There's a difference one medal to the next

Hey, sorry I’m late.

Was at a women’s soccer news conference that droned on over here this morning.

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Was having a discussion with someone yesterday in the aftermath of The Glorious Soccer Victory about the value of medals.

Not monetary but the value in perception and I think we made the case that not all bronzes are created equally and that team medals seem to capture the imagination of people more than individual ones.

The thing with teams is that they are an ongoing thing at Games; they play a lot, interest in them builds, there are more compelling stories to tell as the days unfold and there is a “win or go home” playoff round that can be anticipated.

It’s not to say a weightlifting bronze or a wrestling bronze or a judo bronze is in any way diminished but building to a crescendo as teams do just seems more interesting. Maybe that’s the North American in me, or maybe it’s the fact I like to follow things and tell stories over a few days rather than just do a one-off thing, but teams create a better buzz, don’t they?

Even if they ultimately lose, I think they just get into the collective consciousness a little bit more and become “ours” more than an individual does who pops up out of nowhere to become a one-day story.

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I am quite glad to report there are no stories out there of young fellas driving cars into houses on their first day behind the wheel.

Well done, Super Son.

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Who doesn’t like a little Vera Lynn to calmly get into the day?

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As was pointed out to me after I mentioned it in The Biggest IGBT Ever by a handful of helpful people in varying degrees of disgust, it’s not …

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; Oy, Oy, Oy

It’s

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; Oi, Oi, Oi.

Sorry for the mistake but I still hate that chant with, as a friend used to say, the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns.

Sorry, Australia.

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Yes, am off again to the basketball to catch the men’s semifinals tonight.

No, another diary is not coming unless they tell me to do it; it was fun but we need to debrief and see if we can make it better.

Got any suggestions?

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Conductor bloke on train to Coventry yesterday:

“First-class service is available at the back of the train and there are four cars. You need a first-class ticket to use the first-class accommodation.”

And here we were thinking we’d just trundle back there.

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We get to The Swan at the end of yesterday, guy behind the bar who knows us asks what’s been up for the day.

Been to Coventry to see the football, I tell him.

“Oh, nice. Football, good. Coventry, not so good.”

Bang on assessment. It’s a drab little city with, seemingly, very little to offer. It did, however, have a nice little store at the train station that’d had a sale on Stellas (two tall cans for four pounds) to make the hour-long train ride home a tad more amenable.

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Hang on a sec!

Dwight Howard got traded?

Wow, who saw that coming?

But he got traded for Al Harrington, Arron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless and a bunch of draft picks from teams that are better than Orlando?

Wow.

Anyway, it does take time to see how trades of this nature really pan out – like two or three years – but the initial reaction is that the Lakers are waaaaaaay better and the Masai Ujuri could end up being the executive of the year.

You put Howard with Nash, Kobe and Pau Gasol and I don’t think it matters who the other guy on the floor is; that’s as good a team as there is in the league.

And Denver gets another very good player in Andre Iguodala from Philly but still has a trade exception worth about $13 million and, really, didn’t give up anything of consequence. If they use that money and add another stud they might not be as good as the Lakers but in an ever-changing West, they’re still pretty damn good.

Philly gets Andrew Bynum and loses Iguodala and maybe that’s an upgrade and maybe it’s not. If Bynum’s healthy – far from a sure thing – he’s as good a centre as there is in the league but for right now, I’d just say the Sixers are different. Not necessarily better, just different.

Orlando?

I don’t get it. I really don’t.

The four guys they’re reportedly getting are, well, frankly underwhelming and we have no clue what the draft picks will be but whatever they are, they are years away from being major contributors.

I don’t know – and no one really does – what other legitimate offers were out there and since Howard had handcuffed them from the beginning, perhaps this is the very best they could do.

I just don’t think it’s very good.

It’s not Williams-Williams-Mourning-pick bad, but it could be close.

Best thing, if the deal does go through? We don’t have to read one more sentence on what sources say about a Dwight Howard trade.

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Comments

[jon]

could it be that orlando has a worse GM than Toronto?

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
"Got any suggestions?" How about you try to get the NBA to schedule a quadruple-header for you, say, in Coventry? Wouldn't that be fun? ;>)

I realize that the opportunity for the Diaries will probably come ever couple of years (at the Worlds?), but I really enjoyed this year's edition. Of course, I read it over a period of maybe ten minutes, not the ten hours or so you spent writing it.

