Texas Longhorns forward Tristan Thompson dunks. DAVE KAUP/REUTERS

By Dave Feschuk
Sports Columnist

Heading into Thursday night’s NBA draft, this is what we know about Tristan Thompson.

We know the 6-foot-9 forward from Brampton will very likely become the highest drafted Canadian in the league’s history, usurping Steve Nash, who was drafted 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in 1996. And we know, in that moment, that Thompson will have guaranteed himself millions in pending salary.

Here’s what we don’t know about Thompson: How good does he want to be? He has, after all, been gifted a rare body and skill set. So long as he stays relatively healthy and does the minimum required of an NBAer — well, such are the benefits of owning a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a plentiful supply of fast-twitch muscle fibres that even if Thompson shows a cursory interest in his craft, he’ll likely remain a high-earning professional for the coming decade and beyond.

But there’s a range of outcomes to any given NBA story arc, and they’re dependent on how one navigates the complicating factors of wealth and fame and the price of improvement.

So while Thompson, who studied broadcasting during his lone year at the University of Texas, was joking with reporters in New York on Wednesday about his ambitions outside the lines — “I’m coming after Doug Collins’s job,” he told the media, speaking of the coach and renowned TV analyst — there are those who hope he tends to less sedentary business before the microphone beckons.

“It’s in his hands,” Leo Rautins, the Raptors broadcaster and coach of Canada’s national team, was saying on Wednesday. “Without a doubt, his body is one of those bodies — he’s going to be a 10-year NBA player no matter what. The question is now: How hard is he going to work on what he needs to work on?”

Thompson has shown a tremendous work ethic to get where he is; he’s already prized for his defensive presence and his energy. But there is much left to do if he’s to maximize himself as an athlete. And Thompson has shown an awareness of his weaknesses, which bodes well.

“My offensive game is real raw,” he has said. How raw? If you need a measure of the state of, say, his ability to make a 15-foot jump shot — a shot he’ll routinely drill if he’s to maximize his NBA usefulness — consider that, playing for the Longhorns this past season, he made precisely 49 per cent of his free throws (which are, essentially, undefended 15 footers). And consider, too, this context: Shaquille O’Neal, an NBA great forever infamous for his abomination of a sub-YMCA-quality shooting stroke, managed to make 53 per cent of his freebies during his NBA career.

Thompson is no O’Neal-esque freak of nature, not blessed enough to excel without tending to such a glaring weakness. Vast improvement, mind you, is more than possible.

Witness Joel Anthony, the 28-year-old Montrealer who just finished an impressive playoff run as starting centre of the league finalists from Miami. Thompson, 20, is miles ahead of Anthony when you compare their draft-day scouting reports. Anthony wasn’t even drafted, for one thing, and even when he cracked the Heat roster in 2007 as a free agent, he was a defensive specialist whose game hardly screamed: “Future starter!”

In fact, for all his physical advantages — he’s about 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds, about 33 pounds of lean muscle ahead of Thompson — he had the look of a marginal bit player. He also had a desire to get better.

To this day, there are members of the Heat’s coaching staff who’ll tell you they’ve never seen a player with rawer skills improve more rapidly.

“You don’t see it a lot in Miami, because he doesn’t get a lot of touches, but you see it in the summer when he’s playing with (the national team),” Rautins said. “He’s become a solid offensive player. When you look at him internationally, he’s got the baby hook, he’s got the 15-foot jump shot. He’s much more confident with the ball. He took bad hands and made them very good. He catches balls now.”

Whether the man who’s a good bet to become the highest-drafted Canadian in NBA history chooses to represent Canada on the international stage is anybody’s guess. Rautins acknowledged that his communication with Thompson has been “minimal to this point.” But he would clearly be a welcome addition to the squad that is scheduled to travel to Argentina in August to participate in the first of Canada’s two chances at qualifying for the 2012 Olympics.

While Nash isn’t expected to play — he hasn’t represented Canada, or even hinted at playing for the nats, since 2004 — there’ve been speculative whispers in NBA circles that, should the Maple Leaf earn a berth to the London Games, Captain Canada might be convinced to suit up next summer, when he’ll be 38.

