A long trip and a great day remembered

Guess this being late thing isn’t just about time zones, or I’m just not used to being home.

And since yesterday went from a 5 a.m. wake up call in Portland to blog before a long journey through Vancouver got me at Casa Doug about 9:45 p.m., there wasn’t a lot new stuff to think about.

So …

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Man, am I glad that one’s over.

Longest trip of the year, in games, time and soul-sucking losses that turned every story into pretty much the same one.

But some personal observations and tips, if you want:

Best find?

Lumpy’s in Salt Lake and Epic Brewing’s Brainless golden ale.

A fine end

If you can shut down the trip after the last game at Kell’s in Portland with Gumby and catching up for an hour or so with Jay over a Kell’s lager it kind of takes some of the sting out of the journey.

Jay’s doing extremely well, loves being back on an NBA bench, truly enjoys simply coaching and working with players rather than dealing with some of the extraneous crap NBA coaches have to put up with. Loves the city, the organization and looks more relaxed than he ever did in the final year on the bench here.

Oh, and the Irish natchos at Kell’s (potato chips rather than tortilla chips) are outstanding.

Worst day?

You sit out an eight-hour delay at the Sacramento airport and I defy you not to want to stick pins in your eyes.

Speaking of The Kells …

A story.

It’s got to be about four, maybe five year ago and I find myself at a table there (it’s an excellent Irish pub with good music) with Stumpy and Jack Armstrong and was introduced to one of the worst concoctions I can imagine.

Ever hear of an Irish car bomb?

Half a pint of Guinness, drop a shot of Bailey’s in it and, boom, slug it back.

Now, I can’t handle the texture of Guinness nor its taste (had one on a tour of the factory with Super Granddad more than a decade or two and couldn’t have a second) and Bailey’s is a nice with coffee and that’s about it.

Anyway, they knock down a few of them and Stumpy is just starting his Slice Of Life rants in the Little Paper That Used To Grow so he writes about our night out and what we had consumed.

The Super Wives here in and Lewiston were not impressed; and Stumpy giggled every time we ragged on him about it.

And now that I’m home until a Christmas Day flight to San Antonio (I’ve got about Dec. 18 when Super Wife and Super Son are ready for another departure) it’s time to relax a little bit.

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12-12-12.

Nice ring to it, no?

Not sure what today is going to be like but I can sure tell you what 12-12-92 was like.

It snowed like nobody’s business in Toronto but that couldn’t stop the Wedding Of The Century from unfolding.

Super Wife in calf-high snow boots walking into the church before changing for a glorious stroll down the aisle, me looking ravishing and a tad nervous and the tuxedo-clad groomsmen and best man stopping for a post-ceremony pre-reception cocktail at some dive around Broadview and Gerrard and being asked if they were the band.

Yeah, was a helluva day for Super Wife and I and 60 of our then-closest friends.

Best thing I ever did.

And when you’re watching the HOTH tonight, I won’t be; I’ll be remembering all the good of the last two decades.

(And probably fielding a lot of calls from ticked off friends who took the under)

Dance, anyone?

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One game?

Yes, I believe David Stern might be getting a wee bit soft as he prepares to ride off into the sunset as NBA commissioner after the late-night suspension handed down to Amir Johnson.

The dude rifled his mouthpiece at a referee and hit him, for goodness sake.

But I guess the mitigation might have been the complicity of referee David Jones in the whole matter and Amir’s clean disciplinary sheet in the past.

Still, the one-game dead did surprise me.

Gonna make for some interesting lineups tonight when the Nets come to down, especially if Bargnani’s elbow is still an issue. That leave only Valanciunas, Davis and Aaron Gray as available bigs and that sound you hear is guys like Reggie Evans and Hump licking their lips.

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So I understand this is the last week of publication of a printed edition of The Sporting News and we of a certain vintage should have a moment of silence.

Now, I will fully admit I was far more a Sports Illustrated guy back in the day but The Sporting News was a decent second to Sport Magazine on the list.

(Yes, kids, this was even before there was an ESPN!)

Anyone remember racing to get that week’s Sporting News so you could read the notes on each team and check out the boxscores of the week?

