Books, Bonds and how sweeping change should be

A little digression off the top, if you don’t mind.

You get to know some pretty fascinating people doing this gig and I’m not talking about athletes or executives or celebrities of that nature.

I’m talking about colleagues, the giants of our industry, the writers, pontificators and shapers of debate who by the strength of their skills and personalities make this one of the most wonderful crafts out there.

Rosie DiManno is one them, a valued colleague, a dear friend, a powerful voice and if you want to make some pucks fan happy this Christmas, her new book on Pat Burns is a must-buy.

Of all the great writers in our city, I’d put my friend right at the top of the list for the depth of her knowledge, the passion she brings to the job, the body of works she’s put together in a career many of us could only hope to have.

The Burns book just adds another layer and I can’t wait to get at it.

There are not nearly enough Canadian sports biographies out there, I don’t think, this is one that should be in every library.

It was officially launched at this very cool bash last night and it reminded me, again, how lucky I am to run in such circles.

This is a pretty darn good era of Toronto sports journalism and newspapering as a whole. We have gifted young writers and grizzled old veterans who lend context to the events of the day.

The readers of the four papers are served like few cities in the world, there is something for everyone, varied opinions that should stir debate and provoke thought.

And seeing a whole gaggle of them in one room made me pretty proud to be a very small part of it.

We don’t have events nearly often enough these days, those of us in the business seem to be working too much, pulled hither and yon by assignment and life so that we don’t get to sit around and tell stories and see each other and whine a bit and share a drink and our experiences.

And when we do, it reminds me again what a truly great group we have.

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Vince Carter.

(Nothing new about him, just thought I’d throw the name out there for old time’s sake).

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So I’m told there’s a new James Bond movie out these days and it probably isn’t enough to drag me into a theatre.

But it will spark some debate, I presume.

Best Bond ever?

The list starts and stops with Sean Connery, doesn’t it?

Really, when you first think of Bond don’t you think of Connery? That’s the litmus test to me and, besides, I’m of the age that when I’d sit with Super Grandpa and watch the movies, it was Connery we saw. And first impressions are best.

I’d probably go with Roger Moore a distant second and the others are all just imposters.

I’m right, right?

And if you’re looking at best Bond theme songs, I think you need to look at Carly Simon, don’t you?

The woman can sing a little bit.

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I’m so quick at getting this done that in the time it took me to type this, Alex Anthopoulos did not acquire a relief pitcher.

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News that Mehmet Okur is retiring evokes fond memories of how some of us can spin a yarn into something more than it is and a cautionary tale about putting too much stock into some reports.

It’s the NBA Finals before Okur left the Pistons in ’04, he’s going to a free agent and this fellow I know from the New York Post is after a story.

Well, he speaks to Okur off to the side one day and the next day it’s all over his paper that the big fella has designs on joining the Knicks in the coming summer.

Catches a few of us off guard, including the late, great PR man Matt Dobek of the Pistons, who now has to deal with a minor distraction during a championship series.

Matt asks Okur what the hell he was thinking giving up that kind story at that time of year.

Memo’s stunned.

“I don’t know. He asked me if I liked New York. I said yes. He make me a Knick.”

Yes, some of us can turn a non-answer into a story in the blink of an eye.

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We’re down a bit on mail and since we’ve got another Saturday night game that’ll make Sunday just another day-after-game morning, let’s get at it today, shall we?

Click. Write. Send.

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Wonder what Dwane will do.

When last we left the intrepid Raptors coach, he was telling us that something might have to give with his starting lineup in the wake of Wednesday’s 36-point debacle of a first quarter in Dallas.

Now that he’s had a day to think about it and chat with his staff about possible changes, wonder if he’s made his mind up.

But I wonder how sweeping his change might be.

I have a feeling that Anderson for Fields may be the move that’s made (maybe Kleiza but I would be surprised) and that’s a bit of scape-goating because, yes, Fields has been an offensive disappointment but it’s not scoring that’s killing them in first quarters, it’s effort.

I don’t think he’ll do Bargnani (I think finding out early what he’s got and reacting accordingly is the right thing to do nightly) and I don’t think they should do Johnson for Valanciunas, although that would be second on my list. DeRozan’s been their best starter, I’m fine with Lowry when he’s healthy because he’s morphing into an excellent player and leader so the options really are limited.

