metronews.ca
Loading....
Loading...
Local
Loading...
|
Canada
Loading...
|
World
Loading...
|
Business
Loading...
|
Sports
|
Entertainment
|
Movies
Loading...
|
Columns
Loading...
|
Blogs
Loading...
|
Life
|
Games
|
x

Canadian hopefuls bedevilled by Raps' choice for play-by-play gig


June 30, 2008 5:00 a.m.
       Text size          

Canada’s only NBA club has selected another American as its new play-by-play voice for national television, sources told Metro yesterday.

Matt Devlin, who spent this decade serving three-year stints as the voice of the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats, has been hired by the Toronto Raptors to succeed Chuck Swirsky, according to the sources.

The sources also said they expect the Raptors to announce the hiring of Devlin within seven to 10 days.

Swirsky was a U.S. citizen when he was hired by the Raps 10 years ago, although he obtained his Canadian citizenship last winter. Swirsky recently switched NBA allegiances and will be the Chicago Bulls’ voice next season.

At least four Canadians were competing against Devlin for the Raps’ job, the sources suggested.

Mike Inglis, a Torontonian who was the club’s first play-by-play voice, had expressed a desire to return after a decade as the Miami Heat’s voice. Adnan Virk, an anchor for The Score and occasional basketball reporter for the Canadian network, also was a candidate, as were Canadian brothers Paul and Mark Jones. Paul has been the Raps’ radio voice while Mark covers various sports, including basketball, for ESPN.

Devlin’s background includes play-by-play work with TNT and Fox.

The CFL had a rough opening weekend, producing low-scoring and generally dull games.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats scored touchdowns only once in their respective losses, while the Edmonton Eskimos couldn’t score any TDs in theirs.

In B.C., a quarterbacking change already seems likely as Lions coach Wally Buono wasn’t pleased – actually, he used the word “pissed” when discussing his team’s loss. Jarious Jackson will probably start Friday night against the Saskatchewan Roughriders instead of Buck Pierce.

Buono criticized the Lions’ lack of discipline in a loss to the Stampeders in Calgary on Thursday night.

“I’ll correct this,” he vowed.

The Argonauts, who won Friday night in Winnipeg, are alternating QBs Kerry Joseph and Michael Bishop.

And Joseph, sources said, is livid about the two-QB system and threw a mini-tantrum when benched in the fourth quarter against the Bombers.

MLB contenders are quietly trying to top each other with trade pitches for Oakland pitcher Rich Harden, who’s being dangled by the A’s and will almost certainly be dealt before the July 31 trade deadline.

A native of Victoria, B.C., Harden is 5-0 and has struck out 42 batters in 32 1/3 innings in June. His June earned-run average is a remarkable 1.65, which, in this farewell-to-arms era, largely explains his immense popularity.



Don't be greedy, share this article:                                       

User Comments & Ratings Comment as guest
more sports stories

Worm turns on second Tory, this time over airport tequila row

OTTAWA - The worm has turned on a second Conservative cabinet minister over an airport security impasse - this one fuelled by tequila.

Paralympic closing to be a sentimental farewell to world spotlight

VANCOUVER, B.C. - One eye has been on the clock and the other has been on the clouds for the producer of the closing ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games.

Owner of shop involved in Montreal shooting makes court appearance

MONTREAL - The owner of the Montreal shop that was the scene of a brazen daylight shooting appeared before a judge today, accused of breaching bail conditions.

13 stranded after ice roads turned to mud rescued, says Manitoba Mounties

WINNIPEG - Muddy ice roads that stranded dozens of drivers in the wilderness and prompted 16 northern Manitoba First Nations to declare a state of emergency are proof that permanent all-season roads are needed, the province's grand chief said Friday.

Family of missing N.B. woman reject possibility she deliberately ran off

MONCTON, N.B. - The family of Donna O'Rielly is rejecting the possibility that the missing New Brunswick woman has run off.

editor's picks

In twitosphere, are the funny, famous in it for tweets, or do they also follow?

Twitter is so many things to so many people: infomercial, backyard fence, brain dump. The funny, famous, famous for the wrong reasons or simply very useful have thousands of followers, but who do THEY follow?

The clock may be ticking on CBC's '22 minutes

HALIFAX, N.S. - Is the clock ticking on "22 Minutes"?

NBC behind him, Conan O'Brien in talks with Fox

NEW YORK - The next few months could keep Conan O'Brien very busy.

Facebook users warned about email scam

Another email scam is circulating online trying to ensnare unsuspecting Facebook users into divulging all their passwords.

Thai PM objects to blood-spilling, but open to talks

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister said Thursday the government was ready to hold talks with protesters, who want him to call new elections, but only if they stop throwing blood, blocking government offices and remain peaceful.


F E A T U R E D   S P O N S O R S

READ THE PRINT
EDITION ONLINE:
LOCAL GUIDES