Friday November 20 2009 - 11:58am Eastern - Toronto, ON
I know I didn’t check in with a blog yesterday - sorry! I had a busy day travelling back from Utah … and then hosting the “HOOPS” show with Jonesy last night. By the way, if you missed HOOPS, check out the podcast … ’cause you missed one heck of a show with guests like Joel Anthony (Miami Heat), Jamaal Magloire (Miami Heat), Rick Mahorn (former NBA’er / Head Coach of the Detroit Shock) and more.
Moving on …
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JERSEY JABBER
It was last Thursday that LeBron James - following a win of the Miami Heat - announced that as of next season he would stop wearing #23 … in honour of Michael Jordan. With Jordan in attendance - in South Beach, watching LBJ and Dwyane Wade battle it out - LeBron said he’d switch to #6 next season. He added that he shouldn’t be the only one giving up #23 … declaring that the entire *NBA* should retire MJ’s 2-3.
It was somewhat ironic that James made the plea … for a couple of reasons …
1 - Miami is the only team in the NBA outside of Chicago to retire #23. Why? I have no clue to be honest! But if you’ve ever been to a game in South Florida, you’ve seen the black, red, and white banner hanging in the Heat’s rafters … “23″
2 - James says he’s switching to #6. Yes, it’s his Olympic jersey number … but it’s also represents the number of championship rings that Jordan owns. Coincidence? Maybe. But how ’bout the fact that #6 is also the same jersey number that NBA *LEGEND* Bill Russell wore? Heck, many would argue that Russell - and his 11 championships - is the greatest player in league history, not Jordan! So isn’t it a bit of a slap in the face to Russell that while James is talking about “honouring” MJ, he’d be “dishonouring” Russell in a round-about way? Aside from what Russell did ON the floor, he arguably had a greater impact off the floor … playing in an era that was still dealing with colour and race barriers (especially in Boston)!
And what about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? The league’s leading scorer?
Funny that his “33″ … would add up to “6″ as well (3+3). Okay, maybe I’m stretching there :)
Originally, I was okay with the idea that LeBron had presented. But now I’m doing a 180. I don’t like the idea. And I hope the league doesn’t buy into the hype.
STARS IN LA
All of this jersey talk - and chatter of retiring numbers - got me thinking in Los Angeles last week …
This is maybe one of those old Arsenio Hall, “Things that make ya go ‘Hmmm’ … ” kind of things …
How strange is it that the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) have been to ONE Stanley Cup Final in franchise history (which they lost, to the Montreal Canadiens in 1993) but they have FIVE jerseys retired? Meanwhile the Los Angeles Lakers, owners of 10 NBA Championship titles, have just two more retired (7)? Doesn’t that imbalance seem a bit strange?
LOS ANGELES KINGS retired jerseys:
99 - Wayne Gretzky
20 - Luc Robitaille
18 - Dave Taylor
16 - Marcel Dionne
30 - Rogie Vachon
LOS ANGELES LAKERS retired jerseys
13 - Wilt Chamberlain
44 - Jerry West
22 - Elgin Baylor
25 - Gail Goodrich
32 - Magic Johnson
33 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
42 - James Worthy
RAPTORS IN PUNJABI
This press release just came to be from the Toronto Raptors …
And while the sarcastic side of me says “Don’t forget, all 82 are available in English on the Fan 590 with Paul Jones and Eric Smith” … the nice guy / optimist in me says this is GREAT news and I’m proud to be working alongside Singh and Singh. This kind of move shows the popularity of the sport and the team as both grow through the years in our multicultural city, province, and country.
Check it out:
The Toronto Raptors and CBC Sports announced Friday that they will partner together to broadcast eight CBC Raptors home games in Punjabi during the 2009-10 season. Last season’s Raptors game versus Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, March 22, 2009 marked the team’s first South Asian language broadcast in franchise history.
Parminder Singh, voice of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi broadcast and OMNI Television host, will handle play-by-play responsibilities and Harnarayan Singh, CBC Calgary radio news reporter, will call the colour commentary.
“We’re excited to extend our Punjabi language broadcast relationship with CBC Sports to our basketball team given the initial success of last season’s broadcast,” said Chris Hebb, senior vice-president of Broadcast and Content for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “Basketball resonates with many Canadians and newcomers to Canada whose primary language or mother tongue is Punjabi. Our Raptors broadcast in Punjabi will enable us to continue connecting and engaging with Raptors fans in the South Asian community in a meaningful way.”
According to Statistics Canada census data, Punjabi is considered one of the top 15 languages outside of English and the top South Asian language spoken in Toronto. Punjabi is also one of the top five languages spoken at home in Canada.
“CBC continues to reach out to all Canadians and provide them with the most comprehensive and accessible sports coverage in the country,” said Scott Moore, executive director, CBC Sports and general manager, CBC Media Sales and Marketing. “This is an opportunity to grow the Raptors fan base and connect families with each other and the sport. The Punjabi community has embraced CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada by Parminder Singh and Harnarayan Singh and I know the response to the Toronto Raptor broadcasts will be just as positive.”
The first Raptors Punjabi broadcast takes place on CBC Television Sunday, November 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET when the Raptors host the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre.
WRIGHT - WRONG
Antoine Wright (ankle) will miss his second-straight game for the Raptors.
Hedo Turkoglu (hip) will play.
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Have a good day folks.
Remember, Jonesy and I are on the air at 7pm tonight with the Raptors and Heat from the ACC … and I’ll be back (FINALLY) on “The Game Plan” this afternoon from 2pm-4pm with Jack Armstrong.
E. Smith
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Except for Taylor, all of the Kings with retired jerseys are well deserved.
I think a few jerseys will be added to the Lakers list as soon as a couple of players retire…
- Michel G