Media Watch – May 7, 2008

If that translation was right it just further enforces what a great attitude Jose has.

You want a player to have the desire to be the best, to compete at the highest level for the highest prizes. Jose has shown that in international competition, with the raptors and with that quote.

However at the same time you want a guy who will put the team first and not cause any behind the scene problems. Jose did that by giving up his starting spot and never once complaining about it.

He's is a fierce competitor and a team first guy. TJ Ford is only the former....oh ya and Jose is also a better player.

I certainly hope Colo has told Jose and his agent that he will be the starting guard next year and play the bulk of the minutes. I also hope he has told Jose and his agent that he will try and move TJ.

The TJ letter was freakin halarious.

Does anyone know the first day we can trade TJ ford and resign Jose Calderon?

Once aagain guys great site, great articles and thanks for doing this

I was disappointed in hearing the news. At first I wasn’t a big fan of the Swirsk but than I had the pleasure of listening to the Boston guys and all of a sudden appreciated what we had.

Still hate his Salami and Cheese.

Why not bring in Cabbie? That way, regardless of the product on the floor, we are sure to be entertained.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaa! Great find on the TJ Ford letter, ROFLMAO! You guyz should actually send it to CP3, he'd probably crack up!

Love Chuck, still getting over it.
Why can't Rod Black leave? F***n William Shatner of broadcasting.

Jose never said he didn't want to start. He always said he wanted to do what's best for the team, which is also what you should say during the season.

Why would it be surprising to hear that a top 10 point guard in the world wants to start? Maybe in "TJ Land".

uhh...wtf with the tj letter?
maybe if you framed it in a different way...but otherwise it comes off as an extremely juvenile thing to put out there.
hope i don't need to outline the reasons why.

Diler - Juvenile yes. Funny yes. Think the HQ was just looking to inject some humour into what could be a rather morose off-season.

The final part of the translation is not quite correct, I would put it this way:

"Of course I will not go to a team in which I CAN be a important contributor BUT the team doesn't have a solid structure or has no chance in the playoffs."

Meaning that, even if guaranteed an important role, he would not go to a Memphis-like team.

Interesting take--and I can't believe I didn't think of Norma Wick. Oddly enough, she'd be great. She knows the sport, is even keeled and would make us forget the Chucklehead Sideshow of the last seven years on TV. It will always be hard for a woman to step in and corral the big boys, but she is very good and is--I hear--looking for work. Eric Smith or Rod Black would be horrible. Smith and Jones sound like a couple of teenagers broadcasting over the PA system, except a lot of teenagers have better vocabularies. If Coangelo pulls the plug on Mitchell so he can hire D'Antoni, make Sam Leo and Jack's partner. THAT I would listen to.

Andrew Gregg - Are you serious with your Norma Wick suggestion? I can picture her in game commentary: "Jack, what are some of the positives of scoring more than your opponent...?" I know some people have expressed their support for Norma, but I just felt she lacked personality and she tended to ask way too many rhetorical questions.

I'm on record as loving Norma, but my real vote goes for Sam Mitchell to replace Swirsky. He wouldn't suck corporate ass like Chuck--Sam would tell it like it is and then we'd really get to hear what he thinks of Bargnani. They should also give Sam Chuck's radio slot--give him a crack at all those hosers who moan about the Leafs. Sam would have them fixed up in no time.

But skip all that for a second--Adnan Virk might not be a bad idea. Worth a try, because I have this mortal fear of Rod Black...

I think I was one of the few people who enjoyed Norma although she did love the rhetorical questions. She also loved the non-question:

"Chris, talk about your performance tonight."

"TJ, talk to us about your approach to the game's final minutes."

"Norma, talk to us about why you use talk to us so much."

I like Norma, but not for play-by-play. That was more of a sarcastic comment knowing how most fans were happy to see her go.

Also, the TJ letter was indeed an attempt to do something a little different. Submissions were sent out in the NBA blogosphere to participate in "Chris Paul" day and seeing as how I compared their careers earlier this season, I thought it might be something light to contribute. I was hoping its over the top nature (him averaging 16 blocks a game in high school and styling Delfino's hair) would seperate it from being another "anti-Ford" piece. We'll probably run the letter we found of Delfino writing to his hair later this summer...

