Raptors Sign Rasual Butler, Lightning Defeated by Power

Yep, more basketball news. First off, the Toronto Raptors have signed free agent Rasual Butler to the roster. He spent last season with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers. Butler is a veteran who will provide the team with more leadership on the court. Here's the story.

Also too, the London Lightning lost an entertaining and tight matchup against the Oshawa Power last night. Sitting in the seats at the John Labatt Centre, seeing the players up close and hearing the roar of the crowd in the 4th quarter...it just can't be beat! The team lost 99-93, but it sure didn't feel that way in the game. My mother, brother, and I witnessed a game where the Power outhustled the Lightning for rebounds, were able to gear up and adjust quicker, and were able to be wide open for 3-point baskets. In fact, that's exactly what head coach Michael Ray Richardson and star player Gabe Freeman both said after the game, according to the recap. You can view it here. Two things that irritated me last night were Rodney Buford and the fans who were sitting behind my brother and I. First, Rodney Buford: the man REPEATEDLY would take the same far-out fadeaway shot over and over and he would just keep on missing and missing. The few times that he would get in closer, those he would make. In fact, that was a theme for London in the game. Also too, the team missed quite a few free throws late in the game, prompting the fans behind us to exclaim, "Oh my goodness! Holy cow!" I couldn't agree more. That brings me to how aggravating those fans were. All game long, they seemed to be bashing the NBL for their poor quality of entertainment and they would consistently complain about the calls (some should have been charges against Oshawa, others should have been slaps on arms, etc.). At one point in the game, the two fans said to each other that the game was probably being rigged by the referees in favour of Oshawa so that Oshawa would win the 3-game miniseries. This is ludicrous because the same two teams have to play against each other TONIGHT in Oshawa at 7:30 PM. In other words, Oshawa would be tired as well. Games have been rigged in sports, especially in the NBA, but I don't think the game last night was. Oshawa also received some poor treatment from the refs, so we can't complain at all. All in all, it was a great night out despite the Lightning loss.

That's all I have for now. You all have a good day.