My next love in the Toronto sports scene are the Toronto
Raptors.
The Raptors organization are celebrating their 20th season right now, and the team is literal family to me. I'm an 88'er, the Raps came to existence right around when I was coming of age (the first time). Being a cynical sports guy already at 6 years old, I was not enthusiastic about the predictable early struggles of an expansion franchise, but, I knew this team would be special just from the name. The Toronto Raptors... #SALE!
A lot of BS has been written about the name Raptors by the grumpy old media types, and various player haters. There were even rumours of how they were going to change the name in an attempt to "rebrand the organization".
To that, I say: are you f**king kidding me?
We have one of the coolest names in all of sports. Toronto Raptors? Have you seen Jurassic Park? Come on! Screw what some older “sports types” think. This team was made for us! They chose a name that would resonate with the dinosaur obsessed kids of the 90's and gracefully chose something that would resonate and stand the test of time. The top 10 names proposed for the Toronto franchise were:
Beavers, Bobcats, Dragons, Grizzlies, Hogs , Raptors, Scorpions, T-Rex, Tarantulas, and Terriers.
Clearly the names were aimed at attracting kids, and they certainly got this kid with their choice. Toronto T-Rex? No, thanks. Toronto Beavers....yes please? [ed note: smdh]
The Raptors have a perfect name, and I hope we never ever change the name. Sure, during the dark days we sometimes disparagingly call our beloved team the "Craptors" or "Snaptors" but it's all out of love. The team name is non- negotiable, and what do you propose we change it to? The Toronto Basket Leafs? The Toronto OvO’s? The Toronto Sex and Crack Scandals? Get the f**k outta here.
To that, I say: are you f**king kidding me?
We have one of the coolest names in all of sports. Toronto Raptors? Have you seen Jurassic Park? Come on! Screw what some older “sports types” think. This team was made for us! They chose a name that would resonate with the dinosaur obsessed kids of the 90's and gracefully chose something that would resonate and stand the test of time. The top 10 names proposed for the Toronto franchise were:
Beavers, Bobcats, Dragons, Grizzlies, Hogs , Raptors, Scorpions, T-Rex, Tarantulas, and Terriers.
Clearly the names were aimed at attracting kids, and they certainly got this kid with their choice. Toronto T-Rex? No, thanks. Toronto Beavers....yes please? [ed note: smdh]
The Raptors have a perfect name, and I hope we never ever change the name. Sure, during the dark days we sometimes disparagingly call our beloved team the "Craptors" or "Snaptors" but it's all out of love. The team name is non- negotiable, and what do you propose we change it to? The Toronto Basket Leafs? The Toronto OvO’s? The Toronto Sex and Crack Scandals? Get the f**k outta here.
The Raptors have had plenty of excellent (and not so excellent)
players. It's actually a very lengthy list of former Raptors. There have been some legends but we all know s**t got really real when one man came on the scene, of
course I'm talking about “Air Canada” Vincent Lamar Carter! Do you know Vince Carter?
Now, I know some Toronto fans are still in that “scorned ex phase”.... 10 years later. The VC breakup was admittedly dramatic and heartbreaking. The Rob Babcock orchestrated trade Of Vince Carter was probably one of the worst in league history, but, as is life. Some still harbour hurt feelings about Vince Carters "admission" to not trying his best at times in Toronto, and try to cope by belittling VC's contribution to Toronto. My advice, get over it. VC was an icon. Like Drake + Kobe Bryant. I make the Drake comparison because of his impact on Toronto, and Kobe because even Kobe didn't have the marketing prowess/popularity of Vince in those days. The guy was magical in the early days, absolutely magical.
Vince Carter brought the whole NBA basketball into the new millennium in a post Michael Jordan world. Honestly, Vince Carter in his prime was like a superhero, and had people including myself believe in new possibilities. It sounds like hyperbole, but it changed my life forever. Dude saved the franchise and made us matter when basketball in Canada was a novelty, at best. At one point VC was arguably the best and definitely the most popular baskeball player in the world, and he was repping the Toronto Raptors!. In our prime we were making the playoffs, selling merchandise, playing Christmas games on NBC, the Raptors were the toast of the NBA. Those were the days that made you a Raptor lifer, Vince Carter enabled that. Imagine, if GM Glen Grunwald never made that draft day trade, and the Raptors had kept Antawn Jamison? You never know. Maybe we would of won a championship, but I think we got a good deal.
