We have great news for those of you looking for something to watch tonight other than an exhibition hockey game featuring teenagers.
Sportsnet Ontario has tonight's NBA Draft Lottery battle between your Toronto Raptors and the sad-sack Cleveland Cavaliers, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. (Associated Press here )
And while we certainly won't be rooting against our juniors tonight, after a decade of Canadian dominance and hyperbole, we have a hard time getting too amped up for a tournament no one else in the world cares about, but us.
There, we said it. Guess we're not the average hockey fan .
Luckily, after tonight the Canadian sports media can shift its focus back to where it duly belongs: on our work-in-progress Raptors.
Sarcasm aside, we'll admit it can be a chore at times to watch this squad, especially on nights like Tuesday when we were short-handed and taking a beating on the road from a solid team such as the Bulls.
But hey, at least we're not the Cavs, a team stuck in basketball purgatory; playing horrific basketball with an expensive and largely veteran squad.
It's one thing to lose and it's another to lose with a team with little upside, such as the Cavs.
Say what you will about Bryan Colangelo, but at least when his attention-seeking star player left town he embraced the opportunity to strip it down and begin the re-build in earnest, unlike Cavs owner Dan Gilbert who insisted his GM Chris Grant stick with pricey, low-ceiling veterans such as Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison in a mis-guided attempt to make the playoffs this spring.
And as ugly as our 11-23 record may appear and as painful as our recent stretch of 12 losses in 15 games may be, it's positively inspiring when stacked up against the Cavs 8-26 mark and current 1-17 slide.
So tonight, regardless of the outcome, we'll take great solace in the fact that:
A.) We're a Raptors fan and not a Cavs fan.
B.) Toronto is our home and not Cleveland.
C.) We won't see a need for a Royal Commission should Canada lose tonight.
Injury report:
Andrea Bargnani: The Big Italian looked good last night for his first action in a fortnight, pouring in 23 points in 32 minutes. By all accounts he's playing tonight, but let's hope Triano doesn't overwork him too soon.
Jerryd Bayless: Played 31 minutes with 11 points and eight rebounds against the Bulls, but Doug Smith guesstulates he could sit tonight vs. the Cavs in favour of…
Jose Calderon: He's nursing two sore ankles but was a game-time decision Tuesday and is likely the same Wednesday.
Ronald Dupree: He's not hurt, but he's out of work after the Raptors waived him Wednesday morning. Hope he catches on soon with someone else. It always makes the break-up easier.
Sonny Weems: Missed his eighth straight game with a back injury Tuesday. Perhaps someone should show him the value of proper stretching and show him this…
Anyone who's been on Facebook the past couple of days has no doubt encountered the video below of the Homeless Man With the Golden Voice.
On Wednesday, the Cavaliers contacted him and offered him a job.
Cavs spokesman Tad Carper said details are being worked out, but as our co-worker pointed out, they better move fast before the Heat swoop in and he announces he's taking his talents to South Beach.
