Clippers have fans in L.A. — really

I was watching Utah’s epic meltdown, or the Clippers’ epic shooting display, and kept wondering to myself is there such a thing as a Clippers-only fan? I get the Cubs-Sox rivalry where it’s north side vs. south side, or Bronx vs. Queens with the Yankees and Mets, and now Manhattan vs. Brooklyn for New York basketball. But how does someone become a Clippers-only fan? They play in the same arena as the Lakers, so it can’t be geography. It can’t be a winning tradition. — Santino

There are a few — not a lot — of basketball fans in L.A. who are anti-Lakers for whatever reason. I think, over the years, it mostly had to do with the fact the Lakers were glitz and Hollywood and Show Time and the Clippers, while consistently bad, offered a working man’s alternative.

No questions other than wondering who the Raptors will take in the draft and how the coaching staff will fill out.

— Raven

We’ll get a bit more clarity on the draft after Tuesday night’s lottery, which is about when I’ll start thinking about it. Nick Nurse is pretty good at multitasking so I imagine he’s thinking about how he’ll fill out his staff even as he works with the Canadian team. Nate Bjorkgren is back with him and it would make entire sense that he comes back on board.

We heard this week that Blue Jays pitcher Steven Matz is on the COVID IL list. He must be part of the minority of athletes who have refused the vaccine. (The Jays didn’t say.) That raises an interesting question: How does refusal to be vaccinated affect the market value of players in all sports? Surely, since a physical is part of a trade or signing, all potential teams wishing to acquire a player will want to know their vaccination status. And surely a lack of vaccination will decrease the attractiveness of any player, either in trades, signings or in new contract negotiations. What will the respective players associations have to say in this regard? — Craig

I don’t know if leagues or teams can legally make vaccinations a term of employment — I think they can but maybe that’s not a fight they want to have. But I can certainly see teams, all things being equal, deciding to not sign someone who is a greater health risk to himself and others than someone who isn’t.

You are correct, this Canadian men’s soccer group looks united and “all in.” Considering you have very expensive young players working and risking injury in crazy environments like Haiti, you have to give credit to this group. The question is where should Canada play its home games in the next stage of qualifying. Fantastic stadiums, home-field advantage, and great winter weather. Time to introduce Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Jamaica and El Salvador to the prairies in October, November and January. — Enzo Basciano

The sites for Canadian home games are going to be interesting but first and foremost they have to be played on natural grass, so I believe that eliminates Winnipeg and Regina and a handful of other cities with CFL-sized stadiums. I’m sure some people will suggest Toronto but I don’t know if that would yield the kind of crazy home crowd you’d want.