Important News. Blogtext was down not long after the end of the Raptors vs Pistons Game. With the Playoffs fast approaching I could not afford to have the Blog be down. So I started a New Blog Site. WordPress now has the Dino Nation Blog Too. So I am at a loss at what to do but Till then this site will at the very least provide you a link to the new site. Both sites have there advantages for me and for you all as readers. Eventually I think we will need to have just on site but given the Playoff so Fast approaching now is not the time for that.

Obviously this was out of my control and I regret any troubles this may cause anyone. But the important thing is you find your way to read the blog. So that is the goal to get you there be it here or there.

So Tonight's Raptor Rewind is posted on the NEW site here is your link below are neat new logo:

http://dinonationblog.wordpress.com/2008/04/15/see-you-in-orlando/

There was also a Blog written today prior to the game. Check that out too. Playoffs in Florida anyone want to send the Dino Nation Blogger To Orlando? LOL JUST KIDDING ....KINDA.

Bosh Battles Hard But Falls Short

Toronto Raptors were coming to America with no Eddie Murphy or Arsenio Hall to be found. In the Comedy movie Eddie Murphy went to Queens New York to find a women to be his Queen. The Raptors were heading to Detroit in search of respect from the rest of league and the United States as a whole. What message would they send to the NBA and America? That is what we are going to find out. The ABC broadcast was quick to point out the Raptors had been losers their last 9 trips to Detroit.

But don't tell anyone but Mark Jones who was calling this game on ABC is the brother of Paul Jones the Radio play by play man of the Raptors. Actually ABC pointed out the fact to the national audience. The early returns in the game were positive for the Raptors as they were in the game and not off to one of the slow starts that have been part of the problems that have plagued them. They had a 12-8 lead and Chris Bosh had 6 of the 12 points on the board it was a good start to the Raptors Infomercial to America. These Pistons blew the doors off the Washington Wizards who have become the cool dark horse pick of the American media. Despite Hubie Brown taking the Raptor defense to task the Raptors were doing a solid job holding a slim lead through most of the first quarter. Jamario Moon was getting a lot of love from the ABC broadcast. Pistons would go on a 6-0 run to take the lead. But Jamario Moon would show America why he was entered in the Slam dunk contest to bring the game to even. But the Pistons closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to have a 5 point advantage on a Prince 3 point shot at the buzzer of the first.

The Raptors were not embarrassing themselves on this national stage. But It was pointed out they had 0 offensive rebounds and 0 free throw attempts which would have to change. That fact is universal and has been a constant issue for this basketball team throughout the season. The Pistons would continue to roll in the second and push the advantage to 9 points. Chris Bosh would respond and take it at Theo Ratliff . Bosh had 10 points and the Raptors were starting to get on a run of their own. Carlos Delfino would draw a foul and have a chance to get the Raptors back to with in 3 points. The former Piston would only get 1 of 2 from the line. Raptors had successfully taken Detroit's first major punch to try to take this basketball game. The Pistons had gone to the bench to play most of the second quarter and they were doing more then enough to maintain the lead for Detroit. The Raptors bench got lots of love at start of year but Detroit has a bench as good as any one in the NBA. Chris Bosh was having a outstanding half so far and was doing what he could to lead his team back. Andrea Bargnani who sometimes has had some of his best performances when the Raptors get in big games with big exposure was not on this afternoon. He missed a 3 point shot badly that would have got the Raptor back to level with the Pistons. Raptors would get called for a 5 second violation missing another chance to get back to level or within 1. Rasho Nesterovic would get a chance to get the Raptors back to within a basket as but he would miss the free throw to finish the old fashion 3 point play. The Raptors would trail by 5 points 50-45.

The ABC broadcast as far as Raptors were concerned gave a lot of love to the amazing story of Jamario Moon. It was even going to be a halftime feature on the broadcast. They also had Moon wired for sound as part of the regular things they do. The story of Moon is well known to Raptors fans but it is a great story and even knowing it makes it no less amazing. Jamario Moon is everything that is good about pro sports. Any love and attention he gets I can totally support. After all who can say the guy has not earned it for holding on to his NBA dream for so long. Before the Moon feature the panel of Micheal Wilbon of PTI fame and Jon Barry former NBA player were saying the Raptors were a disappointment and at beginning of the season were thought to be a 52-47 win team. Then why did some publications not even pick them to make the playoffs? I admit the Raptors have underachieved to a degree but not to the level that this broadcast suggested it. Some did see the Raptors winning 50 games but I don't think many were living south of the Canadian border.

