Masai Ujiri a native Nigerian /Getty Image
Basketball: Masai Ujiri – From unpaid scout in Orlando to the top job in Denver with stops in Denver and Toronto before returning to Denver, Ujiri, a native Nigerian is now being touted as one of the top young executives in the NBA. After scouting for Orlando and Denver, Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo hired him as Toronto’s director of global scouting before promoting him to Assistant General Manager in 2008. Denver called him back as General Manager in 2010. Since then his has handled the trade of Carmelo Anthony to New York and Nene to Washington and he was actively involved in the four-team deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers and Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia. Denver ended up with Andre Iguodala. The 76ers approached him when they were looking for a new GM last summer but he opted to remain with the Nuggets. Masai Nijiri is the first African-born GM of a North American sports team and from all reports he’s definitely a force to contend with – he’s confident – good at developing relationships and sizing up talent and is never afraid to express his opinion on players and people.
CFL Football: Three Toronto Argos have been named to the All Star team. Receiver Chad Owens, Tackle Armond Armstead and Cornerback Patrick Watkins. Owens was also named the league’s MOP (Most Outstanding Player). Canadian Jon Cornish (Calgary), who was in contention for MOP, was also named to the All Star team. Cornish is the first Canadian to lead the CFL in rushing since Orville Lee led the league in 1988 (Ottawa – 1,075 yds.). Cornish also broke the 56-year Canadian rushing record set by Edmonton great Normie Kwong (1,437 yds). Cornish finished the season with 1,475 yards rushing.
Ex-Argo Quarterback Morris Brady was hired as Offensive Co-ordinator away from Montreal where he transitioned from player to coach in 2009. He signed on a Receivers coach before being promoted to offensive co-ordinator by Montreal head coach Mark Trestman to replace Scott Milanovich, who left to coach the Argos. Brady, who joined the CFL in 2002, played 23 regular season games with Toronto and four playoff games before being traded to Hamilton in 2004. He joined Montreal as a free agent in 2006 and retired to join the coaching staff in 2009. In three seasons as Receivers coach he had six players named to the Eastern All Star team and two named CFL All Stars.
Soccer: Brampton native Atiba Hutchinson was named Canada’s Male Soccer Player of the Year for the second time. He also won the award in 2010. The 29-year old midfielder also plays for PSV Eindover of the top Dutch League. He says he hopes he will be able to help Canada get another shot at World Cup participation and also that he would like to end his soccer career playing in Canada. He said he thought he could play in Europe “for another couple of years” and then he would investigate the MLS, especially teams based in Canada.
Marshall Subban best young goaltender in Canada/Reuters
Hockey: Toronto’s Marshall Subban (brother of NHL’s P.K. Subban (Montreal)) is being touted as the “best young goaltender” in Canada. Dennis MacInnes, Chief Scout for Independent Scouting Service ISS, says Subban is “head and shoulders, in our opinion, ahead of the rest of them”. Subban should be in goal when Canada competes at the World Jr. Championships in Ufa. Russia. The tournament begins December 15 and ends January 5th when the gold medal game will be played.
