Actually, the game was closer than that score indicates, until the Rainmen opened it up in the fourth quarter.
I am pretty impressed that Atlanta made the trip up here. I wasn't sure how good they would be, considering they have only played a couple of handfuls of games, and most of those against the weak sisters of the South division - Georgia and Bahamas.
Even though Atlanta's bags got lost in the flight, the players still showed up, wearing Team Canada hockey T-shirts with makeshift numbers made from masking tape on their backs. Before long, the tape starting peeling off, until we had to take the referee's word on which number player had fouled later in the game since only one or two players still had their numbers by half-time.
The Atlanta coach was very professional, introducing himself to the front table before the game and being the best-dressed coach we have seen in the ABA (sorry, Rick; you came a close second in coach’s wardrobe last night). So thanks Atlanta Vision, you helped the Rainmen finish their season and raised yourselves in my books, too.
Our team is firing on all pistons and at the right time too: as playoffs approach. Whatever the coaching staff have changed with the new lineup is working, especially for Brian. He is getting a lot more chances to put up uncontested threes and we are seeing his talent shine at last. While it helps that we are playing weaker teams lately, I think we have a good chance in Quebec, even against teams that have previously given us trouble on the court.
However, my pessimistic side is already thinking about how many/few players will be back next year. Just when we get the team we have been waiting for all season, it will be 9 months before we see them in action again. Given the pay levels for the players, I will not be surprised if a lot of them do not return next year, as life continues in the off-season and other opportunities — basketball-related or not — arise for our veterans.
I just want to say to the Rainmen, whoever reads this: thanks for a great season, you are all gentlemen and it was nice to meet you and cheer you on from the front row, behind RS Smooth. I hope to see you all again next season and in particular, I will keep putting up KD boxes for Kadiri’s blocks as long as he is in Halifax.
Best of luck tonight and in Quebec!
Showing posts with label KD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KD. Show all posts
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Unsung Hero - Kadiri Richard
I am a big fan of Kadiri Richard. I bought Kadiri's jersey (and waited for it to arrive since there weren't any in stock when the jerseys were first sold). Two games ago, I brought boxes of Kraft Dinner (KD) to string up in front of my seats for each block he made, only to see him have no blocks for that game against Quebec. I found that the Rainmen played zone defense for at least the first half, and then an ineffective man coverage in the second half when Quebec capitalized on drawing defenders away from the net and then scoring. This doesn't give one a lot of chances for big blocks.
In my haste to get to the game against Vermont, I forgot the boxes, but I will bring them to the rest of the games. I didn't miss much of a chance to string them up, since KD only blocked 2 shots. Most of our defense in that game was in the form of grabbing the ball after the shot, hence the 34 defensive boards for the team.
It seems like Kadiri has never really been used to his full potential, with Eric being chosen as the man to take the ball in to the hoop. Watching Kadiri's highlight reel shows that he is certainly capable of driving hard and I have never really understood why he has been relegated to a largely defensive role with almost no opportunity given to him to score unless the opposition's defense breaks down. Maybe it is the Rainmen's small offensive play list that leaves Kadiri out in the cold. He has too much talent to simply be a 15-to-20-minutes-per-game player. Looking at his stats, he has rarely played more than half a game and his stats prove that the more time he has on the court, the more effective he becomes, with rebounds and blocks.
Having said that, his attitude -- both on the court and the bench -- is excellent. No one has a bigger smile when the Rainmen are winning (remember those days?), when a teammate scores an impressive basket Kadiri is right there congratulating him, and no one is more imposing when KD gets his scowl on to intimidate an opposing player. As the Rainman who starts chants nearly as much as Chris, Dunc and I do, Kadiri is almost as valuable to the team on the bench as he is on the court. I simply think he has more to contribute than he has been given the chance to show us.
In my haste to get to the game against Vermont, I forgot the boxes, but I will bring them to the rest of the games. I didn't miss much of a chance to string them up, since KD only blocked 2 shots. Most of our defense in that game was in the form of grabbing the ball after the shot, hence the 34 defensive boards for the team.
