TV Time

I watched most of the Suns vs. T-Wolves game tonight on theScore. For those of you who don't know, theScore is a Canadian cable station that runs sports scores and highlights 24 hours a day. They keep a running ticker along the bottom of the screen that continuously updates with live scores from all the major sports. Needless to say, it's an annoying feature. Honestly, who really looks at that when the internet exists? Plus, it reduces the viewing area of the actual show by at least 15%. Maybe that's why televisions are getting bigger and bigger, to make up for all this clutter. Oddly enough, I flipped channels and noticed that rival TSN was showing the World Junior Hockey championship game without any sort of score or clock overlay at all. Instead, the entire screen was filled with hockey. I think sports needs to revisit this and return to the day when they actually filled the screen with the show. I will admit that basketball, more than most sports benefits from having a clock appear periodically, or the score. But really, having this appear after a made basket on occasion or only at commerical breaks is long enough. Most of us aren't stupid. We can keep a running tab of the score in our heads.

Now as for the game itself, I have to say I was very impressed with the Phoenix Suns. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not think they are a great team. Their defence is mediocre, and their halfcourt offence frightfully individualistic at times, but I have to admire their desire to push the ball up the floor and play run and gun basketball. Most people thought that with the loss of Joe Johnson to trade and then Amare Stoudamre to injury, coupled with the addition of certified slow poke Kurt Thomas, that the Suns would be turning things down a notch from last year's high octane attack, but they have kept up the pace. Most likely, their inability to put the defensive clamps down on people and over-reliance on streaky perimeter shooters will be their downfall, but in a league that has become too burdened by over controlling coaches (Larry Brown, I'm talking to you) and a "win at all costs even if it means maiming my opponents" mentality (Pat Riley, I still remember what havoc you wreaked in New York), the Suns rapid fire attack is a pleasure to behold. Here's to hoping that other teams follow their lead and continue to open up the game!