Same Shit, Different Coach

It was great to see the Toronto Raptors respond to the firing of their head coach Sam Mitchell. Instead of getting hammered by 39 points like they did on Tuesday night, the Raptors lost to Utah by only 27. That, my friends, is what I like to call progress.

Jay Triano, welcome to hell.

I wonder if Bryan Colangelo still thinks this is the most talented Raptors squad he's ever put together. He can't possibly believe that anymore. I mean, I've convinced myself of some crazy shit over the years, but let's forget contending. It's looking more and more like this Raptors team is going to have to fight for its life just to qualify for the playoffs.

Much like Tuesday's debacle, last night was no contest. The Jazz shot 52% from the field and dominated the boards, outrebounding the Raptors 52-38.

I caught the game on radio. If I had a nickel for every time I heard "Calderon gets beat," I'm pretty sure I'd have enough coin for a pint or two of Cameron's over at The Bow and Arrow.

It was another pathetic defensive performance by the Raps on a night when I figured they would come out with, at the very least, some intensity, heart and desire. You know, all that intangible bullshit. But, nope, the Raptors couldn't be bothered. Utah scored 66 of their points in the paint, for Christ's sake.

Jazz forward Paul Millsap, in 33 minutes on the floor, had as many offensive rebounds as the entire Raptors team: three. And your guess as to who this Millsap fellow is is probably as good as mine.

After yesterday's performance, I guess we can all rest assured knowing that what ails the 2008/2009 Toronto Raptors was clearly Sam Mitchell manning the sidelines.

Deep Thoughts Vol. 15: Dark Days

It's been a rough 48 hours in Toronto; my city, and my home. Teams are losing, owners are dying, hard-working people are getting laid off, and coaches are getting fired. Me? I blame the economy.

Farewell SMitch

Bryan Colangelo finally dropped the hammer. You know, no word of a lie, I woke up Wednesday morning knowing that Mitchell was in the final hours of his tenure as lead Raptor. After Tuesday night's epic fail, the writing was on the proverbial wall.

This one falls into the "You can't fire the players so you've got to fire the coach" category, period. Colangelo had to do something, especially after the Denver Nuggets ran roughshod all over his team. That might have been the most embarrassing 48 minutes in Toronto basketball history.

There are a lot of people in Toronto who are happy today, and celebrating Mitchell's departure. I read a lot of shit on Facebook last night - "Good riddance Uncle Sam," "This is where I become a Raptors fan," "Finally! I can start cheering for the Raps again!" - and to these people I say: you're an idiot, your anger and frustration is aimed at the wrong person.

Bryan Colangelo is the one to blame. Yes, the same Bryan Colangelo whom I have perfomed verbal fellatio on many times in this very space. Like I said, the honeymoon is over. 

Just look at the Toronto roster. Even with Chris Bosh playing like a man possessed, Jose Calderon playing like, well, Jose Calderon, and Andrea Bargnani playing decent ball, the team still stinks. The worry about Colangelo's prized off-season possession Jermain O'Neal was that he can't stay healthy and, surprise surprise, he can't. And the problem on the wing has been evident since opening night.

Not even Red Auerbach himself could get the Raptors to meet the lofty, yet extremely unrealistic, expectations that have been placed on them. 

Coaching, in my humble opinion, can only go so far. The Raptors plain and simple can't defend. The team is allowing more than 100 points a game, and I don't think that's because of Mitchell's defensive schemes. Sam isn't the one out on the court falling for every single God damn pump fake.

Is Jay Triano the answer? I love him, but only to the Jeapordy question "Who was the first Canadian head coach of an NBA team?"

On an aside, anyone else kind of miss T.J. Ford, and 48 minutes of glorious point guard play? I do. Largely because Will Soloman is the devil.

I'm going to miss Sam. I'll miss his personality, his candor. He was good people. It's unfortunate the SMitch era had to come to an end this way, and that Raptors fans are taking petty parting shots at him as he leaves town. They don't speak for all of us, Sam.

And I would also like to point out that, for the record, the fellas over at The Passion That Frustrates Us All saw SMitch's firing coming from a mile away. Bastards.

Man, that 2007 division title feels like it was 10 years ago, doesn't it?

R.I.P. Mr. Rogers

Toronto Blue Jays owner, Ted Rogers, had his contract expire early Tuesday morning. He was 75 years old. May the media mogul rest in peace. 

Uncle Teddy was a shrewd businessman, and God knows his family is well taken care of. I mean, have you ever stopped to think how much money Rogers Wireless makes just off the mysterious System Access Fee?

In all seriousness, there were times years ago when the fate of the Blue Jays was in question. Were it not for Rogers and his deep pockets, this city could very well have lost its baseball team. So, thank you, Uncle Ted. May the family name continue to prosper.

Holiday Cheer

Hours after the team's owner checked out for the afterlife, the Blue Jays showed 24 front-office employees the door. Yes, the Christmas spirit is alive and well down at the Rogers Centre. Make sure to swing by the Cable Box when you're out singing Oh Holy Night.

Fucking economy. I'm scared.

"They Are Who We Thought They Were!"

Really, is there a more apt quote than that from Dennis Green about the San Jose Sharks? That's one sexy hockey team. I won't lie, I fantasized about them last night.

Uh, It's Over, Umm, Bitches...

So much for wanting to play the Orlando Magic. Just like that, the Toronto Raptors are done, eliminated in five games by Superman and his three-point shooting cronies. It was an ugly game to cap off an ugly series and one ugly season.

I don't mean to be rude, but where the fuck was Chris Bosh last night? He finished with only 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting, nine rebounds, and three assists. Most discouraging of all, he only went to the free throw line four times all game. Four times! That's it. His first trip to the charity stripe came with about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Bosh's strength is getting to the line and hitting his free throws, and he was the opposite of aggressive last night. He put up some serious bricks. It was a disappointing effort by the franchise player in the biggest game of the season. Bosh had to set the tone and lead the charge and, well, he didn't.

I'm not throwing Bosh under the bus but he didn't play his best game last night. He knows it, I know it and you know it. His young playoff career has gotten off to a rocky start. In the five games against Orlando CB4 had two strong games - games two and four - and the Raptors lost them both.

It's clear Bosh needs help and it's clear he's not getting it from Andrea Bargnani, who is the definition of regression. Bargnani represents the Raptors 07/08 season in so many ways: so inconsistent, some flashes of brilliance, a ton of potential, and so God damn frustrating.

Andrea was such a tool last night. He picked up two fouls only 20 seconds into the game and, as usual, was a non-factor. He finished with four points on two-of-four shooting from the floor (his first three-point attempt didn't even hit rim!). In a touch under 16 minutes he grabbed one rebound, and I remember it clearly. It came in the second half, no one was around him and, had he not caught the basketball, it would have hit him straight in the face.

Bargnani shot 35% (11-for-37) from the floor in the series and didn't register double-digits in points in any of the five games. He pulled down a whopping seven rebounds in the five games, proving that he is in fact physically allergic to rebounding. How is it possible that the seven-foot tall Italian cannot rebound? I don't get it. It blows the mind.

This summer is a huge, HUGE, one for Andrea and the Raptors. It's clear he's lost all confidence in his shot and, well, that's pretty much all he's about. Without his shot, he's completely useless because God knows he can't defend. Bargnani's got to get in the weight room all summer and come to training camp in September with a sense of purpose. He's got to be hungry. He's got to rebound. He's got to defend. It just looks like he doesn't give a shit out there. He needs to be fighting for a job next season because I'm beginning to think he is the second coming of Shawn Bradley (Lord help us).

I think Jason Kapono was the most consistent Raptor in the series. That's pretty sad, considering he found himself on the bench for much of the second half of the regular season.

All that being said, the Raptors did play hard last night. They played hard all series. They just couldn't get the job done. At one point in last night's fourth quarter they were down 84-82. In the end, however, the Raptors were done in by their weak defense and inability to rebound. The Magic crushed Toronto on the glass yesterday 55-to-37. Dwight Howard pulled down 10 offensive rebounds, one more than all the Raptors combined.

