Jay Triano gets props in this NY Times article about the Raptors coach assisting the Americans!

Raptors Head coach Jay Triano is truly a well-respected man in USA Basketball circles...it seems even more than in his role in Toronto. Not sure why that is...but Triano has been in the hot seat since his ascent to the top spot for the Raptors. This man has dedicated his life to basketball...having played for Canada twice in the Olympics and coached our National team as well as the U.S. Select team.
It's very true of Canadians that we don't usually give props to our own until they've been recognized somewhere else so let's hope that if the USA wins gold at the FIBA World Championships for Men in Turkey, that Triano's work with the team will be seen as a key factor to their victory.  Check a nice piece in the New York Times about Triano and team U.S.A. HERE.

Photos courtesy of SacBee.com, USA Basketball.com,athletics.sfu.ca,thenbabreakdown.blogspot.com

Bell Canada on board as a sponsor for Canada Basketball, Great news!!!

Just reported by Doug Smith of the star in his blog:

It appears as though Bell Canada has jumped in the mix and has become a sponsor for Canada Basketball and just like TSN/TSN2 has shown by committing for 2 years...Bell Canada has apparently signed on for a "very lucrative" multi-year deal as per Smith. Smith is of course in Izmir, Turkey covering the World's...wish I was there! This is tremendous news for a burgeoning basketball program...Men's and Women's all the way from the young cadets to the men's and Women's Senior National teams. The hard work and perseverance has paid off as a major sponsor has committed to the 2nd most popular sport in the world behind soccer! Let's see who else jumps on the bandwagon after the Bell Canada coup.
In my opinion, keep the sponsors coming because Canada WILL be a basketball power within the next 3-5 years...and as former Raptors play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky would say, BOOK THAT!
Canada Basketball will need to manage the money coming in wisely and invest in the program in an effecient and purposeful manner! They will hopefully be able to also build a national training center which I believe is absolutely imperative if Canada Basketball is to grow to greater heights.
Today is a great day for Basketball in Canada!

Here's the goods on the news so far...CLICK HERE

GOOD ON TSN/TSN2 TO COMMIT TO CANADA BASKETBALL!

Photo courtesy of turkey2010.fiba.com

I must say that I'm really excited about the exposure basketball in Canada is finally starting to receive.
With the recent successes on the international stage and increasing coverage of these achievements by
the blogosphere, TSN...and TSN2 has joined in on the fun with a just-announced two year commitment
to televise international basketball competitions around the globe! It's about flippin' time Canada!
TSN2 will be the exclusive Canadian broadcaster for the upcoming 2010 FIBA World Basketball championships for Men that start on Saturday August 28th, 2010. The Canadian team will be in tough
in their pool as the team has been struggling in the European pre-tournament international warm-ups due
to injuries to various players. Andy Rautins hasn't played since the 2nd game against France on August 13th and Jermaine "Rock" Anderson has been battling the injury bug for a few weeks now. The team is hoping they will be "healed" up for their opening tilt against Lebanon(Saturday August 28th at 11:30AM Eastern) who they just recently lost to on their tour.
Back to the coverage, as TSN2  will also be the exclusive Canadian broadcaster for the 2010 FIBA Championship for women, the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for women.
Here's a link to the press release from Canada Basketball and TSN...
http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=1&id=4420

This coverage will provide a lot of exposure for the Men's and Women's team which is exactly what basketball in this country needs right now.
TSN is getting in just before this sport takes off and that's a great thing because in a few years the burgeoning Canadian young talent will be front and center and doing big things in the world of international basketball!

The world is watching basketball as well...as a record 183(132 in 2006) countries will be broadcasting games from the 2010 FIBA World Championships from Turkey, including India and the various nations on the African continent. FIBA believes up to a billion people will be watching the biggest world championships ever as 24 teams vie for the title of king of world basketball.
Some networks broadcasting games includes ESPN, Al-Jazeera Sport and Canal +!
Check out FIBA's presser on the growing popularity of basketball worldwide...HERE.

To keep the domestic coverage going Canadians will have to put their money where their mouths are by donating(by text as well) to Canada Basketball, Supporting the teams by watching games on television, buying merchandise and attending games when Canadian teams are playing on home soil.
I must say I was most disappointed with the turnout for the 2 games the Men's team played against France on August 12th and 13th. Not sure if there wasn't enough publicity on the games but an average of about only 2,500 came out to support Team Canada as they thumped France in both games to remain undefeated on home soil. Going forward the support has to be there from the people if we hoops lovers are to see this sport accelerate to the level where we are major players in world basketball...which I definitely think we can be!
Again, thanks to TSN/TSN2 for seeing the potential and growth of Canadian basketball by committing for 2 years!
Cheers.

Schedule for the 2010 FIBA World Championships for men: CLICK HERE...GOOD LUCK CANADA!

THE 5TH ANNUAL ALL-STAR CHARITY SHOOTOUT GOES JULY 17TH AT YORK UNIVERSITY.