WELL IF TJ AND JOSE ARE BOTH BACK NEXT SEASON (AND BELIEVE ME I PRAY THAT THEY ARE...) WHO WILL START...DID TJ REALLY WRITE THAT LETTER TO CHRIS..ITS HILARIOUS, WE NEED SOMEONE WITH THAT KIND OF SENSE OF HUMOUR IN THE LOCKER ROOM TO LIGHTEN UP THE GUYS WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH..I DO REMEMBER BOSH SAYING THAT THE TEAM MISS TJ WHEN THEY WENT 5-0 MAKE THAT 0-5 ON THE WEST COAST TRIP. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY FANS DISLIKE TJ...ONE MORE SEASON WITH HIM AND JOSE AND THE RAPS WILL TAKE BACK THE ATLANTIC DIV CROWN..NOW I KNOW WHY JOSE IS SHOOTING BETTER...ITS TJ'S ADVICE...LOL.....COME ON BC LETS GO GET DIOP AND MAGETTE...NO MATTER WHAT IT COST....RAPS4LIFE

I like Chuck but I was sick of that Salami and cheese crap. Raps fans are not stupid and we don't need someone to tell us when a game is in the bag, please and then Leo trying to get him to say it even earlier in the game...And anybody else except Norma and Rod..norma speak to the players like she was at a tennis or golf game, with that annoying whisper and Rod my god how did he get on TV...Can't we get the Blue Jay guy or better yet the Leafs guy..don't know their names..And whats with the Sam for Chuck one of Sams check could pay Chuck for the whole year...The Raps should import a basketball player to come in and do the play by play either way I am looking forward for the fresh start at the broadcast booth and on the court...I am still laughing at that TJ letter, Franchise you guys are too much that was funny.///Raps4life

Never could stand the Chick-isms, except for "ONIONS" - I'd still love to get that T-shirt.

I agree that Madani is a good play-by-play guy, his work at CIS this year was good, but not great - he needs more seasoning before he steps up to the big leagues.

My suggestion would be Jamie Campbell - although a Jays guy, has a voice (and enthusiasim) that would work for Bball.

Or you can keep with The Score and bring on Adnan Vert...the guy's friendly, big voice and would be great with Jack or Leo...

I worked with him in the day at TSN behind the scenes and he knows his $h!t.

Madani would be fantastic for this. I also worked with him during college and have seen his work on The Score and A Channel in Ottawa. Plus I'd score some free tickets!!

I'm starting a Facebook group for this!!

jusajus the Norma question was halarious

One of the biggest things I'd like to see is a commentator who is objective. I remember Leo Rautins was very critical in the earlier years when he'd bash the raps for not getting the ball to Davis enough. He seemed to change his tune a lot....

Thats why I loved watching the raptors on ABC. They actually commented on the game.

somehow I think the TV crew will be worse next year. did not love chuck, but compared to the names on this list, he is a god.

Norma Wick sounds like a nightmare. Jamie Campbell already stinks as a baseball announcer. I truly fear 82 games of Rod Black or Paul Jones. John Saunders would be fantastic.

John Saunders would cost a gazillion dollars. Someone will undoubtedly float the dopey idea of pairing Mark and Paul Jones, but as soon as that person opens his mouth he will be exposed as an idiot and the idea will go nowhere. So here's my plan: hire D'Antoni as coach and move Sam into Chuck's chair, with Leo and/or Jack. Sam still wouldn't be able to recognize a defensive adjustment, but that's what Leo and Jack are for. Then on the sideline we use Mop Girl, because she's there anyway, everyone loves to look at here and she doesn't appear to be doing anything else.

Think B Colan still wants Jefferson?

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6486081&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Rod Black is the Swiss Army Knife of sports commentators so you can bet that he'll get more mic & screen time next season. I swear he has pictures of somebody important over at Bell MegaGlobal Media.

Be afraid, be very afraid. He might have pictures of you.

Mustachioed? Un-mustachioed? Who knows? Rod Black is crazy versatile!

Good stuff there folks.

Favourite Chuck lines (sorry for any repetition):

"I like Gay, Leo." (talking about Rudy Gay)

"That's because you love Dick, Leo." (talking about ref Dick Bavetta)

"Player X eating some ACC rim." (nasty)

Boomshakalaka!

I vote for Rod Black's moustache to take over play by play.

I think my all-time favourite Chuck moment is when post-game, the in-studio crew goes back to Chuck and Leo for their thoughts on the game. And while Leo (or Jack) gives their take, Chuck just sorta zones out for about five minutes. That always killed me. He just stares off into space with this look that says "why am I on this planet?"

Swirsky was staring into space because he was waiting for Richard Petty to tell him what to say in his ear piece.

Brain cramp--that should've read Richard PEDDIE.

Franchise, that is so funny ‘cause it’s true! I’ve noticed it before but never thought about it until you mentioned it.

Eric Smith is the colour guy, doesn’t do play by play so it wouldn’t make sense.

