Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Some Love for Doug
Doug Smith is my favorite off-season NBA blogger. He's superb really and truly. Usually by the time the fourth quarter of the Raptors NBA season rolls around I am as utterly fed up by his melancholic, often condescending rants as he must be with the fans totally baseless, fear mongering/comment column panic attacks.
Speaking of the Toronto faithful I posed a question to him on his blog the other day regarding our voracity amongst North American sports fans and what makes us seemingly share an angst ridden kinship with fans from other large East Coast cities. His response was succinct, yet pristine in it's accuracy.
Here's how it played out.
Stunning really. As poignant as pelican in a sea of peas.
Speaking of the Toronto faithful I posed a question to him on his blog the other day regarding our voracity amongst North American sports fans and what makes us seemingly share an angst ridden kinship with fans from other large East Coast cities. His response was succinct, yet pristine in it's accuracy.
Here's how it played out.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Great Moves for 31 Year Old Rec League or Playground Bball Players with Bad Legs
Me:
Streetball Moniker = Hot Deals. Gym Moniker = The Golden Scepter, The Vanilla Thrilla, Neon Tetra the Kissing Gourami, F-14 Tomcat ... and many others. 31 years old. 6'1". 20 + years of basketball. Once a glorious sky walker ... now ... no legs.
My Moves:
The Elbow to the Ribs - Employed on defense. This is likely the most important move in my repertoire. For whatever reason I have been asked to play a lot of post in the various leagues I rock across TO. In the past I have been a small forward or 2, usually responsible for guarding the opposing teams highest scorer by using my feet to stay between them and the basket. I guess time has caught up with me now and my main duty is to hold down the paint against guys that are multiple inches taller than me. First rule, keep them out of the paint. This is where the Elbow to the Ribs comes in. The very first play of the game, nestle the pointy appendage softly between your opponents lowest two ribs. Once you have placement press hard. It's important not too hit with the elbow as that is crappy violent way to get your point across. Place and push.
The Forearm Check - Employed on defense. When your opponent is darting from one side of the key to the next to find position, make sure you let them know that you don't want them in your house by giving them firm forearm checks as they run by you. The object is to move them inch by inch out of the key before they get the ball to facilitate a help defense scenario when they do, and to make them generally pissed off and possibly think you are mildly bi-curious. Turn the big galoots into jump shooters.
The Lean - Employed on Defense. 6'10" muscle bound opponent. Likes the ball down low or 10 m away from you with room to barrel down the runway. No way to stop him once he gets in these situations. Don't let him. Follow him like a shadow the entire time with one arm wrapped up in his and your entire body weight leaning on his shoulder. A 45 degree angle to his hip can likely hold him in place too, but you might find yourself on the ground if he/she (should have mentioned this earlier ... certainly it's he/she) gets wise.
The Ball Fake - Employed on offense. We all know what this is, the point I'd like to make is that why only use it once or twice a game. It's full devastating capacity can't be overstated. Use it anywhere from 3-25 times in a single possession. Your opponent will be so dazed with the show you'll finally be able to coast right by them when their neck seizes up or they get too bored to care. If I'm stuck down in the paint with the big galoot I mentioned earlier i like to combine the fake with another couple of moves to make this fierce little combo ... The Ball Fake to Coin Pickup Head Plow - A few ball fakes (with some long pivots of course), get yourself facing the basket, bend at the waist like you're going to pick up a coin, and then use your head to plow the person out of the way. Till the soil as it were. Go up for the easy two.
That ends this installment. More to come later. Perhaps I'll get my man Dinner Roll to big up the art of the Long Nail Bad Breath perimeter stylings that have made him famous on the courts of Roxton.
Streetball Moniker = Hot Deals. Gym Moniker = The Golden Scepter, The Vanilla Thrilla, Neon Tetra the Kissing Gourami, F-14 Tomcat ... and many others. 31 years old. 6'1". 20 + years of basketball. Once a glorious sky walker ... now ... no legs.
My Moves:
The Elbow to the Ribs - Employed on defense. This is likely the most important move in my repertoire. For whatever reason I have been asked to play a lot of post in the various leagues I rock across TO. In the past I have been a small forward or 2, usually responsible for guarding the opposing teams highest scorer by using my feet to stay between them and the basket. I guess time has caught up with me now and my main duty is to hold down the paint against guys that are multiple inches taller than me. First rule, keep them out of the paint. This is where the Elbow to the Ribs comes in. The very first play of the game, nestle the pointy appendage softly between your opponents lowest two ribs. Once you have placement press hard. It's important not too hit with the elbow as that is crappy violent way to get your point across. Place and push.
The Forearm Check - Employed on defense. When your opponent is darting from one side of the key to the next to find position, make sure you let them know that you don't want them in your house by giving them firm forearm checks as they run by you. The object is to move them inch by inch out of the key before they get the ball to facilitate a help defense scenario when they do, and to make them generally pissed off and possibly think you are mildly bi-curious. Turn the big galoots into jump shooters.
The Lean - Employed on Defense. 6'10" muscle bound opponent. Likes the ball down low or 10 m away from you with room to barrel down the runway. No way to stop him once he gets in these situations. Don't let him. Follow him like a shadow the entire time with one arm wrapped up in his and your entire body weight leaning on his shoulder. A 45 degree angle to his hip can likely hold him in place too, but you might find yourself on the ground if he/she (should have mentioned this earlier ... certainly it's he/she) gets wise.
The Ball Fake - Employed on offense. We all know what this is, the point I'd like to make is that why only use it once or twice a game. It's full devastating capacity can't be overstated. Use it anywhere from 3-25 times in a single possession. Your opponent will be so dazed with the show you'll finally be able to coast right by them when their neck seizes up or they get too bored to care. If I'm stuck down in the paint with the big galoot I mentioned earlier i like to combine the fake with another couple of moves to make this fierce little combo ... The Ball Fake to Coin Pickup Head Plow - A few ball fakes (with some long pivots of course), get yourself facing the basket, bend at the waist like you're going to pick up a coin, and then use your head to plow the person out of the way. Till the soil as it were. Go up for the easy two.
That ends this installment. More to come later. Perhaps I'll get my man Dinner Roll to big up the art of the Long Nail Bad Breath perimeter stylings that have made him famous on the courts of Roxton.
Monday, August 3, 2009
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"What do you think it is about Toronto, New York and Philly fans that make us so "unique"?
Blogger's note: Historical mediocrity, basic insecurity, too much time on their hands"