As bad as the Raptors played in the series, the Magic definitely deserve some credit. They are a good team and they beat up on Toronto. Howard is a monster and he dominated Toronto like no one has before. He finished with three - three! - 20 points/20 rebounds games. That is completely and utterly ridiculous. In five games, Superman totalled 91 rebounds. And as much heat as the Magic took for giving Rashard Lewis that huge contract, I think it's looking like a good deal so far. Lewis had a great series and is one of many Orlando threats. Everybody on that God damn team can shoot the ball.

The Raptors are heading into another long off-season. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Not after Toronto finished with 47 wins last year and captured their first Atlantic Division title. They were supposed to continue their evolution but instead took several steps backward, finishing .500 on the season and getting spanked by the Magic. Toronto was consistently inconsistent all year and never really posed a threat to a superior Orlando squad.

Questions abound as the season officially ends: has T.J. Ford played his last game in Raptors red? I think most people will agree that this team is better with Jose Calderon driving the bus, but can Bryan Colangelo find a taker for Ford's contract? And who becomes the back-up point guard if Ford leaves? Will Carlos Delfino, a free agent, return? I sure hope so. What to do with Andrea Bargnani? This guy is just killing the Raptors right now. And what about Sam Mitchell - is his job safe? The Raptors had two God-awful first quarters in the series and were never able to come up with an answer to the hot-shooting Magic.

It will be a most-interesting off-season indeed but, damn, I'm just really not looking forward to reading Dave Feschuk's column today in The Toronto Star.

Fantastic Finishes

The Toronto Raptors wanted to beat the Boston Celtics last night. They needed to beat the Celtics last night. Thanks to a huge come-from-behind fourth quarter, and some "Onions baby, onions!" courtesy of Jose Calderon, beat the Celtics the Raptors finally did.

As much as Sam Mitchell tried to downplay the importance of last night's tilt, he knew it was a big game. Look at that picture, it's all the proof you need. That's a picture of a coach who wanted it bad and who is as intense as they come. That's why I love Sam.

Why'd the Raps need this win, you ask? Because it was their fourth and final meeting with the dominant Celtics. After losing a heart breaker in overtime the first time out against Boston, the Celts turned it up a notch and spanked the Raptors in their next two meetings. Boston, whom I predicted, like Doug Smith, to struggle to make the playoffs, are good. Alright, they are very good. Alright, they are freakin' fantastic and have the division title all but locked up. I figured there wasn't going to be much sharing of the rock in Beantown and, along with that, some bruised egos. But that hasn't turned out to be the case. I was wrong. Really, really wrong. The Celts are off the charts, and are even getting production beyond the Big Three, from jobbers like Eddie House and Rajon Rondo.

I've clearly lost my train of thought. The Raptors needed the win over Boston to prove to themselves that they could play with the best of the best. They measured up last night, especially in the final stanza.

For the Celtics it was only their seventh loss of the season, and only their fourth defeat on their home court. It was also their first loss to a divisional opponent. If the Raps hadn't beaten the Celts last night, I think Boston would have swept the entire division. God knows Toronto is the only other decent team in the putrid Atlantic Division.

I'll be honest, I didn't watch most of the ball game. I was scared the Raps were in for more poundage, and I didn't need to see that again. I chose, instead, to watch the Leafs game. Yes, that does, officially, make me an idiot. But I did catch most of the fourth quarter, when I tuned in and saw that it was actually a ball game, and not a massacre.

Toronto went into the fourth trailing by seven, but they didn't quit. It also helped that they were on fire from beyond the arc all night, hitting 15 three-balls in the contest, including three in the final 15 minutes. Carlos Delfino deserves some props for his performance last night. He was money from deep (Grange picked a beauty of a name for his blog), going 5-for-5.

The catalysts of the comeback were, of course, Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. CB4 dropped 10 in the final frame but it was Calderon who provided the heroics late. He hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to give the Raps a one-point lead, 111-110, which they squandered. With 14 ticks left on the clock, Calderon drove to the hoop off a Bosh screen for a layup. Bucket. And the foul! That's when Chuck Swirsky dropped the onions. It was a huge three-point-play. The Celtics had last shot, and even got off two attempts because the Raptors can't rebound for their lives, but it wasn't to be. It was the Raptors night.

In the holy crap department, Andrea Bargnani was spotted yesterday actually contributing while on the court. The dude's been missing of late, but he finally had a game. He was due. Part of the reason I haven't written about the Raptors in a while is because of Bargnani's struggles. His regression troubles me deeply. My expectations were, as I have come to realize, way too high for him this year.

Last night, however, he dropped 20 on 50% shooting and racked up seven assists. Most astonishing of all, he grabbed seven rebounds! For Andrea, that's about three games worth. We all know Sucky Soph is struggling mightily (last year he was "Big Rook," so this year he is "Sucky Soph"), but it was great to see the Bargnani of old chip in last night. He's still hella young, and we have to be patient with him. The fans in this city are way too quick to turn on young players (see: Nik Antropov) and while Brandon Roy definitely seems like the better player right now - and he is - Bargnani still has crazy upside.

Also in the holy crap department, why are the Raptors allergic to rebounding? They were clobbered again on the boards last night, and only their hot shooting was able to save their collective behinds. It's not the 39-29 advantage the Celtics had on the boards that is frightening; it's the 16-4 advantage Boston had on the offensive glass that blows my mind. 16-4! Sixteen offensive rebounds is about 13 too many. Ray Allen had as many offensive rebounds as the entire Raptors team. Sure, Toronto's shots were falling, but the last play of the game said it all. Eddie House's three-ball attempt to win the game hit rim, but Allen picked up the rebound and chucked up another attempt, this time to tie the game. Thankfully, he missed, and Chuck was able to bring out the salami and cheese, but Allen should never have gotten that opportunity in the first place. Rebounding is definitely this team's achilles heel and until they sort it out, and I'm not sure how they're going to go about doing that, how serious can they be taken?

The Raps rebounding woes didn't burn them last night and it was a scintillating fourth quarter. My man Calderon is also deserving of some serious high-fivery. Doug Smith at The Star is dead-on about the Spaniard; where the hell would the Raptors be without him? Numero ocho has to make the All-Star team. It would be a travesty if he didn't. He's a rudey. Start praying that Toronto is able to get this guy's autograph on a long-term contract.

While Ray Allen's game-winning attempt was on its way to the basket, and I was yelling "No!" like a school girl, the Maple Leafs were up to some late game theatrics of their own, courtesy of their captain. Who else?

Mats Sundin made sure Cliff Fletcher's return to the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off with a bang, and the Leafs beat the Washington Capitals 3-2, thanks to Sundin's goal with 30 seconds left to play.

It was the 544th goal of Sundin's illustrious career, tying him on the all-time list with the great Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Any time you're mentioned in the same sentence as the Rocket, you know you've done pretty damn well for yourself. This is also the 17th straight season where Mats has scored 20 goals or more. Captain consistency. Like Helen Seinfeld used to say about her son Jerry - "How could anyone not like him?" The more people talk about Sundin possibly being traded, and the more he tells the media he doesn't want to leave, the less I can picture him in another uniform. He's a Maple Leaf. For better or worse (usually worse).

Speaking of Cliff Fletcher, that's one hell of a tan he got down in Mexico last week. Must have been nice. His face at the presser on Tuesday was as red as a, well, I don't know. But, damn, it was really red. While the attitude around the Leafs was more calm than usual last night - the calm after the storm, I guess - it's good Fletcher got some sun and the vacation out of the way. Because it's all business from here on out, with the 19 month contract he has signed. It looks as if he really is going to be just the interim general manager, as the Leafs will be hiring a new president and general manager in a few months, and Fletch will then become a consultant. So, Richard Peddie may finally be getting out of the way. When that happens, when the Leafs do hire a new president and general manager sometime over the summer, it really will be Christmas in July.

The speculation has already begun over who it will be, but none of that matters right now. It's all about Fletcher, The Silver Fox, and what he can do to try and fix this team. After last night's win Toronto is only five points out of the blessed eighth playoff spot, so cue up that number one draft pick baby, because the Leafs are going to be buying at the trade deadline!

