November 23, 2009

Vince Carter returned to Toronto yesterday and lit up the Raptors in the second half, as he has been doing with some regularity in the past few seasons. As usual, every time he touched the ball, a chorus of boos rained down on him from Raptors fans. I had to laugh at this quote that I read in the paper this morning.

After the game, Carter said he doesn’t know why he’s still portrayed as the bad guy in Toronto. “I don’t know why they are booing me to be honest,” Carter said.

Really, Vince? You don’t know? You can’t fathom why these people still can’t stand the sight of you? After being a hero in Toronto, and becoming one of the biggest names in the NBA…a perennial All-Star and an NBA Slam Dunk champion…and arguably putting the Toronto Raptors on the map…you don’t think the breakup was a little bitter?
Between the constant ramblings of your crazy mother in the media, and your incessant whining about wanting to go to “a contender”, you don’t think things were bound to leave a sour taste in the mouths of Raptors fans? Add in the element that we got jack-squat in return for you in potentially the worst trade ever made by a candidate for the “Worst GM of all-time in ANY sport” (which admittedly wasn’t technically YOUR fault, but I still blame you for forcing Rob Babcock’s hand), but then you came out and said publicly that you stopped trying in Toronto.

That’s why you get booed every time you touch the ball. Not because of all that other crap…but because you quit on us. You flat out quit. And that’s pretty despicable.

Now, having said all of that, I’m not sure it’s the best course of action to keep booing him every time he comes back, because he clearly uses it as motivation to play well and bury us every time he plays the Raptors. But…as Raptors fans know, and now Nets fans know, and Orlando Magic fans are soon to learn…Vince Carter is an arrogant prima donna who is no longer relevant in the NBA. What bigger message can be sent than getting traded for Tony Battie, Courtney Lee, and Rafer Alston. Rafer Alston!

Have fun fading away in Florida.

And say hi to your mom for me.