A Canadian hoop enthusiast can get to day-dreaming . . . if Thompson was also on board . . . if Anthony was inclined to play . . . if San Antonio’s Matt Bonner can land a long-desired Canadian passport that’s still tangled in red tape . . . well, clearly we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Still, if everything broke the right way, Thursday’s landmark moment in Canadian basketball history, an acknowledgement of Thompson’s tantalizing potential, could be the harbinger of a storied career that bears, not only millions, but possibly a medal or two.

Even if you’re a hardbitten individualist who believes athletes are independent contractors who should play for themselves, and not nation-lifting figures who should, in good conscience, play for the countries, you can make the argument that Thompson would benefit from spending his summers in a gym with some like-minded countrymen.

“I’ve obviously expressed my interest in having him play (for the national team) . . . but the last thing I want to do is to distract from anything that’s going on right now,” Rautins said.

“I told him, after the draft, we’ll certainly talk. Personally, and selfishly, I’d love to see him in a Canada uniform. But just like Joel, and if you look at Steve Nash — playing for Canada resurrected and maintained his career. For Joel, playing for Canada in the summer has been huge in his development.

“I know from my personal experience, the time you have in the summer, and with a potential lockout coming — Tristan’s last game was in March, and who knows when his next game will be? I think he’s got a great opportunity with us this summer.”

It’s in Thompson’s hands. It’s Thompson’s business. But if he conducts his career with care and with heart and sufficient daily sweat, it’s also his chance to be our pride.

Originally published on thestar.com

By Darling Nicky

Can’t We All Just Get Along

“Vancouver is Canada’s CharlieSheen. #tigerblood” via @darlingnicky999 on Twitter

“Blood in the streets,” the National Post reported.  Cars and buildings on fire, windows smashed in, sheer and utter mayhem is what described the city of Vancouver when riots broke out at the hands of overly disgruntled fans when the Vancouver Canucks failed to win the Stanley Cup last week.  As many have pointed out, wasn’t this the same city hailed for one of the most peaceful Winter Olympic Games in 2010?

If there is one thing we Canadians are known for, it is our passiveness and good manners.  So what went wrong in the city of Vancouver that fateful night of June 15, 2011?  I mean, didn’t the Miami Heat lose the NBA Finals just a few days earlier – having built what was believed to be the NBA’s strongest line-up and was even subjected to some very inflammatory victory jabs by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban – but yet no destruction was reported in that city.

As of June 20, 2011, two charges have been laid for a stabbing that took place as part of these “sore-loser” riots.  A STABBING?  Are you kidding me? 17-year-old Nathan Kotylak had to turn himself in after he was caught on video trying to set a police car on fire.  Once his address was published on the internet, his family received death threats and were forced to go into hiding. All of this because a hockey game didn’t turn out the way we would have hoped!

I mean, is it just me, or isn’t a known fact that in every competitive forum there can only be one winner?  It wasn’t as though the game was tied, and a bad call was made awarding the Boston Bruins with the winning goal.  It was a total blow-out!!!  4 – 0 hardly seems like an unjustified win.

“Acted first – thought about consequences later” via @darlingnicky999 on Twitter in response to @heyhomee when asked to define the Charlie Sheen comparison

#thatswhatshesaid

Jason Terry #31 of the Dallas Mavericks pushes the ball up court against Udonis Haslem #40, Chris Bosh #1 and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat in the second half of Game Six of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 12, 2011 in Miami, Florida. MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES

By Dave Feschuk
Sports Columnist

MIAMI—When the Miami Heat announced their presence last summer, they did so with bombast and brashness, announcing their plans for a dynasty before they’d broken a sweat in a single practice.

When they bowed in the NBA final on Sunday night, perhaps history will remember that they did so without a particularly compelling fight, and with confused looks on their faces for long stretches of the biggest game of their season.

As the Dallas Mavericks celebrated their first NBA championship before a stunned crowd at American Airlines Arena, this after a 105-95 win in Game 6 of the NBA final, the Heat ended one of the most scrutinized years in the history of North American pro sports with a thud that was as dramatic as it was difficult to see coming. The team that famously held a pyrotechnic-fuelled bash before they’d played a game was left to watch an actual victory party on their home floor, the Larry O’Brien Trophy being hoisted by Dirk Nowitzki and his relatively unheralded band of teammates.

