Page 30 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 80

30 Issue #80 July 2019 www.sportsenergynews.com

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It Is What It Is needs; Nick Nursing him back to christened him “King of the North”.
good health by giving him days off Is it possible that they went as far
and managing his workload. Give as staging a shooting during the
GIC at your local financial institution.
By Peter Collins Now the Raptors’ faithful are trying Leonard credit, he worked hard, never championship parade, just to make
to beat the odds again and have their complained, and most importantly set Kawhi feel more at ease and have
the championship example for his new him miss his hometown of LA less?
basketball hero, Kawhi Leonard sign
a long term deal with the Toronto teammates. He is the exception to the Seriously, most people in Toronto
team. Last August when the trade rule; a pro athlete with no obvious didn’t know who Kawhi was a year
ego, he has a believable humility that ago, and they certainly couldn’t
t the beginning of the NBA took place, the odds of Kawhi signing
Aseason if you would have bet with the Raps was probably a million is very welcome in today’s overhyped pronounce it (Ka Why), now he’s
$100 on the Raptors to win the to one. A California boy, Leonard social media environment. The fans taken over the city like no one has
championship you would now have was probably not enthralled about of Toronto have performed more before him. Let’s hope that this
had a tidy return of $1,400! That’s being sent to basketball purgatory, contortions than a Cirque du Soleil courtship comes to fruition, because
a nice pay back on your hard earned also known as “We the North”. The acrobat with the hope of enticing it looks like a long wait for either the
C-note, a much better investment Raptors’ brain trust did an incredible Leonard to stay. They’re offering Leafs or the Jays to find a star that
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than plunking that cash down on a job acquiescing to Kawhi’s health him free food, free lodging, and have could make the impact on a city/

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Sports Panel
Sports Energy presents

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“An Angus Reid poll released the week the Raptors defeated the Warriors showed that 45% of Canadian men aged 18 to 35 preferred to watch the NBA finals
over the Stanley Cup (39%). Women in that same age group also preferred the NBA finals 35% to 32%. Canadian men and women over 55 preferred the
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Stanley Cup. Do you believe this difference in preference by age is highlighting a shift in younger generations to embrace basketball in a country that for
decades has been a hockey dominated fan base?”
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Gilles Gaudet - Sports Enthusiast - It does seem that there’s a definite increased interest and shift towards basketball in Canada, and the poll results show that
to be true. Well at least it’s true when the Raptors are in the finals, and if their winning ways continue, they could make positive inroads into the Canadian sports
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entertainment dollar. Raptors’ success aside there are a few reasons why basketball is now climbing up the ratings charts and by 2030 some studies suggest that
it may be the number one professional sports league in the world. It’s global, and in India and China the two most highly populated countries it’s starting to
make huge gains in popularity. It’s also very popular in Australia, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, and Canada to name only a few of the countries that are experiencing
phenomenal basketball growth. The NBA now has many international players and it’s become the most inclusive globally of the North American sports leagues.
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Also, the game of basketball takes just over two hours to play (2 hrs and 15 min), less time than an NHL game (2 hrs and 30 min) and much less than the three
hour time frame that the NFL and MLB have imposed upon us. The rosters are small in the NBA; the stars spend more time on the field/court than in other sports.
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There is also easier recognition of the personalities because they don’t wear the headgear, helmets, or caps that the other sports rely on. Of course in Canada
we can explain the NHL/NBA finals numbers based on the fact that it was the Bruins vs. the Blues in the Cup finals. If it would have been the Leafs playing the
Oilers, it would have been interesting to see what the numbers would have been.
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Jake Lapierre - Conditioning Coach -The Toronto Raptors winning the 2019 Larry O Brien NBA Championship Trophy is now etched in time as a monumental
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moment in Canadian sports history. An entire generation of Canadian sports’ fans became a part of history, witnessing a first for the NBA; a team from Toronto
Canada became the world basketball champions. A generation of fans has a reason to celebrate.
The over 55 demographics grew up with hockey and have witnessed great NHL championship events with the Montreal Canadians, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary
Flames, and an MLB World Championship with the Toronto Blue Jays. All of these events provided Canadian fans with moments of exhilarating joy, optimism,
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anxiety, shear elation, and a wonderful reason to celebrate together. Up until now, the majority of fans ages 18 to 35 have not had the opportunity to be a part
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of such an exhilarating sporting event.
My greatest Canadian sports’ moment is September 28 1972. Elation and celebration erupted across Canada when Paul Henderson scored the winning goal in
game 8 of the Russia Canada Series with only 34 seconds remaining. These marvellous events are carved into memory and become the moments you remember
where you were and what you were doing. In 20 years, today’s 18 to 35 demographic will remember exactly where they were when the Raptors won the NBA
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championship.
Regarding the Angus Reid poll results, I do believe it indicates a demographic of fans supporting and cheering on a Canadian team battling to win the NBA
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championship title. I don’t believe the poll results would have been the same if the Toronto Maple Leafs would have been in the Stanley Cup finals.
Jim Riddell - Seaway Karate Club -Basketball is most definitely growing in popularity in Canada. The Raptors have done a great job marketing their product
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and fans have embraced the “We the North” campaign since it was launched in 2014. The demographics of the Canadian population are changing and the Institute
for Canadian Citizenship has found that new citizens are identifying sport as a means of integrating into Canadian society, but with some particular barriers.
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Basketball and soccer are two cost effective sports and both are continuing to grow. Hockey may be in for some challenges in the future but in the meantime it
isn’t going anywhere. Had the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to win game seven against the Bruins and as Boston did - go on to play St. Louis in the Stanley
Cup finals, the results of the Angus Reed poll would have been considerably different.
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