The Pan Am Games: Toronto 2015

Bravo Toronto.

I was one of the millions of complaining Torontonians, frustrated that my tax dollars were used in excess to put on a complex, resource exhausting, multi-sport event that no one in this country has ever seemed to care much about.

Whose idea was it to import wood from Siberia to build the cycling velodrome, in f&*^ing Milton? I guess that’s fitting, since Milton is basically the Siberia of the Greater Toronto Area. And the worst part about HOV lanes isn’t the volume it adds to the other lanes, it’s the moronic drivers that don’t understand that the middle lane becomes the passing lane. If you don’t know how fast you should go in that lane, you’re going too slow to be in there!!!!

But then a well trained stuntman dressed to resemble Donovan Bailey jumped off the CN Tower. Andrew Wiggins‘ Olympian mother passed him the torch, and Maple Jordan gave it to the MJ of Canadian Basketball. And then they lit fireworks OFF the CN Tower! All of a sudden, I had the fever.

I saw gymnastics on day 1 and was blown away by the sheer athleticism on display. Security at the venues was quick and efficient. I avoided heat stroke watching beach volleyball thanks to a rowdy stadium host and his team of water gun slinging volunteers. I still don’t know how the Cuban women only managed silver, but I’m not trying to be a Pan Am women’s beach volleyball expert. Handball is way more entertaining than I ever thought it was. And considerably more physical. I snickered at the several overweight looking Uruguayan men who took the floor, only to quickly realize that no matter how much P90x the Canadian team did that morning, they weren’t going to contain or get through them. Also, Brasilians play handball the same way they play soccer: beautifully and effortlessly.

My commutes around the city were virtually unaltered. There’s nothing west of Mississauga for me, ever. In fact my commutes were improved with the 509 streetcar running direct from Union Station to Exhibition Place (Pan Am Park). They lit fireworks in front of City Hall every single night. I saw musical performances by groups from countries I’m unlikely to travel to, with Lake Ontario as the backdrop. And yeah, some of those performances were horrendous. But I’d stand there and listen to em again.

For as good of a show as Toronto put on, Canadian athletes were even better. Dominating our rivals to the south in sports they’ve owned for decades. The coming out party this tournament was for Canada Basketball can not be overstated. Jamal Murray is the new Andrew Wiggins, and we haven’t even seen the best of him yet! Steve Nash and Jay Triano now have the once unthinkable luxury of having too many talented players to choose from. Kia Nurse might just do for women’s basketball what Christine Sinclair has done for women’s soccer in this country. She could’ve made the Edmonton Oilers, if she really wanted to. Pete Orr is a Canadian baseball legend now. People learned how crazy extra innings rules are in international baseball. And Andre De Grasse put the track and field world on notice, so much so, they had to find a way to take his medal away.

Much to my surprise, the 17th Pan American Games were a huge success on and off the fields of play. I am more proud to be a Torontonian. And winning feels great. This was a month I was convinced I would regret. Instead, it was one I won’t soon forget.

Having said all that, I DO NOT want the Olympics in my city in nine years. Enjoy it Boston! You deserve a good headache after all the sporting successes your teams have brought you in recent years.

Sunday Morning Thoughts – July 26

It’s almost like Canada has a track record of lane violations. Somebody is always looking! Absolute shame to see that quartet stripped of a gold medal they earned before the race even started. The better you are, the more haters gonna hate. Andre De Grasse will hang many more gold medals around his neck in the near future. Canada has a new track star, and the sky is the limit.

BASKETBALL
Say what you’d like about the Pan Am Games. Canada Basketball won at life this week.

That final went exactly the way it was supposed to go. After beating the Kings of Basketball, in dramatic fashion, Steve Nash‘s hard working collection of new age talent, lost to the best team in the tournament. It was boys against men. Canada were impatient, repeatedly took tough shots. Brasil did the exact opposite. Exactly what you expect from an experienced and united team.

