Roy Halladay

What a classy guy!

From the day he pitched his first game for the Jays (almost a no hitter) against the Tigers, Roy Halladay has exemplified the meaning of "Class" as a professional athlete. No body pircings etc., no holdouts, works hard, doesn't yap, just goes about doing his business without fanfare. A remarkable role model to younger players, he is one of the best pitchers in all of major league baseball and it should come as no surprise that an extension of his contract was negotiated without any media attention or the accompanying threats that unless he received a contract, he was leaving next year. Instead, Toronto fans opened the papers today to learn that he is signed through 2010 and he will be one of the few modern day athletes who will complete his career where he started - as a Toronto Blue Jay.

Halladay has not been without trying moments, After a terrific start, he ended up struggling and was sent to the minors to regain his confidence and learn to pitch. He didn't complain, but did as asked and came back into the lineup a better pitcher. I never heard him say that Management was mistaken or that he was being dealth with unfairly. An when he returned, he was here to stay. He battled injuries more often than opposing batters but one Cy Young later and several close calls he remains a model athlete and one that Toronto fans should embrace as being one of the best that this city has seen.

What a classy guy!

NCAA vs. NBA

It all starts today - the greatest show on earth (with apologies to Messrs Barnum and Bailey) otherwise known as March Madness and being the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Three weeks of excitement where 16th seeds try to knock off #1 seeds (it won't happen this year) and, without doubt, there will be anumber of surprises. In the end any one of UConn, Duke, Villanove, Florida, UCLA, Memphis (although I doubt this one) can win it all but it won't be a shock if Boston College or some other great team comes out of the woodwork to walk off with all the marbles. It will be another great event and one worth watching. I can't wait.

How does that compare to watching the Larry Brown vs. Stephon Marbury soap opera. More egos than in the rest of the world. Marbury has never won anything and Brown doesn't stay long enough in one place to enjoy his successes when he has them. They have made the worst of a bad situation and while I think Marbury is a jerk, Brown hasn't acted in any way close to the professional that he professes to be, slamming Marbury in the papers every time he gets the chance. What's even more amazing is that in the land of jerkville, they aren't even the worst ones in New York!!! Isiah has that one wrapped up and Dolan should have exported him to some foreign land a long time ago. I can't fathom the fascination that basketball people have with Thomas. He can't manage and can't coach and he continues to prove it with every chance he gets. He is facing allegations of such a serious nature that one has to believe there is some truth in some of it and why the CEO hasn't told him to step down in the interim, is a reflection of why the NBA does not compare to the NCAA.

Rookies

The season is winding down and this is a good time to take a look at the rookie crop in determining who were the smart GM's last June.

Without doubt (I hate to admit) Chris Paul is the runaway choice as rookie of the year. His ability to run a team is remarkable and he will be a fixture in the NBA for years, barring injury. The Atlanta Hawks had to choose between him and Marvin Williams and, as usual, they made the wrong choice. Marvin Williams, it says here, will never be more than a decent NBA player. I said prior to the draft that he had done nothing concrete to cement his position as an NBA prospect and while I think he will be ok, he was not worthy of the 2nd pick in the draft.

Andrew Bogut has been decent and will continue to be a very decent NBA player. Deron Williams will be a star in the not too distant future and I think he can be as good as Chris Paul, given that he has a size and strength advantage over Paul, who, himself, is pretty strong. Ray Felton has also had a terrific year and will be a solid NBA player.

I urged the Raptors to take Charlie Villanueva prior to the draft and he has made me look like a genius. (which I am) In my opinion he has been the 2nd best rookie this year and with his minutes increasing since the All Star break he is clearly showing that he will have a long and successful NBA career. Charlie V can do it all and at the small forward position there are few matchups in the league which are not in his favour. Some of the media thought the Raps should have taken Channing Frye, but I think Frye's best games could be behind him. He still plays small, doesn't rebound, can't defend the strong forward position and prefers to play outside rather than do the dirty work. He has been the beneficary of a New York media who have praised him and labeled him "untouchable" but I say get rid of him now while his value may be the greatest. The simple fact that Isiah and Larry think he's great is reason enough to doubt his future. The Knicks are in big trouble and they should consider a blockbuster trade including Frye as the bait.