I guess I misinterpreted a question in the mail last week about the whole Canadian thing with the HOTH and what they need to do to meet the new guy’s goal of becoming a national phenomenon.
Know what they need to do? Win.
I don’t think, and have never thought, that a Canadian player was necessary, if one’s good enough to play and contribute that’s great but totally unnecessary. I don’t think fans, even the casual ones, will be attracted to a team because of the passports and birthplaces of its players if they don’t win.
It wouldn’t matter, I don’t think, if guys were from the United States or South America, Europe, Africa, Asia or Rexdale if they can’t play. The notion that this team needs a Canadian player to increase its fan base is poppycock, be nice if it happened but totally unnecessary if the guy couldn’t play and the team didn’t win.
If any of the Canadians currently in the NBA were to suddenly arrive here, or if any of those up and coming young kids somehow wind up here if they make it to the league would be nice, I guess; it’d give us a story or two to write and that’s never a bad thing but if the team doesn’t win, it doesn’t matter.
Forget passports, wonder about talent. That’s how you’re going to widen a fan base.
This team over the years has done an awful lot to represent the country; the red and white in the jerseys is good, the Maple Leaf was an inspired touch, they’ve crossed the country for training camp and exhibition games.
The majority of their games are on national television, they will never get a nationwide radio network because of the proliferation of pucks in all the major cities but that’s not that big a deal.
This is not the Expos or Blue Jays trying to capitalize on a new market, that era is gone, there are too many other choices out there now, too many other distractions.
The way for this team to become Canada’s team is simple:
Win more often than not. Create a buzz with the outcome of games, don’t try to manufacture it with some marketing campaign.
End of rant and if the poobahs are reading, you’re welcome.
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Seriously, the pucks?
That’s what likely kept us from any kind of Masai Ujiri resolution yesterday? The bane of my existence that sport is.
Now, I know Masai a little bit and I also understand the way giant sports conglomerates work a bit and the whole Patrick Roy Repatriation Day was too important in Denver for him to even consider stealing any thunder.
Today?
Yeah, I expect today we find something out; Patrick Roy’s done, time to move on to the other important news of the day.
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Since they dithered a bit on the top job and are now dithering a bit on the other job, this seems appropriate, no?
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So, LeBron James fouls out of his first game in more than a year on a dubious, or at least questionable, illegal screen call with less than a minute to go in a nailbiter of a game.
Seconds later Dwyane Wade is called for travelling and when was the last time anyone saw a travel call in the dying seconds of an incredibly important NBA playoff game?
Not sure how, but obviously the refs last night didn’t get the “Hey!!! We cannot have a Spurs-Pacers NBA Final, adjust your whistles accordingly” memo from the league office.
Tell you what, though. I don’t imagine there’s too many of you who figured the Eastern Conference final would be the series that’s become the most compelling of what’s been a very pedestrian NBA post-season.
And if you did, well, you need to think about your favourite numbers and go buy some lottery tickets.
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Wait one second.
Yesterday was National Burger Day somewhere and no one told me about it?
People! Come on!
So, what’s the perfect burger, you wonder?
Well, it’s not one of those quickly take some frozen thing out to make a quick lunch or dinner for you and/or Super Family because that does really count, it’s too easy.
And it most certainly can’t be bought at many drive-through places because they might not all count (An aside? I need to stop by Five Guys up the street soon).
No, they need to be home made, right? Maybe lean ground beef at the best (you need that taste) with perhaps a slight bit of ground veal added to the mix.
The need to be hand-pressed (anyone remember those contraptions we used to have to press burgers?) because the tactile part of making a meal is pretty good and important.
Now, if you were to add a hint of perhaps teriyaki sauce or hot sauce to the mix, that’s okay.
Grilled medium rare, thick but not too huge and you’re done, right?
Toppings?
Has to be a very sharp cheddar (although I had crumbled blue cheese a few times and it’s pretty good), a solid hot mustard selection, perhaps a slice of well-done bacon and that’s it.
No tomatoes, no lettuce, none of the “good for you” stuff because it’s not supposed to be good for you.
Bun, thick and fresh, grilled or toasted just a little bit, right?
How’s that sound a day after Burger Day?
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