It seems like Kadiri has never really been used to his full potential, with Eric being chosen as the man to take the ball in to the hoop. Watching Kadiri's highlight reel shows that he is certainly capable of driving hard and I have never really understood why he has been relegated to a largely defensive role with almost no opportunity given to him to score unless the opposition's defense breaks down. Maybe it is the Rainmen's small offensive play list that leaves Kadiri out in the cold. He has too much talent to simply be a 15-to-20-minutes-per-game player. Looking at his stats, he has rarely played more than half a game and his stats prove that the more time he has on the court, the more effective he becomes, with rebounds and blocks.
Having said that, his attitude -- both on the court and the bench -- is excellent. No one has a bigger smile when the Rainmen are winning (remember those days?), when a teammate scores an impressive basket Kadiri is right there congratulating him, and no one is more imposing when KD gets his scowl on to intimidate an opposing player. As the Rainman who starts chants nearly as much as Chris, Dunc and I do, Kadiri is almost as valuable to the team on the bench as he is on the court. I simply think he has more to contribute than he has been given the chance to show us.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
New Nickname for Rainmen's Kadiri Richard?
My favourite player on the Rainmen is Kadiri Richard (#5). He is athletically talented, he makes huge swat-blocks that look cool (about one every 4 minutes or so that he is on the court), he has a great attitude, he has taught special needs students, he gives his team-mates their props after they score, and when he is playing, his facial expression alternates between a huge grin or the most intense scowl that I have ever seen. He is even growing a beard to support his fellow Rainman Jermaine Stewart, who is trying to qualify for the Olympics on Canada' national team.
I ordered a Rainmen jersey with his number on it, I am looking forward to wearing it to games!
Chad Lucas, a reporter for the Herald, mentions here that he thinks Kadiri needs a better nickname than "KD". I suspect that Chad is sick of hearing me shout it whenever Kadiri scores or makes a huge block. I sit right behind his media seat at the games. hehehe
I asked Kadiri if he had a nickname, back at the start of the season. He replied with “KD”. That’s good enough for me. We have to remember that a good sports nickname has to be easy to chant and to be understood when yelling it.
Some alternatives: Sultan of Swat, The Swahili Shield (Kadiri is a Swahili word/name meaning a type of tree). These may be offensive to some, so they are probably out.
How about Rocket Richard? I know he pronounces his surname differently than Maurice Richard did, but I think yelling “Rocket” might be fun.
My latest try is The Fortress of Swat-itude. Hmmm. Needs some paprika.
P.S. I think the announcer should give a nightly shout out to DJ Ronnie, who spins the tunes during the games. It is an easy thing to do and it adds to the connection we can have with the team, by giving the fans some knowledge about the people involved with the team.
I ordered a Rainmen jersey with his number on it, I am looking forward to wearing it to games!
Chad Lucas, a reporter for the Herald, mentions here that he thinks Kadiri needs a better nickname than "KD". I suspect that Chad is sick of hearing me shout it whenever Kadiri scores or makes a huge block. I sit right behind his media seat at the games. hehehe
I asked Kadiri if he had a nickname, back at the start of the season. He replied with “KD”. That’s good enough for me. We have to remember that a good sports nickname has to be easy to chant and to be understood when yelling it.
Some alternatives: Sultan of Swat, The Swahili Shield (Kadiri is a Swahili word/name meaning a type of tree). These may be offensive to some, so they are probably out.
How about Rocket Richard? I know he pronounces his surname differently than Maurice Richard did, but I think yelling “Rocket” might be fun.
My latest try is The Fortress of Swat-itude. Hmmm. Needs some paprika.
P.S. I think the announcer should give a nightly shout out to DJ Ronnie, who spins the tunes during the games. It is an easy thing to do and it adds to the connection we can have with the team, by giving the fans some knowledge about the people involved with the team.
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