The Mavericks won despite a poor shooting night from Nowitzki, who missed 18 of his 27 field-goal attempts before he was handed the Bill Russell Trophy as MVP of the final. But Nowitzki’s shooting struggles — which he helped right with an 18-point second half — were picked up by the brilliant performance of Jason Terry, who scored 27 points off the bench; by J.J. Barea, who added 15 points; and by a swarming Dallas defence that effectively stymied Miami’s Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

For long stretches of the game, not to mention the series, the Heat were reduced to shadows of their reputed selves. Who was the player inhabiting Miami’s jersey No. 6? James, basketball’s self-proclaimed King, played most of Game 6 with all the confidence of a zit-plagued high-school freshman. He finished with a team-high 21 points, mixing in six turnovers with his six assists, but he chose deference on a night when dominance would have been preferred.

Where was the Wade who’d led the Heat to the 2006 title over Nowitzki’s Mavericks with fearless drives and crunch-time dramatics? He missed 10 of his 16 shots and had 17 points. And as for Bosh — he went an efficient 7-for-9 from the field and scored 19 points, but he couldn’t swing the outcome.

“It’s a lot easier said than done,” said Erik Spoelstra, the Miami coach, after it was over. “It could be that this is a rite of passage, but that’s not what we were thinking about . . . I told the guys before the game, ‘Don’t apologize. Don’t apologize for being confident.’ We thought this was going to Game 7, and we thought that’s where we would be our best.”

That the Mavericks didn’t allow the Heat to play another day said a lot about their ability to pick apart a Miami defence that, coming into the final, had flummoxed opponents. Dallas shot 50 per cent from the field in Game 6, including 11 of 26 (42 per cent) from three-point range. And the Mavericks’ defence — especially the zone that appeared to throw the Heat out of rhythm at key points of the game — proved more than good enough.

“They did a great job of, every time I drove, they brought an extra defender in front of me,” James said. “They’re a very underrated defensive team.”

It was a game of runs, and Game 6 began much differently than it ended, especially for James. When he scored nine of the Heat’s first 14 points, he looked aggressive and appeared primed. But then, in a series in which he’d been heavily criticized for his tendency toward passivity, James disappeared for long stretches. He passed up open shots. He forced the occasional drive. More than 10 minutes into the third quarter, he hadn’t taken a second-half attempt from the field. And while he scored seven fourth-quarter points — he’d been averaging 2.2 — it wasn’t enough.

“LeBron has been a lightning rod for a lot of everything — criticism, and a lot of the noise that’s been created outside. I think it’s really unfair,” said Spoelstra. “He made a tremendous sacrifice to come here, and he’s been an ultimate team player. He should not be criticized for that.”

Said Bosh: “They deserved it. Hands down, they were the better team in the series . . . They wanted it more than we did.”

Perhaps the turning point of the best-of-seven came in Game 2. With the Heat up 15 points with about seven minutes to go — with the prospect of a 2-0 series lead looking likely — James and Wade engaged in a premature celebration. Dallas made a memorable comeback to win the game; Spoelstra and his team made a litany of tactical errors on the winning basket by Nowitzki. Emboldened, the Mavericks won three of the next four games.

Said Rick Carlisle, the Dallas coach: “Game 2 was probably the key to the series. If you go down 0-2 it’s very difficult. Miami’s time is going to come . . . But their time is not now. Our time is now.”

Said James: “It hurts, of course, but I’m not going to hang my head low.”

Originally published on thestar.com

Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki celebrates a basket against the Heat in the fourth quarter during Game 5 Thursday night in Dallas. LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS

By Doug Smith
Sports Reporter

DALLAS—The game turned out not to be about LeBron James and now or never or engaged or detached or passive or aggressive.

The game turned out to be about the Dallas Mavericks turning into the Dallas Mavericks, finally, with crisp ball movement, deadly shooting, solid defence and a true team game that’s now given them momentary control of the NBA Finals.

