Toronto

Looks like it’s going to be a nice day in these parts for the long weekend, hope it is wherever you’re going to be. Here’s some stuff to get you started, there’s a bit more for tomorrow (you can still get in on the fun if you want) and I’ll have some time after Mighty Navy Tigers practice and a couple of NBA West preview things get written to putter around so feel free to send some more. - Q: I was reading a Raps article that had various clips of turning points in the season...While watching the Bobcat's clip from early in the season I was struck, not by the non-called foul, but how quickly Bargnani's star has fallen. I mean here he was, early in the season, the go to guy for the last second shot. Last season he averaged something crazy like 26 points a game before getting injured. He had plays called for him every time down the floor. I'm wondering at which point in the last two seasons did Bargnani's stock start to fall... was it after his injury last year? This year? After his second injury this year? I know BC has said he has value, and I'm not getting into the Amnesty debate.... but there has been an obvious drop from Star and game closer to "Boo'ed at home/non-option on offense" Any thoughts on when this declined started and why his star fell so quickly? Jeff A: Well, he got hurt and came back to pretty much a different team with his role changed and it took some getting used to. And when he did – or at least did a bit – he got hurt again and then Rudy Gay arrived and things changed all over again. It was a different team and he was asked to do different things; not sure “star has fallen” is the right phrase, “things changed” might be more apt. - Q: Hi Doug...Why do so many fans spend ridiculous sums to wear the uniform of some conglomerate's team? Wouldn't a cheap hat do the trick? How about a small pin with the team logo? Remember Bill, the spaceman, Lee's theory about the great snow ball? 100,000 years from now ( or maybe 10) when the earth is a great snowball hurtling through space, who gives a rats' tail about all those "little things" that we presently consider so important. ( Like the Leafs latest loss) Carpe Diem Bob E, Kanata A: I can honestly say I don't believe I have ever purchased a jersey of any player or team in any sport for myself so I don't get it myself. I'd go for hats, though. And I seldom sweat the small stuff, hardly worth it. - Q: Hi Doug, I've been thinking about Ed Davis. Given what you know of him, do you think he's happy to be a bit player on a team doing so well? Or do you think he just wishes he got more playing time? It's been a shame to hear that he's riding the pine in Memphis -- that's got to slow his development. At the same time, it's got to feel good to be doing so well in the playoffs. And another thing: it sure seems like the Grizzlies are better off without Rudy Gay. Were they just using him wrong? Do you think the Raptors will be able to plug him into their system a little better and reap the benefits? Thanks, and keep up the hard work! Tim A: I'm sure he'd want to be playing more, if he didn't he wouldn't be normal. But at some point when he gets a playoff cheque he'll feel all right. I guess you could say they're better off because of where they are but if Russell Westbrook doesn't get hurt and the Thunder knock off the Grizzlies, we're not having this conversation, are we? - Q: Hello Doug! Well, it's that time of year again - no, not a certain someone's Birth Month. And seriously, it requires an entire month to celebrate you??? I'll bet once upon a time it was a single day. And, I remember when it was a week. Now, an entire month is required to glorify Our Favourite Beat Grunt? Wow. Soon you'll be demanding an extension to a full year and then it'll jus

