about a month and a half – and then it’s back to the gym because now he’s got some idea of what’s ahead of him.

“I played against all the NBA stars so I think that was good experience and it’s going to help me for next season.”

-

I come around a corner leaving the mixed zone after talking to Jose and who do I run into?

Garbo!!!!!

The one and only Jorge Garbajosa, who has to be in the top three or four Raptors of all time in my books, was standing there waiting to talk to Pau Gasol while accepting congratulations and hugs and kisses from a handful of Spanish journalists.

Garbo looks like he could still give you 12 and 10 on any given night but his career as a player is over.

Now he’s working for the Spanish basketball federation (“A big shot? Oh, no. I don’t know what I’m doing, they think I can help") and one of his primary gigs is to help prepare for the 2014 basketball World Cup.

And if you don’t think I’m already planning to weasel my way to Spain for three weeks or so to hang in Barcelona, Seville, Gran Canaria, Malaga and wherever else they play games, you don’t know me at all.

(Boss? I am soooooooo going. Thanks. Just wanted to let you know)

Anyway, another great Garbo line, right up there with “if I am the rookie of the month, this league is (blanked)” came to mind.

He used to bust on people, jokingly, for their choices in fashion, ties and shirts were a big target. One day we’re standing there, he looks at person who shall go nameless – honest, it wasn’t me, I’d take great pride if it was – and smiles:

“If you wear that in my city, you will get beat up.”

Love the guy.

-

Think you’re having a bad day?

Well …

Pack up all troubles in your old kit bag, please.

-

Things I never thought I’d hear myself say, Vol. 10 or so:

“You know, maybe it’d be kind of cool to do a day-long web diary of the basketball quarter-finals.”

And this is what you get after a dozen hours in the O2 Arena.

-

Hey, this is Thursday, right?

Less than a week to go!!!!!! And if you don’t think Monday is going to be spent on a walkabout that includes stops at The Ship, The Cheese, Citte of York and The Red Lion, you don’t know me.

-

You can also tell it’s getting close to the end because everyone’s getting a tad more testy.

Angry that buses are either full or a minute or two late, a tad hot under the collar at the crowds and the crush, a bit chuffed if things run even a wee bit off kilter.

Haven’t seen any true explosions yet – lots of grumbling last night but no swearing or punches – but it’s coming. Someone will tell me about some dust-up any night, I’m sure.

And then the Olympics will be complete.

-

Okay, Mr. K and I are off to the football thingamabob up or over or down in Coventry (I should really look at a map) and you’ll see the fruits of our labour here later on.

You’ll also see or have seen (this time zone thing is messing me up big time) Christine Sinclair because did the right and honourable thing by delaying any discipline for the team’s antics after the semifinal until the bronze medal match has been played.

Sure sounds to me like the mandarins of the sports realize the referee was awful, she kind of decided the outcome of the match and know that dropping any suspensions before today would have been a gross miscarriage of justice.

And I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the whole thing is swept under the rug eventually, or a suspension is offered for some “friendly” some time down the road.

-

And now, a personal moment, if you’ll indulge me.

This is one of the great gigs in the world, being a sportswriter. You see history on courts and you see history in the great cities of the world and it’s a priviledge to be able to try and tell some stories.

But there’s a toll. The 110 or so nights you’re away from home each year wreak havoc with family stuff, you miss things that are important because there’s not much alternative.

It takes great and loving people to put up with it, they sacrifice as much as we do, if not more.

They need to know how hard it is to be away on those big moments, how much you wish you could be there to share them.

So, Super Son, have yourself a helluva good 16th birthday, it’s a watershed moment that I hope you’ll enjoy to the hilt; I wish I was there.

And, no, you cannot drive the Smelly Ford Focus around the crescent.

-

 

 

Comments

[Andrew Potter]

Garbo seems like one of the ultimate regular guys I'd want to have a beer with. I'd be totally comfortable and unphased and relaxed hanging out with Garbs and shooting the breeze.

[Simone]

Sounds like Super Son can soon chauffeur you around! Happy birthday!

[sportschic]

A Garbo sighting! That, and a new Garbo quote I hadn't seen before (the tie one) make this my fave of your Olympic blogs yet. The live blog was a fun read - appreciated the pictorial accompaniment. Also, you found a great trivia question - what Spanish basketball player's name is a palindrome? (or for a super challenge, just what basketball player - although maybe there's more than one?)

Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the Canadian women play for bronze today. Please be careful about jinxing them!

Finally, happy birthday to Super son!

[Peter]

Hey!! Happy Birthday to Super Son!! (Note to Self: Avoid Hazelville roads for a while) :)

[511]

Just read yesterday’s Basketball Diaries. Great idea, great read. Felt like an old buddy was there, giving an insider’s casual (fun) perspective on a big hoops-day at the 2012 Olympics. Not to blow smoke, but ... I don’t know if you’re just getting (even) better at all this or if momentous occasions bring out your best, but that one would fit nicely in the time capsule. Just terrific.

Also, I can’t imagine it’ll be easy to get re-focused enough for Canada’s women soccer team to take France out, but I sure am pulling for them. Hard.

I’m gonna miss these days.

Oh and ... HB to SS.

[sam]

All the best to Super Son on his 16th birthday!!!!

4 basketball games and a couple of muggings in one day. An impressive feat for you. I'm not sure I would be up for the task. I saw a pic of Batum/Navarro punch/foul. Wow.....