Click here for photos of the game

With a barrage of three-pointers from the most unlikely of sources, the Mavs shot themselves into a 112-103 win over James and the Miami Heat here Thursday night, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series before 20,433 delirious American Airlines Center fans.

“Last time we had a shooting game like this was Game 4 against the Lakers,” said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle after the Mavs made 13 of 19 three-pointers and shot 57 per cent from the floor. “That’s why you keep working your game, and that’s why you stay persistent, you keep defending, you keep systemically stepping into shots that are there and you’re going to have some breakthrough games. Persistence is our game.”

James, meanwhile, may have had the most pedestrian big-game triple-double in NBA playoff history in a game he said was the biggest of his career after tweeting early Thursday morning that it was “now or never.”

He did have 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists but he went scoreless in the fourth quarter again as the Mavericks once again pulled out the game in the final minutes.

He was a factor but not the difference and he’ll have to find other ways to increase his impact on the game when the series resumes Sunday in Florida.

“I don’t think so; I don’t believe so; no, I’m not,” James said when asked if he was feeling pressure. “We as a team played good enough to win, again. We put ourselves in a position to win down the stretch. Guys made plays, they just made a few more than we did.”

Dallas will be brimming with confidence after getting the best all-around game of the series and it was a series of unlikely shots that propelled them to the victory.

Jason Terry, who had drawn headlines for his talk throughout the series, backed up his words with his actions, hitting three three-pointers as part of a 21-point night.

His dagger of a three in the final minute that sealed the win for the Mavs and his celebration — racing back down the court with his arms extended like the Jet he fashions himself to be — was in stark contrast to the slow walk to the bench the Heat had as they tried to regroup with a timeout.

“Jet was phenomenal,” said Dirk Nowitzki, who had 29 points for the Mavs. “We need him to attack and get in the lane, it opens up a lot of stuff for everybody else out there.”

There may be other troubling issues for the Heat as well.

Dwyane Wade, who finished with a team-high 23 points, missed a large chunk of the first half and didn’t start the second because of a left hip bruise that could require constant treatment between now and Game 6.

“Way too early, we’ll have to see how it responds (Friday),” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “When he’s able to sweat and keep it warm, he was fine. Fortunately, we have an extra day (before Sunday’s Game 6), we’ll see if that’s enough.”

Said Wade:

“No problem, I’ll be good for Game 6.”

A 9-0 fourth quarter run put the Heat up 95-90 midway through the fourth before Dallas put on one of its patented big finishes and Miami came up flat in the waning minutes.

And while the series now shifts to Miami for perhaps two games, history is on Dallas’s side. Of the 26 times in history that a final series had been tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has won the series on 19 occasions.

“Well, we’ve got to just continue to work the process, and for us the process is being in a stance, being tied together, being really tight defensively because they’re great players and put unbelievable pressure on you,” said Carlisle.

“We understand where we’re at but we also understand what got us here and that is making sure we stay in the moment.”

Originally published on thestar.com

LeBron James of the Miami Heat wipes his face with his jersey against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES

By Doug Smith
Sports Reporter

DALLAS—It was an ugly, fascinating game, one dominated by missed shots and sick stars and disappearing acts.

Photos from the game

It will not earn any style points and it will be remembered more for mistakes and fevers than any semblance of brilliant athletic feats, yet the Dallas Mavericks won’t care a whit.

With their star player fighting a 101 F fever and surviving a handful of awful possessions in the final few minutes, the Mavericks rallied to beat the Miami Heat 86-83 here Tuesday night and breath life into the NBA Finals.

Dirk Nowitzki, obviously feeling the effects of a bad fever, had just 21 points but made a crucial basket on a late-game drive and Jason Terry, who had 17 points off the bench, icing the game two free throws, as the Mavs tied the best-of-seven series 2-2.

“I didn’t really have a good night’s rest, so it was just under the weather a little bit but (I) just battled it out,” said Nowitzki. “There’s no long-term, I’ll be all right on Thursday. It’s just a little sinus infection, hopefully I’ll get some sleep tonight, take some meds and be ready to go on Thursday.”

But even without Nowitzki at his best, the Mavs found a way to win. They trailed by nine with just about 10 minutes left and were staggering until they found some hidden reservoir of energy.