So back to basketball what would the Raptors offer in this second half? How much would the Pistons play the starting unit? To start the 3rd the Piston starters would return for now. Both teams started the quarter playing a little bit sloppy. The Raptors would get back on track first and pull to within just 1 point as they were fighting to try to take their first lead since the First Quarter. T.J Ford would do just that but it would be short lived as Rip Hamilton responded at the other end. The Piston starters were doing a terrible job in comparison to their bench. The Pistons in the best in the league at taking care of the ball were making turnovers. This was giving the Raptors chance to come back. But the mistakes would end and Detroit started a mini 5-0 run to bust out in front from a tie game. Detroit missed several chances to extend that lead but the Raptors could not take advantage to this point. Chancey Billups would finally hit a 3 point shot and give Pistons back the 5 point advantage. Chris Bosh would hit a 3 point shot late and Raptors had a chance to take the lead or tie but did not. Bosh had 9 points in the quarter and 26 in the game if my math skills are up to snuff toady.

Raptors down just 2 points and would wonder which Pistons would take the floor for the final quarter. The starters or the second unit who held their own in the second quarter. Flip Saunders would give the answer in his interview after the 3rd. Saying that his second unit would play down the stretch. That would not be reason to let up for the Raptors. It would still take a huge effort to get a win. Pistons were proving that as the second unit started where they left off in the second quarter. They extended the lead to 6 points. Raptors needed to match the effort and intensity that was being shown by Detroit's reserves. The opportunity was on the table for the Raptors as the Pistons were not going to try to lose but they were not using the guys that could make that happen easier. That being said the argument could be made that Detroit's second unit had out played the starters on this day. So far the Piston's Zoo crew was getting it done half way through the 4th quarter up 8 points. If the Raptors were going to lose this game no blame could go to Chris Bosh he had 30 points and 9 rebounds to this point. Raptors were misfiring and just not able to combat the aggressive Piston defense. With just 3 minutes to go the Raptors were down 8 points and needed defensive stops if they hoped to beat the Pistons. They could not make them thus far as Pistons were getting to the paint and getting easy points. A Rodney Stucky jumper made the lead 9 and I am not sure what they bring out in Detroit but whatever it is was brought out on that shot. Raptors made a good effort in this game but defense and 4th quarter play that have been key issues would be the key issues in this game and they did not solve them. All that being said Toronto did enough to keep the momentum they had established heading into this game. The final score would be 91-84 in favor of the Pistons. If the Raptors needed any motivation on why they need finish 6th they got it today.

Boxscore:http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280413008

Podcast: http://dinoblogger.podbean.com/2008/04/13/raps-fall-short-in-motor-city/

Since Gilbert Arenas has returned he has been quiet and not even talking to the media. But maybe even more amazing then that Gilbert's blog has went silent.  But all of that is well and good but the team that Gilbert seems to love to talk about so much actually got some help from him. The Toronto Raptors can say thank you Gilbert and thank you Washington. A strong 4th quarter in which the Wizards smashed the Sixers 31-9. It was the cap of a Washington blow out win. It also makes the chances of Raptors getting up to 5th place a lot harder. So again thanks Washington good luck with that Lebron James guy we will be pulling for you honestly. Another thing the Wizards did was show Toronto what can happen to you if the Detroit Pistons are motivated. They blew out the Wizards and made a statement to the team that ends up 7th that they are in for a lot of suffering in round 1. 

But today the Raptors should be motivated you would think. They have a national T.V audience and a chance to almost lock up the 6th spot with a win today when you consider that they next would play Miami at home with a chance to clinch no lower then 6th place. It would be a great scenario for the Raptors for sure but it will not be easily accomplished. Detroit even if they decide to take the day off today more or less still have young skilled players that can do damage. So it is important for the Raptors to not be concerned with who is in the Piston uniforms. Just play hard and play well and let the chips fall where they may. The Raptors showed some aggressive play against New Jersey. The team none for being this group of nice guys showed a bit of bark and bite in the win over New Jersey. T.J Ford was talking smack to Vince Carter and smacking him. Chris Bosh took Richard Jefferson to the floor with a hard but clean foul. Detroit are the masters of this style of basketball. The home of the Original BAD BOYS they know how to push the limits of the rule book and get an advantage from it. I do not think the Raptors can change from Barney the Dinosaur and Dora the explorer to Jason and Freddy Kruger. But they do need to show some of that rough and tough play if for no other reason then to stop other teams from pushing them around. 

