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| by: John Chick | October 20, 2009 3:54 PM | comments: (0) |
I briefly spoke with Raptors coach Jay Triano last month, and while we didn't touch much on the upcoming season, he did reveal some interesting facts about coaching at the NBA and national level, as well as the current state of Canadian basketball. He was promoting the Campbell's Chunky MVC — Most Valuable Coach — program, which recognizes amateur coaches from all sports across Canada. And for a guy who went from coaching the Simon Fraser University men's team to becoming the first Canadian head coach in NBA history, he's probably one of the right guys to talk to.
"We have 1.8 million coaches in this country, in all sports at all levels, and I just don't think our coaches get enough recognition for what they do for our athletes," he said.
Triano should know something about recognition issues, having coached the Canadian national men's team for seven years. While he led the program through what was arguably one of the most successful stretches the national team has ever had, coaching basketball in a country that, sportwise, can charitably be called one-dimensional has its challenges. Three years after being replaced by Leo Rautins in 2005, Triano joined USA Basketball's coaching staff under Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
"I went to Vegas (for USA Basketball's orientation camp)," Triano recalls. "Nate McMillan was there getting picked up at the airport at the same time, so we say 'why don't we share a cab.' But there's two black limousines, one with his name on it, one with my name on it. And then we stay at the Wynn, and you get your own room."He continues, "When I was with Canada Basketball, it was a shuttle van with everybody jammed in, taking us to a hotel that was off the (Vegas) strip, that was two people in each room."
The Niagara Falls native doesn't mean to look petty, but his comments echo ones like those of Canadian soccer player Greg Sutton. These things matter. For the record however, Triano does believe the basketball team is on the right track for now.
"Maurizio (Gherardini) has taken over with working with them, and he's changed the atmosphere a little bit, the standards of travel have gotten better and they're going to Europe a little more, so I think it's started to turn the corner. I think our youth in this country is very good, and we're moving in the right direction."
John Chick has been waist-deep in Toronto sports for almost a decade. He can be seen playing basketball badly most summers at the court at Beverley and Baldwin Streets. You can also follow him on twitter @roofthatpeach.
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