Raptors Hire GM: The Raptors have hired the Minnesota T'Wolves' VP of Player Personnel, Rob Babcock, as their new GM. The Raps' interim GM Jack McCloskey apparently has close ties to Babcock, so Babcock's signing is being billed as somthing of a coup for McCloskey. If this is indeed a 'coup', it's a sign that the Raptors' reign of futility won't come to an end anytime soon. McCloskey has no incentive for Babcock to do a good job--he's outta there once Babcock comes on board--and while I'm sure Babcock is qualified, if he's not the best candidate for the job, McCloskey has done nobody but Babcock a favor with his patronage hiring.

posted by lew to basketball at 10:09 AM - 4 comments

ESPN is reporting the Raptors' GM, Glen Grunwald, has been fired. No link yet.

posted by lew to basketball at 09:47 AM - 5 comments

Cherry Weighs In: What Canadians have been waiting to hear for the whole week: Don Cherry's take on the Bertuzzi affair. You won't believe who he holds responsible, either.

posted by lew to hockey at 10:43 AM - 14 comments

Gonchar to Bruins: TSN is reporting that Gonchar has been traded to the Bruins for "either two players and a draft pick or two draft picks and one player".

posted by lew to hockey at 09:56 AM - 60 comments

Rasheed Traded to Pistons: Rasheed Wallace was traded to the Detoit Pistons in a three-team deal today involving Atlanta, Boston, and Detroit, reports Chad Ford of ESPN.com. The news was broken during a live chat with Ford, so you'll have to scroll down to the bottom of the story to get the details. Ford says a story is pending.

posted by lew to basketball at 01:12 PM - 28 comments

Assistant A's GM on Refining the System: From a leadership conference held recently, Oakland A's GM Paul DePodesta talks about how they blew up the legacy way of running a baseball team and how they implemented their current system, which was captured in Michael Lewis' Moneyball. A fascinating read if you are interested in sports, business, process, or innovation.

posted by lew to baseball at 08:41 PM - 2 comments

Roenick suspended for one stinkin' game: He hit a referee with a water bottle, and he gets tossed from that game plus a *one* game suspension? Once again the NHL demonstrates the favoritism and inconsistency it has shown in the past when doling out suspensions.

posted by lew to hockey at 05:20 PM - 21 comments

Knicks sign Wilkens to coach: Apparently The Czar wasn't Isiah Thomas' man, after all. Thomas fired Don Chaney and two assistants today, and signed Lenny Wilkens to coach the Knicks today. That howling sound you hear is Raptors fans everywhere laughing their butts off.

posted by lew to basketball at 05:13 PM - 14 comments

Raptors Trade for Rose: The Raptors and Bulls have apparently completed their long talked-about deal. David Aldrige of ESPN is reporting that the deal consists of Jalen Rose, Lonny Baxter and Donyell Marshall for Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams, and Chris Jeffries.

posted by lew to basketball at 03:45 PM - 15 comments