Chris Bosh is a smart guy he knew his team needed a lift and he took the focus off his team and made it all about him. He challenged the fans and changed the topic in the media. He showed the media skill of someone far more older and wiser then his age would suggest he would be. But when you are the young leader of a franchise you learn to grow up fast. I do not know if Chris Bosh has a public relations person and I have no idea how much they are responsible for this new look CB4 that goes on to UTUBE and talks directly to his fan base. But be it Bosh himself or someone helping him behind the scenes Chris Bosh is becoming something that we have not seen. The modern athlete that take to the Internet and make his voice heard. Gilbert Arenas has his famous blog and Bosh has his own blog too. But Bosh has taken it to the next level by taking to his video camera and posting it on UTUBE. The media can not have as much impact on Bosh. If he didn't like the questions that come his way he can always just ask his own and put it on UTUBE. There is also the fact that he can use the fact he basically has created his own media outlet that he can control the story that is being told to some degree.

It could be that we are watching a pioneer not just in basketball but in all sports. Bosh has created a whole new unique way of how to market yourself and control your press coverage. I may be a little more impressed just because of my media background. I mean the average fan may not understand it or even care about it. But if you have watched a Chris Bosh UTUBE Video you are proving how much of an impact this has. He has done an amazing job at making his fans feel like they are part of his world. In a time where athletes seem more far away from fans then ever before. Chris Bosh has found a way to change that. He can reach far more folks with a UTUBE video then he could ever sign autographs at a mall. You get to feel a part of his world in a way. Chris Bosh not only gets it on the floor but he gets it off the floor as well.

No matter how could a self promoter you can be you still need that age old thing....WINS. No wins and anything you have got may go away very fast. Even if you are a huge star and get many endorsements if you continue to lose they will go away fast. Dwayne Wade better know that or he will get booted from Charles Barkley Fav 5 and dumped by the cell phone company too. Today's game for the Raptors is almost like on of those infomercials on the Toronto Raptors. Many in the U.S even some that are in the NBA media have seen little of the Raptors. What they do in this game will form opinions for a lot of people that really have no idea about the Raptors at all. Orlando will be a favorite over the Toronto Raptors in the U.S media. I will even say that a lot of people will say that the Magic will win in like 4 or 5 games. Which is dumb and proves you never saw these teams play the last few years. I can accept a prediction of a Magic win in 6 or 7 games. I don't agree but could make an argument that has some logic to it for that happening. Raptor fans need to understand the American Media is never going to love this team and will disrespect them more then respect them. It makes no sense not too. Raptors are the worst drawing club in other arenas in the NBA. They also draw lousy T.V numbers anytime they do end up on national T.V in the U.S. The Raptors just are not embraced by America because they are that team from north of the border what to Canadians know about basketball. I know we invented it after all what could we know about the game right? I have accepted that in the U.S media regardless of how and what they do the Raptors will always be the underdog. That is fine with me. It makes it easier to get behind them. What was special about the Blue Jays World Series wins was they did it for an entire country. The Raptors are taking strides to try to become that National Team. Talk of moving training camp through out the country and playing exhibition games in other cities. It is a start to building that National Team feel that the Blue Jays enjoyed. So if you read this blog from places outside the GTA. Tell a friend that the Raptors are COMING THE RAPTORS ARE COMING. But before that the PLAYOFFS ARE COMING and COMING FAST.

It is hard not to feel some great deal of happiness in the Raptors getting the chance to end Vince Carter's chance of going to the playoffs. The team that he gave up on was putting his new team out of the playoffs. Raptor fans will never forgive Vince Carter for how he left them. It was like the ugliest break up you have ever had in your personal life. Vince Carter was telling the fans that had supported him they were not good enough and thanks for the memories but I am moving on with my life. We have all had those situations in life where you run into an ex-girlfriend at a local mall or supermarket. The greatest thing that can happen out of that is to walk away feeling that you are doing better then they are without you. It is mean and stupid and pointless but deep down we all feel that way. So to look at Vince and see that the team fans he left behind are doing better then him is a fantastic feeling. Nothing can top it. 