Keep the great Olympic blogs coming - they are a must read every day!

[Mike D]

Dissing what Orlando got back in the trade - are you kidding me?? We're talking about Moe Harkless here. Moe Freaking Harkless!!!

[Peter]

It's interesting how you read that trade. I talked with a friend last night and we came up with the following assessment. We figured Orlando did alright since they were getting rid of a guy who was absolutely going to leave them for nothing, and was adament that he would only sign an extension with one team. It seems that they got a variety of pieces, and some financial relief.
We thought Philly got better. Again, it obviously depends on the health of Bynum. But if Bynum is healthy, he gives you more than Iguadala in part because of the position that he plays, but in part because he gives them scoring and defense where Iggy gave them great defense, but limited scoring.
We didn't realize that Denver got the trade exception, but felt that Denver did well. The trade exception makes it an excellent trade for them.
Finally, my friend made a good point. Does Dwight really offer the Lakers something that Bynum didn't? Sure Dwight might be better, but he's not the only star on that team. Is it really going to make a huge difference on the scoreboard. Certainly Nash will help Dwight, but couldn't Nash help Bynum? And they better hope they can re-sign Dwight!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
These have been some terrific Olympics and I'll be sorry to see them close. Wondering if you could clarify something: They're calling the awesome women's footie bronze the first Canuck team medal since 1936... how are they defining "team" if not including rowers, for example?
Here's a little follow-up tribute to you and Super Family and your collective sacrifices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bzsC27_vqo
Cheers to ye. And thanks again.

Blogger's note: I guess the definition is vague but many don't consider an eights a traditional "team"

[AT]

drinking Stellas on the train? really?

[RK]

Go Lakers!
I believe this might be Kobe's swan song year - getting his sixth ring and quietly riding off into the Californian sunset.
There is no way Stern vetoes this deal, is there? If he does, the NBA should be ruled a joke (even bigger than it already is).

Looking forward to the men's basketball semifinals this afternoon.
Any chance of a finals IGBT, Doug?

Blogger's note: Sorry, not today. WIll be there but have other things on plate as well

Keep up the excellent work.

[Diego]

C'mon Doug - you're not even a little sad you're in not in North America to cover the Dwight trade with rapt attention?

Blogger's note: Crushed

[Phil A]

I really don't understand what Orlando's GM is thinking by accepting this deal. I guess it's good for the Raptors in the sense that a team from the Eastern conference is getting weaker.

[sportschic]

Hi Doug - I think team sports are great because they are a collection of athletes that come together to make up a whole that is, hopefully, better than its parts. There is drama on the way to the end, and a storyline to get caught up in. However, I follow team sports, so I'm used to that. I wonder if people who don't generally follow sports (team or otherwise), but get caught up in the Olympics every two years, find an individual's push for a medal just as captivating.

Another basketball diary would be great! Maybe that's your angle on getting sent to cover the championships in Spain. Maybe you could include a few more 'on the spot' interviews. (the Penguins were a cute inclusion)

[511]

Re discussion on perception of medal value: did anyone suggest that time itself might be the bigger factor? As in, time to digest that it won’t be the Gold (or Silver) so ... ‘let’s win ourselves a Bronze’(?). I couldn’t help comparing how our Soccer girls - and most of us, really - responded to winning the Bronze to, say, the Russian gymnast-girl who ‘lost’ the Gold the other night and seemingly had disdain for ‘the consolation prize‘ (Silver, I think) ... and I had to wonder if the gymnast had had a day or two to re-calibrate her expectations, would she have been happier to get what she did? I have to imagine that she would’ve (been happier).

To shift the perspective a bit on the same question, how would the Women’s Soccer Team (and again, us all) have responded to the Bronze if it had’ve been ‘won’ at the same moment that the Gold was lost?

[Steve]

"Maybe that’s the North American in me, or maybe it’s the fact I like to follow things and tell stories over a few days rather than just do a one-off thing, but teams create a better buzz, don’t they?"

I think it has more to do with football being an Olympic sport that North Americans can associate with than anything. I doubt anybody would be as excited about the 'buzz' if Canada had a team playing for bronze in the handball.