It sounds like I’m in the minority, but I’ve always enjoyed listening to Paul Jones. In fact, if it wasn’t for the 2 second delay, I would mute the TV and listen to the radio broadcast instead. Maybe I enjoyed it more because Paul would actually talk about what was going on on the court.

What about Todd MacCulloch? He’s Canadian, always like the guy and I think he’s doing play by play for Philadelphia so he has the experience.

MacCulloch wold never work, because then Leo wouldn't get away with making his 76ers career sound like it lasted for 12 years. Leo would kill that deal. He's going to the hall of fame.

So let met get this straight, CB4 doesn't even make it to the All NBA 1st, nor 2nd, nor 3rd team and you still think that he's a superstar? What have you been smoking? LOL.
1st team: kobe, Paul, Garnett, James, Howard
2nd team: Amare, Nash, Duncan, Nowitzki, williams,
3rd team: Ming, McGrady, Boozer, Pierce, and Ginobilli
Where's CB4 - nowhere to be found.
For all those who don't agree with my you can kiss my silly behind.

Easy Bargsbust...that third team besides Ginobili is SUSPECT.

Tell me that Bosh wouldn't have taken Boozer or Yao's spot if the Raptors had finished third in the East again? That last team simply rewards good teams with star players. Don't think anyone here is arguing that Bosh in on the same level as the Nowitzkis and Amares. And saying where is Bosh is like saying where is David West? Where is Carmello Anthony? Where is Rasheed Wallace? There's not enough room for every star player in the league on the teams. So Bosh not making it proves nothing. Every year star players get left off the list. Besides, isn't your schtick supposed to be trashing Andrea?

Guess you're sick of bashing the other guy.
You remind me of my 7 year old son... star, superstar, who decides the criteria? Is there like an imaginary line that needs to crossed
Looking at the list you have provided CB does not deserve to be there. Still a good player.
Still a bore. Get off your parents computer and out of their basement and get some fresh air.

Franchise, Bosh no doubt is a star,

But, he's just not a superstar. A star is someone who makes the all star team and is usually one of the best or the best player on their team. But, a Superstar is someone who is better than a star. CB4 is just not a super star just yet. He might be one in the future though, just not right now. If I do recall correctly, Nash was not a superstar until he hit 28 or so. Bosh still has a long way to go. And I bet you he would tell you the same.

Franchise,
One of my fave posts of yours with the Chuck zoning out; loved that too....in between zoning out though, he'd stare two inches from Jack or Leo's face right into their eyes...classic stuff, I never took my eyes off Chuck in those post games....

I think Chuck missed Norma.

Ok I think I'll be ok now. Only cried three times over the Chuckster today.

Somebody slap me.

Bargsbust - Thanks for the fascinating perspective. Star or Superstar? I just don't know? I sure hope you keep posting about it for the next 4 months. I think that is how long your man crush on Bargnani lasted. You make me miss Marcia.

Franchise - Hate to say it but I really didn't like the TJ letter. It didn't offend me or anything, just didn't make me laugh. Feels sac religious critiquing anything originating from this site!

I'll go on record as saying I thought the TJ letter was halarious...and so did the people I showed it to.

Also did anyone checkout the spurs and hornets game....that game was way more exciting than the final score would lead you to believe.

I actually thought that was actually written by TJ! Obviously I thought he was being facetious.

So where do we stand going into the off season boys, we need some analysis!

The whole star vs. superstar thing is so arbitrary and such a matter of opinion that I don't know why bargsbust keeps bringing it up. Oh, wait, it's because he only has two opinions that he restates ad nauseum!

I bet if we polled people on this site as to who is a "superstar" you'd find significant disagreements outside of a handful of obvious guys. The whole notion of superstardom is so reliant on media exposure anyways.

I kind of agree. TJ's selfish faults are so glaringly obvious, I feel it almost takes away from the argument when you parody him in such a crazily obvious way. The sad thing is, TJ probably could be a Paul-Like PG, if he only had the brains and attitude.

I kind of agree. TJ's selfish faults are so glaringly obvious, I feel it almost takes away from the argument when you parody him in such a crazily obvious way. The sad thing is, TJ probably could be a Paul-Like PG, if he only had the brains and attitude.

Franchise, yeah sure, it's just MEDIA that makes Kobe a supertar, score 81 points against us, and get an MVP.
It's just MEDIA that makes Chris Paul takes a 2 game lead over the Spurs.
It's also just media that Nash and Nowitzki got MVP too.
It has nothing to do with their ability to take over a game or skill set. We're just sitting sheep who don't know how to think as we sit in front of our TV sets watching TV being brainwashed.
Thanks for reminding me again.
:-)

WTF.....Also did anyone checkout the spurs and hornets game....that game was way more exciting than the final score would lead you to believe.