There was a lot more to take from last night's game beyond that fact though. It was a different Raptor team in some respects. They were not just beating the Nets on the scoreboard they were taking it to them in a physical way. Showing a toughness that this team has never really shown. They were not being dirty mind you. But when there was a chance to make a hard foul they did not shy away from the chance to make it. The Raptors had been smacked around by teams in this season and the reaction to that was nothing. They just played on as if nothing happened. T.J Ford got taken out and Andrea Bargnani got his teeth knocked around. But the Raptors did not respond. In this game against the Nets they came out and did the pushing. They showed that they can play aggressive basketball without going to far. It is something this team has lacked not just this year but last year. It felt good to see Chris Bosh give that extra little push to Richard Jefferson. To see T.J Ford talking smack and backing it up against Vince Carter. I have often said the Raptors are group of nice guys that needed someone to have an edge to them to get them all to be more aggressive. But at least on this night they did it all on their own. They were still nice guys but they showed they were not going to be pushed around. 

The team next on schedule do not care if they are thought to be nice guys. They just care about if they are winners. Pistons basketball is based on that grit and toughness. The Bad Boys of a different era had many tough minded individuals that were not afraid to give a hard foul or throw a well placed elbow. These modern Pistons are much the same. The leader of that group is Rasheed Wallace. He has always been the one guy that can control Chris Bosh with a great bit or regularity. This is one of the reasons the Raptors do not want to match-up with the Detroit in the first round. They have always been able to have the Raptors number. Even the Celtics would be a more welcome challenge to Toronto. But if the Raptors do end up in the match-up they don't want they will need that tough attitude that they showed against New Jersey. But Detroit will be more then happy to push back which New Jersey had no interest in doing.

The other thing that will be interesting about this game will be the Raptors are going to be on National T.V in the United States. It is a rare thing when it happens and it is based on ratings much more then the ability of the Raptors. So for guys like Chris Bosh and the other American based players this is a huge deal. The reality is they likely were on T.V more in college then they are in the NBA as far as National coverage in the U.S goes. Maybe not Jamario Moon or Anthony Parker who both went to small schools. But Bosh out of Georgia Tech and Ford from Texas, even Joey Graham at OSU were all in that National spotlight. Playing in Canada get them away from that spotlight. It makes games like tomorrow become big deals to everyone. Fans want the respect of the American Media of the team they love. The players want to put on a good show for the friends and family that might not be close enough to get free tickets. It is a important game as well for the Raptors regardless. They have built some momentum that they can not afford to lose. The Pistons have little to play for but that did not stop them from laying a beating on the Wizards as to say you don't want any part of us. I would think they have the same message in mind for the Raptors. Even if they don't the Pistons have talented young guys like Rodney Stucky who will take the chance at extra minutes and run with it. If the Raptors get a win tomorrow it will be well earned regardless of how the Pistons approach it. 

The Wizards and Sixers will be playing tonight and the result of that game will greatly impact on just how could Toronto must have to be down this stretch run. They are still not out of the mix for 5th place which may be a scary though for some as playing Lebron James in the Playoffs is not exactly a great gift for hard work. But the true goal should be just to avoid 7th at all cost. the Pistons of the 7 playoff teams are the worst match-up for the Raptors. Even the Celtics are a more attractive foe for Toronto. 

After the Pistons all that remain is the last home game vs Miami which is a close to a lock for a win in the NBA. The Raptors close on the road against a Bulls team that has been blown up. But the young players like Noah and Thomas are playing well and looking to make there claim that they are part of the new solution in Chicago. That will not be an easy win as you might think for Toronto. But the if the Raptors upset the Pistons and beat Miami they would carry a 4 game win streak into that game and it will be interesting to see what a win and lose will mean for Toronto. There will also be those that point to the Atlanta game that they should have won if not for error by the Referees. It most likely would have meant a different first round challenger if it had have been a win for the Raptors. The irony of that will not be lost no matter who they end up facing. 