That was kind of cool and gave rise in some small way to the notes pages that started to appear in newspapers which gave rise to notes packages that started to appear on the internet (hello, Nothin’ But Net) and I guess you can thank the Sporting News for this.

Or something like that.

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Hey, one more 12-12-12 note?

Not only did we set up The Wedding Of The Century to have a 20th anniversary on the last day ever we’ll have a date like this but it was also a birthday celebration of The Chairman Of The Board.

And, oh yeah, we danced to this one, too.

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Sure, if you’ve got mail, we’ll take a look at it.

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So the name-calling is over and I’m not taking much crap any more.

The whole comments part of this is to stir discussion, present alternative viewpoints and I think we’ve done it quite well over years.

But now? Now the name-calling and personal crap is over the top so it’s zero tolerance now. I’m not sitting here and letting anonymous people hurl personal insults, it’s a priviledge to have stuff show up here, not a right. It’s far to easy to block IP addresses and e-mail addresses; keep in civil or else. No warning, no nothing; you’ll be able to read but not write and my already high blood pressure might go down.

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Comments

[GK]

Worst road trip that you can recall since covering the team?

Blogger's note: No. If I remember, will think of worst for tomorrow or Friday morning; was a Drinking To Forget Tour late in the 16-66 season that was epic.

[Glenn]

Congratulations Doug! Best wishes to you and your family.

Blogger's note: Thank you

[Dave]

Well done on the decision to censor comments Doug. Although a long time reader and very occasional commenter, I had reached the point of deciding not to read the comments secion anymore due to the idiocy and rudeness of many commenters. You showed a lot more patience than most would...thanks.

[Matthieu]

Happy 20th Anniversary!

Blogger's note: Much appreciated

[sportschic]

Congratulations to you and Super Wife on 20 years!

As far as the Raptors go, I have nothing to say really; I'm going with 'if you don't have anything good to say, don't say it'.

Blogger's note: Thanks an awful lot

[Peter]

Congratulations to you and Super Wife! With all the travel, it must only feel like 10 years! But seriously, given your schedule, 20 years of success takes even more work from both of you. All the best to you both and may you have 50 more!

Blogger's note: We joke the travel is what's kept us together. Thanks

[KMAC]

Well done Doug...Please know your knowledge, cool head and sensible insights are truly invaluable to those of us who are trying to make some sense of this messy early season.
I think it was Mark Twain who said 'never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience'.

Enjoy your anniversary!

Blogger's note: I'm sure we will, thanks

[mskills]

Congratulations to you and the better half Doug! Marriage is hard work for all involved.

Don't take the cowardly vitriol personally, you do a great job of being accessible and responsive. Readers know that and look to vent a spleen when even modest dreams come crashing down. It's not like Colangelo is available for angry emails. Raptor wise things just feel hopeless for like the third straight year.

Blogger's note: Appreciate it

[Mike D.]

Doug, I think there's a general rule forbidding the use of "ravishing" to describe a man. By way of example, the visual that arose when I read it in today's post triggered an involuntary coffee-spilling wince.
(Note to Zero-Tolerance Moderator: the preceding was intended to be educational in nature and should not be construed as a personal insult).

But happy 20th anniversary, with best wishes for many more!

Blogger's note: Thanks; put a gruesome picture in my mind's eye, too

[LeeZ]

First off, Doug, what are you getting Super Wife on your anniversary? Come on, you can tell us! (she never reads the blog, right? lol). Chocolates? Gold? A trip for two to Sacramento, all expenses paid by Mother Star?
Anyway, here is a video with which to serenade the little Mrs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SnsbIsUTEs
Happy Anniversary Baby indeed!

Blogger's note: Gift? You give gifts on these occasions? Time to blow off shootaround and do some shopping, I guess

[Tom]

Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary!!! Well done...

I'm also glad that you are addressing the comments issue as well. I know that this has been a rough season for the HOTH, but the level of discourse on the comments page has been declining dramatically as the season's gone on. There's been too many pot shots being taken at both yourself and other commentators and quite frankly I'm surprized it's taken this long. I've been a long time reader and have always appreciated this forum for being civil and informative.

Thanks and keep up the great work...