I sure did point guard play was amazing to watch. Best series so far and looking forward watching 4 more games.

BargsBust I believe you were refering to firesmitch not franchise.

Either way you are sorta right because Bosh is certainly no Chris Paul, KG, Duncan, Kobe, Lebron or Howard.

So if your definition of superstar is the very best of the best then your right. However when i think of a superstar bosh fits the criteria.....basically to me a superstar is a guy who is always making the allstar team year in year out.

Perhaps some people choose to look at a superstar as a guy who consistantly competes for 1st team all nba which Bosh does not.

Perhaps instead of arguing whether or not he is a superstar we can just rank them in terms of a number. For example the raps don't have a top 5 player in the league. Possibly they don't have a top 10 player in the league.

That would certainly make things easier to understand in the future.

Can somebody tell me the earliest possible day we can resign Jose and trade TJ. It'll be interesting to see what we can get back for him.

Cleveland is looking like a team in desperate need of a starting PG. Perhaps we can send TJ and a package for Daniel Gibson and Wally's expiring contract.

Same thing with Portland....we could bring over Jarrett Jack.

WE don't even have to get a backup PG back....perhaps we go for the 2/3 we so desperaly need for TJ and then we sign Duhon who is a FA.

Last year we were a team with one of the brightest futures....with Andreas major regression and TJ's stupid attitude we look like a team that is going to be ok for a while.

Just as quick as things went up when Brian came....they went back down....hopefully it goes right back up.

One thing for sure is the Brian is not going to be sitting there tweedling his thumbs doing nothing

That Paul kid is unbelievable! I think he is now the best point guard in the league. How would you like to be an Atlanta fan watching Paul slice and dice the Spurs defence?

"It's also just media that Nash and Nowitzki got MVP too."

lol, were you trying to be sarcastic with that comment? It's ironic, because it was actually due to the media that both of those guys won MVP. Were they better than Kobe and LeBron those years? Really? Or was it because the media loved them?

For the record Bosh finished 9th in regular season PER in Hollinger's stats, after hovering around 5th for much of the year before his injury, and Bosh is currently 9th in playoff PER as well. His regular season PER was higher than D. Howard's, Nash's, Melo's, Boozer's, Yao's, Billups', Gasol's, Iverson's, D-Wade's, Baron Davis's... the list goes on and on. In fact he finished just one spot behind Kobe.

Check it out:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=per&pos=all&seasonType=2&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fsort%3dper%26pos%3dall%26seasonType%3d2

For the record, the reg. season top 10:

1. Lebron 29.23
2. Paul 28.39
3. Amare 27.61
4. KG 25.30
5. Dirk 24.66
6. Duncan 24.41
7. Manu 24.34
8. Kobe 24.31
9. Bosh 23.88
10. Chauncey 23.61

Look at that list and tell me Bosh isn't a superstar.

You guys are too much sometimes.

Also, everyone who's been hating on TJ should look at the stats.

Further down on that list:

26. Calderon 20.51
27. TJ Ford 20.37

Far be it from me to suggest that the Calderon over Ford thing is based at least in part on latent racism - you know, how Calderon plays the game "the right way" and TJ is "selfish" - but... well... I got nothing.

WTF - Yeah, Bargsbust needs to stop with the sizzurp...I never mentioned anything about the media. And the earliest we can sign Jose is July 1. (So essentially midnight that night if all goes well Toronto can lock things down with his agent.) However Ford can be shown the door before that. It's just that as a base-year compensation player, it's tough to really get into talks with other teams until July 1...or at least draft day late in June.

Post today will be up a bit later on than usual...

Not sure if Grange has been following our discussions here but he presents some interesting points about Bosh's level of "stardom" Bargsbust:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/wbbasketball

^ Good points brought up by Grange, as usual. One thing he didn't mention, though, is that even per-48 stats are somewhat misleading because they don't take into account the pace factor. The Raps played the 6th slowest pace in the NBA this year. Adjusting for that, Bosh's two month peak was around 33 points per 48 minutes, with all his other stats receiving slight boosts as well. Someone like Amare's stats would decrease with the adjustment because of the fast pace his team plays.

FireSMitch:

IMO the whole keep Jose trade TJ has absolutely nothing to do with racisim.

You bring up the stats used on espn.

However it probably doesn't have much to do with stats either.

Both guys wanted to start. Jose waited until after the season ended before publicly stating that and he gave up his starting spot to TJ.

TJ on the other hand played like a jerk coming off the bench and said he didn't want to be a bench player and cried his way back into the starting lineup.

