We're Playing Basketball?

(BOD - Stephanie McMahon)

Predictably, both CSzem and Gretzpo responded to my barbs in yesterday’s column with explanations and stats that I stopped paying attention to early on in their posts. All they really proved is that they need to get out more and, perhaps, work on their own baseball skills which are tremendously lacking.

I found it interesting that they were both so quick to jump on me, when one of them can’t play a tennis match without his ovaries forcing him to retire and the other wouldn’t be able to lift 15lbs over his head were it not for my esteemed influence.

But I digress.

Apparently, Canada is currently engaged in the World Basketball Championships and this is the first I’ve heard of it. And the only reason I’m discussing it now is that I’ve read this morning that we’ve gone 0-4 thus far and now have no chance of making it to the playoff round.

First, I’d like to address the ridiculous-ness of a tournament where a team go can 2-3 in round robin play and make the playoff round. In what dimension of the sporting landscape should a losing record be rewarded with a playoff spot?

Canada’s last game is this morning versus Spain. All sign point to another loss and a winless record at the tournament.

I’m going to assume that such futility was expected considering the lack of coverage of this championship at home. Though we created the game, we’ve never been a world power in the sport. However, it’s tad disconcerting when we’re losing to countries like Lebanon and Lithuania.

I’m not positive that these countries have municipal infrastructure or indoor plumbing and they’re kicking our
ass on the basketball court. Intrigued, I delved a little deeper into our squad to see why we can’t win a game.

Jesus, that was pretty grim. I have literally never heard of anyone on Canada’s roster. We must have players with a better pedigree than this, don’t we? The most famous name on the roster is Coach Leo Rautins. Can Rautins even be considered a good coach? Sure, he makes good insights and can tell some funny anecdotes on Raptors broadcasts, but I kind of want a guy who knows the intricacies of the X’s and O’s of the game leading our country against other basketball nations.

Some further research told me that we actually were forced to qualify for this tournament. So, there are countries out there who are worse than us. Sure, some of them may not know what basketball is, but I’m willing to take this moral victory.

Truthfully, I think that attitude is the problem with out nation’s sporting endeavours. In too many sports (other than curling or hockey) we have a ‘happy to be here’ mentality that will not get us anywhere on the world stage.

We showed some grit and sandpaper at the Olympics by not taking anyone’s shit and trying to ‘Own the Podium.’ Well, there’s no reason why that goal should have stopped in Vancouver.