Having said that, there were plenty of positives to take from winning a medal for the first time ever. Doesn’t matter that it was silver. The team fought back, without Andrew Nicholson, better than I bet Jay Triano even expected. While he showed his frustration late, Anthony Bennett‘s confidence is as high as I’ve seen since he was at UNLV. He may have just convinced the T-Wolves to keep him around. And, you can’t say enough about Jamal Murray. What a coming out party. Wiggins didn’t have this experience before his lone year at Kansas. I think this will go a long way to making Murray’s NCAA transition very smooth. And I bet you his dad is getting plenty of Russian phone calls today from clubs looking to entice his son to break his Kentucky commitment.

Dan Shulman makes every game better. I was locked in for the second half of that bronze medal game. Not because I cared at all whether or not the USA won a medal. Because he made it sound like a must watch game.

SOCCER
Jamaica couldn’t win a game last month at Copa America. But put them in their own tournament and they’re good enough to be finalists? This has to be the least anticipated Gold Cup final in a long time. And that is not Jamaica’s fault. The officiating has been horrendous. Mexico don’t deserve to be there, but hell might actually freeze over if they lose. And if El Tri’s play this month has taught us anything, they’re fully capable of losing! All the pressure is on this team of guys that don’t seem to really like each other, nor their coach. Jamaica have absolutely nothing to lose. But let’s be honest, it just depends on who the referee is.

There was something oddly satisfying about watching the USA lose to Panama on penalties in the third place game. Panama deserved something for being jobbed in the semis. Looked like a pretty legit victory yesterday to me.

Toronto FC will regret their complacent opening 45 minutes in Columbus. Hell of a fight back though, with more than a bit of luck, to come away with a point. Sebastian Giovinco has done exactly what I hoped when I first read he was linked with the club. He’s made it must watch TV. You never know what’s going to happen. But more often than not, it’s pretty darn good.

Thoroughly excited for Andrea Pirlo‘s NYCFC debut this afternoon against Orlando. I’m expecting several opportunities to use the #PirloIsNotImpressed.

MLB
Throw a no hitter at Wrigley. Hell of a way to show interested teams that you still got it. I wouldn’t trade for Cole Hamels right now though. I think an ERA closer to the 20 he put up over his last two starts is more of a reflection of what he’s got left in the tank.

A-Rod has got to stop with this being great shit. It’s annoying. I didn’t expect him to still have a place on the roster at this point in the season, let alone hit 23 HR! Without him, the Yankees aren’t leading the division. The world makes no sense.

I’m a big fan of the ‘We The Northwest’ movement that invades Safeco Field every time the Jays are out in Seattle. I thought it would be enough to get Drew Hutchison to pitch the way he does at home. I was wrong. But thanks to contributions from the unlikeliest of bats, the Jays got the job done. As I expect them to in the series finale. No way Taijuan Walker out pitches Mark Buehrle.

Zack Greinke faces the Mets this afternoon. The baby faced flame thrower has thrown 43 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. That’s the longest streak since Orel Hershiser, who tossed 59 in 1988. Not to be a hater, but I think the streak ends before 50.

Saturday Morning Thoughts – July 25

HOLY S%^&
Jamal Murray for Prime Minister?

Maple Leaf Gardens has seen a lot of magical nights in it’s day. Would never have expected Canada Basketball to give it two for the ages this week.

22 points, all scored in the fourth quarter and overtime. The tying three. The winning three. Murray may have just secured himself a lottery pick with one game. Every SEC coach watched that game last night. There’s only one that didn’t at some point yell at the top of their lungs, “F#%^ YOU CALIPARI!”

You’ll read many scribes today write that was the biggest win in Canadian men’s basketball history. Say what you will about the Pan Am Games, but this win has completely changed the way Canada Basketball will be perceived internationally and the expectations a growing fan base will put on them. Having said that, Saturday’s gold medal game really, is a bonus. Unlike the USA, this is Brasil’s best, the squad they’ll take to Mexico City next month. They may have experience and class, but they don’t have Jamal Murray.

MLB
Of course the Red Sox first win since the All Star break would come off the Tigers! Things are falling apart in The D. Big sell-off coming.