At least Fletcher knows what to expect in his second go round with the Buds. And he can't possibly age much worse than he already has. I think he's 72, but he looks like he's pushing 85. The man's got pictures of himself on the internet from 1970! At least we know he's never, ever, used any "Just For Men" products. But I digress. I got faith in the Fletch. His reputation is great, he knows how to get things done in this business, and he's got a Stanley Cup ring around his finger. That says it all.

And kudos to John Ferguson Jr. Not only did he not throw any low blows the organization's way at his press conference, he thanked the Leafs for the opportunity. JFJ's a bigger man than I am. He's reportedly already received a few job offers already, and that's not really surprising. Even though the results weren't there, I think he leaves the Leafs in better hands than when he got his job back in 2003. The Leafs have some top notch prospects coming along the pipe (Justin Pogge and Nikolai Kulemin) and the fruits of JFJ's labour won't be known until at least five years down the road. But his retooling of the scouting department and the fact that the Toronto Marlies are one of the best teams in the AHL have to count for something. Peace out, JFJ. Stay classy.

The Leafs are 4-1 in their last five games, largely due to Vesa Toskala's stellar play. Their only loss came Sunday in New Jersey, when Toskala got the night off. Andrew Raycroft was, as usual, his Raycrapian self. Toskala was once again brilliant last night, and can probably take the Leafs to the playoffs on his back if he gets hot. He's that good. With a win tonight in Washington, it might be time to dust off the blueprints to the parade route...again.

Welcome back to hell, Fletch.

A Beat Up Ford

If you were watching the tilt between the Toronto Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks on the tube last night you saw T.J. Ford hit the deck. If you were in Atlanta at the Philips Arena, you heard T.J. Ford hit the deck.

The Toronto point guard was enjoying a fine evening - 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the floor, eight assists, two rebounds and only two turnovers in an efficient 29 minutes - before his night was cut short by Hawks rookie Al Horford.

While going to the bucket for what I thought was going to be an easy basket, Ford was tomahawk-slapped by Horford on the face. Ford lost control, landed hard on his back, and his head bounced off the court with some serious authority. It wasn't pretty. Neither was the replay, which the good folks at The Score gave me the privilege of viewing about nine times.

He's definitely got a concussion. If that's all he's got, he's a very, very lucky man today. Ford lay on the ground motionless for 10 minutes before he was taken off in a neck brace on a stretcher. The Raptors won the ball game, 100-88, but the outcome became secondary after the flagrant-2 foul by Horford, who was ejected.

Now I know the Toronto Raptors are a team chalk full of "nice guys," but where was the outrage? Why didn't anyone get up in Horford's grill? No one even verbally abused the Atlanta rookie after the foul. Sam Mitchell, the Raptors coach, was the most disturbed by the incident. It seemed to bring the former NBA player in him back to life, and he ran all the way from the Raptors bench to the scene of the crime, visibly upset, and shouting obscenities at Atlanta coach Mike Woodson. Mitchell had to be physically restrained by the referees. I think I saw steam physically spewing out of his ears. It was another example of why I love Sam Mitchell. He's ready to go to war with, and more importantly, for his players.

My beef is that it shouldn't be Sam Mitchell running on the court and being restrained by the referees. It should be one of Ford's teammates. If the Raptors are such a close knit team why weren't they upset that their talented point guard was lying on the ground in obvious trauma? The Raptors were up 92-84 at the time of the foul, with only 90 seconds left on the clock. The game was over. Horford didn't need to commit a hard foul. Regardless of the intentions, it was completely uncalled for. Yet no teammate came to T.J.'s defense. It was almost pathetic.

Don't get me wrong, I know Horford didn't mean to hurt T.J. Ford. The look on his face after he saw Ford hit the floor made that clear. He was visibly concerned, and remorseful after the game, but there's a code in sports. If you mess with one member of a team, you mess with everyone else wearing the same uniform. I'm not saying someone should have clocked Horford upside his head like he did to Ford, but someone should have at least got in his face and given him a tongue-lashing.

If the Raptors want to be an elite team and want to contend in this league they need to get tougher. They need to get meaner. They need to channel the spirit of one Charles Oakley. Oak will diss your mother if he has to. Just ask Vince Carter. The Raptors need to develop a swagger. A demeanor. One that translates into: "do not fuck with us." Antics like Horford's should not, and cannot, be tolerated under any circumstances. Toronto must rid themselves of this "nice guy" label. Until that happens the Raptors will not be able to take the next step.

T.J. Ford, only 24 years old, already has a history with devastating injuries. His health is, of course, the number one priority to the organization, his teammates and even to fans like me. Doug Smith at The Star reported at 11:30 pm last night that Ford had feeling and movement in his arms and legs, but would be kept in an Atlanta hospital overnight. He'll obviously not be in the lineup when the Dallas Mavericks visit the ACC tonight.

The Raptors welcomed back Chris Bosh on Sunday, and Andrea Bargnani last night, but the injuries continue to mount. Ford wasn't the only casualty last night. Jason Kapono was lost in the second quarter with a sprained left wrist, and he's day-to-day. Garbo also had his second surgery on his leg and ankle, and he's gone, likely for the year. The Raptors do have a deep bench, but the injuries are getting ridiculous. The well can only run so deep.

The truth is, I'm disappointed in the Raptors today. Ford's health is of utmost concern to me, as it is I'm sure to all the Raptors, but someone should have stepped up in the Little Engine's defense last night. After the game, Anthony Parker asked why Horford had to swipe so hard at Ford's head on a play with the game pretty much decided. That's a mighty good question, AP, so why the hell didn't you ask Horford yourself?

Some words, maybe even a little shove. Anything. Here's hoping the Toronto Raptors grow some balls and go to bat for their teammates the next time a rookie, or anyone for that matter, takes a run at one of their own.

Raptor Reflections

No Chris Bosh, no Andrea Bargnani and no T.J. Ford for the Toronto Raptors last night. Didn’t matter much, as the Raptors cruised to a 21-point win. Thank goodness the Charlotte Bobcats are one pathetic excuse for a basketball team.

It’s a good thing the Raptors have one of the deepest lineups in the league. Seven guys finished in double-figures in scoring last night, with Kris Humphries leading the way with 17 points in only 21 minutes on the floor. Yep, you read that correctly, the Hump was on fire last night. So was Joey Graham. He got his first start of the year last night and he chipped in with 13 points on five-of-six shooting. Good Joey was definitely in the house and he threw down a couple of sick, wicked and nasty jams to boot.

It also helped, just a wee bit, that the Bobcats shot a putrid 33% from the field. Yikes. Jason Richardson was especially inept, draining only three of his 17 field goal attempts. He was chucking like George Costanza last night.

The deep Raptors bench is coming in handy, as the team is being ravaged by injury once again. What a surprise. I’m almost used to it now. No team can hide from the injury plague that has enveloped this great city’s professional sports franchises. The Raps have been hit hard again, and fast. Only Anthony Parker, Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino and Jose Calderon have played in all 18 of the team’s games.

Bryan Colangelo, the architect, knew depth would be the Raptors strength. That’s why he signed Maceo Baston, Kapono, the athletic freak of nature known as Jamario Moon, and acquired Carlos Delfino. After last night’s win, which pushed the Raptors record to 10-8 on the season (good for second in the Atlantic division and fourth in the Eastern Conference), the Raptors have six guys averaging more than 10 points a game on the season - Bosh, Ford, Bargnani, Parker, Kapono and Delfino. Jose Calderon is right on the cusp, averaging 9.9 points a game. Me, I round up, so make that seven guys averaging more than 10 points a game.

How about this Jamario Moon fellow? Ain’t he something? The 27-year-old rookie from Alabama has apparently played in every basketball league that exists in North America, and is finally getting his shot in the NBA thanks to the Raptors.

