Bleacher Report - Articles by Jon Bross

High School All-Stars to Take Center Stage in Toronto

Jon Bross — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:24:11 -0400

The McDonald's All-American is a staple of the American basketball calendar year.

Student athletes are selected as top prospects in the country and engage in weekend-long, nationally televised, massively sponsored events.

The athletes who are selected become household names and are deemed the future of basketball.

This tradition has been going on since 1977 and has showcased players like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.

While the established McDonald's All-American thrives, Canada's elite development showcase is just underway.

With just eight years of showcasing Canada's top high school athletes under their belt, the All Canada Classic is just beginning to take off as the premiere platform for top basketball talent in the country.

The All Canada Classic features the top male and female student athletes from around the country taking part in skill competitions and All-Star games...much like the McDonald's All-American.

The Classic has played to sold out crowds year after year as Canadians hunger to see our top high school talent put on a spectacular show.

However, while the All American is broadcast nationally, sponsored by McDonald's, and is a world renowned event, the All Canada Classic has been searching for that same recognition and growth.

As the All Canada Classic enters its ninth year, the Classic boasts talent rich rosters for both the male and female student athletes of which, most have already committed to D1 schools in the U.S.

Which, according to most, is the benchmark for student athlete success.

Nevertheless, in a country so passionate about sports and always ready to support local talent, the Classic searches to find its national identity.

Top recruits like Tristan Thompson, Kelly Olynyk, Manny Arop, Alwayne Bigby and Maurice Walker will sure bring the national attention that the game deserves.

As the game and talent level continues to grow, year nine should be a big success.

All this will lead to the 10-year anniversary where the game promises to grow by leaps and bounds.

With a talent-rich pool ever growing in Canada, it will not be long before the Canadian all-stars challenge the Americans for tops in North America.

While that may be a bit of a stretch, the All Canada Classic is becoming the vehicle for the world to find out.

The All Canada Classic will be taking place June 5-6 in Toronto.

For more information on the All Canada Classic: www.allcanadaclassic.com

NBA Title Race: Don't Count Out the Spurs

Jon Bross — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:31:44 -0500

The winds of trade swirled through the NBA Western Conference with improvements to the Lakers, Suns and Mavs. The sports pundits have, with good reason, placed these teams at the top of list for championship contenders.

However, with all the talk surrounding these reborn teams, along with the West-leading Hornets, how can we forget about last years' champions, San Antonio?

Little tinkering has been done to an already stellar lineup. The Spurs boast a solid squad and despite being left out of the trade talks, they look to stay pat with their team that won them the championships last year. As a result, I still can't resist but to pick them coming out of the West.

So, how come I like the Spurs so much?

Granted, they had come under an unlikely injury to Tony Parker which threw their backcourt into a tailspin. But if TP gets healthy come playoff time, the team with some of the best fundamental play in league—led by Sir Pop himself—should beat out the much improved teams in the west.

The one qualm I may have is at their centre position occupied by Fransisco Elson and Fabricio Oberto. With Shaq and Pau as their main competition heading into the second season, they may face some stiff competition, causing them to get into unusual foul trouble. The same goes for Duncan when the Spurs go small, as he will likely pick up some cheapies under the hoop.

Asides from these potential problems, a resurging Manu Ginobili—who has looked like a man possessed as of late—and a healthy TP should bring the Spurs back to their championship ways. Not to mention having Damon Stoudamire come off the bench to take up some serious minutes in the backcourt (something the Spurs never really had).

As well, veteran older guys like Bruce Bowen—the ultimate playoff pest—and Robert Horry—Mr. Clutch—put their games into a third gear come playoff time. Given that it will most likely be Bowen's last hoorah, you can count on him to be the defensive leader for the Spurs.

Finally, there's Tim Duncan, Mr. Fundamentals himself. Sure, he goes under the radar as one of the most boring players in the game. But if boring gives you a consistent 20 and 10 a night, I will take it any day. He is the epitome of a basketball nerd, who understands how the game is played and relies more on the backboard than on flashy play.

With Pop at the helm the Spurs should be geared up to make another run at their illustrious fourth ring in six years.

This is not to say that teams like the Lake-show, Mavs and Suns and even the young Hornets aren't contenders by any means. Certainly the trades they made to improve their squads will come in handy come playoff time. Yet, for all of you westcoasters who have been caught up in the trade hype, all im saying is don't count these guys out.

After all, you have to beat the champs to become the champs.

A Sporting Coup: Basketball in Canada

Jon Bross — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:51:51 -0500

I sat on the sidelines with my coaches board in hand, looking down at my bench. I am an assistant coach with one of the top rep teams in Ontario consisting primarily of 14 year olds. Looking down at the smiling faces of the guys on the bench I thought to myself, 'this is unreal.' The talent pool of kids in Ontario and all of Canada for that matter has grown exponentially since I had played eleven years ago.

Since the Raptors entered the NBA on November 3, 1995 the game has developed by leaps and bounds. The sport as an entity in itself has become a mainstay in this hockey country as year after year gyms, playgrounds and schools have become filled with hallow sounds of balls bouncing, rims clanking and trash talk spewing; the game is ever-present.

Kids as young as give learn the intricacies of the game, causing a sporting coup in this revolutionary time of sport supremacy.

Whether one can say it was the Raptors who helped put the sport on the map, the reworking of Canada Basketball and the influence/emergence of Steve Nash as a national icon for the sport, or the tireless efforts of volunteer coaches who put in countless hours helping to develop the game, no one can be too sure (for the record, in Canada high school and rep coaches don't get paid for their services. It's all based on volunteering and the generosity of those—like myself—wanting to teach and expand the game). Nevertheless one thing is clear, the talent that is sitting on my bench is far greater now than I had ever seen eleven years ago.

