TorontoIAM: Raptors Fizzle Out in Second Half against Cavaliers, Carlo Colaiacovo Injured Yet Again

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Raptor’s First Quarter Spark Fizzles against Cavaliers



Blogging on I Hate the Raptors, Coach Canada notes that the Raptors are behaving bi-polarly again, losing 93-90 to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night. They played great for a stretch of the game, leading by 20 points in the first quarter, then completely collapsed in the homestretch. This is a team with erratic behavior. For example, Toronto “beat heavyweights Hornets and the Spurs but lost to so so Sonics and newbies Blazers in their western trip.”

“They prefer to be ecstatic with sporadic show of spectacular blocks and dunks especially from crowd fav Jamario Moon rather than playing consistent basketball,” writes our blogger in the post. Toronto was shooting at 69% in the first quarter and only in the 30’s in the second half. The team is not stable. “There were reports after the game that someone in the Raptors' bench heckled King James causing him to explode for 24 points in the 4th quarter.” The one thing your shouldn’t do is inspire James to do what he does best. “James is like Michael Jordan who was always looking at even the minimum reason to spark himself.”

Carlo Colaiacovo’s Hockey Career Plagued by Injuries

On Howard Burger’s Hockey Buzz, Berger wonders about Carlo Colaiacovo's predisposition for strange, inexplicable injuries. “No matter how much dedication and sacrifice he devotes to returning from one mishap, Colaiacovo inevitably finds himself involved in another.” Over the weekend, it happened again. Colaiacovo has only been back for five games, after having missed the Leaf’s first 37 games “with a complicated rehab from arthroscopic knee surgery last May.” In Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Carlo “innocently collided with Philadelphia's Jim Dowd after the whistle late in the first period.”

The collision, of course, “involved the same knee that had finally become pain-free after seven-and-a-half months of recovery.” It is unknown whether he suffered another tear in his patellar tendon or if it is simply a bad bruise. The results will have to be determined by an MRI exam. The Leafs could “hardly believe that he has once again suffered an apparently serious injury.” According to good friend Kyle Wellwood, Colaiacovo has been plagued with injuries since junior hockey. Captain Mats Sundin states in the post, “You look at that kind of a young player -- to me, a guy that could be a superstar in this league if he could somehow stay healthy.”

Bellair Gardens Gives Commuters a New View

In a recent post, Toronto Real Estate gave “full marks” to Bellair Gardens for making the most of what some would consider an “unfortunate” location. Overlooking the Don Valley Parkway, “this 11-storey complex stands out above its neighbours, not so much for its height but for the quality of its architecture.” It’s all glass and curves, writes our blogger, rather than the typical rectangular grid of precast concrete. “Occupying a sloping site, the building has been set on a poured concrete base that grows deeper as it nears the valley to the west.”

The post points out that “if an urban highway is your idea of a view, this place could be ideal.” Don’t bother with it if it’s not. But at least for commuters “it makes a nice change from the anonymous slabs that make one long to leave the city far behind.” Considering the location developers had to deal with, they were very successful with Bellair Gardens.

Parting Partners Find Restaurant Ventures for New Year

In Taste T.O., Greg Clow updates us on the “falling out” between restaurateur Hanif Harji and chef Claudio Aprile. The two successful partners had worked together on Colborne Lane and were planning to open Bar Crudo along Queen Street West when their disagreement “put the kibosh” on that highly anticipated venture. After the dispute, Aprile remained at Colborne Lane, while Harji “retained the lease on the new location.

According to the post, Aprile is “planning to open another restaurant without Harji’s involvement in the spring,” while Harji will be opening Nyoodin the new location with new partner Terry Tsianos. The menu will “focus on fresh and simple food prepared for a tapas style food service.” Aside from the falling out with Aprile, Harji suffered another blow last year when Doku 15 closed. He opened the Japanese resto-lounge at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in 2006 with his Blowfish partners Zark Fatah and G.Q. Pan. “The hotel will be relaunching the space this month as Eight Wine Bar.”.

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