Basketball in Canada - Page 63

Berklon · #**1241** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 8:26 PM**

Everyone is free to choose what's a big deal to them personally.
The majority decides what's a big deal across a larger population (ie. the city, province or country).

If the city, province or country gets excited about 2 bums fighting over a shopping cart - then that's a big deal to them. Let the people decide for themselves personally and collectively.

Right now, the Raptors are a HUGE deal and it will be a bigger deal if they can win just one more game. The last big deal for Toronto was the Blue Jays winning the World Series. The next one (if it ever happens) will be the Leafs winning a cup.

No need to cry about it and diminish it's importance because you don't find it a big deal, while so many others do.
I care very little about soccer and the World Cup, but I accept that it's a pretty f'n big event.

elly63 · #**1242** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rousseau

If you're really so concerned about people treating an NBA championship like a bigger deal than the MLS, why don't you go out to the streets of Toronto and explain to people why they shouldn't be more excited about tonight than when Toronto FC won? You could film all the chastened kids in Raptors gear deferring to your great wisdom and put it up on Youtube.

You could really set things to rights, given that this unholy preoccupation with the Raptors has you so upset. You could do that instead of, you know, trolling this thread with your idiotic opinions.

I pretty much stayed quiet in this thread trying to ignore your self fellating, creepy posts. But then you became a total dick (pardon the expression) purposely dissing TFC, the Argos and Rock and anyone else I might not have knowledge of. You then proceed to take a needless shot at religion, something I would expect from an entitled millennial and not someone your age. If you can get your head around this, what some of us are having a problem with is not the Raptors, but you and your total ahole posts.

MonkeyRonin · #**1243** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

So big cities like Paris, Moscow and a host of others have never won anything "major"?

What do those cities have to do with anything? Those leagues are just biggest deal here (and the biggest in their respective sports, for what it's worth). Would you begrudge the people of London for not getting as excited about the BBL (British Basketball League) as they would the Premier League?

rousseau · #**1244** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Would you begrudge the people of London for not getting as excited about the BBL (British Basketball League) as they would the Premier League?

Good analogy. This weird concern about how people in Toronto are more excited about the Raptors than the MLS or CFL is just...weird.

suburbanite · #**1245** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 8:50 PM**

Not to Mention PSG hasn't actually won the Champions League and only dominates perhaps the most top-heavy football league in the world due to Qatari ownership.

le calmar · #**1246** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 9:29 PM**

Montreal will have their Jurassic Park tonight on Peel St.

Calgarian · #**1247** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 9:38 PM**

So if Toronto wins tonight, will there be a riot? I can see some cop cars getting lit up at the very least...

elly63 · #**1248** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 9:49 PM**

Saw this at CBC while looking for a story on Canada beating Cameroon at the WWC

CBC Sports partners with Canadian Elite Basketball League to live stream games
Coverage begins June 12 at 7 p.m. ET at CBCSports.ca with Hamilton hosting Niagara
CBC Sports Jun 10, 2019

The opportunity for Canadians to witness quality basketball this month won't end with the Toronto Raptors' quest for the country's first-ever NBA championship.

CBC Sports on Monday announced a partnership to live stream the remaining 39 games of the Canadian Elite Basketball League's inaugural season along with championship weekend Aug. 22-25 in Saskatoon at CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices.

"These are historic times for Canadian basketball," says Canada Basketball president and CEO Glen Grunwald, the former Raptors general manager who was with the team when it joined the NBA in 1995. "I urge everyone to continue to follow basketball's tremendous rise by tuning in to the CEBL broadcasts.

"It is a very exciting time for basketball in Canada as the CBC and the CEBL collaborate to showcase all the rich domestic basketball talent this country has to offer and more."

It's only fitting that a truly Canadian league partners with a historic Canadian broadcast institution like the CBC.
— Canadian Elite Basketball League CEO/commissioner Mike Morreale

The six-team CEBL, which adheres to FIBA rules (including 10-minute quarters) and regulations while serving as a Division 1 league, began play in May in Hamilton, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Guelph, Ont., Fraser Valley (Abbotsford, B.C.) and St. Catharines, Ont. (Niagara River Lions).

Each club boasts a 10-player roster requiring at least 70 per cent Canadians.

"It's only fitting that a truly Canadian league partners with a historic Canadian broadcast institution like the CBC," says CEBL CEO and commissioner Mike Morreale. "The CEBL is comprised of top Canadian talent and I am very pleased to know that this will be showcased across the country through CBC Sports' streaming platforms for all Canadians to see."

Morreale, a former CFL receiver, transitioned to basketball a few years ago after a chance meeting with Richard Petko, who owned the Niagara River Lions of the National Basketball League.