Chris Bosh wanted everyone to be excited and the best way to do that is WIN. If the Raptors were to win out and go 5-0 or even go 4-1 it may go along way in restoring the faith of the fan base. But don't expect the American Media to join the party. I watched comments on NBA TV about the Raptors that were honestly laughable for what are suppose to be " Basketball Experts". I will go out on a limb and say if they have watched had Raptors play more then 2 games in this season I would be shocked. The fact the Peter Vesey (I may have spelled that wrong but like he doesn't bother to care about the Raptors I don't bother to check how to spell his name)  is thought of in such high regard is a joke to me. He seems to be nothing more to me then an ill informed gossip reporter. Basketball Expert is a huge stretch now basketball groupie I will buy. He plays favorites and is a huge Vince Carter lover and I guess that is why he never knows much about Toronto. When V.C left so did he as far as paying attention to this team.

Raptors have a chance to open some eyes if they get in the playoffs and take on Orlando. I think many a jaw will drop if the Magic get tossed aside by Toronto. It will be more about the Magic blowing it then Raptors winning it. But the truth for those who care to pay attention is that Raptors have always played the Magic well and deserve to be a slight favorite in a 7 game series. But if you are hoping American media will give the Raptors any form of credit I suggest you don't hold your breath. Maybe after they were to win 2 NBA Championship they would actually get some credit. The one thing they do have in their favor is Bryan Colangelo who the media in the U.S loves. So there is a slim chance the Raptors might get credit before having to win a couple NBA Titles. But in the end it doesn't matter. If they believe and we the fans believe that is what counts. The process of making the fans believe continues tomorrow afternoon on ABC. It is on the score up here but I for one want to hear just how much credit the people down south give us. I already know that Chuck Swirsky believes and don't need to hear the constant themes of the whole Chuck and Leo show. I will tune back to Canada for the Miami game which I greatly hope will not be Jack Armstrong's last. If the Raptors let Jack Armstrong get away I may just mute the T.V all next season in protest. Jack Armstrong does a great job and he proved it again last night. That does it for me. Sorry for being so late but sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe Vince Carter can get my groceries during the playoffs he will need something to do. It is a thought. Oh I almost forgot one last thing. 5 questions is Back. If you missed it the first time it is basically 5 questions I would ask someone If I was able too. Today's Interviewee is Vince Carter.

5 Questions for Vince Carter

• 1. What is your greatest regret about your time in Toronto and if there is not one why not?
• 2. Do you think you could have done anything to convince Tracy McGrady to stay and did you do anything at the time in that regard?
• 3. What do you want your legacy in Toronto to be and do you think it ever can be given the way fans feel?
• 4. Chris Bosh has taken over as the Face of the Raptor Franchise. What is one thing he does better then you in that role and one thing he doesn't do as well?
• 5. Do you ever see a return to Toronto as something you would ever consider? If you were traded there and it was out of your control what would your first thought be?

No I didn't ask him if he sucked. I try to keep the 5 questions on a professional level and ask questions that hopefully the subjects will answer. Having interviewed Vince I am not sure if he would answer any of these but they are legit questions that I think people would like to know the answers too. But for now Vince has a lot of questions to answer in New Jersey. But he has lots of time to do it. I on the other happen am busy getting ready for the playoffs. Hope you all are too.

Chris Bosh had made some bold statements to his fan base and anytime you do that you are taking a risk. But the fact Vince Carter was coming to town and the Raptors could officially eliminate the Nets from the playoff race was a lot of motivation to get loud. But unfortunately the start look much like a the 5th quarter of the game played 6 days ago. Vince Carter would not let the Toronto fans get in his head early as he was just as dominant as he had been last Saturday. His Nets stormed out in front out in front and after one quarter of play they had a 30-18 lead. The Toronto defense was not playing with the Passion and energy that Bosh showed in his UTUBE video.

But the Raptors and the crowd and the crowd got things going late in the second quarter going on a 14-2 run to close the quarter and trail by just 2 at the half. One of the people who was helping get it done was Carlos Delfino off the bench. He would end up leading the team with 24 points and he was 6-8 from the 3 point arc. Another thing the Raptors were doing was getting to the free throw line. They picked up there defense as well and they would carry that momentum into the 3rd quarter. Jose Calderon did it in the second quarter. He was hobbled by stepping an Andrea Bargnani's foot. But Ford was able to pick it up right where Jose left off. Jose would return later on in the 4th and would loOK ok if anyone was worried. Combined the two point guards had 25 points and 18 assists and they had 0 turnovers. That is excellent point guard production. The Raptors would outscore New Jersey 37-19 in the 3rd Quarter.

