Nets And Toronto Don't Want To Leave London

((HT: MSG/NBA/youtube))

Usually, what the American sports leagues do when they have games overseas (short of, maybe, hockey) is send two teams the States don't care about for the exhibitons that really count in the standings in the meaning of goodwill and all that.

What does the NBA do...? Send the Hets and Toronto for their global branding experiment...

The teams didn't want to leave since they went three overtimes thanks to the likes of Machine, Leandro Barbosa, and Deron Williams finishing at 137-136...

Here's a breakdown of the Brook Lopez highlights in the triple-overtime winner by the Nets...
Marv has your calls with The Czar doing color...

Bosh Fractures Face In Cavs Loss

The Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh was inadvertently struck by an Antawn Jamison elbow as the two went for position in the lane in the opening minutes. Bosh, was bleeding from his nose and mouth area as he was assisted from the floor. He was immediately taken to the Cleveland Clinic for a CT scan.

Following the game, the Raptors said tests showed Bosh suffered a "maxilla and nasal fracture to the right side of his face." Bosh is not travelling with the team. He is to be kept in the hospital overnight for further evaluation.

The Raps are holding on to the 8th-seed in the East...
For a few more minutes...

((HT: TSN/NBA))

Your CB4-Cast For The Golden Horseshoe...

Damn funny stuff for the end of the weekend...
This needs no explanation, and he's probably just as accurate as your normal meteorologist...
((HT: Chris Bosh TV/CTV))

Black Wednesday- Busy Day For Pink Slips

You already know about Tuberville...
Let's slide to the NBA where Sam Mitchell ((pictured, thanks Tom Mihalik/AP)) got the boot after one of the worst losses in Toronto Raptors history the night before.

"It is safe to say that after the debacle that we all witnessed last night against Denver, a 39-point loss, not to mention several other incidents this early season where we gave up double-digit leads or had mental breakdowns, with respect to the effort on the court, you come to a point where you realize some of the things you want to see out on the court are not taking place," Raptors GM Brian Colangelo said.

Mitchell elected not to lash out at the players following Tuesday's setback, preferring to let them discuss it among themselves.

"For me, now, it is not a time to be screaming and yelling," Mitchell told reporters outside the locker-room. "It is a time to be trying to teach and reassure people."

Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and newcomer Jermaine O'Neal reportedly chaired the players' meeting.

"It is embarrassing not only for us, but for those who support the Toronto Raptors, the organization, the city and the country," O'Neal said. "That should never happen.

"This is a business, we get paid a heck of a lot of money to play a certain way. If we think we can turn it on and off like that, then we're fooling ourselves."

Jay Triano takes over as the bench boss in the T-Dot...

In the NHL, meet the new boss- same as the old boss...

Peter Laviolette is out as the Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach.
Paul Maurice ((pictured, thanks Gerry Broome/AP)) is back in as the Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach.

"We have a team that right now that, in my opinion, is not playing with the kind of confidence it needs," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "We've lost that confidence."
In another move, one-time Hurricanes centre Ron Francis was named associate coach while the remainder of the club's coaching staff will remain in place.

"This is a real strong addition with Paul and Ronnie leading our coaching staff," Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "As we go into a very tough group of games in December, my hope is that the coaches make minor adjustments to the system and the players regain their confidence."
Laviolette went 167-130-30 with Carolina and leaves with 2 1/2 years left on the five-year contract he signed in June 2006 shortly after winning the Stanley Cup.