And his nickname sure is a beauty – Super Jamario. Best nickname in town, by far. Like Super Mario when he got a feather in the video game, Super Jamario can fly. He’s got ridiculous hops and is an animal on the boards. He’s exactly what a weak-rebounding team like the Raptors needed.

When you look at Moon’s statistics, it’s pretty amazing what he’s done for the Raptors this year, considering he was a long-shot to even make the team. He’s averaging more than 31 minutes a game, second on the team to CB4, and 7.5 rebounds a game, second, again, only to the leader of the pack, CB4. He’s shooting 44% from the floor and leads the team in blocks per game (1.6).

Chuck Swirsky has now taken to saying “he just got Mooned!” whenever Moon rejects an opponents shot, and it’s usually followed by the crowd howling “Moooooooon.” It’s fantastic! The crowds at the ACC have taken to this guy, and he’s already got a loyal following. Super Jamario, indeed.

My question is: where the hell did this guy come from? He was in training camp on a tryout and the Raps cut Luke Jackson so they could sign Moon to a contract worth $487,000. Pennies! What a bargain. Once again, one has to credit Colangelo and his staff. Every NBA team had a chance to sign Moon, but he ended up in Toronto. Colangelo for President. If he can turn around the Toronto Raptors, he can turn around America.

I’ve heard rumblings that Super Jamario might enter the slam-dunk contest during all-star weekend. The contest has gotten pretty weak in recent years but I’m all for Moon entering it, and winning it. He can fly, for real.

Moon’s good fortune is, in all honesty, due to Jorge Garbajosa’s misfortune. His leg (or is it his ankle?) isn’t healed, he’s having surgery again, and he’s done for the year. Brutal.

The whole Garbo debate has been discussed at length in the Toronto media and I don’t want to say much about it, partly because it reminds me of him crashing to the ground in Boston, with his foot pointing in a direction it, umm, ain’t supposed to be pointing in. It still makes me cringe. All I’ve got to say is that Garbo is in this situation because of Garbo. If it’s true that the Raptors medical staff recommended a second surgery over the summer which he chose to ignore (in Garbo’s defense, his Spanish doctor said he didn’t need the second surgery), well then this whole mess is his own fault.

It’s tough to berate a guy for wanting to play for his country, and clearly playing for Spain in September meant a lot to Garbo. But Spain had already qualified for next year’s Olympics. The EuroBasket tournament in September meant absolutely nothing to Spain. It was a meaningless tournament and Garbo should have been looking out for, first of all, his own health, and second of all, the Toronto Raptors, the team that employs him. I’m not upset at Garbo’s decision – I can’t be mad at him for wanting to play for his country – but I think he should have been smarter about it. There was no need to go and play, especially when a second surgery was being recommended. Garbo saw, like the rest of us did, that the Raptors missed his presence on the floor after he went down, especially in the playoffs. And he knew, better than anyone else, what a horrific injury his was. Why not continue to rehab, get ready for the season and then focus on the Olympics next summer? I just don’t get it.

Garbo’s going under the knife any day now. Turns out he’s got to have that second surgery, anyways. Your guess as to when he’ll be back is as good as mine. By the time he is fully healthy, it will have been a long time since he’ll have played meaningful and competitive basketball in the NBA. It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Garbo and the Raptors. The relationship between the team and Garbo has definitely soured due to the whole mess, and it seems like years ago that Garbo arrived in Toronto and quickly endeared himself to the fans and management as a hard-working, blue-collar baller. The whole thing just stinks, but Garbo’s pain is Jamario Moon’s gain, and who knows where Garbo will find himself on the Raptors depth chart when he is ready to return. All I know is that Super Jamario is making Garbo-gate a lot easier to swallow.

I thought I said I didn’t want to say much about Garbo-gate? Jeez. On to happier thoughts, such as Carlos Delfino, the Silent Assassin. How good is this guy, eh? I’ve been so incredibly impressed by Delfino after the Raptors’ first 18 games. He brings it every night, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He’s already become the Raptors best one-on-one defender and he can rebound. He’s got a knack for the ball, and his 5.1 rebounds a game are third-best on the team.

Hard to believe that it only cost the Raptors a second-round draft pick to bring Delfino over from the Detroit Pistons. Another steal by Colangelo. Chalk it up! Doug Smith got it right when he said that the Delfino trade is right up there with Haffa for Humphries. It’s gold, Jerry, gold!

In all seriousness, I think it’s time Bryan Colangelo is nominated for the Nobel Prize. His work on the Toronto Raptors has been nothing short of spectacular.

Delfino, who is quickly becoming one of my favourite Raptors, will be a free-agent at season’s end, but the Raptors have the right to match any contract offer he receives. With the way Delfino’s been playing, I’m confident he’ll be in a Raptors uniform for a long, long time. In Colangelo I trust.

I’m sure the Raptors are not overly pleased with their 10-8 record. They’ve beaten a lot of marginal basketball teams (see: Philadelphia (twice) and Charlotte), but considering the injury problems they’ve had to deal with, a 10-8 record suits me just fine. Bosh, Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Graham and Bargnani have all missed time on the floor already this young season. The team will hopefully get healthy as soon as possible and they’re going to need all hands on deck, especially Bosh, because the rest of December is going to be tough. The December schedule is Western Conference heavy – we all know the West is best – and includes a seven-game road trip that starts on the 18^th, is broken-up by the Christmas break, and ends on the 31^st. Needless to say, it should be an interesting month.

Before I bid you adieu, I’ve got to show some love to Jose Calderon. He’s been about as close to flawless as one can be ever since Ford went down with another “stinger.” It’s no secret that Calderon could be a starting point guard on a number of NBA teams. He can play. He’s a pass-first point guard, but he’s also developed confidence in his shot and in his ability to drive the lane. His 7.9 to 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is incredible and tops in the league, by a country mile.

Since Ford went down, Calderon has started the Raptors last seven games. In those seven games he’s compiled a whopping 75 assists and, brace yourself, only 10 turnovers. In a three-game stretch at the end of last month (November 24, 25 and 28 against Cleveland, Chicago, and Memphis respectively) Calderon dished out 37 dimes, scored 39 points, while committing only ONE turnover. Flawless.

It’s been a pleasure to have watched Calderon develop into a frighteningly good point guard over the last two and a half years. During his rookie year, I wasn’t too fond of the Spaniard. He had zero confidence and I didn’t think he’d be sticking around in Toronto, or the NBA, too long. Now, he is one half of the best back-court in the NBA. Sometimes I love being so foolishly wrong.

A lot of people in this (already ridiculously freezing cold) city think Calderon should start, even when Ford is healthy. Me, I don’t really care, as long as they are both playing. Mitchell employs the two of them in a system that works, and instead of griping over who should start, I’m more comfortable simply embracing “Forderon” because it’s a beautiful thing.

Calderon is also heading into free-agency, and some team out there is going to make him a very, very rich man. Remember, he’s only 26 years old. He’s only going to get better. I’m not sure what Colangelo has planned for Calderon. I’m not sure what Calderon has planned for himself. He’s always been the consummate team player, saying that as long as the team wins, he is happy with what ever role he’s given. But I’m sure he’s always dreamt of being a starting point guard in the NBA, and he certainly has the talent to do so. For now, I’m going to enjoy Calderon in a Raptors uniform, while hoping that he stays in Toronto for years to come, so Forderon can live long and prosper.

What ever happens to Calderon, whether he is traded or walks away as a free agent, I’ll deal with it. I know there’s a master plan and that the organization is in good hands. Calderon’s situation goes back to my mantra when it comes to the Toronto Raptors:

In Colangelo I trust.

Guess Who's Bizzack?

Our favorite dinosaurs of the hard court, that’s who. The Toronto Raptors open their new season tonight at home against the Philadelphia 76ers, but I’m more upset than excited. The Raptors are being shown no love and I won’t stand for it much longer.

First of all, what the hell is a 76er? I’m curious as to:

a) how Philadelphia’s franchise got that name
b) why Philadelphia’s franchise got that name
c) why it hasn’t been changed

I guess I could Google it, but it’s the 76ers, so really, who cares?