GAME RECAP Blue Jays shut out by Yankee in series opener | Toronto StarThe Star's Recap: Toronto's bats managed a mere two hits against the Yankees in a 5-0 loss on a beautiful spring night before 40,008 at Yankee Stadium. JAYS LINKS Blue Jays quarter-season report card | Baseball | CBC SportsSome guy wrote: The season hasn't begun the way the Blue Jays wanted, but some hope has emerged as Toronto has a four-game win streak going and has finally figured out how to use its bats. Here's a first-term report card for the Jays' key players. Blue Jays’ Jose Reyes on mend but return still end of June at earliest | Toronto StarReyes plans on remaining with the club to complete his rehab before what is expected to be a week or more of minor league games. Star's Version Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Reyes joins teammates, says he is making progress with ankle rehab | MLB | Sports | National PostReyes flashed a big grin Friday while reconnecting with his teammates in the visitors' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium. National Post's version. For Blue Jays’ Casey Janssen, skill and scholarship go hand in hand | MLB | Sports | National PostWatching the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, Casey Janssen presented his theory The Southpaw: Signs of Life?Southpaw looks at Jays recent successes The Blue Jay Hunter: Flashback Friday: The Ballad of Danny AingeIan looks back at the baseball mess that was Danny Ainge. MLB LINKS Morganna - A Kissing Bandit's Mystery by Adam KurlandThe mystery of Morganna as baseball's buxom "Kissing Bandit" in the '70s, '80s and '90s is explored in Adam Kurland's provocative short film. The Worst of the Best: The Week’s Wildest Pitches | FanGraphs BaseballUgly ugly ugly pitching The Worst of the Best: The Week’s Wildest Swings | FanGraphs BaseballLots of Madison and Stephen here. Ten crazy food creations you can eat at minor league baseball games | Big League Stew - Yahoo! SportsFrom the blog Big League Stew: In the minor leagues, creativity is king. When you're running a team, you can't necessarily count on players being there. Faceplant! Ian Kinsler shows us the worst head-first slide of all time (GIF) | Big League Stew - Yahoo! SportsFrom the blog Big League Stew: Somewhere in Taiwan, Manny Ramirez is staring at an iPad laughing at Ian Kinsler. Ramirez showed us a pretty horrible example of sliding recently, but he's got nothing on what Ian Kinsler did in Thursday's Texas Rangers game Soldier pretends to be Rays catcher, surprises daughter: video | MLB | Sports | National PostLt. Col. Will Adams, who was returning home from Afghanistan, decided to surprise his family by pretending to be the Rays catcher TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY (Plus Ca Change, Plus Ca Meme Chose Edition) Baseball History - May 18th - National Pastime - Baseball History1998 Due to drastic payroll cuts reducing the World Champions' effectiveness, two class-action lawsuits are filed against the Marlins - one for breach of contract and the other accusing the team of false advertising. 2004 At the age of 40, southpaw Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher to ever throw a perfect game when the Diamondbacks beat the Braves, 2-0. The ‘Big Unit’ joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Hideo Nomo and Nolan Ryan as the only hurlers to throw no-hitters in both leagues and creates the longest time span between no-no’s having first accomplished the feat against the Tigers in June of 1990. Poll What is JAYS218? Vegetable! Mineral! Animal! Robot! A Ghost! Skynet! A Human Being, no really. 1 votes | Results

Two years ago, Dellen Millard’s outlook could be summarized in the word he would have tattooed on his wrist: “ambition.” Now he’s charged with murder

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Museums are institutions travellers visit to learn about the past, but the museum itself is also rich in history.

The army of road warriors spawned by Lance Armstrong obscured a more fundamental cycling shift: riding a bicycle is increasingly just another form of commuting in cities across North America. No lycra required. Toronto has been riding the same wave. Although peArmstrongople have always cycled here, it’s no longer just a few zealots who do it all winter. And in the spring, as the weather warms up, the true extent of the shift becomes clear – masses of riders start appearing on many of the city’s streets. To get a better sense of the Toronto cycling community we reached out to people who commute into the downtown by bike. They told us why they ride, their favourite routes and bike shops and what they worry about as they pedal along.

DEAR AMY: My father has cancer, along with other health issues. Though his prognosis is fine, my mother seems to be showing a complete lack of concern or involvement with his health care.

Getting ready for spring and the riding season is no small task for motorcyclists but we’ve prepared a good start for bikers.

The gang’s back together! NBC announced on Friday that pop diva Christina Aguilera and funk singer Cee Lo Green will be reuniting with pop star Adam Levine and country singer Blake Shelton for Season 5, as TheWrap was the first to report.