Frustrating loss in Seattle, but King Felix beats everybody and Marco Estrada wasn’t wven supposed to start. Great to see Jose Bautista pass Vernon Wells for sole possession of 2nd on the Jays all-time HR list. Still trails Carlos Delgado by 112 for the franchise lead.

I applaud Jon Niese‘s “work before everything” attitude, but did he really think he’d be able to outpitch the Dodgers while his wife was in labour?  Niese did watch the birth of his son Tatum Jeffery on FaceTime though. During the game. But surrendered six runs and eight hits over three innings in a 7-2 Mets loss. Bet Terry Collins will be asked to justify that call.

Scott Kazmir delivered in his Astros debut throwing seven strong innings against the Royals to earn the W. I will be very surprised if Houston doesn’t win the West. The Angels are just enjoying a (very) good run of form at the moment.

CFL
Trevor Harris is the QB I want when I’m trying to win games late. Of course the Argos missed the PAT and the BC Lions tied the game with a field goal. But Harris moved the chains again and the Boatmen re-took the lead, after trailing 21-0, to clinch another road win. Impressive.

Hate to see Jon Cornish go down injured. He’s the only one keeping the run game alive. Stamps are a completely different team without him.

SOCCER
To quote my co-worker Sid Seixeiro, “CONCACAF is where soccer goes to die.” It’s hard to argue that. Just like it’s hard to argue Panama Football Federation president Pedro Chaluja‘s claims that their semi-final loss to Mexico was fixed. Yesterday he called on FIFA to write the wrong. They replied with, “Thank you for writing. Please note we are on vacation until further notice. If this is an emergency, please contact CONCACAF. They know how to fix everything.”

NHL
How is signing Alex Semin “no risk” for the Habs? They’re paying him over a million bucks. That’s money they could use to salt the sidewalks outside of the [insert competitor’s name here] Centre from September to May so old ladies don’t fall. Semin scored just 19 points in 57 games, and the lowly Hurricanes bought him out. Not a guy I’d want on my team.

Friday Morning Thoughts – July 24

Number one twitter trend early this morning was “Hulk Hogan & WWE part ways. Again.” Didn’t even know he was back. Why was he back? Vince must be really hurting for star power.

NHL
Speaking of star power, the Maple Leafs sure like being the most talked about team in hockey. Hiring Lou Lamoriello is a fantastic move. As long as, Lou actually accepts the expectation that he make Kyle Dubas better than him. Decisions won’t be made by committee. That’s not the guy you get if that’s what you want. Clearly Brendan Shanahan felt it best to have a man he knew he could trust to make decisions that he himself isn’t the most qualified to make. Lou is calling the shots in The 6. Just don’t expect Drake to write a track about him anytime soon.

MLB
How bout them Houston Astros? There’s something no one has said with conviction in ten years. Scott Kazmir has been in a pennant race before. He’s a Houston guy, meaning Jeff Luhnow probably expects to have the upper hand in signing him this winter. And they didn’t have to give up the farm to get him, something they would’ve had to do to get Johnny Cueto or David Price.

Speaking of the Tigers ace, real shame Detroit couldn’t even earn a win in what might just have been his last start in a Tiggys uniform. I wonder if Alex Anthopoulos has inquired? It’s a big gamble, and maybe I am a bit bias, but I think Toronto is as good a sell as anywhere for Price long-term. He knows the opposition. For the most part he can live under the radar in one of the best city’s there is. And knowing a future ace is a necessity, ownership will make the cash available. They don’t have a choice. This team won’t get any closer to October without it.

If you support a team that struggles in the pitching department, you hate the LA Dodgers. Aren’t they spoiled enough with the form Zack Greinke is in right now? Last night in Queens, Clayton Kershaw was perfect for six innings and very good for nine, in a 3-0 win to extend his own scoreless streak to 29 innings.