The Raptors are coming off a ridiculously successful season. 47 wins, the franchise’s first division crown, a playoff series, Coach-of-the-Year honors for Sam Mitchell, and Executive-of-the-Year honors for His Majesty Bryan Colangelo. Yes, the playoff ouster at the hands of his whore-ness Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets was tough to swallow, but it was vital experience in the evolution of the Raptors (get it, evolution and Raptors? You know, the whole dinosaur connection? Oh, forget it). Bottom line, it was experience this team needed to gain in order to take the next step.

What does it all mean for this year? To the NBA pundits and prognosticators, nothing at all. The Raptors are being slept on and being shown zero respect. What’s a basketball team got to do in order to be shown some love around here!?!?

The Raps boast one of the deepest rotations in the league, an All-Star power forward in Chris Bosh who is getting better every year, and super-sophomore Andrea Bargnani, who is poised to break out and become the star we, in Toronto, know he will eventually become. So what's the deal? As a buddy of mine would say, where's the love?

I’ve got a lot of love for Bill Simmons from ESPN’s Page 2. His column is one of the best in the business. I read it on the regular – got the RSS hookup on my Google Reader – but I was shocked and chagrined to see his predictions for the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Brace yourselves, here they are:

BILL SIMMONS:
PREDICTIONS FOR THE SEASON
EAST PLAYOFF TEAMS
1. Chicago, 56-26
2. Boston, 49-33
3. Miami, 43-39
4. Detroit, 50-32
5. New Jersey, 45-37
6. Milwaukee, 41-41
7. Atlanta, 40-42
8. Indiana, 40-42

Where the fudge are the Raptors on this list, Bill?!?!? He’s taking Milwaukee, Atlanta and Indiana over Toronto?!? This has got to be some kind of joke. My guess is that, because the Raptors play in Canada, the great country to the north of our ignorant American cousins, Simmons has simply forgotten the Raptors exist. Or he’s still drunk from celebrating his Red Sox’s World Series victory (the latter deserves some serious consideration).

Bill, my man, these Raptors are not extinct! They are alive and well, and on their way to another Atlantic Division title (Dave Feschuk, of the Toronto Star, is predicting 50 wins).

Simmons has got the Boston Celtics winning the Atlantic – what a surprise. It’s the cool thing to do. Everyone’s doing it. Yeah, yeah, I know they’ve got Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. But who else? Name another two guys on that team other than Rondo or Posey? I can’t do it. The Celtics will be much improved, but they aren’t knocking the Raptors off their perch, no sir.

Simmons isn’t the only one disrespecting the Raptors. Sports Illustrated has Toronto pegged to enter the Eastern Conference playoffs as the eighth seed. The last seed.

It’s not just the media that's invited to the Show No Love to the Raptors party. In the NBA’s annual general manager survey, no one picked the Raptors to repeat as Atlantic Division champs.

I don’t get it.

Let’s not forget that this was a brand new team full of fresh faces last October. His Majesty Bryan Colangelo - I refer to him as His Majesty because of the way he turned the team around - is royalty. He’s a savior sent from the heavens, and after he managed to trade the lump of coal known as Rafael Araujo, it became clear that he is also a miracle-worker. BC came in and gutted the team he inherited, bringing in nine new faces. On a basketball team, that’s unheard of. And it worked.

After the team got off to a rough start – they were something like 2-8 or 2-10 – the calls for Sam Mitchell’s head got louder and louder, but BC stuck by his coach and his team. The team was able to stay above water with Chris Bosh on the injured list. Bosh returned, rounded back into All-Star form and the rest, as they say, is history.

BC and the Raps had a quiet off-season. Jason Kapono is the prized acquisition and he is the best three point shooter in the NBA. Not too shabby. He will help an already potent shooting team. If Andrei Kirilenko in Utah is AK-47, Jason Kapono is JK-47. He’s got a sweet stroke and can get his shot off in a hurry, a la Dell Curry (hey, that rhymes!). Welcome to Toronto, new friend.

Yes, the Raptors still can’t rebound and don’t play really tough defense, but with the talent Sam Mitchell has at his disposal, the best defense for the Raptors will be a strong offense.

With the point guard tandem that Toronto Star beat grunt writer, and one of the best in the biz I might add, Doug Smith calls “T.J. Calderon” the sky is the limit for this Raptors squad. Jorge Garbajosa, the blue-collar Spaniard is back and although he’s still technically playing on a broken leg, he looks like he’s ready to go. He was sorely missed last year in the playoffs. Here’s hoping his leg will hold up (literally), because his injury still sends a chill down my spine when I think about it.

For His Majesty BC, it’s all about continuity and chemistry, two things that are seriously overlooked when people try to predict how many wins a team will get. This Raptors squad is a notoriously tight-knit one. They’ve garnered a reputation of being almost too nice. They need to add a little Charles Oakley to their game, and I’m looking to Chris Bosh to bring it.

As upset as I am about the continued disrespect shown the Toronto Raptors way, a part of me is thinking it may be a good thing. Let the league sleep on the Raptors. Let the Raptors use it as motivation in their quest to an NBA championship. It’s going to happen, of this I’m sure, as long as His Majesty BC is at the helm.

Tip off’s at 7:00pm and Jason Kapono is in the starting lineup.

Monday night, while the Leafs were getting their tails handed to them, once again, by the Washington Capitals, a chant broke out in the third period of the 7-1 debacle:

“Let’s Go Raptors!” (clap, clap…clapclapclap).

Now that’s what I’m talking about...

Why I Love Sam Mitchell

Sam Mitchell isn't your average, run-of-the-mill coach. This guy is different. Just a few years removed from his own NBA playing career, Mitchell speaks candidly, honestly and pulls no punches.

Mitchell's style is refreshing, to say the least. He doesn't feed the media with the regular sports cliche's that most coaches and players do. He shoots from the hip, and has a lot of confidence. He believes in himself, and his team, and is the best coach, in any sport, the city of Toronto has seen in a long, long time.

In April of 2006, Mitchell was named the worst coach in the league in a Sports Illustrated poll of 248 NBA player's. He didn't let it effect him. He just continued to do his job, and in the Rob Babcock era of the Toronto Raptors, it wasn't easy for Mitchell to do just that. He had a terrible team, and was forced to stand by and watch as the Raptors traded away Vince Carter, the most talented player on the team and in Raptors history, for absolutely nothing. But Mitchell never complained.

Mitchell is a self-proclaimed battler. He didn't forge an NBA career out of sheer talent. He had to work hard to stay in the league and he carved out a solid career because he was a "grinder." Mitchell instills those same values in his players.

He was named Coach of the Year in April, after guiding the resurgent Raptors to a 47 win season. People tend to forget that the Raptors started last season by winning only two of their first 10 games. And Mitchell didn't have a contract extension, to boot. He was labelled a "lame-duck" coach and rumours of his firing were rampant.

Once again, Mitchell didn't let it bother him. He just continued to believe in himself, and his team, and the Raptors turned it around and ended up winning the Atlantic Division. Mitchell was justly rewarded with a new contract, and like everything else, I know it won't effect him. He'll just keep on being Sam, and that's all I can ask for.

The Raptors are overseas for training camp this year and although Mitchell wasn't too keen on the trip to Italy and Spain, he's embraced the decision and is making the most of it. As always, he's delivered some fantastic quotes while walking the streets of Venice and Rome.

I leave you with the money quotes. Remember, it's just Sam being Sam...

On having a swimming pool in the backyard of his Georgia home:
"My kids took me out to the nine-foot-deep part and let me go. I cried like a baby."

On swimming:
"You never hear about people who can't swim drowning. We're smart enough to put on a life jacket. It's always the guys you hear about – `He was a strong swimmer' – they hit their head and they're in the water and that's it."

On the constant zinging of own players:
"I am an equal-opportunity hater."

On shooting guard Juan Dixon's sunglasses:
"Those are ugly sunglasses ... y'all look like a bumble bee."

Upon Chris Bosh turning his video camera on Coach Mitchell:
"Whassup, young fella? You need a haircut."

