The 2026 All Star Weekend is descending upon Los Angeles, which is a city where people pay money to drink juice that costs fifteen dollars. I remember when a juice was just something that came in a box with a plastic straw. Now everything is an event, including the simple act of not winning basketball games.
Looking back at last season, it seems we were quite good at losing. We benched starters and played third stringers in the fourth quarter. Usually, when you do that, the league office sends a stern letter or a fine. The Utah Jazz are doing the same thing now and everyone is upset about it, but we mostly just faded into the background like a car parked in a snowbank.
Stars and Magazines
Brandon Ingram has returned to the All Star game, which is a nice development for him. He looks like he just woke up from a very long nap in a room that was slightly too warm (I can relate to this). Someone is looking for the SLAM Magazine cover featuring him and Scottie Barnes, specifically in North York or Scarborough.
I suggest checking the newsstands near Fairview Mall or perhaps the convenience stores along the 401. My cousin used to buy magazines just to look at the shoes he couldn't afford. Now everyone just looks at things on their phones while sitting in traffic. It is a more efficient way to feel envious, I suppose.
The Kawhi Situation
There are rumors about Kawhi Leonard and some things he might have done with the Clippers that could lead to a suspension. It is always something with the Clippers. They are like that neighbor who is constantly building a deck without a permit. You know it will eventually cause problems with the city, but for now, you just watch them hammer things at 7:00 AM.
Kawhi won a championship here and then left, which is fine. People leave Toronto all the time to go to places where they don't have to salt their driveways. If the NBA investigates the behind the scenes tactics, he might be resting even more than usual. He is very good at resting. I think we should all try to be more like him in that specific regard.
Weekend Plans
The All Star schedule is out, and it is full of celebrity crossovers and 75th anniversary celebrations. I might watch it, or I might just stare at the wall and think about Pape Sow. He was a forward for us in 2005. He played hard, but the ball didn't always go in the hoop.
Everything is happening in Eastern Time for those of us still here. The weather reports say it might snow, which is a classic Toronto observation. Hopefully, the magazines are in stock and the tanks are parked for the season. We have enough to worry about with the traffic on the 401 as it is.