Hoping for a Game 7 that's not a letdown

There is nothing quite like a Game 7 and Steve Nash wiling (no clue how long an interview might last after the Lakers practice) you know I’ll be glued to a stool and a TV set this afternoon for Giants-Cardinals.

I fear greatly I’ll be let down.

The trouble with Game 7s, history seems to have proved, is that they have a tendency not to live up to their billing in a lot of sports.

Not sure it equates to baseball as much as, say, basketball or hockey, but players have been known to play a little tight, a bit careful or, in some circumstances, try to do too much to the detriment of their team and themselves.

It’s a Hero Complex Thing sometimes. The stars think they have to be stars and press, taking themselves out of the most important game of the season.

But I don’t seem to recall that happening too often in baseball, likely because of the unique nature of the sport. It is an individual game couched in a team sport, it’s pitcher against hitter, the fielders react to the results of that one showdown and it’s virtually impossible for someone to try too hard to take over a game.

I suppose a pitcher could over-throw or get rattled but that’s not really the same, is it?

There’s not going to be a Kobe Bryant taking 24 or 26 or 28 shots; there’s not going to be some centre trying to go the length of the ice on every shift; it’s just different.

Better?

Not sure I can say that, I think I’d rather see one guy try to become the story.

Let’s just say, like with so many things, it’s different; not better, not worse, just different.

Best Game 7s I’ve ever been at?

The Raptors-Sixers would be at the top of that list with Spurs-Pistons in, I believe, 2005, right behind it. That San Antonio-Detroit one might have been a bit more pleasurable because there was far less stress on me.

Now, you have to understand that Game 7s and I aren’t quite on speaking terms as far as me being a fan is concerned.

Three I remember best?

1967: Bob Gibson beats Jim Lonborg.

1986: you knew it was over when the ball went through Buckner in Game 6, didn’t you?

1975: Best. World. Series. Ever. Except for the outcome.

Yeah, those Red Sox killed me for a long, long time, didn’t they?

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You know me and the extraneous, um, entertainment things at NBA games, right?

Too many, too intrusive, too mind-numbing, too scripted too often.

Except Kiss Cam.

I (Heart) Kiss Cam for some reason.

And when the Lakers did it with some very cool music last night, it was hilarious. And entertaining.

Who doesn’t like a little Sonny and Cher while fans are made to smooch and feel a tad self-conscious.

The HOTH must steal this. They must.

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Speaking of the Raptors, we weren’t at practice yesterday but it doesn’t mean we didn’t keep tabs.

Everyone practice – much to the delight of Dwane Casey – and it would appear tonight he’ll have everyone available. About time, too.

It’ll be interesting to see how he massages the rotation tonight, too. It’s getting down to time to get serious and I would imagine he’s about at the point where he’s got to have his starters stretched out to more than 30 minutes, with four or five backups filling in some kind of regular rotation.

With only two games left – and without having had one game where everyone was available – it’s imperative they start getting to some semblance of normalcy.

One thing to look for? I think Dwane quite likes rotating his three guards through the two spots and I bet you see a lot of it.

If you’re watching, that is. And I hope you are, I’ll need a full report.

(It’s my man Dan Girard tonight, by the way; Not Grace Kelly is off on Blue Jays patrol, I hear).

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I’m not saying Laker fans are presumptuous or anything but the M-V-P, M-V-P chant for Kobe Bryant when he was shooting free throws four minutes into the first quarter of the team’s sixth pre-season game is a bit much.

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Seriously, there’s not much better than a couple of post-game glasses of Stella and some cheese fries in a sports bar of an airport Marriott to sum up the often mundane road existence of a grunt, is there?

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Oh yeah, saw the first three episodes of the first season of The Newsroom on the flight out.

Tremendous show, crisp writing, great delivery, entirely believable story lines.

Now I know why it was getting all those recommendations from you folks and I’ve got some catching up to do with it and, I understand, Homeland.

Just need to find some time.

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Speaking of catching up, had a nice chat with Robert Sacre after the game last night.

He hadn’t been particularly effective but it was the kind of nights rookies are going to have and he’s more than willing to sit and learn at the feet of some masters.

Not sure how much he’ll play now that Howard’s back and the Lakers did use Pau Gasol and Antawn Jamison a bunch Sunday when Howard was resting but I’m hearing he’s likely to stick if the Lakers keep 14 or 15 players on the active roster.

Good for him; you don’t see a lot of 60th overall picks hang around and I fully admit to being a bit surprised by that.

And I’m not entirely sure which Irregular is going to climb all over me because I didn’t think the Raptors should have taken him and I still don’t. Doesn’t mean he can’t play, there was absolutely no need for him in Toronto.

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I cannot get away from the pucks, it seems.

Walking along the hallway outside the Lakers room after the game with an old friend and she points out this big case sitting against the wall.

Yep.

The Stanley Cup.

(No, I did not genuflect)

It’s been in L.A. a lot, as you’d imagine, and they took it out to put it on display for the players to see.

Nash told me he’d seen it a bunch of times at the Lakers practice facility (the Kings are in the same place) and back home in Victoria; Sacre was going to stop by and check it out.

“I’m not Steve Nash, I don’t hang out with the Stanley Cup,” he joked.

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Oh yeah, this is the first night in an odd time zone so sleep’s kind of goofy, I wouldn’t expect this as this time the next couple of days. Please don’t get used to it.

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Comments

[Moshigh]

Good morning, Doug suprised you didnt weight on this Farrell stuff. I m not a huge fan at this point of the jays as Management has failed time after time.