“Look, we’re a tough ball club,” said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. “We’ve been tough all year. We don’t have the appearance of a physically-bruising type team, but this is as mentally tough a group as I’ve ever had.”

Miami’s last chance to tie died when they botched an inbounds play in the dying seconds and had to settle for a wild Mike Miller heave that never had a chance.

“This series is a jump ball, every single game,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “And they outplayed us obviously there in the fourth quarter and we didn’t take care of our business on both ends of the court. We did not execute with a level of efficiency or trust and we had a couple of breakdowns.”

Dallas shot just 39 per cent from the field, missed 15 of 19 three-pointers, was out-rebounded 44-41 yet managed to pull out the most important win of the season on the strength of a gritty defence that allowed just 14 Miami points in the fourth quarter.

And Nowitzki, sick and all, drove past Udonis Haslem for a layup that gave Miami a three-point lead with 15 seconds left on the game’s biggest basket.

“Really, I was going to play the clock down but I saw I had a little opening there so I just went for it,” said Nowitzki. “They really played my left, which obviously the whole league does, so I was able to rip through and get to my right and finally finish a layup.”

The story of the night for the Heat will be the disappearing act of LeBron James, who was a total nonfactor almost the entire night in recording the lowest offensive playoff output of his career.

Continuing a series that he’s been unable to put a mark on, James scored just eight points on 3-11 shooting, had nine rebounds and seven assists.

“Obviously, we would like to get him involved,” understated Miami coach Erik Spoelstra of James. “He’s a very important piece to what we do so we’ll work to help make it easier for him the next game.”

James was uncharacteristically absent in the fourth quarter, failing to score a point or really make a significant play.

“He’s physically fine,” said Spoelstra. “I have to do a better job of making sure he’s in positions where he can be aggressive and efficient, we’ll do that in Game 5.”

And James’ horrible outing took everything away from a glorious night for Dwyane Wade, who had 32 points but who was denied a chance to tie it in the final seconds when Miller took too long to get the ball in.

The Mavs also got 11 points from DeShawn Stevenson, who was taken out of the starting lineup for JJ Barea in an effort to add some speed to the Dallas starting unit.

Shawn Marion, who watched most of the fourth quarter from the bench as the Mavs found a group that was clicking and rode with it, provided 16 points for Dallas in his best game of the series that resumes here Thursday night.

Originally published on thestar.com

Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki (L) is guarded by Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem during Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series in Dallas, Texas June 5, 2011. MIKE STONE/REUTERS

By Doug Smith
Sports Reporter

DALLAS—For having been pretty much a nonfactor for about 47 minutes and 30 seconds, Chris Bosh put an emphatic stamp on the biggest game he’s ever played in his hometown.

Because Miami made the right basket rather than try for the spectacular one, Bosh found himself as the offensive hero as the Heat scored an 88-86 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA final here on Sunday night.

And then Bosh moved to the background on the biggest defensive possession of the game as the Heat stymied Dirk Nowitzki at the buzzer to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Bosh took a smart pass from Dwyane Wade on the left baseline and calmly stroked a 16-footer with less than 40 seconds remaining that broke an 86-86 tie.

“There were a handful of possessions in the fourth quarter, big plays where the ball moved and it found the open man and, make or miss, it’s the right play,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “Chris has done that several times in this playoff run in those corners. When we need a big one, he hits it. I don’t care what happens up to that point, (he) makes some winning plays and he’s able to knock down the big one for us.”

And when the Mavericks tried to go to their best player — Nowitzki — the all-world player, the big German who had been playing so wonderfully, came up short.

He committed an odd turnover right after Bosh’s basket and then, after a Heat miss, he was harassed by Udonis Haslem into missing an off-balance 18-footer at the buzzer that would have tied it.

In Game 2, Nowitzki was guarded by Bosh in a similar situation and scored the game-winning basket; Haslem took away his space and forced a far harder shot.

“That’s a makable shot,” said Spoelstra. “But (Haslem) did a great job of keeping his chest in front of him and forcing (Nowitzki) into a fadeaway. That shot hung up in the air about as long as it was in between Game 2 and Game 3. It was a good offensive play and a good defensive play. And he happened to miss.”