But here’s the thing:

It’s five games in, it’s not panic time (no matter what some of you may think) and given the schedule and the opposition, I’d say 1-4 is right about where they would have figured to be.

Maybe 2-3 had they been able to steal the home opener against a team that’s better than they are right now but 1-4 is a legit record and if they get Philly on Saturday and steal one against Utah at home on Monday (tough task, but doable), they’re 3-4 and right about where everyone should have expected them to be.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Peter]

If they lose to Philly and Utah, you've licensed the angst-o-meter to exceed the boiling point before they've even reached 10 games! :)

[john]

Hey Doug, I agree on the Raps. The schedule is brutal. At this rate they will finish 82 games by first week in march!
If they can come out of this month with 6-7 wins I think that would be a good start.
AB gets his energy from offence and I think he looks lost playing with Lowry on offense right now. Lowry and DD are feeding off each other and its great but they have to find a way to get AB involved in the post or they will find them selves shooting jumpers for the last 60 games and they are not good jump shooters...

[Derek]

Morning Doug,
Is Kleiza expected to be back/dressed for the Philly game? All I've heard was that he was out for "personal reasons" - no timetable for his return. Also with how long he's been out, any idea if he's even "in game shape"? If he's back, would they be more likely to run him through a few practices before putting him on the court in a game, or would they put him out and just limit his minutes?
.
Also wondering, do the Raps have a "team psychologist" or something along those lines? I get the impression that alot of the issues with Fields right now are "mental". It's debatable whether he'll ever be worth the contract he signed this year, but having watched him in NY last year, he's clearly better (or has the ability to be better) than he's been thus far in Toronto. I think the pressure of trying to live up to this massive contract has "got in his head" and every shot he misses just messes him up more and more, and he's already at the point where he's fumbling balls and missing layups. Wondering if the team has someone beyond the coaching staff that can help players with the "mental" part of the game?

Blogger's note: No clue on Kleiza

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

"I'n right, right?"

Nope. Been a Bond fan for 30 years, watched them all many times. The new guy, Craig, is every bit as good as Connery, and maybe even slightly better. Why? He's the Bond that made the series relevant again and rescued it from being the caricature of itself it had become. In many ways, Daniel Craig is closest to the Bond in Flemings' books, again all of which I've read many times.

Make mine shaken, not stirred amigo.

marc in panama

[Bob M]

Roger Moore this morning said that he things Daniel Craig is the best Bond with Connery second.

[David in Oakville]

Good Morning Doug,

I am feeling contentious today....

Congrats to Rosie D on the Burns book. Definitely Pat Burns is worthy of a book and Rosie probably tells the tale well... but writers like, well, most things in life, are a matter of personal taste and Rosie D's style and opinions almost always rub me the wrong way. I tend to avoid her.

Best Bond Ever.... you know, I think this is a nonsense sort of thing. All Bonds are different, different times, different world circumstances, different perspective on who our enemies are. Connery's Bond was born out of the swinging sixties and the Cuban missile crisis. Roger Moore is pure seventies - the Charlies Angels of Bonds. Dalton - 80's angst, Brosnan - 90's overindulgence. Daniel Craig - the reality of the new world. To steal from Jack Armstrong-- Craig's Bond has some sandpaper and I think he is the best actor of the bunch. Already have tickets to see it Sunday night at the IMAX.

I agree, 5 games in, maybe this is where the Raps should be anyways and it is no time for panic. But, when your one win came against a team missing two key players and their back up point guard and you lost your last two games in the first quarter, I think you would agree it is cause to pause and make an adjustment or two.

Loved the Okur story.

[LeeZ]

Roger Moore the second best Bond??? Doug, you scoundrel, you are trying to jack up the number of hits this morning with a provocative, incindiary comment that you must know in your heart of hearts isn't true!!! Moore was an effete, a dandy and a metrosexual (to Connery's virile heterosexual). He was fine in The Saint, but he lacked the gravitas to play Bond. I would even put Brosnan ahead of him, and that's saying something! Number two has to be Daniel Craig. And my favourite Bond villain, while we're at it? Why, Woody Allen, of course!

[Moshigh]

I dont agree with Kleiza for one moment he is a another person with terrible defense. I know he can go for runs and hit some shots, but the last thing this team needs is a guy who thinks he is #1 on the pecking order to shoot.

