Being a Good Guy Helps... just not my computer...

OK, so here's where my current mood lies: in the land of frustration.

I had just typed about 2 pages worth of today's update, when I went to go fetch my sound clips online. My (new) computer crashed, leaving my document blank... and I still can't get my clips to play.

So this is very exciting (I hope that when you read this, you get a little wet from the sarcasm dripping from my words).

I won't lie... the lack of audio will take a little wind out of my sails, since I actually had some quality quotes, but we will have to go without.

==
So here's the story, hopefully shorter than my initial draft (hey, I got things to do)...

Tuesday night I get an e-mail from my boss, asking if I can cover the media availability for Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa (the two Spaniards have come to Toronto, fresh off winning gold at the Worlds')...

Obviously I would jump at the chance to do this... not only for my personal well-being, but also because this blog has run dry this summer.

So it's yesterday now (figure out how that works), I head to the station for noonish to pick up all the necessary equipment, and head down to the ACC's multi-purpose "meeting room A".

The tiny room is packed with chairs, and where the podium would be, lay a back-drop.
A Rogers back-drop. With the Raptors logo placed neatly beside the Leafs, Marlies and Toronto FC icons. Ahhh, to be a part of a monopoly.

After catching up with a couple of the reporters... Jose and Jorge filtered into the room.

I get prime positioning: Right in between the two of them.

Then comes a little tappy tappy to my shoulder.

"Excuse me, Mr. Fan, do you mind holding my microphone as well?"

Being a born nice-guy, I oblige.

Immediately, I realized I made a mistake. Holding two microphones in one hand, while focusing on my minidisc's recording levels in the other, was not a pleasant experience. My mind was focused more on ensuring that the mics did not make contact (it makes an awful BANGING noise in the recording), than it was listening to what the players had to say.

Great. So the scrum goes through about 10 minutes. I don't get one question in, and I'm pretty sure my audio sounds like crap. On top of that, my levels were weak, and I had no idea what the guys had to say.

Boo-urns, indeed.

So I get my stuff all packed up when the Global guy thanks me and tells me that his reporter never showed up.

I sympathized with him for a minute, when a former co-worker quickly two-stepped through the door. He rushed over to where I was standing, and immediately apologized.

Not to me... to his camera man.

Traffic's a bitch, ain't it?

Either way... with them having a camera, it instantly got them a one-on-one.
I asked if I could piggy-back on their interview.

"Sure man, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have gotten any of that."

Sweet, so I had another chance to get my prepared-the-night-before questions in.

We walked over to Calderon, whom I greeted first:

"Jose, man... we never got to hook up in Spain this summer..."
"I know, sorry about that. By the time you got there, I was already with the National team."
"It's all good. I guess it paid off. Either way, welcome back, and congratulations."

I let the Global guy kick off the interview, what with it being his and all... he asked something about Jose's thoughts on the infusion of the European talent...

I followed that up with a question I had been longing to ask for a while, now:

"Good chemistry seemed to get you guys through some tough times last year... but with 9 new guys coming in this year, do you think maybe there were too many moves made too quickly?"

(Keep in mind, with no audio these responses are not verbatim... it's more my recollection of his responses)

"No, I think we've got a lot of good lockerroom guys coming in. People that know how to play as a team, and as long as we've got that, we can play well, and win games."

Another Global question, before my next turn:

"At the Worlds', your shot seemed to be falling with a lot more consistancy than it did last season with the Raptors. Was it something in your workout regimen that changed, or was it just a matter of comfort?"
"Well, at the end of last season, I started working with Jay Triano a little more. We changed up some of my mechanics, and it paid off. I felt really good, not only shooting, but also with my defense and passing."

After a couple more minutes, I thanked him once again...

He said he's really looking forward to playing this season... as are the rest of the guys.

In fact, 12 Raptors are already in town for informal workouts (Rasho Nesterovic and Pape Sow are not), with training camp still 3 weeks away (It's October 3rd, Ferg).

Jose is off to New York now for the "Rookie Transition Camp."

I'm staying right here for mine... but I'll be ready.
I already got me some new shirts and ties.

What up?!

Spanish Gold / The Lone Yankee

So Greece evidently used everything they had in the tank against the US, because Spain manhandled the Greeks, 70-47.

Jorge Garbajosa led the Pau Gasol-free Spaniards, matching Juan Carlos Navarro with 20 points... however, "The Garbage Man" also chipped in 10 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block.
Jose Calderon played only 15 minutes, making 2-of-7 shots, for 7 points, one rebound, an assist, and a steal.

Hopefully a few solid performances from Jose will lead to a higher level of confidence come the new season in the NBA.

Spain finished fourth back in 1982.



Garbajosa was named to the All-Tournament team, along with Pau Gasol (tournament MVP, despite the broken foot - which apparently requires surgery), Manu Ginobili and Theo Papaloukas. The lone American on the team is Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 19.9 points per game.

Down Go the Argentines / Lonny’s Lonely

So it’s 7:47 in the morning. I had quite a bit to drink last night, and generally when that’s the case, sleeping comes in bunches. So thanks to the excessive amount of Rye, Ginger, Jack Daniels, and other friends, I was graced with the opportunity to watch the second half of the USA/Argentina bronze medal game. Or at least, whatever portions I could stay conscious for.

Right when I turned it on, the US went on a big run to boost a 6-point lead into an 11 point cushion. After drifting in an out of consciousness I saw the final score was 96-81.

Lebron James was on a tear, scoring 22 points while chipping in 9 boards and 7 helpers – many of which went to Dwyane Wade (32 points, 12/17 FG’s).

Chris Bosh apparently played 14 minutes, although I didn’t see one tick.

Either way, Team USA managed to match its Olympic output by beating the Gold-Medal winners for Bronze. Make the title drought 6 years, ladies and gentleman.

==
On to the Lonny Baxter watch… this story gets more and more interesting.
My father sent me this:

It turns out that Mr.Baxter fired those shots near the White House, because he’s one duck that doesn’t want to fly too far from mother goose (if that makes sense).

He didn’t want to play basketball in Italy so badly, that he decided spending 53 days behind bars wouldn’t be as painful.

Good job.

Just one thought, though… why sign a contract to play overseas, if you don’t want to go overseas??

I guess it sort of makes sense, though, seeing as how Lonny was never that bright. I recall one moment last season when he and the Rockets came to the ACC (the game when Juwan Howard got the boot for introducing the ball to Mike James’ face). Afterwards, I approached Mr.Baxter and said: “Welcome back, Lonny.”

His reply?

“What do you mean?”

…

Definitely a man of a complex mind. Till next time.