Nowitzki gave no credit for being forced into a difficult shot.

“The look with four seconds to go, I think, was good as you can get,” he said.

Bosh had missed his first eight shots of the game and was just 4-for-13 from the field through the first three quarters in front of fans who used to cheer him as a Lincoln High star in the city.

But rather than shy away from the big moments, and with his teammates still trusting in him, he went 3-for-5 from the field while playing the entire fourth quarter.

“I seen CB wide open, I don’t care if he missed 15 in a row, that’s his sweet spot,” said LeBron James. “It’s the trust we have in each other no matter what point of the game it is.”

Bosh also took a shot to the eye early in the game — he had a shiner, and his left eye was partially closed when he met the media — but stuck it out.

“We’ll spit on it and put a Band-Aid on it and patch it up,” said Bosh.

The game-winning basket came off a broken play when the Heat tried to run a pick and roll with James and Wade. The Mavs forced the ball to move and Tyson Chandler had to close out on James, who calmly hit Bosh.

“It was the right play. We’ve been making the right plays, we trust each other,” said Bosh. “Our guys have been doing a fantastic job of showing that trust, especially in crunch time situations.

“This is a big as it gets. When you trust somebody to hit him real quick, I think that’s great.”

The Mavs were only in the game because they have a level of dogged determination few teams do. Dallas routinely found itself down double-digits only to fight back to tie the game, but they simply couldn’t get over the hump.

originally published on thestar.com

ryanhurstdesigns

By Gerry Savage

This year Miami Heat battles the Dallas Mavericks in a rematch of the 2006 NBA finals where the Mavs blew a 3-0 series, allowing the Heat to be crowned champions on their home turf after game seven.

The 2010-11 season brought many changes to the two team’s rosters, making for quite an interesting match up.  The Miami Heat welcomed new additions LeBron James and former Raptor Chris Bosh to help Dwyane Wade bring home another championship to Miami, while the Dallas Mavericks signed Tyson Chandler, Brian Cardinal, and Ian Mahinmi; then trading for Corey Brewer from Minnesota Timberwolves and Peja Stojakovic from the Raptors to help veterans Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Shawn Marion get back to the finals.

It looked like the Heat were going to take a 2-0 series lead when the Mavericks pulled off an amazing comeback from 15 points down in the final 7 minutes to beat Miami in Game 2 and outscored the Heat 22-5, evening the series. After the game, Heat guard Dwyane Wade admitted to the Associated Press, “We let one go.”

“In the playoffs, it’s a win or a loss. However it comes by, it’s a win or a loss,” LeBron James said. “We’ve moved on from Game 2, seen the mistakes we’ve made. Seen some of the great things we’ve done as well. It’s a win or loss. The series is tied 1-1. We never get too high or too low in the series. We haven’t gotten too high or low in the regular season as well.”

Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki said Saturday, “We just can’t let up. We’re not good enough to just relax. We need to play with an edge especially in every game.”

All eyes are on game 3 in Dallas. Will Miami’s big three lead the way or will Dirk Nowitzki and Mavericks show up to win? Catch the game tonight 8pm eastern on ABC and TSN.

By Darling Nicky

LeBron James – The G.O.A.T?

“LeBron fans: Do you agree with the media statement that he has surpassed Michael Jordan in both legacy and skill level to date?” via @Darlingnicky999 on Twitter

The media went into a frenzy last week when Scottie Pippen, former Chicago Bulls forward and 6-time NBA title winner alongside Michael Jordan, said to ESPN that LeBron James, “the greatest player to ever play the game,” is a more complete player than Jordan.  Pippen did later clarify that statement by tweeting, “Don’t get me wrong, MJ was and is the greatest.  But LeBron could by all means get to his level someday.”

Even though my hectic schedule does not afford me the luxury of watching NBA games as closely as I would like, I do keep up to date on the players and their careers.  So I thought for a second I was having some kind of pre-geriatric moment when I read that anyone would actually be dethroning Michael Jordan as the greatest NBA player of all time.