Singling out Raptors hopeful Jamario Moon:
"Hey Moon, do they have water down there in Alabama other than in the well?"

On the Raptor's director of basketball finance (including payroll) Steve Fruitman, who was wearing a bandana on a sunny day:
"Hey Fruits, you look like you're on crack! ... You're the spitting image of Johnny Depp! You're beautiful to me, baby. As long as that cheque comes on the 15th and 30th, you're gorgeous."

On his perceived anger regarding the trip to Europe:
"I'm not grumpy about it. But if I say, `Hey guys, I'm so excited, we're going to see Rome and we're going to see this,' then people are going to say, `What the hell! He thinks he's going on a European vacation!' The headline would be, `Mitchell Too Excited About Europe.' And if I'm too dry, you guys are saying, `Oh, he ain't happy about going. It's always something."

On the shopping prospects of Europe:
"I can't wear those European-cut suits. I can't move. I have ass. I don't have these ass-less bodies that y'all have."

Now do you see why I love Sam Mitchell?

Former Toronto Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens was about as exciting as a black cup of coffee. Or one of his bland turtlenecks. Sam Mitchell is more red bull and vodka, and pinstripes, and I'm grateful for that.

Keep doing what you're doing, Sam. You the man.

Thank You, Raptors

What a tough way to go out, eh?

All I wanted out of game six was for it to be just that, a game. The last two games in the swamp were a joke, and I just didn't want the Raptors to go out like, for lack of a better word, bitches. I wanted them to fight and leave it all on the floor.

They did that. They went out fighting. They did not back down. There was no quitting. I'm really proud of these guys. Proud to be a Raptors fan. Especially proud of Calderon, Ford and Bosh. I know Jose messed up on that pass to finish the game, but Calderon, you're still my boy. There's no way he or TJ were 100% yet they came out and played tremendous. Ford was huge off the bench, and I still don't understand why Mitchell took him out early in the fourth.

Bosh by no means had his best shooting game, but he was aggressive and hungry. He wanted it tonight. He was going to do whatever it took. He passed the ball beautifully, picking up nine dimes and still scoring 23 on putrid shooting. The nine assists are what's key. He's got to learn to find the open man when all the focus is on him, and he did that tonight.

On a sad note, it looks like the Toronto Raptors have downloaded their last MP3. In what was probably Mo Pete's last game in a Raptors uniform, he went out playing hard and with a lot of class. He was huge on the boards. Thank you Morris Peterson, for all your years of service. Peterson's been through the good and bad with this franchise, and we all know how bad the bad was, but he's always played hard and been a professional. There's not a lot of his ilk in the NBA. Stay classy, Mo.

I also got to shout out AP. Anthony Parker was such a huge part of this team this year, and no one really expected that. This guy's got a sweet stroke and his jumpers when he comes off screens are beautiful to watch. I think the Raptors have got to make it a point to get Parker more touches next year. This guy can play.

The future is bright for the Toronto Raptors. Bosh, Ford, Calderon, and Bargnani are all so young, and already so talented. I'm not really sure what I expected of these guys in the playoffs, because they already exceeded all my expectations when it came to the regular season.

The playoffs were a bonus, and as much as I wanted them to win, getting New Jersey was a tough, tough match up. Jersey ain't no sixth seed. That's a damn good team over there. Jason Kidd, at his age, man, you've just got to respect what he does on the court. How the hell does a point guard lead his team in rebounding? It blows my mind. He's a tremendous passer and playmaker. Whenever the Raptors made a turnover, it seemed like Kidd made them pay. If Wayne Gretzky had a special vision for the game of hockey, Kidd's got the basketball version of it. It's tough to hate on Jason Kidd.

As for Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, it's easy to hate on those guys. I rather enjoy it. Carter's an embarrassment, mainly to himself. I can take some solace in the fact that Carter did not beat the Raptors in this series. Kidd and Jefferson beat the Raptors. Carter shot less than 44% from the field throughout the series, and was only good when he wanted to be. And the booing definitely gets to him in Toronto. He just doesn't have the mental strength to play through it. A lot of the media was saying that the Vince-booing was getting old, and no longer needed, because the Raptors are a new team, with a new identity, and have turned the page on Carter's tenure in Toronto.

But forget that! Boo him. Incessantly. Every time he's in Toronto and on the floor, boo him with pride and passion. If you're sitting courtside when the Nets are in town, talk smack to him. Tell him he's a bitch. Make fun of his annoying mother. Tell him you slept with his wife. Get in the man's head. It is your moral and civic duty as a Raptors fan.

The "Lets go Raptors, VC SUCKS!" chant is the best in the business. Sheer genius!

As for Jefferson, I hate him too, but he did have a strong series. He's aggressive and doesn't shy away from the rim, unlike his pal VC. I'd still like to slap him, though. Just once. And Mikey Moore too. The only Nets player I respect is Kidd.

Enough about the Nets.

One point. That was the difference. Raptor ball, 8.3 seconds left, our destiny in our own hands. The Raptors, tonight, looked like the Raptors of 2006/2007. It seemed like they were finally figuring out how to play playoff basketball. They looked like the confident squad that wasn't going to get blown out of the water. I thought they were going to grind out a win, because that's the only way it was going to get done. There was no way the Raptors were going to go in and spank New Jersey, we all knew that. It just wasn't meant to be. Game seven in Toronto would have been a hoot. I think deep down, the Nets knew that they had to close out the Raptors in six. I think the Raptors would have won this series had they been able to bring it back to Toronto. The ACC's just too tough a place to play.

A tough and disappointing way to end the season. It was a one posession game, but the Raps didn't even get a shot off. It was another astonishing way to end a playoff run for this franchise, something that's becoming a habit (think back to VC's rim-job against Philly in game seven at the buzzer, and Chris Childs math skills, or lack there of, the last time the Raptors were in the playoffs).

Overall, it was a fantastic season. Forty seven wins. Home advantage in the playoffs. A division title. Thank you, Toronto Raptors. Credibility has been restored to this once pathetic franchise. Basketball has been bleak in these parts the past few years, but the Raptors have officially turned the corner.

Almost to a man, this was the first real taste of the playoffs for most of the squad. It was definitely a learning experience and the Raps will most certainly benefit from this six game loss to the Nets. You can't win in the playoffs until you learn how to lose. Chris Bosh, surely, learned what the playoffs are all about. It's a lot different than the regular season. And just think about how good Bargnani is going to be. It's almost frightening. Almost not fair. He started rounding back into form in games five and six, after his appendectomy, and once he develops a post game, it's over, the Raptors will be impossible to stop. Gotta love Il Mago.

Jorge Garbajosa, you were missed, my man. What a huge loss Garbo's season ending ankle injury turned out to be. The Raps season ended only a couple of hours ago, but I'm already looking forward to Garbo's return and next year.

I hope Bryan Colangelo can keep Sam Mitchell in the mix. I know Mitchell realizes that the Raptors are building something special here, and I hope he wants to stick around and see it through, and see the fruits of his labour. This is his team. I think the boys enjoy playing for Mitchell, a coach just a few seasons removed from being a player, and a guy who knows what the NBA life and grind is all about. Mitchell is also a great character and a refreshing guy in the media. He keeps it real. Stick around Sam, because we're going places.

When the Leafs make the playoffs, and inevitably lose, I'm absolutely crushed by their defeat. That's always because I know the likelihood of them winning is always so small. The window is open only so much, and for only so long. When it comes to the Raptors, yeah, I'm upset that they lost, but I'm optimistic, because I can see what the future holds for this team. This is just the beginning, my friends. The window is just opening.

This team's going to win 50 ball games next year, and the Air Canada Centre is going to be rocking once again come next April. If there's one thing the playoffs proved, it's that the ACC is an electric place to be during the playoffs. The crowd is fantastic, and New Jersey should be ashamed of itself for not being able to sellout their games.

Hold your heads high, Toronto Raptors. You've saved basketball in this city.

Appreciation is there.

Oh, and FU, VC.

Goodnight, Toronto...