[Mike D.]

According to the box score, Jonas had 7 points 9 rebounds (game's leading rebounder) against Russia in 16 minutes, which was about triple his average playing time in the Olympics. What's the over/under on the number of times the Lithuanian head coach is asked whether their overall Olympic outcome might have been different if he had given Jonas more minutes throughout?

[LeeZ]

Oh come on, Doug, be a mensch and buy SuperSon a sports car for his birthday! He will be soooooooo popular with his peeps. And the girls will positively flock to him. It will also turn you into THE coolest dad on the planet (not that you aren't already).
Speaking of pallendrums, which former Blue Jay's (late 70s or early 80s) first name is one? Doug, do you know?

[Sharkey]

Happy birthday Super Son!

Also, watching the .GIF of Batum slugging Navarro while Tubthumping plays actually works, it's pretty awesome. Bravo.

[AT]

Happy Birthday SuperSon!!! Maybe as a birthday gift you could let him join in on one of your IGBT this year!!! What do you think???

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
You, sir, have been one busy grunt. Perhaps you could convince Boss you need those three weeks in Spain for that Workaholics Anonymous refresher course...
Did your good friend the Obnoxious PA Guy really do all four games?? Lungs of steel, or what? Had to be a cousin of the dude who heckles opposing batters at Tampa Bay Rays games.
I hope Super Son skyped you and played a rousing yakety sax rendition... from the driver's seat of Smelly Ford Focus in yon crescent (pulled over and buckled in, of course)...
Awesome write-ups, Doug. Keep em' comin'. And thanks! Cheers.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

I too just finished the Basketball Diaries, and wanted to thank you for taking on that onerous task, and I want to thank you for it. I think what I like best about your Olympic blogs (and the Diaries) is that it's not about reporting scores or results - I can truly get a feel of what things are like over there. I believe it takes a truly accomplished writer to do that, and you have done it exceptionally well on a daily basis. For that, I thank you! Keep up the good work! And Happy Birthday to Super Son! (Your personal sacrifices are not lost on your Irregulars - thanks!)
Also, followed along with the football IGBT - you are becoming an expert in an increasingly wide number of sports! Awesome job, and congrats Canada!

[Mark]

Looks like Bill Simmons enjoyed the basketball announcer as much as you:

MOMENT I STARTED REGRETTING THE QUADRUPLE-HEADER: During a timeout in the fourth quarter, the game announcer tried to get the crowd to sing the chorus of Oasis's "Wonderwall" and actually semi-succeeded. We might not have had a terrorist act at the Olympics, but this guy's performance over a 10-hour span came the closest — he's single-handedly lowered the ceiling of the tournament from an A-plus to an A-minus. If you haven't seen him, he looks like Seal, speaks in a heavy, bastardized Jamaican accent, screams during timeouts, yells " … in da house!!!!" about 150 times per day and is basically a total nuisance. If this guy turned down the job, Plan B was going to be just blaring the deafening sound of a loud chainsaw during every timeout. Actually, I think I would have preferred the chainsaw.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8249995/olympic-hoopalooza

[Mike kovacs]

excellent report on the soccer match for the paper!

[Kyle Gudmundson]

"Haven’t seen any true explosions yet – lots of grumbling last night but no swearing or punches – but it’s coming."

Am I the only one who finds using explosions describing something during the Olympics a little strange? You know, considering that whole Atlanta thing and all.

Blogger's note: Yeah, I think you might be

[The J]

I would argue that with your Dad on the other side of the Atlantic, today is as good a day as any for a nice joyride!

[Buck23]

I couldnt agree with you more - the Calderon cant play defense is well known and over talked - on here....But its your comments that revovle around your man-love for him and not on your professional assesment that drwas everyone out to remind you of his glarring short-comings. Common seriously, how can one utter the words (Jose can tips the scales against the Americans) and one doesnt expect to recieve ridicule.

The (nuetral annoucer) calling yesterdays game between Spain vs France mentioned Calderons lack of defence 3 - THREE times!

Blogger's note: Yawn. Double yawn. And get the reading comprehension skills up to snuff, would you. Thanks

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
Forgot to ask: Did the Toff survive the football match, or did he somehow come to an untimely end?

Blogger's note: Kind of faded into the distance for me when work got busy; imagine he was quite happy with the "support" and then went off to his castle

[doug]

well said about your son and having to miss those type of things, puts sport into perspective...I think and I know why just to many words to explain it exactly but this women's soccer team of ours is one of my favorite teams of all time and definite amateur favorite...what a gutsy bunch, they may be aware of it but not to the degree of how all of Canada has embraced those gals....congrats to them.....ok cheers...

[joeu]

@LeeZ if Palindrum means coolest name ever, the answer's got to be "Mookie".

[catherine]

Just a note to say Thank You Doug for all of your work.

Your Basketball Diaries got me through the day.

The football commentary was a pleasure to read.

Happy Birthday to your son -- may you get to celebrate when you get home.

Blogger's note: I appreciate it. Thanks

[Felix]

Have you been at the beach volleyball for the finals on either day? That was your chance to have a brush with royalty... Prince Harry for the women's final and... *drum roll*... pippa middleton for the men's final.

Blogger's note: Missed 'em; maybe they'll have me over for dinner on Monday

[Mike D]

@Felix, please try not to use "beach volleyball" and "Pippa Middleton" in the same comment. It makes it hard to work when I keep staring glassy-eyed into space.