I mean this is a guy that led the NBA in scoring over 10 seasons, and tied Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 7 consecutive scoring titles.  His NBA playoff scoring total of 5987 points remains the highest in NBA history, he’s appeared in the NBA All-Star Game 14 times, and he’s a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist.  If all of that wasn’t impressive enough, he led the Chicago Bulls to six, (count ‘em  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) NBA Championship titles, AND he was reigned MVP in every one of those finals.

The “Jordan” brand rakes in 1 billion US dollars in revenue each year (according to Forbes 2010).  Let us not forget endorsement deals with Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Hanes, McDonald’s, Ball Park Franks, Wheaties, Rayovac and MCI.  Really, are we really going to argue whether or not Michael is STILL the man?

On second thought, LeBron James is the youngest player in league history to score at least 40 points in a single game.   He’s also an Olympic Gold Medalist, has made 7 appearances in the NBA All-Star Game, was Rookie of the Year in 2004, and holds the title for NBA scoring champion in 2008.  He has his own stack of endorsement deals including Nike, Sprite, Glaceau, Bubblicious, McDonald’s and State Farm.

However, what he is missing that by and large is the most crucial difference between his NBA career and that of His Airness: an NBA Championship ring.  That fate will be decided over the next couple of weeks as LeBron and his new team, the Miami Heat meet the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.

“I agree. Michael Jordan‘s legacy is to basketball what Elvis is to Rock ‘n Roll.” via @Darlingnicky999 on Twitter to @tha1stnoel

#thatswhatshesaid

Allergy Season 2011

“Sick. I knew it was coming. And now it is here. *cough-cough* Really? Again?” via @Darlingnicky999 on Twitter

Ok, so one would think that allergies are exactly headlining news, but when we are entering what has been dubbed “the worst allergy season we’ve seen in years”, you can be sure many will be talking (read as: complaining) about it.

I have never really been an allergy sufferer, but my son has struggled with it since he was a child (He’s 16 now, so I promised I would refer to his “childhood” as past tense).  When I tweeted the above statement earlier about feeling sick, I could have sworn it was a cold or the flu, but then it occurred to me that I too may be joining countless others that are resigned to stuffing those travel-packs of facial tissue in every purse, pocket and cubby within a 20 ft radius.  Some websites even have reader comments that facetiously imply that the cancer and birth defects associated with the herbicides that stave off pollen levels would be more welcome than a constantly drippy nose or itchy, watery eyes.

Apparently because here in Canada, we have had to wait quite late in the year to see summery temperatures, the heavy rainy season has led to an increased occurrence of mould allergies.  Whether it’s pollen, dust, mould, grass or all of the above, looks like no matter how happy we are to see our loved ones, we will be doing so with an allergy-induced tear in our eye.

“OMG! I have been working on this article for like 6 hours. It’s been so hot, my nose is stuffy, and I coughed up my lung at around 7 pm” via @Darlingnicky999 on Twitter

#thatswhatshesaid

Darling Nicky is an entertainment writer, blogger and publicist.  Check out her out at www.darlingnicky.ca

Photo Michael Laughlin/MCT

Darnell Nurse, 15, practices in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Nurse is one of four black hockey players among this year's top 12 OHL draft picks.AARON HARRIS/TORONTO STAR

By Cynthia Vukets

For the first time ever four black players were taken in the first 12 picks of the OHL draft last week, but for the league, this is the new normal.

“To me that’s encouraging,” says Toronto-born former NHL winger Anson Carter. “It’s a predominantly white sport.”

Hamilton native and Don Mills Flyers defender Darnell Nurse was the third OHL draft pick, going to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Fifth overall was Jordan Subban — younger brother of Montreal Canadiens’ P.K. Subban — picked by the Belleville Bulls. Right behind him was Ottawa’s Nicholas Baptiste, drafted to the Sudbury Wolves. And 12th pick overall was Stephen Harper, drafted by the Erie Otters.

Those players have all grown up playing on multicultural teams.

“We’re really diverse,” says Nurse of the Flyers roster. “We had black, brown, Jewish.”

“For kids my age, I think (hockey) is totally open.”

Nurse, 15, started skating when he was two and playing hockey when he was four. His dad, Richard, played pro football with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but said it was too dangerous for his son.

“He got me in hockey right away, from a young age,” says the younger Nurse. “Summer after summer I asked (to play football) but he wouldn’t budge.”