From that point it was party time as the Raps would continue the party into the 4th quarter. The crowd like the team built to a fever pitch. Raptors had 7 players that scored in double figures and it was a much better defensive effort in the final 3 quarters of this basketball game. The Raptors were showing some toughness and fight that really has not been seen. They were aggressive and had an attitude to them. New Jersey may have been in the perfect spot to motivate this Raptor team. Needing to win or else they were done was to good a opportunity for the Raptors to pass up on. It is not often a team gets a chance to eliminate the team that took them out the year before.

One another thing of note on this basketball game was the play of Andrea Bargnani. He showed an aggressive nature that people have wanted to see from him. He was battling hard and even grabbing the odd rebound. He was driving to the basket and drawing fouls. If this continues for Andrea it would be a huge advantage for the Raptors heading into the playoffs.

Speaking of those playoffs. Unlike the other night where Washington and Philadelphia both were losing on this night. The Raptors had found there way back to that Magical sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. Even if the Raptors managed to get up to 5th spot it may not be as bad as you might think. Yes Lebron James is still on the Cavs. But James has had injured back and his team has struggled recently. Still when all is said and done Orlando is the place the Raptors want to be. The team they would least like to play is there next match-up. On national T.V in the United States it is the Raptors vs the Pistons. Another extra motivation for this basketball team to push that little bit harder. So Chris Bosh got his NOISE but he also got his WIN. Both are important but the Win is the most important thing.

Boxscore:http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280411028

Podcast: http://dinoblogger.podbean.com/2008/04/11/good-bye-vc/

If this Dino Nation has a president it is not me James Borbath the Dino Nation Blogger. It is Chris Bosh and when the President talks he does not hit the airwaves and break in on your favorite T.V show. He takes to the Internet on UTUBE. That is what Chris Bosh did yesterday. The message of this address was the same he has had for the media these past couple days. Chris Bosh is excited and he wants you to join in that excitement. He suggest that everyone take a fresh start and from this day forward make the Air Canada Center the loudest and craziest place to be for any NBA foe that dares to enter it. I support our President and I did what I do when I want to address the masses. I went on Hoops on the Fan 590 and my message was much more forceful then that of Bosh. I am James in Hamilton for anyone that does not know. I usually am the first caller on the show Hoops each and every week. I often express my opinions on the Toronto Raptor Fans and am not afraid to call them out for what they do wrong. I called people out for cheering for pizza and not the team. I also said that the people who cheered T.J Ford in December that now Boo him are hypocrites. Bosh was not going there he  was more about building everyone up to get  everyone to share in his excitement. That is why he is the President and I am not. I understand that Bosh can not go to the lengths that I do and he shouldn't. I think if you go watch his video and you are not willing to get up and cheer and be loud you should do everyone a favor and just not bother supporting the Raptors anymore.  The Dino Nation does not need you and we suggest you take find another nation to support. Leaf Nation will be having there annual golf tournament and is always willing to add new citizens. 

Sure that is me being a little bit over the top. But I do take this whole concept of a Dino Nation seriously. You may have figured out that I am not a Leaf fan. I will say this about the Leaf Nation the people that make it up are diehard fans and the may lack realistic feelings towards the team they love but they have great passion and loyalty. These are qualities I want in people that make up the Dino Nation. What I don't want is the complaining and the whining. Chris Bosh is not doing that by what he is saying. He is saying what needed to be said. Think back to last season....how excited were you about this basketball team. I am willing to bet it was a lot more then you are right now. I know I was and I try to keep my emotions in check and be realistic about things. That being said the realism I check at the door while the game is being played. You have many other hours in the day to think about this team realistically. Take those two and half hours that the game is going on and be a fan. Cheer and get excited and show your passion. Sometimes it is hard to do I understand that. But do your best to do it. That is all that Chris Bosh is asking of all of us is to be good fans and try to bring the same type of passion we demand from the team in the support of the team. I am not on the Chris Bosh payroll I don't have to support him. I have chosen to support him because I think he is right. I also respect the fact that he has picked me and all of you. He made a choice to be part of the solution in Toronto. He did not decide to give up when times were tough. He stayed he gave 100% to making things better. Raptor fans love to BOO Vince Carter for not doing that. I have no problem with that. But if you are going to do that, you should also support the guy who did the opposite of that Chris Bosh.

