Before we get to Team Canada and the Dino Nation Blogger being at the event. We are called the Dino Nation Blog for a reason. So we must start with the Big Raptor News of the day. I am sure most of you heard while I was off watching Team Canada that Jose Calderon has said he is returning to the Toronto Raptors and that he has come to a basic agreement with the Raptors. On his Website is says I Will Stay In Toronto. Basic as you can get. I think most know I have concerns about Jose and his future. I will never question his charcter as a human being. He went out of his way to make sure it was clear he had no intention of leaving Toronto. We will not know the amount that he will be getting but I think it is safe to say that Jose Calderon has left some money on the table that he could have got had he wanted to do so. He will be getting a huge raise though. I would not say this about many guys in sports but I will about Jose, I think money is not important to him. I think it matters more to him the people that he is around and the fact that they all want to win. That is a really old school way of thinking. But it is something that we frankly could use more of in sports. So good for Jose Calderon. On another day we can look at the very real challenges that he will need to address in his new found role. But on this day I want to keep it on a complete positive frame of mind. Many of you do not understand during all of the Jose vs T.J stuff it was not a case of not respect or enjoying Jose as a player and a person. I do and always have. If I was going to rank my favourite Raptors prior to the Ford Trade. It would have been as follows:
- Bosh
- Ford
- Calderon
It may not have been possible to keep both in the minds of many and of the Raptors. But it was in my case not hard to like and respect both for who they both were as people. I respect different things about both guys and none of that has changed. Jose has always shown a great amount of loyalty towards this franchise and I am truly happy for him getting his new deal.
Canada Playing On Canada Day
Now a few things before we get to today’s Canada Basketball Game. I first want to say that Canada Basketball got in touch with me and unfortunately I got this e-mail after the fact. But they took the time to e-mail me and say that they were sorry for the lack of communication on their part. They also welcomed me to move up a row for today’s game. I was not aware they had contacted me as I had already left for the game. I respect them for taking the time to write me. They went on to say they enjoyed my work on the game from yesterday. I am glad of to hear that. I will look into a way that the Dino Nation Blog can work with them in the future. I think in the end we both want the same thing which is a higher profile for Basketball in this country. I am hopefully that we can work together in that goal in the future in some way that benfits everyone including you the readers.
Dino Blogger Says Hello Sam
That leads into something that happened and had nothing to do with a media pass that was waiting for me that I was unaware of. In the past when I was working in radio and T.V, I was always a nut for being extremely early. I always felt it was a good idea and allowed me chance to talk with people and for lack of a better term network. I was a young kid looking to get ahead. Today I showed up maybe around 2:15 or so. The tip was at 4pm. I happened to notice a very large guy in the upper area of the gym. I took a closer look and it was Sam Dalembert of Team Canada and the NBA Sixers. He seemed to be relaxing and had his phone so I respected that and did not go over. But when he was done on his phone and I walked over. He said hello and we began a very informal conversation. I am going to keep the contents of it between him and myself. I did tell him I was a blog writer but this was what we call in media a “off the record conversation”. Some of it was just personal stuff about me and the rest just general stuff. But I do want to say 2 things based on that conversation. Both are very positive in nature and I would think Sam would have zero issue with being shared. The first is that he is a very nice guy and was very kind and a joy to talk with. I have interviewed a lot of folks over the years and just talked informally so I have seen cases from other side of things. Sam was as nice as could be. The second thing I got from talking with him is that he really wants to help grow the profile of basketball here in Canada. I was happy to share some time with him and I wish him the best going forward in his career. It is funny that I had just mentioned a couple days ago about wanting to talk to NBA players and a few days later it happened. This blog truly is leading the charmed life and has really grown beyond my own high expectations. Sam would not be a big factor in today’s game as he was rested and played only a few minutes and did not score. But make no mistake the Big Man will be a huge part of any run Canada will make to reach the games in China.