Blogger's note: Thank you

[LeeZ]

OMG, Doug, it is ABOUT TIME that you drew your line in the sand and issued your Non Mas with regard to insulting posts. I for one will be sad to see Lorie blocked in perpetuity, but some of her posts were getting to be awfully vicious! Kidding aside, though, really happy you've made that decision, and I think that 99% of my fellow Irregulars would say the same (and after all, it's all about us, right?)

[Steve]

On the one hand I do think Amir's suspension was a bit soft given his anger (and the projectile) was directed at a referee, on the other hand I'd think a harsh penalty would have been inconsistent with those given out to serial offenders like Rondo....

Closest direct comparison was a player throwing a mouthguard into the crowd after a game in late November which resulted in a $25,000 fine but no suspension from memory.

In summary aww David's just becoming one big old softy as he nears retirement ;).

[AT]

Happy Anniversary Doug!!! Gonna Blow Off the Game so you can take SuperWife to some fancy restaurant?

Blogger's note: Not all that fancy but a relaxing night with family; thanks

[Brad B]

Congratulations on the Milestone Doug! Be sure to give Super Wife an Aster bouquet and something that fits with your china pattern.

I feel for your white wedding tribulations - I remember my wife and I having our Honeymoon in the middle of the '98 Ice Storm.

I get the vitrol directed at Raptors players and management, but I don't understand why posters attack you when you aren't part of the organization. You just tells it like you sees it - that's what reporters do. I think a lot of the worst offenders simply don't like it when anyone doesn't subscribe to their world-view. It's less scary to denigrate another than open up your belief system to questioning.

Hang in there and thanks for keeping up the blog.

Blogger's note: Thanks

[Tim]

Congratulations on your 20th, Doug! What a milestone.

And I'm glad to hear about your zero tolerance policy. There are plenty of other places on the internet people can go for that sort of thing.

Blogger's note: Appreciate the kind words

[Kate C]

Happy Anniversary Doug!

Kate C

Blogger's note: Thanks very much

[Colin K]

Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary Doug. I've learned that its nice to spike a little rum into the routine every once in a while, and anniversaries are a great opportunity. So enjoy!

I am glad you you have decided to stand up for yourself regarding the comments section. It has been deplorable the treatment that you receive from who I can only hope are a minority of your readers. They should all be ashamed of themselves. And THAT is all the effort I will ever take to think and write about them ever again.

Blogger's note: Thank you

[Matt M]

Bravo on blocking people who try to bully their opinion onto the rest of us. If anything it should have been done years ago.

[Sharkey]

Happy 20th to you and Super Wife! Hope you have many more together.

Blogger's note: So do we :). Thanks

[Cluck Kent]

Happy 20th Doug, Congratulations to both you and Super Wife. A wonderful milestone. You're not taking her to BP, right?

And bless your heart for not printing the crap anymore. It's great that the buffoons won't get any further recognition.

Blogger's note: Appreciate it very much

[Ewandro]

Congratulations Doug! I wish, at minimum, more 20 great and happy years for you and your wife.
Reading our blog every morning and the good comments of several irregulars is part of my morning routine and, strangely or not, I have the felling to be chatting with some friends.

All the best from Montreal

Blogger's note: Thanks very much

[Heath]

I'm sure you read this in the paper today but Simon's is closing down. Any memories of the old Niagara institution?

Blogger's note: The one on Bridge Street, I believe? Been years and years but it was an institution

[Moshigh]

Congratulations on 20th anniversary. In times where so many people cant even get pass 1 yr.

I agree with with moderating the comments, I believe people are getting warn out anyways. Maybe this is why the personal shots have increased. This team has left a lot of posters nothing else to say accept, launching personal attacks.

With so much volume I guess your going to get your fair share of nonsense. I must say Doug some of your replies have been at times hmmmm rather sharp.

Anyways we appreciate a place where we can vent our fustrations for a team that most of love.

[Kevin Murray]

Happy Anniversary Doug and Superwife.

Doug, in your role with the PBWA I'm wondering if standards are discussed. I'm also wondering what your membership is regarding actual print, internet only and hybrids like yourself.

Enjoy the night off. (What happens if the big trade happens right before dinner tonight?)

Blogger's note: Thanks; and I haven't taken a close look at our overall membership this year. We're still getting renewals; I'd say more hybrid than anything