Tuesday Morning Musings...

April 8, 9:48 a.m. A great night at Muzik as the Raptors Red Party presented by Rogers entertained seven hundred passionate Raptors fans who contributed to the Raptors Foundation with their hearts and financial resources to assist children in need in southern Ontario. Since 1995 the Raptors Foundation has raised over sixteen million dollars as five thousand charities have benefited from the generosity of our tremendous fans. I met so many outstanding people last night. People who care about those less fortunate. Folks who love the Raptors and hang on every game win or lose. It was a fantastic evening and I loved every minute. There is something special indeed about Raptors Nation and I am proud to be associated with a company that cares so much about children in need and the community, Beth Robertson and Alanna Rubino do an awesome job, believe me. All the players were in attendance and enjoyed relaxing and conversing with the attendees. The Raps have hit a tough stretch of late but I can tell you I believe this team has enough talent to get it done for at least one round in the playoffs. Linton Johnson was waived so the roster stands at 14. ESPN's Jim Rome was solid in his interview with Jamario Moon. You can watch the video on espn.com. Raps await the arrival of the Bucks tomorrow night. A banged up Milwaukee team hosts Boston tonight. The 76ers are idle until Wednesday night when they host Detroit. The NBA took the night off as the NCAA title game took center stage. I hustled home and caught the end of regulation of the Memphis-Kansas game. A lesson for young people who read CCI…Practice your free throws. Had the Tigers taken care of business the ballgame would have been over. Had Memphis fouled Kansas with 5 second left in regulation time putting the Jayhawks on the line shooting two perhaps the Tigers would have been celebrating an NCAA title. Apparently they tried but not hard enough. It was a great ballgame. Kansas grabbed the momentum in OT and won it. But in my opinion Memphis lost the game. Kansas didn't win it. Now the question for Kansas coach Bill Self. Does he take Oklahoma State's big money and leave ? We're not talking a million or three, we're talking a six million signing bonus and four million a year for a college coach - where's Jack Armstrong - HELLO! Heard John Thompson on the way home as a commentator on the NCAA Network. I don't get it. He offers nothing. Nothing. The fans in Lawrence, Kansas will be going bananas when they greet their team today. I called a DePaul-Kansas game at Phog Allen Fieldhouse and it's one of the best college environments I have ever-flat out-ever experienced. When the student body starts the "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" chant it sent chills down my spine. Eric Gordon is leaving Indiana. I'm looking at top eight in the lottery. LeBron James missed practice to rest an aching back. Better now than in two weeks. Congrats to all the new inductees in to the Hall of Fame. Dick Vitale, I knew you when! The guy has done so much for college basketball it's incredible. Excellent piece in today's NY Post by Peter Vescey on the HOF. Where is Dennis Johnson? He was a tremendous talent who did everything you asked for in a player. If you get a chance check out the Jays. Break up the Orioles! Enjoy it while it lasts Baltimore. Tory Hunter is fitting in nicely with the Angels. Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo gives up so many homers it's just wacko. Caught the Cubs-Pirates game on TV and I love those old school Bucs uniforms. Good move by the marketing department bringing those back several years ago. So much for the Nats season. With the exception of the Giants, the NL West is going to be nasty. Good move by the Jags getting David Garrard's deal dine. Class act and a very good quarterback. If Brian Burke is offered the Leafs job he better take it. It is without questions THE best job in the NHL hands down. I'm taking the Rangers and Sharks to meet in the Cup Finals. Question/comment about the Raps/NBA? E-mail me at cswirsky@torontoraptors.com or call me at 416-815-6189. Always a pleasure.