BASKETBALL
The Pan Am Games just keep getting better and better for Canada Basketball. Thanks to a convincing win over Mexico, Canada’s men’s team will play in the semifinal on Friday against the U.S.A., who not so shockingly lost to Brasil 93-83 and finished second in their pool. The Brazilians now have the advantage of playing the Dominicans in the other semi.

SOCCER
Sticking with the Pan Am’s, isn’t it great to see Brasil upset at soccer? Those last 10 minutes versus Uruguay were thrilling. Doesn’t matter the age level or tournament, those to countries hate each other. And it provided a gem of a match in Hamilton that I regret not making the trek out for. Tough break for Panama, to lose to Mexico, again.

If Arsene Wenger does in fact have £200 million to spend, as Lord Harris suggested, then Arsenal have really dropped the ball. Maybe Arturo Vidal was never actually considering joining up with countryman Alexis Sanchez. But that is the calibre of player Wenger needs to buy to make Arsenal a title contender.

The Spanish papers are raving about the friction between Cristiano Ronaldo and new boss Rafa Benitez. Wow. Didn’t see that coming. Rafa may think he’s there because he is the best man for the job, but really he’s just a more acclimated David Blatt. He’s a bigger name, but one that management expect CR7 to boss around when he feels like it. No one could do that with Jose or Carlo Ancelotti. As much as I would love to see him back in the Prem, Ronaldo is not going back to Manchester United this summer. These stories will disappear once Real run away with the season and both Ronnie and Rafa lift at least one title come May.

Thursday Morning Thoughts – July 23

I had no idea the men’s Pan Am 100 metre final was yesterday. Thrilled to see Andre De Grasse win gold for Canada. This country has been looking for the next Donovan Bailey for too long.

MLB
Well, the Jays let that slip away last night. Big chance to win it in the ninth after loading the bases with nobody out. But they managed just one run off Tyler Clippard, on a one-out walk to Jose Bautista. The list of games the Jays “should’ve” won this season is long enough.

Are the Yankees ever going to stop winning ballgames? Honestly, this is getting ridiculous now. How is Alex Rodriguez delivering like it’s 2009 all over again? New York are 11 games over .500! That might be the most shocking thing I’ve seen all year.

SOCCER
So last night I learned that Sunderland are better than TFC II. Of course Jermain Defoe scored a brace. I was stunned to see him play the full 90 minutes. Good on him, and Sunderland for fielding a predominantly Premier League calibre squad. But if I were one of the few sitting near the halfway line that paid $85 a ticket, I would’ve been hella disappointed.

If only Canadians could score goals…
What Canada‘s Pan Am semifinal loss to Colombia proved was that our women just can’t anticipate as quickly, or as well, as their South American competition. Fully capable of improving on that though, and quickly. Great chance at winning bronze on Friday. Mexico have shown their vulnerablilities and if Canada can capitalize on the chances they’re more than capable of creating, a medal is a real possibility. They just need to do something very “un-Canadian” – find the back of the net.

The Gold Cup just isn’t the Gold Cup if it isn’t a Mexico v USA final!!! They’re going to have to change the name of the tournament. How about “The forgotten championship of the northern Americas and a shitload of islands”? Good on Jamaica though. After competing in Copa America last month, I’m stunned to see them succeed the way they have in their own tournament.

Panama: always the bridesmaid. Never the bride. With the USA already out, there was no way a Panama v Jamaica final would be good for the growth of the sport on this side of the Atlantic. So, take the game away from an already undermanned Central American side that nobody really cares about. Roman Torres was fouled and fell on to the ball with no intention. That was not a penalty. The second penalty call was legit, and Mexico will always get those calls in this tournament. If only Canada had such an advantage…

Was happy to read that Rafa Benitez is 100% convinced that Sergio Ramos is staying at Real Madrid. That means he will be sold to Manchester United on transfer deadline day. If only he could bring Ronaldo back with him.