The big wave in this year’s draft is part of a larger trend, as this year’s picks aren’t the first to make an impact in the OHL or the big leagues. The Memorial Cup tournament beginning Thursday will feature several minority players, including Missisauga Majors’ Devante Smith-Pelly who has already been drafted to the Anaheim Ducks.

In the NHL, Jarome Iginla has long been a leading scorer. And the Atlanta Thrashers dressed four black players throughout this season, more than any other club.

Is the face of hockey changing? And if so, does it matter?

“It’s definitely worth recognition,” says Joel Ward, the Toronto-born Nashville Predators winger who once played for the Don Mills Flyers.

“I think it’s good news,” adds Ward, who is of Barbadian descent. “It just goes to show that hockey has come a long way.”

The OHL isn’t sure this year’s draft is anything special.

“We don’t trumpet it, because it is what it is,” says Ted Baker, OHL vice president. “We’re not looking at our league or our players as anything but players.”

Baker says he can’t remember anything similar in his 23 years with the league, but can’t say this year’s draft is a first because the OHL doesn’t track the ethnicity of its players.

Carter says black players may not be counted, but they are noticed.

“It’s still a game that’s dominated by players that are not minority players and people will be looking at you,” says the retired right winger of Barbadian descent who played for the Canucks, Oilers and most recently the Carolina Hurricanes. “You’re always under that microscope.”

Willie O’Ree was the first black player in the NHL when he dressed for the Boston Bruins in 1958.

There are currently about 30 black players in the league, up from just 12 five years ago.

Ward says he’s still the only minority person in the locker-room. Not so for young players in the Hillcrest Minor Hockey Association, where one-third of participants are of Asian descent.

Or in the ProAction hockey league based in Flemingdon Park, where the 128 players on eight teams come from 15 to 20 different cultural backgrounds, according to league founder Dave Croutch.

And in Mississauga, 120 new Canadians laced up skates for the very first time this year, thanks to the Got Hockey program the league created to target first-time hockey players.

Minor hockey associations credit an increasing number of diverse role models and targeted programs to bring in new Canadians with boosting the proportion of minority players in hockey.

“I think the Nazem’s have really helped it a lot because the kids relate to it,” says Mississauga Hockey League president Bob Fletcher, referring to Leafs’ Centre Nazem Kadri, who is of Lebanese descent.

But there are still obstacles for minority players to reach the game’s highest level.

“It’s way too cost-prohibitive … by this setup, none of us would have been able to be in the league,” says retired goaltender Kevin Weekes, who is now the self-described “first black hockey broadcaster” in his post- NHL career with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.

While Weekes says his parents, who emigrated from Barbados, always encouraged him to play hockey, some newcomer parents are more comfortable putting their children in sports that are culturally familiar, such as soccer, baseball or cricket.

“As a parent, you’ve played a certain game and you get your kids into that game,” says OMHA executive director Richard Ropchan.

And Carter says negative peer pressure can discourage teens from sticking with hockey.

“It wasn’t until I got to high school that it became an issue,” he recalls. “Hockey wasn’t black enough all of a sudden.”

Nurse shrugs off the thought of any barriers to his success.

“The NHL is my goal now,” he says simply.

Originally published on thestar.com

Hip hop artist and golfer Lil Jordan

Watch out Justin Bieber, there’s a new hearthrob in town.

This week 12 year old rapper slash golf prodigy Lil Jordan is in Toronto to host an event for autism. The Californian born Jordan Eugenio is quickly becoming a household name south of the border, already popular on the sports entertainment circuit. At the tender age of 12, he’s already snagged appearances on FOX’s Best Damn Sports Show Period, The Golf Channel and ESPN.  Also a dedicated humanitarian, Jordan has loaned his star power to the Jimmy V Foundation, Salvation Army, and the NAACP.

Jordan’s hip hop career began with the release of “Swing for the Dream” an educational song about children with disabilities. Since then Lil Jordan’s career as a hip hop artist has taken off, already receiving a nod from hip hop magazine XXL in 2007, and a Stammy Award for best male artist under 18 in 2008.

Check out Lil Jordan’s EPK below