Right now while Lowry is out, Demar should be #1 choice then Bargnani all others just fall in line. Have to work more plays back to back for Demar. Im tired of hearing about Bargnani. NOTHING WILL CHANGE HIM. I like his talent but this team truly needs to ride its self of him. The way is plays is a formula for loosing. Sorry big man who cant rebound, play no defense and mostly take jump shots is a loosing team. ITS A FACT!! Ill Mago has left the building.

I hope Casey makes some changes doesnt make sense waiting till team is 1-7. Fields got to sit on bench and work things out. Amir comes off the bench couple mins if and when JV struggles or gets into foul trouble. Please Casey lets get something done.

[Willy Wonka]

Update on Lowry? Will he play?

Blogger's note: Don't know, won't know 'til tomorrow likely.

[Mike]

Agree with Connery, although Daniel Craig is already in second place in my opinion. They're cut from the same cloth, they both make Roger Moore look like an accountant pretending to be a secret agent.

1-4 is not unexpected but not great. With Lowry out 3-4 would be a small miracle. Then again, if you asked us before the season started that our record would be tied with the Lakers we'd take that!

If there's a change I would agree Anderson for Fields based on play thus far. However, I expect Dwane to still give Landry a lot of burn considering it's still early in the season and the size of his contract. Dwane should treat the SFposition like it's training camp- earn the minutes, not one of Fields, Anderson or Kleiza should expect to start or get significant minutes.

[Dave B.]

When Casey says that he will consult with his staff about lineup changes, do you think "staff" includes Brian and ED? Do they have influence over who starts?

Blogger's note: Coaching staff

[joeu]

I know I'm in the minority, but I really liked Timothy Dalton; he was a very welcome change in tone. And I think that if Pierce Brosnan had been allowed to continue, he could have owned that role.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I think you have to look at the Bond movies as representative of their times. Connery was the Cold War Bond and he played it beautifully. He was also the beneficiary of Cubby Broccoli moulding Ian Fleming's hero into matinee draw (remember that before Dr. No Connery was a b-movie actor and a model).

Moore was the Bond for the 70s--wide lapels and a smirk. He tossed out the meanness that Fleming had written into 007. His act worked well then, but personally, I don't think it's aged well.

I thought Timothy Dalton did a serviceable job as the 80s Bond--the productions got much bigger with him at the centre. And I thought 90s Bond Pierce Brosnan was surprisingly good considering he was making the jump from small screen to a huge motion picture franchise. Plus he had to play the agent in the post-Soviet age. He felt suave and modern.

But Daniel Craig is in a class by himself. This Bond is a truly cinematic Bond--especially when you get Oscar winners Sam Mendes and Xavier Bardem. Casino Royal and Quantum of Solace were big, heavy, moving motion pictures with more at stake than just catching the bad guy. Craig shows his anger and vulnerability and in the first two movies allows you to think that he may indeed be unhinged.He looks like a killer. I can't wait to see Skyfall. Critics say it might be the best ever--and after 50 years, that is saying something indeed.

On a basketball note, I've about had it with Bargnani. He's had seven years--he's been handed an NBA team. If he doesn't want it, give it to someone else.

AG, Toronto

(PS: I left out George Lazenby in purpose)

[larry lukeeborg]

i thought roger moore was great...he brought the satirical campiness that the other bonds lacked; their approach to life as a superspy was far too serious!

[Liam]

Fields is the reason for all 1st Q evils. Team looks at his jittery forced jerky mechanics that have been present through all preseason and 5 starts. Team all knows Anderson should be starting...at least until Fields gets his nerves under control. That's the only change I'd make except for giving ED more playing time at the expense of Andrea. Play Ross and Lucas more too Dwayne!

[joeu]

Doug ! Huge breaking news !! The first brick in the paywall is up, and your Sports Blog isn't behind it !!!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1285111--toronto-star-launches-unique-ereads-program

In fact, it appears that The Star is attempting to develop a value-added service with premium content.

Are you being deluged with outlandish rants of praise and dire, ill-founded expressions of gratitude for this development ?

Any chance you might be publishing something long-form, for that program ?

[Bo Klymkiw]

Connery & Craig are the only Bond films that I'd pay to put in my movie library.