BASKETBALL
I really don’t think I’m ready for the LeBron James Space Jam sequel. #DontMessWithaClassic

The Timberwolves may want to think twice about shipping Anthony Bennett out of town. He certainly looked like a confident big man in Canada‘s nail biting Pan Am win over Argentina. That’s what has been missing from Bennett’s NBA game so far. If two games are any measurement, head coach Jay Triano will have some tough decisions to make when picking Canada’s Olympic qualifying team next month. The improvement Canada Basketball has enjoyed over the last decade is remarkable. If only soccer in this country could match it.

New Lakers Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass haven’t spoken to Kobe Bryant yet? Sorry Byron Scott, but y’all in for a looooong season. Again.

NFL
How are there not more Olympians in the NFL? Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin won the silver medal in long jump at the Pan Am Games yesterday. He hadn’t competed in track and field since London 2012! Goodwin may have his work cut out for him at camp next month. He did play just 10 games last season and will compete for a spot on the Bills roster, and Rex Ryan‘s admiration. I’d give him one simply based on how hard he works. Multi-tooled men like Goodwin don’t come around that often .

Tuesday Morning Thoughts – July 21

If you can become as emotional about your job as Zach Johnson was able to yesterday, you’ve won at life.

BASKETBALL
First baseball, then basketball. If you’re one of those Canadian’s whose patriotism thrives on being better than Americans, the Pan Am Games have been good to you this week. No Canadian team, men or women, had ever won gold in a major international competition until last night. Thanks to one massive game, 19-year-old Kia Nurse has put herself on course to be the Christine Sinclair of basketball in this country. Or more appropriately, the Andrew Wiggins of the women’s game.

I have never subscribed to the argument “players need to stay off social media.” And I love that former players, heroes of my childhood, use it to talk smack. For all the success he achieved with the Bulls, Scottie Pippen takes more shit than anybody. Someone at a party, or a TNT intern looking to wind him up, must have said something to spark Shaq‘s random Pippen rage. For someone who didn’t invent twitvid, I thought #33 handled himself very well.

Couldn’t be happier to see Becky Hammon lead the Spurs to win the NBA Summer League. Say what you will about the pre-season tournament, it’s a historical achievement that should pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse basketball community, not just at the top level, but across this great continent.

MLB
Back to .500 thanks to last night’s series opening win over the Mariners, it’s still a few weeks til Miguel Cabrera returns from a calf strain. The Tigers have to decide whether they’re buyers or sellers. If David Price AND Yoenis Cespedes are made available, Dave Dombrowski might set a record for the most active phone line in Verizon’s history. It seems too early to blow things up. But if Price hasn’t committed to the cause, or see a reason to, long-term than it’s best to get something. Wonder if AA will make a phone call…

Rain outs in California. Nick Markakis hitting homers for the first time in 356 at bats. THE END IS NEAR!!!!

As for the Blue Jays, it’s Mark Buehrle vs Kendall Graveman on the hill tonight in Oakland.

SOCCER
Sepp Blatter never looked so uncomfortable in his life. The strip club memes that littered the internet made for the most entertaining summer Monday in the history of ever. The “President of Everybody” needs to be pranked more often.

Nice of EA Sports to put Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan on the covers of FIFA 16. Clearly Sepp doesn’t have a say in EA’s decision. Also very nice.

Fully expected Arturo Vidal to leave Juventus this summer. Got to be honest though, disappointed he’s off to Bayern Munich. And for just a £28 million fee and £90,000 a week? Might turn out to be the steal of the decade.

I would absolutely love to see Thomas Müller in the Premier League. I don’t think Bayern will sell him, and I question whether LVG‘s collection of All-Stars is the right fit for him.

Not surprised at all to see Filipe Luís return to Atletico. I thought he was the most overrated player after their run to the Champions League final. Had my doubts confirmed in person when I watched him vs Colombia at Copa America.

THE OPEN
At least Paul Dunne will never have to pay for a pint in Ireland again.

I’ve never watched golf for so long in my life. Every big tournament needs to end in a playoff. For all you golfers out there with a strong short game, Zach Johnson is now your hero. If he wasn’t already. A good wedge game and putter can still go a long way.