'Canadians are hungry for basketball'

Morreale says the CEBL has borrowed from the CFL and Major League Soccer.

"We settled on a structure that we believe can be strong in the short-term and the long-term, with a corporate model similar to the MLS when they started where the league will operate the six territories and really be completely funded," he notes.

Under a corporate structure, Canadian Basketball Ventures, the league foots the bill for everything from ticketing platforms, to national sponsorships, to marketing.

Championship weekend will feature the top four teams, including the host Saskatchewan Rattlers, competing to become the first-ever CEBL champion.

"Canadians are hungry for basketball, and looking ahead to the anticipation for the sport at the 2020 Olympic Games," says Chris Wilson, interim head of CBC Sports. "CBC Sports is thrilled to be the destination for national coverage of our homegrown professional league.

"This is an essential opportunity for fans of the sport from across the country to follow the journeys of the new generation of pro basketball players as they represent our communities and country as a whole."

CBC Sports coverage begins June 12 at 7 p.m. ET when the Hamilton Honey Badgers host Niagara River at FirstOntario Centre.

Doady · #**1249** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 9:50 PM**

Not surprised to come in here in a thread about basketball in Canada and see people whining about Toronto's excitement for the Raptors and a potential championship in the biggest basketball league in the world, one of the top 3 sports leagues in North America. Just the ROC just being the ROC as usual.

Berklon · #**1250** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 9:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So if Toronto wins tonight, will there be a riot? I can see some cop cars getting lit up at the very least...

I think it would be a clean and respectful celebration. There will be some losers for sure, but I don't think we'd see much of a mob mentality with regards to destruction.

I really hope they pull it off tonight.

elly63 · #**1251** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doady

Not surprised to come in here in a thread about basketball in Canada and see people whining about Toronto's excitement for the Raptors and a potential championship in the biggest basketball league in the world, one of the top 3 sports leagues in North America. Just the ROC just being the ROC as usual.

You pretty much said it all, right there.

Doady · #**1252** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

You pretty much said it all, right there.

Yeah, there's nothing more to say about that. Let's keep talking about the CEBL instead, something that actually matters to real Canadians, unlike the Toronto Raptors in NBA finals.

Niagara expands first place lead in CEBL action against Honey Badgers

Quote:

The River Lions made it five wins in a row and gain some breathing room atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) after defeating the Hamilton Honey Badgers 107-96 Saturday night in St. Catharines.

Hamilton was riding a three game win streak entering the contest but stumbled throughout the game trying to contain the River Lions quick motion offence.
Niagara hit 12 three-pointers in the contest which saw the River Lions lead 54-41 at half.

...

https://www.thoroldnews.com/local-sp...adgers-1497526

elly63 · #**1253** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 10:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doady

Yeah, there's nothing more to say about that. Let's keep talking about the CEBL instead, something that actually matters to real Canadians, unlike the Toronto Raptors in NBA finals

Yes, I admit it, you found me out, I was trying to distract people from the Raptors to the CEBL with an article I stumbled upon that was posted today. Like a fool, I thought that somebody in a Basketball in Canada thread might have an interest when the Raptor bandwagon empties.

But it's still comforting to know that someone will prove your point for you without me having to go through the effort. So, thanks.

TownGuy · #**1254** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 10:49 PM**

I'm completely bummed out that this game is on at 9. I read something saying how sports leagues have to be careful to alienate their young future fan base with late start times, how many school kids in Toronto are going to miss the memories of a possible NBA championship because they have to sleep? Memories that could get them hooked as lifetime fans. This game might be pushing 12 am before it's over.

I know the other team is in California but the difference between a 5 PM or 6 PM start is just a matter of convenience, everyone can still tune in and see the 2nd half if it started at 5.

rousseau · #**1255** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TownGuy

...how many school kids in Toronto are going to miss the memories of a possible NBA championship because they have to sleep?

Uh...none? What kind of an ogre would a parent have to be to deny their kids the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch their team win an NBA championship?

elly63 · #**1256** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rousseau

Uh...none? What kind of an ogre would a parent have to be to deny their kids the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch their team win an NBA championship?

Hell when I was a kid, I was able to convince the teachers to allow us to watch the first Jays game and the first space shuttle landing and that was on those shitty big B&W TVs on those tall stands whose screens had more snow than Whistler.

Not like the old days though, you can probably find a repeat in the morning online somewhere.

TownGuy · #**1257** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 11:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rousseau

Uh...none? What kind of an ogre would a parent have to be to deny their kids the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch their team win an NBA championship?

Lots would. Lots are just going to plain fall asleep on their own also.