Raptor Dunk Champ

I have played a lot of basketball in my life. I can play (sort of). When I was at the pinnacle of my basketballing career, and I was in shape, I could take this 6'1" frame to great heights. If I was to run at just the right speed and I could takeoff at just the right spot I could almost fly. As a matter of fact...if you look at the picture below....the picture of Terrence Ross of The Toronto Raptors winning the NBA Slam Dunk contest last night, i can almost see myself superimposed on this photo.

.....with slight changes though, when I got up as high as I could my head would be below Terrence's elbow. Sigh, I never could dunk the ball. Truth is....I rarely could touch the rim. Look at Terrence's head. I was athletic (in my mind). I could not jump high enough to reach the rim.

Wow. I love watching great athletes.Last night the young Mr. Ross was very clinical in his Dunk attempts. They were all solid....not to much flash.....but great athleticism on every attempt. So good.

 

                                   Terrence Ross (with a tribute to Vince Carter) - Airborne.


Below is a little YouTube with all of his dunks last night.

I have never been a big fan of All-Star games.....Don't like the Pro Bowl (NFL).....not really football. The NHL AllStar game i just can't watch.....it is missing something.

The NBA All Star weekend I like....but I am a basketball fan. The game tonight will be fun. Now there will be some showboating. (ha - understatement) - There is not enough mustard in the world for all the "Hot Dogs" that will be on the floor tonight....but it will be fun. You will see some incredible athletes at their best. Check it out.

Toronto Sports Tidbits

There are a ot of random sports thoughts going through my brain....therefore I must share.

• Phil Kessel scored last night his first goal of this young season. The fact that he had not scored before that has been one of the biggest stories for two weeks....and that is why I mentioned it. NOT because I care, because I DON'T. Why do I mention it? I am glad you asked....because I am about to tell you. The media talked about it every day...actually every hour of every day. Why? I would be concerned if he was not skating hard, and he was not getting opportunities....but he is. Plus he is getting assists. He is contributing. Absolutely we need him to score. I agree. But, the only way to score is to skate hard and take shots...he is doing that. So....Toronto Media Types>>>>>>Stop talking about it. Please. (i feel better)



Phil Kessel

• Rudy Gay got traded to the Toronto Raptors from Memphis. Jose Calderon and Ed Davis have now left Toronto. I liked Jose and Ed both. I thought they were solid players. I really like Rudy Gay. He brings a slightly different dynamic to the young Raptors squad. He Has a slightly different presence. I get the feeling when he shoots, it will go in. That might sound kind of funny, but for the true Raptor fans, you know what I mean, up until now, when one of the Raps put it up, I do tend to hold my breath that it will go in....not really a great feeling. Now Rudy has been here for 3 games now, and we already lost 2 close games (again). So that kind of hurts.....but I have hope that this group will turn it around. I don't have any silly notions that they will make the playoffs...but I really think they are a much better team than their record shows. Just my opinion.

                                                        Rudy Gay

• The Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club are sitting in first place overall in the NLL with a record of 5 wins against 1 loss. The only loss is a game I was at and the Rock let it get away...they could easily be 6 and 0. They are getting solid goaltending from Nick Rose who has a goals against average of 9.76 (leading the league)...and stellar play from journeyman Garrett Billings who is leading the Rock in scoring with 9 gaols and 27 assists (2nd in league scoring) and Captain Colin Doyle with 31 points (8 gaols and 23 assists). (3rd in league scoring.)

Hmmm...let me see. The Rock are in first. There two top scorers are Number 1 and Number 2 in the League in assists. This team is sharing the ball, getting a lot of guys involved. **note** Toronto media types see bullet point 1. Phil Kessel has not been scoring...but he is producing. (so relax)

                                                    Garrett Billings

• The Toronto Blue Jays. World Series.....? I am thinking yes.

The Super Bowl

It is a spectacle like no other.

 There are things that Canadians do very well, Bonspiels, hockey tournaments and backyard skating rinks are just a few.

However, when it comes to Big Time sporting events, our great American neighbors do it best.

                                                           Vince Lomardi Trophy

The Super Bowl is a celebration of football like no other. The two best teams left over from a gruelling NFL season will play against each other in a tremendous sporting event to determine which team will be known as "World" Champions. (even though it is only in the US of A.)

There has been two weeks of hype, interviews,scandals, predictions and bets. It all leads up to 6pm Sunday night, when the combatants meet.

The San Francisco 49ers coached by Jim Harbaugh play against the Baltimore Ravens coached by John Harbaugh. (brothers - go figure)

This will be a tough game. The defences are tough, and they hit very hard.

 The Quarterbacks are at the top of their respective games, Colin Kaepernick for San Fran, is quite frankly a physical specimen. Big, strong, ripped, fast and cocky. Is that not what you want to lead your team into the Final game?
Baltimore is led by Joe Flacco, a journeyman, fly under the radar, quarterback that has really never received the respect he thinks he deserves. He thinks he is one of the best. Guess what Joe? - You win this game, you might just earn that respect.

                                                      Baltimore's Joe Flacco

Ray Lewis is a linebacker that plays for Baltimore and will be playing in his final game either way after 17 years in the game. He is a smash mouth, loud mouth player that leads both on and off the field. He is not a stranger to controversy...and even leading up to this game, it has been leaked that he used some kind of deer antler product that helped him recover from his serious tricep tear that happened a year ago. It apparently is a banned substance. He denies it (of course) and has always had clean drug test.....but it is pro sports...we need some sort of questionable behaviour to keep our interest. (or so it seems)

I now this game is over hyped. I know a lot of people think it is way over the top. But....I love it. I love the pre-game, the chatter, the constant and perpetual analysis. I normally don't like all this crap, but for the Superbowl.....I do. Don't know why.
I love the Anthem, the half time show....the cheesy commercials....the food....I love it all.

Most of all, I love the game itself. If you know me, you know by now...I love to see great athletes at their best. I love to see big athletes in big games make big plays. I know a lot of these big games are sometimes duds. It happens, but when they are good...they are really good, and I like to see it.

As for my prediction? - I have a 50% chance of nailing this. I have long been a SF fan....ever since Montana and Clark and Jerry Rice played for the 49ers. They were such an exciting team to watch. However the lustre has gone away for me and SF over the years. As for Baltimore....it is weird. They always seem to fly under the radar (much like their QB Flacco). They don't seem to have a lot of fans outside of Baltimore....although I am not basing that on any scientific evidence. It is just my feeling. I, like most want a competitive game...with lots of scoring, and someone winning in the last 2 minutes of the game. That is what I want.
I am not a big Joe Flacco fan, I have never really liked Ray Lewis that much...no reason, just never been a fan. I like Ray Rice, the diminutive running back for the Ravens. So it feels weird for me...I feel like I should want SF to win, but my heart seems to be pulling for the Baltimore Ravens. Why not? Let Lewis go out with a Superbowl....let Flacco win his "big game". It is time for a different team to win this big game.

Final Score.   Baltimore 31     San Francisco 28.

There it is.