If you're a Canadian hoops fan...you have to get out to York University on Saturday July 17th, 2010 at 3:30pm for the 5th Annual All-Star Charity Shootout.
It's not just a game featuring top Canadian Professional, College and University players, playing here, the States and worldwide...but it's a tremendous fundraising event for War Child Canada and the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation(MPCF). Of course Clemons is well known due to his outstanding playing career and executive position with the Toronto Argonauts. It's called the Clash of the Charities and the shootout is a great way to bring awareness to both of these deserving causes/organizations.

Here's what War Child Canada is all about...
Founded in 1999, War Child Canada currently provides active support to numerous countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, through initiatives that benefit more than 100,000 children and their families annually. 90 cents of every dollar received go directly to programs overseas helping to create a world where no child knows war.

MPCF is the moniker for Clemons endeavor and here's some details about it...

The Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation is proud to have been chosen as one of the participating charities for the 5th Annual All-Star Charity Shootout to be held this June of 2010. This event provides our foundation the opportunity to raise much needed funds but also the ability to spread awareness for a few worthy causes that we have committed to support in the upcoming years.

At the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation our vision is to quicken academic excellence, infuse depth of character, promote health and vitality, and inspire generosity in our youth.

Come July 17th, there will be a lot going on at the Tait Mackenzie gym on the York University campus...
Including the support of both charities plus a post free post-game BBQ which will conclude the festivities.

The War Child Canada squad will be coached by former York Men's basketball coach Bob Bain and features Lafayette University's Jared Mintz...and former Toronto All-Star Tristan Martin(PBL).

U of T's Mike Katz will helm the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation team that features former York point guard Tut Ruach...Andre Wilkins of Cornell University and All-OUA forward Boris Bakovic from the Ryerson Rams.

The game should be a burner...as it showcases some of the best basketball talent that this country has and as a bonus does it's best to support both charities headlining the event!

Here is the ROSTER for the All-Star Charity Shootout!

The Shootout is sponsored by such corporations as VIA rail and Investors Group.
For more information go to http://www.allstarcharityshootout.com/.
They also have a Facebook and Twitter page as well!

CADET TEAM CAPTURES BRONZE AT THE FIRST EVER FIBA U-17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

Courtesy FIBA.COM

 

Team Canada has done it folks...At the 1st ever FIBA U-17 World Basketball Championships...Canada has taken home the bronze medal...in a surprising but not that far-fetched result.
Canadian basketball ascendancy is on is way...the talent is there(Kevin Pangos/Anthony Bennett)...the coaches are there(Roy Rana/Greg Francis) and the spirit is there...as Canada Basketball the organization is seeing the fruits of it's labour come to life as it's younger teams...this one the Cadets and the junior national team(U-18) have both finished 3rd in their tournaments. The U-18 squad finished third at the end of June and have qualified for next year's U-19 World Championships in Latvia.
It's been a long, hard journey with many bumps along the way over the years for Canada Basketball...but it seems good times are gonna be very common as Canada exerts it's basketball emergence on the world stage.
The Cadets trailed the game after one and at the half but came back to take a two point win...83-81 over the Lithuanians who have a storied basketball history.
Bennett did not play due to injury...but Canada was led by Olivier Hanlan who poured in 15 points...while Negus Webster-Chan and Kevin Pangos...their point guard and leader both scored 13.
Stud in waiting Andrew Wiggins and Dyshawn Pierre dropped 12 points for the Cadet squad led by Rana who is also Ryerson University's Men's basketball coach. Pierre, who impressed a lot of scouts in this tourney also corralled a team-high 9 rebounds.
Check out the story at the Toronto star as Doug Smith breaks the game down here!
The U.S. took the Gold...going 8-0...downing the surprising but impressive Polish squad 111-80 in relatively easy fashion. America is still their dominating self basketball-wise on the world stage but teams like Poland and Canada seem to be closing the gap as they mimic the team that carries the standard for hoops worldwide.
Back to Pangos who was named to the All-tournament five...along with Mateusz Ponitka (Poland), Bradley Beal (USA), James Mc Adoo (USA) and Przemyslav Karnowski (Poland). He was also named the best Point Guard in the tournament as he guided his squad in fine form throughout all of Canada's games. Pangos is using this international experience to firmly put himself in the Radar of many Division 1 coaches Stateside.
He should be getting a ton of letters once he get's back here in Canada.
Check out the All-Tournament Five HERE...
If not for an oft-injured Bennett not being 100% in the tournament...the Canucks may have gotten to the final by beating the Poles and gone on to face the Americans. But they settle for bronze in a great result for a Canada team that believed they could medal...but also knew teams like Spain and Argentina were going to be obstacles in their desire for hardware. Those teams struggled while others like Canada took advantage.
Congrats to the Cadet U-17 squad for a great tournament!
Here's the box score from the game.
Canada Basketball has the scoop from the milestone accomplishment by the cadets HERE!