Im sorry the honeymoon is over with Anthopoulos. I have to be rude this morning. Anthopoulos is a dud GM who just talks like he knows what direction this team is going in but that is a lie. He is all over the place, Jays fans keep hearing about farm system and great young assessts. WE ARE TIRED OF HEARING THAT BS. This team is in shambles.

Lets go Raptors as least at worst the rosters gets overhauled with a chance to fight for a 8 seed in the East. Blue Jays every year are out by July or at the Best mid August. Tired of that mess they call the Blue Jays!!

[AT]

must have missed it along the way doug, but what are you covering out in LA if the HOTH are back home???

Blogger's note: Sorry, you'll have to wait

[Josh]

When you say "Dwane quite likes rotating his three guards through the two spots". Which 3 guards are you talking about? DeMar, Kyle and Jose? Kyle, Jose and Lucas III? DeMar, Landry and Ross? Too many combinations to list. I didn't get this line and I've been following your blogs.

Blogger's note: The three point guards

[David in Oakville]

I don't believe anyone says Good Morning in LA so when in Rome, Good Afternoon Doug,

I have this mental image of you blindly walking past the Stanley Cup several times a day until someone points it out to you.

@MOS, if you haven't read NOT GRACE KELLY (Cathal Kelly) or RG1's take on the Farrell shenanigans, you should. Not sure Doug could have made the case any better as to why this is a good thing. Also, while I agree with much of what you say, I don't think the Farrell nonsense is a reflection of Blue Jays management or AA.
It is, I think, a lucky escape from another year of leaderless mediocre baseball.

[Penguin]

It won't make or break the Rap's season, but I'm wondering what's happened to Quincy Acy? I can't recall seeing that he got any minutes yet in the pre-season games. Is he injured? Did I miss some news? Will he be kept on the roster, albeit probably not activated? Will he be sent to the development league?

Blogger's note: I think they'll keep him around; there's just too many better players ahead of him right now.

[dean]

That irregular would be me Doug.....

Glad you got to talk to Robert Sacre, he really is a great kid, and he is going to learn a lot from Jamison and Howard, so its brilliant if he makes the roster.

We will always disagree with the decision to pick an almost identical sized player who will never see an NBA floor, over a CDN kid who can produce.

No worries buddy, I wont rake you over the coals for your " get some stones" comment from about 3 months ago. Its over, Sacre did or is going to do exactly what I said he would: crack LA's roster, Not bad for 60th.

Cheers Doug

Deaner

Blogger's note: Not bad at all and he's got a week to make team, best of luck to him.

[Dave B]

Doug;
Have you watched any of the TSN series "Engraved on a Nation". It is about the CFL and some of the great players. I watched two of them, one about Anthony Calvillo and the other about Chuck Ealey. The Calvillo one was fantastic. Duayne Casey would really like the Chuck Ealey story.

@ Penguin
Casey said he will play Acy in the two remaining pre-season games.

[james]

One recurring theme in sport that I for one always find irresistible is the great player who labours for years to reach a championship, repeatedly comes close but doesn't quite get there, until, with the inevitable march of time, it seems the brass ring will always remain out of reach. Call it the Stockton/Malone syndrome.
Which brings me to Tamika Catchings. I can't pinpoint the exact moment I realized what a stunningly good basketball player this woman is -- a few years ago to be sure -- but she is as good a basketball player as Christine Sinclair is a soccer player, or Hayley Wickenheiser is a hockey player. Stylistically, she reminds me a bit of Kobe Bryant but nicer, without the arrogance. Her moment of triumph last night was tape-delayed, but you had to be impressed by 18,000 people turning out for women's basketball. Indiana is indeed a distinct society.

[Michel G]

@james: I guess only a few of us watched the game last night. Catchings was superb, but that whole team (mostly role players) was phenomenal. I love when underdogs rise up and kick butt. It's just a shame that Tammy Sutton-Brown didn't play more and was reduced to a end-of-bench role. She looked happy though after Indiana won.

[GM]

I haven't seen Sacre play since high school so I know nothing. But first impressions stick with you. I saw him in the BC tournament and was amazed at his pro body. Hadn't seen a kid look so impressive... until he started playing. He had, as they say, no game. Of course he was effective because high school isn't filled with strong 7-footers (or any, for that matter). But I've sensed since then that he will always be enticing to coaches for his potential and his size. Maybe one day he'll be able to live up to it. Or maybe he's actually quite good now, who knows?

[james]

@Michel G: I agree completely. Tammy's willingness to sit in favour of younger players certainly indicated a selflessness that seemed characteristic of the whole team. They are an admirable bunch. I love the coach too, a character right out of Damon Runyon. But she should have subbed Douglas and Sutton-Brown together at the end.

[doug]

I watch McCowns show more and more lately as i think Damien Cox was a excellent addition as he gets Bob isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer and really has no clue what he is talking about most of the time but yet tolerates and placates him, like a Monty Python skit.......Bob reminds me of the kid when we were all young that would take his net and go home if challenged...he thinks of himself as another Cherry,Healey, Zaun , who have a solid audience but then again so does the MMA...all show long tonight he kept saying you were in San Fran doing baseball and even mentioned are the Lakers in S.F. for their pre-season camp?...I just shook my head the guy is a complete and utter duffus....I watch to listen to Cox/Brunt/Shannon and you and others Mcown is to be tolerated as he knows squat about sport really...ok cheers and enjoy the ball game in San Fran as according to Bob thats where you are...cheers...

[Penguin]

Thanks for the response on Acy, Doug...and wouldn't you know it? He's getting minutes tonight.

Blogger's note: So I've heard