The problem with waiting for a player to get going is that the hole gets deeper. If we're down 10, sit the loafers, and get them used to being ready to go from the first minute. If we're in contention for the 8th playoff spot (I originally thought that we could do even better than that), we need every win. Coach doesn't have the luxury of biding his time. His first priority should be to win every game possible. If the players see that he isn't, he'll lose them. By the way, I hate watching professional basketball players playing at a level below their talent, ever. If coaches don't sit them pronto, why are they pretending to be the coach? Those coaches are part of the problem. If Coach Casey wants men on the floor, well, play the players that are men, and sit the rest! Follow your own advice.

[Moshigh]

I Also would like to start the campaign of having Colangelo removed from GM positon and letting Stefanski take the full reigns. Colangelo has lived off his number #1 of Bargnani and will die with it. We know looking back is 20 / 20. But the Raptors had a Athletic big already in Chris Bosh but took a 7ft shooting guard masking as a centre in Bargnani. Raptors needed a wing player badly at the time, passed on Rudy Gay for Bargnani, Yes Gay is not a super star, but at least has been a allstar and is and will be a very good basketball player for years to come.

Blogger's note: "Start?" Where've you been?

Tired of the sweet talking Colangelo, whatever he does just seems to turn to bronze instead of Gold!!!

[Ren]

I don't see Kleiza even dressing, really, unless things get really bad with Fields.
What's wrong with moving Ed into the starting power forward role alongside Jv, Anderson, Lowry, and Derozan? That gives Andrea (a poor, lazy defender at this point) a chance to work with whom he likes - Jose. The Raps get a better defensive core at the start, and more firepower from Andrea off the bench. And if Ed has been working on those short jumpers, they can use him with the anchor JV down low. Unless Andrea's feelings are hurt by this, I don't see why it wouldn't be worth a try.

If Lowry and Derozan work well together, that's great. JV can clean up. Anderson shoots threes of the drives. Ed cleans up the boards.

We know Andrea and Jose work well together, as well as Amir in that group. Slide in a defender like Fields and a shooter at the 2 and off you go.

Doug?

[Cluck Kent]

I would like to thank David in Oakville and Moshigh for saving me much typing this morning. Well said.

[Steve]

"Fields is the reason for all 1st Q evils. Team looks at his jittery forced jerky mechanics that have been present through all preseason and 5 starts."

It's hardly just fields, Derozan and Bargnani had good stat lines at the end of the game the other night but the entire starting 5 were woeful in the first half. I would also argue as woeful as Fields has been he is still more useful on defence than the human turnstile (Bargs).

Injecting Anderson in place of Fields may help with the energy level overall but I still think the rest of them need to get their act together pronto.

[dc]

Without question, Landry Fields has been the biggest disappointment and concern so far. Bargnani's interest in boxing-out and rebounding is unsurprisingly inconsistent.
I know it's very early but Fields truly looks lost. A good fundamental player, sure, but not an NBA starter. He is impotent on offense (again, possible it's just a bad streak) , most importantly: on defense he is consistently outmatched at the SF position by opponents with more speed, strength and skill. I know it's a team game, especially on the defensive end, but Fields can't handle the opposing talent as a starting SF. Not that Anderson is the magic solution, but a demotion to the bench and limited playing time might inspire Fields to either fight harder or accept a diminished role. $6 million a year for Fields producing anything less than 9 ppg is simply not getting what the team paid for.

[M]

"Yes, some of us can turn a non-answer into a story in the blink of an eye."
Certainly a lot like the current VC nonsense.
And kings, monarchs reign, some may want to give Ed Stefanski full REIN, how hard can it be!

[john]

Can someone please explain to me why Fields contract is considered "MASSIVE". It’s just over $6million a year for three years. People are keep going on like it’s some kind of albatross. If you can trade Hedo's contract which had 4 years and $45million left on it you can easily trade Fields salary. It’s for THREE years and about a million over the average salary. Please stop with the ‘massive’ and ‘untradeable’. Its 5 games in, if he can average 9-10 points a game and 5 rebounds while playing the defence that Casey keeps talking about for the rest of the year he is well worth it. If he doesn't work out he is great trade bait with an $8million expiring contract in the third year. Is he playing well below expectations right now, OF COURSE HE IS, but please stop going on about the massive salary crap like he got a max contract or something.
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Thank you

[Mike kovacs]

Several recent lists have put George Lazenby at the top! Apparently the producers wanted him to continue in the role but he didn't want to get pigeon-holed! ( do I see a top-ten list for worst career decisions?) Subsequently is the saga of alcohol and missed opportunities...

Did I hear correctly that HWSNBN is coming off the bench for the HOTH this w/e?