Now, I know some Toronto fans are still in that “scorned ex phase”.... 10 years later. The VC breakup was admittedly dramatic and heartbreaking. The Rob Babcock orchestrated trade Of Vince Carter was probably one of the worst in league history, but, as is life. Some still harbour hurt feelings about Vince Carters "admission" to not trying his best at times in Toronto, and try to cope by belittling VC's contribution to Toronto. My advice, get over it. VC was an icon. Like Drake + Kobe Bryant. I make the Drake comparison because of his impact on Toronto, and Kobe because even Kobe didn't have the marketing prowess/popularity of Vince in those days. The guy was magical in the early days, absolutely magical.
Vince Carter brought the whole NBA basketball into the new millennium in a post Michael Jordan world. Honestly, Vince Carter in his prime was like a superhero, and had people including myself believe in new possibilities. It sounds like hyperbole, but it changed my life forever. Dude saved the franchise and made us matter when basketball in Canada was a novelty, at best. At one point VC was arguably the best and definitely the most popular baskeball player in the world, and he was repping the Toronto Raptors!. In our prime we were making the playoffs, selling merchandise, playing Christmas games on NBC, the Raptors were the toast of the NBA. Those were the days that made you a Raptor lifer, Vince Carter enabled that. Imagine, if GM Glen Grunwald never made that draft day trade, and the Raptors had kept Antawn Jamison? You never know. Maybe we would of won a championship, but I think we got a good deal.
In hindsight, the VC prime time era was only about 5 years, however
when you were younger those days felt like forever, and the memories will last for a longer time. Even in the waning days of Vince's career in Toronto, it was still must watch TV. You just never knew when something amazing was going to happen.
The VC era was not as successful as we would have hoped. We didn't win any championships, or make it very far in the playoffs. However we won something that may be more important, relevance. That relevance came to manifest itself in millions of Basketball fans across Canada and the world. Canadian basketball established itself during the VC era, and the recent influx of Canadian talent taken high in the NBA draft all speak excitedly about being inspired by Vince Carter.
The current iteration of the Raptors team has fantastic players, they have straight up All Stars! The future looks as bright for the team as it ever has. Even last year, at this time I didn't quite believe that. I thought we were going to tank and go for top prospect and Canadian, Andrew Wiggans but since the second half of last season the Raptors have gone H.A.M (see jay & kanye west), and done the opposite of tank. They are playing to win! We have a great mix of players, who play hard, and play smart basketball. It would be hard for a single player to capture the spotlight like Vince Carter did in his day, but the new breed of players can exceed Vince Carter in accomplishing the goal of bringing a Championship to Toronto. The NBA, like all sports has evolved. Teams are constructed differently now. It takes less of a breakout star, and more of a mastering of the team game to win in today's NBA. You still need leaders to emerge and step up, but you need a balanced team where anyone can and will step up too. The Raptors are perfectly built for that.
S**t man, also shout outs to the team's "Global Ambassador" Drizzy Drake. Haha, you could have whatever opinion you want about the guy, but Drake brings attention, style and success to whatever ventures he pursues. Drake is kind of a "character", but all the greats are. His partnership with the team may seem like a gimmick, and it kind of is, but it makes epic amounts of sense. Even the make up of the league is rich and impressionable players born in the 90's. Its a big move to have one of the biggest entertainers in their world rep your team, and at least its not Beiber or Ford.
With or without Drake, these Raptors --unlike their prehistoric fore bearers- are here forever! The only change of identity we need is to evolve into winners. Toronto is waiting to love and support a winner. The Raptors are closer than any other team in the city right now, however the team still needs time. The NBA is a very tough league, but these Raptors will be the guys to take the organization, and our entire region, to the next echelon of greatness.
Lets go Raptors. #WeTheNorth!!
See you in part 3.
***jda out***
JDA is one of dem boyz! And of course, a #BramptonRises kinda guy. Follow him on twitter @Jibbyville.
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