Still Alive

No, I'm not talking about the fan the Toronto Maple Leafs almost killed last Saturday night after they blew another 4-1 lead. I'm talking about their playoff chances. Somehow, someway, they're still in the race, and all signs are pointing towards a Hockey Night In Canada showdown with the Habs on Saturday to determine the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Bring it. That would just be, like the NWO used to say, too sweet!

First of all though, I've got to rewind. What a ridiculous few days it has been.

Friday night, Raps in Washington, and Mo Pete hits one of the most ridiculous shots on one of the most ridiculous plays I've ever seen in a basketball game. The Wizards player, Ruffin I believe it was, is obviously a moron. He threw the ball up in the air for some reason, but it came down to Mo Pete still in play with about a second left on the clock. If you're going to chuck the ball in the air, at least chuck it past the half-court line and into the opponents territory. What a guy, that Ruffin, and what a chuck.

Speaking of chuck, Swirsky went bananas when Mo Pete's shot dropped. Gotta love the Swirsk. The Raps were given a gift, and huge props out to Peterson for hitting his only shot of regulation time. He only played eight seconds!

That's what I call efficient MP3 downloading. High speed, please!

I've got to give Sam Mitchell props as well. He kept saying in the media that Mo Pete, although he was struggling, just had to be ready, because the Raps were going to need him. Sam Mitchell for Coach of the Year. Do it up.

The game went to overtime, Bosh took over and the Raps picked up another huge win. Money in the bank.

Interesting note. TJ Ford fouled out in overtime, and not for one moment was I the least bit concerned. Jose Calderon is the best backup point guard in the NBA, and I'm completely comfortable with this guy running the offense. It was a good feeling. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I love that little Spaniard.

Rewind to Saturday night. Leafs and Pens. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Marc Andre Fleury. All those bloody youths the Pens have rode to a hundred point season. The Leafs needing the two points to stay alive in the playoff race.

First of all, I hate, and I mean seriously hate, Gary Roberts. I'm not sure what the deal is, but he's clearly got some beef and loves to score against the Leafs. Hey Roberts, the Leafs wanted to sign you, you just wouldn't sign without your injured pal Joe Niewendyke. Roberts is a prick. I hate the fact that he gets up for games against the Leafs, because he wants to beat them so badly.

So the Leafs played a strong 50 minutes and were up 4-1. But of course, the wheels well off and with about 10 seconds left, with the Leafs up 4-3, Roberts ran McCabe into the boards on a questionable play from behind. McCabe, clearly peeved with Roberts as I am, gave him a shove and then a cross-check right in the numbers. It was a beauty of a cross-check. I want to see it again. Wait, I'm picturing it. There it is. Yes, beauty.

To make a long story short, the Leafs blew another 4-1 lead, this time giving up the tying goal with only four seconds left in the third period. We're going to overtime.

Amidst all the commotion of the tying goal, a fan had a heart attack in the stands. I guess the fan just couldn't take much more of the Leafs blowing huge leads. It was too much to handle. CPR was performed by a nurse and some doctors and they saved the man's life. Overtime was delayed ten minutes.

Not only was a life saved, but I think the Leafs season might have been as well. The Pens were all over the Leafs in the final five minutes and had all the momentum going into the extra session. However, the delay caused by the fan's heart attack benefited the Leafs and Kaberle found the back of the net in overtime to get the Leafs the win. Like I said, ridiculous. Kabby played a phenomenal game with two goals and an assist. But seriously, the Leafs are hammered. How they can blow 4-1 leads is mind-blowing. But they got the two points, and, I know it's a broken record, but that's all that matters.

Rewind to Sunday. I told you, it was a ridiculous weekend. Charlotte Bobcats in town to face the Raptors. Most obvious observation of the weekend - wow, the Bobcats seriously suck. The Raps dominated and in the process clinched a playoff spot. It's official, the Toronto Raptors are going back to the post-season. Credibility has been restored to this once-pitiful franchise. Thank you Bryan Colangelo, thank you. Like Tupac said, you are appreciated. You'll never really know how much you mean to me, and to all of us Toronto Raptors fans. You truly have been our saviour.

On a side note, how well is Bryan Colangelo always dressed? Dude's got an impeccable taste for fashion. Always looking fly on the sidelines. He just exudes confidence and charisma. BC is the man.

The playoffs are a lock, and the first-ever division title is soon to follow. Just a few more days. This is the best Raptors team of all time. I know, they haven't been around all that long, but that don't mean a thing to me.

The Leafs also had a Sunday affair, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Straight up, they got spanked. It was a well-deserved beating, and honestly, the Leafs were due. It was their third game in four nights and they looked tired. Raycroft completely shit the bed, and that was bound to happen sooner or later. Sooner. Definitely sooner. I was telling some friends Sunday night, it was a good loss, because the Leafs got the losing out of their system. They had to win their three remaining games after all.

However, some good did come out of the beating. I'm proud to say, ladies and gentleman, that The Poni Express has reached its destination! Twenty-one goals! Poni tallied two goals over the weekend and made me $100 richer. It's been a great ride. Get it? Poni, ride? Oh come. Anyways, Poni, much to the chagrin of my main man 40, has proven himself to be a bonafide 20 goal scorer in the NHL. I couldn't be happier for the guy. He's proven me to be a pretty smart dude because I always knew he could do it.

Back to the spanking. It was the Leafs' game in hand on the Montreal Canadiens. The loss, although damaging, left them in the same position they were in after Saturday's dramatic overtime win over the Penguins. Still in 9th place, only one point out of 8th. Nothing changed. I don't know why everyone was going all buck wild saying it was all over, and that the Leafs were done. The Leafs certainly weren't going to win every game left on the schedule, and they never really play well at the Garden anyways. No worries.

Even if the Leafs had beaten the Rangers, and were then a point ahead of Montreal, in order to ensure themselves of a playoff spot, they still would have to win their remaining three games, including the finale against the Habs. Win or lose that Rangers game, nothing changed. It really didn't matter. So it's ok they got spanked. Leafs Nation, calm down.

I've been saying it for about a week now. The Leafs are going to make the post season, they're just making things really interesting. They never seem to do things the easy way anyways.

And now rewind to Monday. Amidst all the excitement of the Raps clinching a playoff berth and the Leafs playoff chase, freaking baseball season began with the Jays visiting the Detroit Tigers. That's right, the AL Champion Detroit Tigers. A good test for the Blue Jays right out the gate.

Doc Halladay against Jeremy Bonderman. It was a great game. A pitcher's duel. The Jays struck early in the first inning for three runs and really had me pumped, but the bats were silent for the rest of the match, until the 10th inning.

The Jays have the reputation of a team that doesn't steal a lot of bags, and I was pleasantly surprised to see both Reed Johnson and Vernon Wells swipe second base in the first inning. I think it shocked the Tigers. And they stole the bags off none other than Pudge Rodriguez. Great calls by John Gibbons. If you've got the reputation of a team that doesn't steal, by all means, start the runners. Like Young Jeezy, I love it.

Halladay went six solid innings. No need to tire him out in the first game. Only 161 more to go. Baseball season is way too long. And that is one valuable arm.

How about Casey Janssen? I heard he had a great spring and he came in for Doc in the seventh. I've got to admit, I was nervous. Janssen as a middle relief man? The dude retired all seven batters he faced, and looked good doing it. The Jays seem better equipped this year than last. Although I have my concerns about the bullpen, Janssen did well to calm my fears. If five inning wonders like Chacin and Towers struggle this year, which they certainly will, the Jays have guys like Marcum, Janssen and Zombrano to come in and stop the bleeding.

Still a bit surprised to see Towers make the team as the 5th starter. He did have a great spring though, and as of right now, I'm willing to give him another shot. He really did have a great 2005 and if he can somehow get back to that, the Jays could be banging on the door to the post-season. That's enough to make me give him another shot. But, it's certainly a short leash, like JP Ricciardi said. Two bad losses, and the plug has got to be pulled.