Is there less of a story about Canada's sole gold medalist so far because it's an individual...or because it's trampoline?

[jc]

As another wise man once said, if it ain't broke....
good combination of words and pictures (moving pictures, no less!). Would have liked to see it tonight

[Dave B]

If this is true, it was a much better deal for Olando. I agree the current offer is very weak.
"The Magic walked away from Dwight Howard trade negotiations when the Nets had to come to a resolution with restricted free agent Brook Lopez.

The final offer Brooklyn put on the table for Orlando would have been Lopez, Kris Humphries at one-year, $9.6 million, MarShon Brooks and four unprotected first round picks for Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark.
Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)"

[Has]

Dwight gets traded to the lakers and I see no questions about why Colengelo didnt get in on this? are you as surprised as i am??

Blogger's note: No

[Bill]

I actually think Orlando did ok in this deal; Arron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic are guys that are worth more than what they are getting paid and Al Harrington is probably just an expiring contract (that I haven't confirm yet) and then 1 rookie, 3 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick? Plus they got rid of J Rich's huge contract. I guess the only way they could have done better was by having Houston involved but I doubt Houston would do a trade unless they get either Bynum or Howard.

I must agree that the best news out of this is that we don't have to hear anything about Howard again... at least until the end of 2012-2013 season.

[bob]

Can you please call out Kobe for his arrogant comments. How is he getting away with it?

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
First, thanks for the amazing Olympic coverage, it has been superb. I especially enjoyed your blog with Cathal Kelly during the bronze medal match.You should do that more often. As for the Howard trade, not really sure how that will play out, but if I'm a Nugget fan, I really like my GM and Coach combination. Ujuri hasn't had a misstep as the GM of the Nuggets. The only part of thid trade that I don't like is that now the norm in the NBA is to have four all-stars on your team instead of three. Bryant, Nash, Gasol, Howard and World Peace(?) on the same floor at the same time will be hard to beat.

[Thane]

Doug, don't both wrestling and boxing also have do-or-die elimination rounds, and build through a series of matches?

I think it's more media coverage than design that you're talking about. If boxing was covered like soccer was, the public would have the same opportunity to follow it.

Blogger's note: Elimination but some combat sports have repechages or second chances for first round losers to win a medal

[Rob.V]

Howard Trade? Great, other than the money the NBA will make is there any point to the 2012/2013 season?
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Look, when you can predict a Lakers win in 5 over the Heat (2 months prior to a pre-season practice)... who TF cares?.
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More and more I am looking forward to 5 years from now when Kobe, hopefully Howard... and any player that matters from the 2003 draft class are gone from the NBA. This generations issues with self entitlement are tiring.
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If I could borrow someone's time machine so that I could fast forward past their careers... it would be much appreciated!!!.

[Steve]

@Dave B: Wasn't their problem Orlando had with that at the time that Lopez would only agree to the sign and trade if they gave him a maximum contract, which he isn't worth (though someone at the Nets obviously got conned into thinking he is).

[jimt]

Did Orlando get squeezed or what,Wowsers! Have fun TurkaBOOOOOOO,lol
end of rant :)

[HH]

Hi Doug,
I was watching the Open Water Swim this morning and was reminded of a nice place for a beverage. There are 2 beer garden style restaurants on the Serpentine in Hyde Park. A great place for an afternoon in the sun and a pint.

[David in Oakville]

Glad the Howard deal is done! Did Orlando get hosed? From the perspective of who is going to take the floor for the Magic for the next few seasons, they probably did. From the perspective of Howard would have walked as a free agent (maybe agree to an end of season sign and trade) they probably got as much as they could have.
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I don't see the risk for the Lakers at all. I think given Howard's ego, the knowledge that Kobe and Nash's careers are winding down, he becomes the prince of LA and that will probably suit him just fine.
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No way is it a forgone conclusion that LA makes it out of the west next year. OKC is still the team to beat.
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Is Turkoglu really the face of the franchise in Orlando?
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Doug, it sounds like you are going to need withdrawal when you get back. Not many pubs down side alleys in Hazelville and I am pretty sure Stella's on the Go Train would be discouraged.

[coachd]

Jose Calderon in the gold medal game. Go Espana. Can someone remind me why we'd want to trade the starting point guard of a team that has just made the finals of the Olympics?