That is a nice transition to tonight's game. I would not be shocked if Vince Carter is a no show tonight as things for the Nets are determined. I found it all to funny listening to his coach sing his praises for being a warrior for fighting through his ankle injury and playing on for the Nets. I mean it is hard to think of Vince Carter and warrior in the same sentence. Vince Carter to me is one of the saddest stories in the NBA. He is maybe one of the most talented guys in this league and the fact he bailed on the Toronto Raptors will not change that fact. But what also will not change is he does not even come close to getting the MAX out of that talent. Vince plays hard when he feels like playing hard and if he doesn't he will be happy to take his paycheck for whatever percentage he feels like giving. I was a huge Vince Carter fan and I really still think he can be an amazing talent in this league on any given night. I just think he does not LOVE basketball. He loves what basketball brings him in a high income lifestyle and some fame. But he is not a guy that lives to play the game. Chris Bosh I think is a guy that LIVES to play this game. He wouldn't bother taking the time to call out fans and call out his team to do more if he was like Vince. He cares it matters to him. I question if any lose every real matters to Vince. I mean we have all seen how he laughs and jokes no matter what the scoreboard says. I have never seen Chris Bosh cracking jokes when he has been taken out of a game because his team can no longer win it. 

Vince Carter claimed that the ACC was still his house. I kind of agree with that actually. With all the boos that come every time he enters it. Those same people that were booing were cheering and I was one of them. I think though if fans get behind the message that Bosh has made it will officially become his building. You saw signs of this transfer of ownership last year. The crowd took time to stop booing Vince Carter to chant M.V.P for Chris Bosh. Vince was not happy about it and that moment hurt him more then any cat call or boo that he heard that day. The thing about Vince is he really wants and needs to be liked. This is why booing fans in Toronto can get to Vince Carter. He is not like his cousin T-Mac who actually got fired up by the boos. Vince is more sensitive and takes these things to heart. I think deep down he wants to have that number 15 hang in the A.C.C some day. But the chances that a number 4 will hang there instead become more a reality everyday. The sad fact of reality for Vince Carter is you can't go home again. It is over. The Irony of things is what could the Raptors use right now? An athletic wing man that can drive and score and make a 3 point shot. Who does that sound like? But could it ever happen that Vince would return to Toronto? I can't imagine it to be honest. But would it make for a lot of interesting blogs for me and stories for the media? I will give you a George Costanza line to answer that " GOLD JERRY GOLD". 

Another name that might fit what the Raptors need is Ron Artest. Fan 590's Eric Smith and I seem to be the founding members of the Bring Ron Artest to Toronto effort. He is not as nuts as he use to be. Seriously he isn't. He had his daughter have a major health problem and I think it has made Ron Artest grow up a lot. He is that sandpaper type player that is needed on this team. The Raptors are very good people and they have this happy family image that is felt in the media all the time. Ron Artest would be like the crazy uncle that no one in the family will talk about. He is a really talented guy though and I think Sam Mitchell can coach a guy like Ron Artest. Mitchell himself knows about being kind of passionate and outspoken. I think Mitchell can relate to Artest and perhaps vice versa. 

But that is something for the off season and Chris Bosh is focused on the here and now. So I will try to do the same. I think the Raptors can get sixth spot if they go 3-1. Washington needs to win over the Sixers when they play if that doesn't happen the media can save that sun tan lotion for July and pack away those shorts. It all starts for Toronto tonight with the Nets. Raptor Rewind will tell you how they did. By the way Chris Bosh is a smart guy. I don't think it is any mistake that his comments come prior to a New Jersey Game. The Crowd will be amped up regardless of anything he said. The test will be is if it lasts after tonight. Will fans go crazy to cheer watching the Miami Heat D-League team? Oh sorry David Stern they are still in the NBA...My Bad. But hopefully for Chris Bosh it will be all good. I put up a poll on Toronto Raptors Fan Application to see what people thought of Bosh and his comments. He had over 90% approval rating let's see any Prime Minster or President pull that off. That is why Chris Bosh is PRESIDENT OF THE DINO NATION. lots of other reasons too. But if you don't know what they are by now you haven't been watching too close over the last 5 plus years.

If you missed the link to what Bosh said on Utube here it is again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1TXKpGeHK8

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