TJ was being a jerk and Jose was putting the team first. Thats why everyone wants TJ gone and Jose here.

Also on a side note....stats don't always tell the whole story....just look at the numbers Marbury and Francis used to put up.

On a side side note....the Denver Post is reporting that the Nuggets will listen to offers for Carmello. A bit shocking....

Any chance we could send TJ Ford, Andrea Bargnani, Draft Pick and an expiring contract to Denver for Carmello and a cap filler

Robert Archibald; "You make me miss Marcia. "

That was awesome. I spit coffee everywhere. You owe me a new monitor.

Franchise, I'm really sorry for mistaking your for Firesmitch. My apologizies, just want to make it clear that I'm not a numero uno jerk.
But, this I gotta say to Firesmitch, you're an idiot! Look at the PF you listed that are better than Bosh. Clearly, if CB4 were to play against any of these teams our team would lose in the playoffs because the opposing team would have a better player than CB4 in the playoffs.
And already mentioned our supporting cast is really really weak.
Robert Archibald, I have to go on explaining my point because there are knuckleheads out there like Firesmitch who follow the Raptors and the NBA on a regular basis and yet, are too daft to understand the game.
Hopefully by illuminating on the point and explaining the point thoroughly will these people who are naive of the situation will come to terms with understanding the game.
After all, isn't this why we right on this post, to share our points? And to share our points is to make the other person understand.
Because if we spoke in rhetoric all the time, what would be the point of posting?
No Point.

Michael Grange writes 'Chris Bosh is good. If he's missing anything it's that he doesn't quite have that sheer athletic ‘X' factor that the very top handful of guys in the league have.'
Therefore clearly, Chris bosh does not have top level talent. His is therefore not better than any regular all star. Therefore he is not an all star.
Firesmitch, you can stop watching the Raptors now, because you clearly are blind or you don't understand the game of basketball. Either way, you're an idiot.

Bargsbust "After all, isn't this why we right on this post, to share our points? And to share our points is to make the other person understand."

Bargsbust, you are killing this forum. People aren't idiots for disagreeing with you, they are idiots for replying to you (I know, what does that make me?). The point of posting is not to demand everyone agree with you. Say your piece (hopefully less than 5 times), others will read it and choose themselves to agree or not. How do your non hoops conversations normally go...

dude: Hi Bargsbust, great day eh?

Bargsbust: Nice? the humidity is too high and if there are any clouds in the sky, can we really say it is a great day?

dude: Uh, I'm just happy to be out enjoying a little sun.

Bargsbust: Clearly if there are still clouds in the sky, that means that somewhere else it isn't sunny! What if those clouds move over here? Will you still think it is a great day then?!

dude: I just think its nice out, its kinda small talk...

Bargsbust: Idiot! I just told you it WASN'T a great day, don't you get it?

dude: whatever (leaving)

Bargsbust: It even says in the paper, SUNNY WITH CLOUDY PERIODS! Have you ever seen a great day!? Don't tell me this is a great day! A great day is... blah blah blah

You raise points on a Raps blog that clearly stir the pot (Bargs sucks, Bosh ain't no superstar), then if people bother to get sucked in and reply, you call them names. As you said, share your points (check), make people understand (check) but stop demanding that everyone agrees with you. Disagreeing is not misunderstanding.

A while ago some people were worried that BC only liked a certain type of player and were worried about what acquisitions he might make this off season. I don't think we have to worry too much about BC only looking for players that are soft shooters. In Pheonix, once the team established an identity as a high octane offensive team, BC brought in Raja Bell and Kurt Thomas to toughen them up defensively. BC knows what needs to be done, I'm staying positive that he will do it.

Robert Archibald, you totally cracked me up about the weather situation.
It's interesting to see how writing reflects in real life, because in real life I have been known to argue about stupid things.

But, I actually don't think that I'm hurting this website, I think that I'm actually making people think.

You do have a point though there's a limit to how much I should go on. But, when people talk directly too me, I feel that I need to answer. I'm a rookie blogger so I don't know the social context of web blogs.

OK fair enough, I'll learn, I'll make my point and won't say anymore.

But to be honest, I'm not writing just to stir the pot. I'm writing what I believe are facts that people can't accept, and this is why its controversial.

And when it's controversial, people stop and think.

That's all I'm doing, making you think.

Youtake some extreme(and plainly mistaken) views

Do not assume people who don't agree are stupid. Frankly your opinions are wrong.

There must be something about blog posters that no matter how idiotic or moronic a posted comment is, a number of obviously intelligent people feel the need to respond to that individual.

Learn to smile and move on. It works for me.