2-0 For Canada in Hamilton
The Game itself. I know it took awhile to get here but I think the stuff in front was all worth telling you first. Rowan Barrett has not lost his jump shot in his time away from the national team. He was making 3 point shots from the international range at a comfortable rate. The other 2 players that stood out in a general sense for me were Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat. Honestly this guy is far greater talent to me after having watched him. I understand this was at a level that is below what he faces in the NBA or will face later this month in Greece but still. There is all this talk of Raps need for an athletic option to play at the 2 or 3. He could be one the Raptors should look at in the long term. He has a skill set that could meet the needs of Raps in the future. I may be just dreaming to think finally a person who is a native of this land could be a actual option for being a Raptor. But I will take that dream over the one many fans have had about Jamal Maglorie. A guy that has rejected the national team at every turn. I can’t say that the fact is career has went downhill has been something that makes me sad at all. He never has answered the call of his country. I respect the way Leo Rautins has dealt with the topic of him since he became the coach of team Canada. We should not have to beg anyone to represent their country. I look at the guys that do make up this team and see a common desire to build this program and make it something that they all can be proud of and we all can be proud of.
Lastly Levon Kendall is a guy from a solid NCAA back ground at Pitt. I was impressed with him last year in Las Vegas and in the last 2 days have seen even more from the native of B.C. I could mention other players as well but these 3 guys stood out to me over the span of the 2 contests. Much like the contest with Lebanon, Canada controlled this game from start to finish. The built lare leads of 20 plus points and worked hard throughout the game to earn a 90-63 win over New Zealand.
Rautins Seems Back On Track For Syracuse This Fall
For those of you that may be fans of Syracuse Orange, you would be interested in the progress of Andy Rautins. I will say I am far from an expert in some ways. But as someone that does watch a fair bit of basketball, I saw little to no effect on Rautins who is coming off a major injury suffered last year vs Brazil. He is wearing a brace on the repaired knee. But he seems to be moving without issue or concern. I also noticed him in today’s game playing at times as a play maker as oppossed to a shooter. He made several nice passes and was setting players up with easy scoring chance. Rautins would look for his own offense after the game was long decided in the 4th quarter. It is a good sign that he was able to play a great deal of minutes in a quick evening to late afternoon turn around. So I would say if you are a fan of the Orange it seems you will have your player back at a level that is not unlike when you last saw him.
Canada Day Thoughts From Dino Blogger
So in closing this has been a great couple of days having team Canada come to visit the home base of the Dino Nation Blog. I have had a great time at these events despite the fact the games have not been close. But the right team was winning so that is good. Before I close off this blog for another day. I want to wish everyone a Happy Canada Day. Be proud of you country it is a great place to be. I also want to aknowledge two great people on this day tied to basketball and Canada.
James Naismith he invented this sport and without him there is not a Dino Nation Blog. Sam Mitchell would be doing who knows what? Not to mention Jordan shoes would never have been made. We owe it all to a man who called this country home. Never forget that. Dream Team’s in the United States would never have been if not for this man. Every person that has made or tried to make a dime connected to this sport on a day like this one should give him thanks.
The second is who these Exhibition games are named after. Jack Donohue was the long time coach of Canada’s National team and was really in my opinion the grandfather that made this program able to be where it is today. Leo Rautins the current coach of Canada played under him and based on his past comments I know respects him greatly. Which is something all of his former players like Raptors coach Jay Triano would also say the same. He like Jack Armstrong of Raptors broadcasts was a person from the N.Y.C that found his way to Canada and the program of basketball in this country is all the better for it. He was a great sporting figure in this nation and is a true icon to the sport in this country.
So hope you all have enjoyed the last few days. I know that I have been thrilled. Thanks to everyone that was part of that. If you are in Toronto area I encourage you to catch all of this for yourself on July 4th and 5th at the Ricoh Coliseum the home of the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. I think this is the first time basketball will be played at this venue. Hope you all had a SAFE and Great Canada Day. I know the Dino Blogger sure did.
Tags: Sixers, Chris Bosh, Sam Dalembert, Canada Basketball, Syracuse, Andy Rautins, Levon Kendall, Rowan Barrett, James Naismith, Jack Donohue, Ricoh Coliseum