I can't believe its been 14 years since the Jays last played in the playoffs. That is a long time. I am getting old. I was too young to really celebrate the Jays' back to back titles of the early 90's. You know, really celebrate them. When the Jays won back then, I was all about having a second round of chocolate milk, not rum and coke's. It's been way too long, man.

And how good does Frank Thomas look in a Jays uniform? He's a beast. And I thought Troy Glaus was big.

And shoutout to Glaus for his timely hit in the 10th inning with the bases loaded. That got me out of my seat. It's all about Blue Jays baseball - You've gotta believe. Sick marketing.

That's it for the rewind. I wasn't kidding. It's been a crazy few days. Tonight was no different, as the Leafs managed to maintain a pulse in the playoff race. The Habs won, so the Leafs remain a point behind Montreal. The Leafs still control their own destiny. If they win on Thursday in Long Island, against the Rick Dipietro-less Islanders, and knock off the Habs in regulation Saturday, playoffs here we come! Here we come playoffs!

The task at hand is simple. Well, not simple. Hell, they needed overtime to beat the lowly Flyers. I was lucky enough to be at the game tonight and it was bedlam - back to bedlam, James Blunt style - when McCabe scored in OT.

Two more games. Two more wins. That's it. Thursday is going to be tough. The Nassau Colisseum is another building the Leafs simply haven't had a lot of success in over the years. Sundin didn't pot one tonight, although I was hoping my presence at the ACC would get a rise out of him. You know, he'd feel me there. Like he did the night in Edmonton when he got his 1000th point right in front of me. I can't even remember the last time he scored. But it doesn't matter, because, say it with me, we got the two points.

Last year it was Sundin who carried the Leafs on his back down the stretch. He ripped it in the last 15 games, but alas, it wasn't enough. This year, it is the Leafs who are finally carrying their Captain on their backs. Guys like Antropov, Gill and White are scoring goals and keeping the Leafs alive. It's fun to watch. Maybe, just maybe, this time Sundin will take the team on his back once the second-season begins.

They've just got to make it there. Because if they do, anything can happen. They've got to do it for Mats.

Til Thursday against the Islanders, in another do-or-die, goodnight Toronto...

A Prosperous January

It's not every year I want January to last, but it was quite the month for the Raptors and Leafs.

The NBA announced the winners of their monthly awards today. Chris Bosh is the Eastern Conference Player of the Month. Andrea Bargnani is the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. Sam Mitchell is the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month.

How's that for you?

The Raps are hot, and spanked the conference leading Washington Wizards for the second time this season. They went 10-5 in January and are now at .500, and leading the Atlantic Division. We all expected the Raptors to be improved, but I don't think anyone expected it to happen this fast. They've been an exciting team to watch and the second half should be just as good as the first.

TJ Ford returned to the lineup last night, but told Mitchell to let Calderon start, so Ford could ease his way back. Ford, like the rest of us, has seen how well Calderon has played recently, and it was the right move, as Jose had a stellar game. It shows the maturity of Ford - he put the team first. Not only is he a great player, he's also a team player, and you can never have enough of those on your team. It's refreshing, especially after Vince Carter's antics of the bad ol' days.

Bosh was on fire again. He even hit a shot from half court. Winning the Player of the Month award is just icing on the cake after he brought the Raps to .500 and made the All-Star game.

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Last January, if you recall, the Maple Leafs went on a horrid slide, lost eight in a row, and effectively killed their season.

The Leafs entered 2007 with a lot of question marks, and as they head into February, they've somehow managed to climb back into the thick of the playoff race. They played great hockey in January, going 8-4, all while missing Tucker, Peca and Wellwood, and Poni and Antropov at the start of the month.

What makes their January even more impressive is the fact that six of their eight wins came while on the road. Their only road loss in January was in Pittsburgh. In their six road victories, they only let in 10 goals against. What does that tell you? Yes, they're finally getting some goaltending. Raycroft stole two games on his own, and was solid in the other contests.

All Razor has to do is be as good as the goalie at the other end of the rink. That's all the Leafs want out of him, and in January, he was certainly up to the task. He's definitely stepped up his game, and the Leafs needed that from him. I'm not going to find anything negative to say about him right now. He's playing solid, and he's doing his job, and that's what he has to do.

Yes, the Leafs have issues playing on home ice - especially Razor. It just seems like everyone's trying to hard - especially Razor. But the Leafs open February with three more road games, so they'll want to finish this road trip strong, especially after getting off to a good start.

Raycroft has started the last 13 games for the Leafs. It's clear he is the number one man. Maurice gave him the ball to run with, and he has. He's turned his game around after the laugher against Vancouver. JS Aubin is not going to see any ice any time soon either. I've heard rumours that Aubin and Maurice don't get along, so that's not helping Aubin's cause either. But to be fair, Aubin had his chance. Unlike last year, when he took full advantage of his opportunity when Tellqvist couldn't handle the job, Aubin has struggled mightily this season. When Raycroft was crappin the bed in December, Aubin came in and didn't turn heads. I guess last year was a fluke. There's a reason why Aubin is a backup, and has been for most of his career.

Raycroft is the man right now. If the Leafs get to the playoffs, it's on him. His statistics aren't amazing, but he's winning, and that's all that matters in Leafs Nation.

Shoutout to the one and only, Mats Sundin. Scored number 20 Wednesday night against the Rangers, to give the Leafs a 2-1 win. It was a beauty, top shelf over Lundqvist's glove. It was the kind of goal that just made me feel all good inside; the kind of goal that makes me love the beautiful game of hockey.

Ian White made a great pass to Mats, who was streaking down the middle of the ice. He was all alone. I jumped out of my seat when he went in past the blue line, and when he put it up top past Lundqvist, I pumped my fist a la Tiger Woods.

Money.

That's what Sundin is - money. He's been in the NHL 16 years, and has scored 20 goals in each of those 16 years. Twelve of those 20 goal seasons have been with the Maple Leafs. He is the true model of consistency, and continues to get the job done. Another game winning goal to add to his stellar resume. No Leafs player has even been as clutch as Mats Sundin - he's scored 74 game winning goals with the Leafs, the most in club history. He is the greatest player to ever wear the Maple Leafs jersey.

The Leafs improved play in their own end in January was a product of Raycroft playing better, but also better team defense.

Ian White returned to the lineup from his shoulder injury and the Leafs top six defenseman are all healthy and playing together. The results are showing. With everyone healthy, Kaberle and McCabe's ice-time have gone down. They both played less than 23 minutes against the Rangers - thats a hefty drop from their usual 28 or 29 minutes. Kubina is now playing upwards of 20 minutes a night, while Gill, Colaiacovo and White are playing about 17 or 18 minutes each.

This was the defense Ferguson put together at the start of the year, and it's looking like a solid one now.

Speaking of White, he's clearly made a name for himself this season. He's definitely made this team for good, as the 5th or 6th defenseman. Brendan Bell played ok while White was injured, but Maurice doesn't give Bell the same amount of minutes, and just doesn't trust him enough. White and Gill have good chemistry playing together, and White made his mark immediately when he came back into the lineup. He got an assist in his return against the Canes on Tuesday, and set up Sundin on Wednesday. He's second in rookie defenceman scoring. Not too shabby at all for a guy who was supposedly way below on the depth chart. The future on defense looks pretty bright with Colaiacovo and White.

Big game Saturday night against the Sens. They've been on fire recently and it will be a great test for the Leafs and Raycroft.

And I've got to mention the play of Chad Kilger. I don't know how he does it, but he throws at least two or three bodychecks on every shift. He is the Leafs best forechecker and bodychecker. He's an amazingly hard worker. It's been a total team effort of late, especially in the physical play department. Guys like Belak, Newbury, Green and Kilger have been tremendous on the forecheck. Everyone's contributing.

Antropov has been great since he came back. He really is a big fella, and he's dominating downlow when he's using his huge frame. Him and Poni are great on the cycle.

To say the Eastern Conference is tight is the understatement of the year. Paul Maurice said back in September it was going to be a race, and it's shaping up to be just that. A great race, actually.

I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully, to playoff hockey at the hangar.

And playoff basketball too.

Goodnight, Toronto...