Jordan Spieth will be just fine. I wonder how Johnson’s family back home in Iowa felt watching an emphatic three minute feature on how great Spieth is going to be after coming up short. A piece that ended with the assumption “we can’t wait” til he’s out there in a big tournament again. Save that for the day after!

I can’t wait for the pictures of Johnson wearing his green jacket, holding the claret jug, with a giant stogie in his mouth, as he enjoys life at a Rob Gronkowski party.

Monday Morning Thoughts – July 20

Going to try to get back in to the habit of writing these daily posts. After the weekend we just witnessed, it was hard to restrict every opinion to just 140 characters.

THE OPEN
I never thought I would ever open a multi sport post, with golf. But The British Open has been pretty compelling over the last four days. Especially if you’re an fan of wild weather captured on camera. Encouraged by the R&A there will be plenty of people who have called in sick to work today to enjoy what should be a ridiculous final round.

If 22-year-old Irishman Paul Dunne does pull off the miracle and win, as an amateur, he wouldn’t actually receive ANY of the $1.8 million purse. Because, amateurs don’t get paid. That would re-define the word ridiculous.

And here’s something that won’t surprise anyone that has ever been to a sporting event in Toronto. A ticket to the Pan Am Golf Medal Session will cost you $75. A ticket to today’s final round at The Open? $20.24.

BASEBALL
You can watch this game for 100 years and not see a championship deciding game end like the Pan Am gold medal game in Ajax last night.

If you didn’t see it, with Canada trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the 10th inning and two runners on, American lefty David Huff‘s horrendous pickoff attempt at first base allowed Canada to plate a pair and walk off to claim back-to-back baseball gold medals. The U.S. haven’t won since 1967. Insert Leafs cracks below.

How amazing was it to see Marco Estrada “Chris Archer” the Rays? All the hype around Archer, fully deserved I may add, but everyone forgot Estrada nearly perfect game’d Tampa last month. Great momentum to take out west on their 6 game road trip. Starts in Oakland tomorrow.

For you doomsday preppers, you may want to get ready. It hadn’t rained in California since 2007. But, yesterday the Padres AND the Angels were rained out, marking the first time 2 Major League games were rained out in California on the same day since Sep. 24, 1986. Pretty sure I saw moths fly out of the tarp at Petco when they rolled it out…

Can someone please find the kid in suburban Detroit, maybe he’s even in Windsor, Ontario, that’s pitching as well as Justin Verlander used to? JV must’ve been Space Jam’d. How else can you explain how bad he’s been this season? At some point he’s got to show the Tigers a glimpse of what’s left. If he’s done, so are the Tigers in the Central. For a while.

Just give Dallas Keuchel the A.L. Cy Young award already. I don’t know if I’m more surprised to see the Astros still contending in the West, or that his beard hasn’t become an athletic disadvantage. At some point his hipster circle is going to turn on him… As long as he’s throwing career high lines like he did yesterday against the Rangers, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 Ks, it doesn’t matter who’s in his social circle. Though if I were management, I’d be concerned if he started dating Rihanna.

The second the Reds signed Aroldis Chapman, I was jealous he wasn’t pitching for my team. Yesterday with only 292 Major League innings pitched, the Cuban became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 500 strikeouts. Slow clap for ya, bro.

SOCCER
Full credit to the Canadian Womens Pan Am team for holding their own against Brasil‘s World Cup squad (minus only Marta). A 2-0 loss is nothing to shake your head at. But there’s something odd about a tourney, where a team with just 1 win and 1 loss can enter their final preliminary match knowing that anything better than a 4-0 loss would still see them through to the semis. But hey, won’t find a person in this country complaining. Good luck against Colombia on Wednesday.

And how does (assistant) referee Eric Boria give that penalty in the final minute of extra time? Costa Rica deserved to try their hand in a penalty shoot-out after Mexico wasted chance after chance in over two hours. I know everyone loves to see Miguel Herrera celebrate, but c’mon man!

Happy Monday everybody. May you go the entire day without being subjected to the song Steph Curry‘s daughter is dancing to.