In a place where hockey is considered "our game," the cost of playing our national sport has risen to thousands of dollars a year. Basketball, on the other hand, is an economically friendly sport that allows kids and families from all walks of life to partake in it's beauty and grace.

As part of a coaching staff dedicated to developing skills, talent and basketball I.Q, we look to prepare kids to take their game to that elusive next level. It is a mindset that seems to be shared by coaches across this great country, as year after year we see more and more Canadians being recruited by U.S colleges, and making a name for themselves in the 'show'.

It is something that the great James Naismith could have only dreamed of when he invented the sport back in 1891 (when it was called "Duck on a Rock").

I am inspired by the eagre faces of the 14 year olds, who also play high school ball- despite the talent level being a tad inferior to that of the rep leagues (equivalent to AAU teams in the U.S). I see that the talent of each one of the players, when harnessed properly has no limits. On this team, who the season before went 45-0 and ultimately went on to win the Canadian Nationals for their age group, there are at least six players who in my humble opinion have the potential to play D1 ball at the very least.

What is astounding to me most of all is that of the twelve players on our team, eight can dunk the ball- at age 14 (something I thought I'd never see)! But it is natural and inherent love for the game and desire to have fun while playing that shines through each game and practice.

And that is what the game is all about.

Though we as Canadians typically go under the radar, I will guarantee that if the game continues on the path that it has taken in this country over the past decade, Canadian ballers will be on everybody's radar.

Madison Square Garden: A Basketball Tale

Jon Bross — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:19:30 -0500

I boarded the plane from Toronto to New York with the hopes that my first trip to the famed Madison Square Gardens would be all that I had hoped.

Taking my seat on the tiny 50 seat express plane to NYC, I realized that I had forgotten what the 'Big Apple' was all about; I hadn’t been there since I was a kid. I tried to recall the sights and sounds of the city and found it had all been lost to me, so I decided I was going to go into this trip with an open mind and experience everything as if it was my first time seeing the place.

I took out my book—Big Game, Small World by Alexander Wolff—and began to absorb all those global sports adventures. I wanted all those stories, and as a history buff the idea of sitting in MSG was haunting. I’d wanted to go for, whether it was for a ball game, hockey game, even a concert; anything to see the famous digs.

I could not have been luckier. My introduction to MSC was a Knicks game, versus the Celtics at that! It was a matchup with such historical potency it actually had me salivating. The opportunity was too good to pass up.

When I arrived the sights, sounds, and smells of New York hit me like an Eddie Curry pick. There was too much to do, too many places to see. Because it was just late afternoon I decided to venture off to the classic tourist areas. I was staying in midtown at an upscale hotel (courtesy of some connections) and asked the concierge where I could find the NBA store. I had only heard about the delights that awaited me.

I walked down the streets of Manhattan, bundled up, neck hurting from the turning to see everything that I could. Feeling as though I was floating midair, I passed famed clothing outlets only wishing that each store I passed would bring me to the NBA store.

And there it was. Wooden handles with carved 'NBA'. I felt a strange sense of relief. Deep breath and...open. Flashes of green and white hit me first (Celtics gear smattered all over the front of the store). Then black, red, orange, teal, and white. The colors of the rainbow put to basketball logos. I felt like a kid in a candy store, running down the ramp, arms flailing in the air, spurting out bursts of childish laughter as I rummaged through the jerseys, t-shirts, throwback gear and warm-up shirts that I could find nowhere else.

I gathered all I could (essentially all I could afford, which was not much). Seeing the bill that I’d racked up I wanted to cry. But knowing it was for a good cause (my love of ball) I walked out with a big smile on my face. I went to bed that night in my new shorts. It was perfect.

The next morning, I woke up ready to spend the day sightseeing. Then I had to pick up my tickets at will-call. Because I didn’t yet have my tickets I had no verification of game time so I checked the morning paper at 11:00 AM…it said game time was 1:00 PM. I nearly lost it.

Surrounded by business folk in the hotel breakfast lounge I began shouting obscenities at the thought of almost missing the game, the worst of my nightmares. I walked quickly to the elevators, wanting to get to my room, when a familiar face passed by. Flannel shirt, vest over top, big headphones around his neck and a goofy smirk on his face.

'Tsup', he murmured to me. I looked back. It was Dave Chappelle, one of my favorite comedians. I was reassured, it was going to be a good day.

It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the streets were packed. This was my first time at the legendary gardens and I had no idea what to expect. The chaos of getting into the arena was more exciting than anything I’d ever experienced. Packing thousands of fans into one entrance was logistically insane, but it added to the pre-game hype.

I picked up my tickets and sat in my seat about 30 rows up. I could see everything pretty clearly. The insane, chaotic, and ultimately maddening feeling of entering the arena was equally matched by the depressing, quiet, and eerily calm demeanor of the fans inside the Gardens. I guess that's what happens when your team stinks.

The Celtics pretty much toyed with the Knicks the entire game. Smatters of 'Fire-Isiah' and 'Go Celtics' chanting were the only sounds heard around the arena. The atmosphere that I experienced in the Garden seemed like an illusion, as if everyone was against me, not wanting me to fully experience the true MSG crowd.

I was disillusioned, disappointed, and completely fallen to despair. At 25, my first trip to the historical sports paradise was not what I had hoped. However, I did come to one life-changing decision. I would come back to MSG every year, for one game, to try and better my luck.

I love this game too much to let this one experience ruin my nostalgic ideals of what MSG means to basketball and to sports in general. I know I will one day rejoice in the cheers, jeers, and echoes of Knicks fans past and present.