Raptors coverboys Marco Belinelli and Andrea Bargnani. (via Interbasket.net)

Okay, I can forgive the local morning show guy for fumbling the name of Toronto Raptors guard Marco Belinelli. After all, he’s a relatively new non-hockey player. But, as a service to the public (and to Belinelli), I present a list of things that, while similar in some ways, are NOT Belinelli. Read more »

This is part of a continuing series of Q&A’s and chats with GMs in my fantasy league. In this one, I ask Zack Cooper of the FAN 590 about the radio biz, the dirt on Eric Smith and Jack Armstrong, his passion for the Toronto Raptors, and more.

You mentioned that you weren’t happy with your fantasy basketball team. How come?

I broke one of the first rules of Fantasy sports… in that, I’ve relied too much on rookies, and put way too much weight on guards, especially with the uncertainty that is the lower body of Al Jefferson.  Seeing Jamal Crawford play only 14 minutes in Atlanta’s season opener was downright frightening… Word that Anthony Randolph WILL get the start in GSW is encouraging, but I think I’ve got too many youngsters overall.  Oh, and I’m relying on the disgruntled former-Capt. Jack for a good chunk of my scoring.  See you in the cellar fellas, and lady (What up, Nat!?).

Tell me about “Got Game.” Was it hard to get a show about video games put on a sports radio station?

I’d like to say that “Got Game” is my baby… but sadly, I can only claim that I take care of it.  I’ve played video games all my life, and the opportunity to talk about both sports and gaming on the radio is an absolute blessing.  The show started up about 6 months ago, growing from Bryan Calhoun’s blog, to the epic 60 minute show that changes weekend time slots as frequently as Shaq misses free throws.  Yes, I understand that video games on a sports radio station might not be top-peg material… but we’ve got a wonderful and loyal fanbase that can thankfully follow along via podcast (available on our blog at fan590.com and on iTunes).

Gamers, hit me up on both PSN and XBL: I’m ZCooperstown (just like on twitter). Read more »

"Marco Belinelli fly to crush." (Repubblica.it)

That’s what it says in this Italian article here, according to Google Language Tools. Y’see, that’s why I use a human translator.

Anyway, Marco’s line: 10/1/1, 1 3PT, on 50% shooting and just over 19 minutes of play. And he definitely would’ve crushed a fly with the above dunk.

UPDATE: Raptors have exercised the 2010-2011 contract option on Belinelli. Coincidence? I think not.

(Ugh. That was too much alliteration, even for me.)

This is part of a continuing series of Q&A’s and chats with GMs in my fantasy league. In this one, I ask Raps Fan of Raptors Republic about his websites, the potential Big Bosh Problem and more.

Pete Marasmitch: The Raptors FANtasy League season opens with the two of us matched up. Who are you most excited about on your team?

Raps Fan: Gotta go with Brandon Roy. He is going to have a very big year, now that he can play off the ball. 25PTS 6AST 5REB sounds about right to me.

PM: And what about this year’s Toronto Raptors? Which player would you especially like to succeed, and why?

RF: Easy — Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors have very little chance of getting to the next level with him doing nothing but dropping 17 a game. If he can grab 8-10 boards, I would be a happy camper. Read more »

With five key players on this Toronto Raptors team that hail from overseas, there are bound to be non-English articles out there that are of interest to us North American fans. Case in point: this Italian interview with new Raptors strength and conditioning coach Francesco Cuzzolin. Don’t you wish that someone could translate it for you? Well, your wish just came true.

Thanks to mookie from A Stern Warning for the translation work.

Francesco Cuzzolin, who has come from Benetton Treviso, is now with the Raptors to act as trainer.

How is your experience going so far?

Super. Truly beyond all expectations since arriving. With different working methods and different ideas in terms of administration and off-the-court, it was not easy to put everything into practice immediately.

As a third of the team is European, it’s really easy to work with them. And of course, there was immediately great harmony with the two Italians. Read more »

This post is the first in a series of Q&A’s and chats with GMs in my fantasy league. In this one, I ask Eric Koreen, Toronto Raptors reporter for the National Post, about his brief experience with Sam Mitchell, his “sleeper” pick among the new Raptors, his favourite fantasy draftee, TV shows and more.

Pete Marasmitch: I enjoyed your hair-raising piece, a.k.a. Bryan Colangelo’s Personal Vendetta. How goes the faux-hawk? Are you sporting the fedora, 24-7?

Eric Koreen: The faux-hawk lives. (Although I’m writing this a few days before the season starts. I could have evened it out by the time this is published.) I have worn a hat just once, and am now pretty comfortable with it. I don’t like it, but I’ve made my peace. Amir Johnson told me he did me a favour, while Sherman Hamilton told me about three weeks after the cut that the hair was at the ideal length. (Although, perhaps I should not be putting too much stock into Sherm’s thoughts on hair.) And if I do cut my hair soon, it will be legitimate: Johnson cut his hair a week before the season started, although he did apologize to me for leaving me hanging. Read more »

I predict the FG% will be low in this league.

Today’s a special day: The draft begins in the Raptors FANtasy League, where Toronto Raptors fans, bloggers and media collide.

Here is the complete list of fantasy GMs vying for that coveted RFL Championship Trophy*, in draft order, along with links to their sites and Twitter accounts:

1. Dr. J. Naismith, Raptors Forum, @RaptorsForum
2. Romes, Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North, @romyaquino
3. AltRaps, The AltRaps Blog, @altraps
4. James Borbath, Dino Nation Blog, @dinonationblog
5. Nat, Heels on Hardwood, @Nat77
6. Eric Koreen, National Post & A Snack and an Ego Stroke, @ekoreen
7. Raps Fan, Raptors Republic, @RapsFan
8. Vicious D, Raptors HQ, @RapHQVicious
9. Cuzzy, Cuzoogle, @cuzoogle
10. Me
11. Tim Chisholm, 3 in the Key on TSN.ca, @timpchisholm
12. Zack Cooper, FAN590, @ZCooperstown

And here’s the neat thing for those of you who care about the above people and/or fantasy basketball: You can watch the picks unfold in real time on this Google Spreadsheet!

The draft will be going on for days, so keep checking back to follow the action, and to praise or pan our choices in the comments below.

* No, there is no real trophy.

Happy October! The NBA regular season is only a few weeks away, and I can’t wait to see our new-look Toronto Raptors in action.

Rap-scratch fever prompted me to check out the latest in Toronto Raptors merchandise at Big Fly Sports’ NBA shop. Boy, was I surprised to see these pricey items: Read more »

It took about a month of kneading and baking, but its golden-brown goodness is ready: my latest comic over at Raptors Republic.

And I must say, all that mental kneading was worthwhile. My initial idea was more of a conversation between Marcus Banks and Patrick O’Bryant, and was inspired by the fact that both of them are shoo-ins for the inactive list. What will they talk about at the end of the bench in their fancy suits? Maybe how P.O.B. ought to capitalize on the final year of this contract, maybe his final year in the N.B.A.?

But once I gathered up all the comic-worthy photos, it was clear that it was going to be more Patty-centric.

Besides – and you might find this odd – there are no photos out there of Banks in Raptors game gear. Hmm!

The following is a classic post (read: re-run) from January 2008. The backdrop: Toronto Raptors rookie and feel-good story Jamario Moon was looking ahead at his participation at the slam dunk contest. The new daily blogger at theScore.com, me, facetiously offered some dunk ideas.

Below are those ten ideas to the best of my recollection, since theScore.com has decided to demolish and re-build their blog site. I broke the mold, people.

Read more »