Merry Christmas Raptor Nation

What I wish for ... ? Some bloody excitement!

You know who excites me on the Raptors? I'll tell you who ...

Gerald Wallace is one of my favourite Raptors. He always looks great coming off a wide screen, receiving a pin-point pass from Calderon to finish off with a monster dunk. Plus his D is a huge bonus in the late minutes of games when the Raps have been know to wilt in the past.

Also, I LOVE Walt Frazier on our team!!! He is by far the most creative stud on the roster. In fact, we haven't seen on the ball genius like this since the carter days.

And you know ... sure he's not a starter, but having Keon Clark back in the line up is truly a blessing from the "Leather Pumpkin" (30 Rock) gods. The way he smashes the ball through the net is just the insanity that the team needs to bring the guys out of the miniscule ruts of which they are sometimes prone. You can almost see Triano's eyes light up when the opposing team goes on a 6 - 0 run ... Keon!!!


What we have in these guys is excitement. Guys who can provide either singular plays to ignite an offense or defense, or can take over the game by themselves. We truly are blessed to have them.

3rd Place

On Thursday the Neon Tetras handily dismantled The I in Team to take 3rd place in the TRSL. Playing in a larger gym suited the team very well as they scored many of their points on exhilarating fast breaks. One can't help but wonder how they'd fair playing in the larger gym on a nightly basis. My guess is a strong second place.

Oh Canada!

Can American basketball players truly get up in the morning to play in Canada? The Raptors 10 - 16 record and recent loss to OKC might be a decent indicator. The answer ...

I have no idea. I hope not!

Sometimes it truly seems like they can't, like there is some amazing pride that comes from playing for a team in your own country that you just can't get playing in front of Toronto fans. It's almost like Playing for Toronto is idle time where you learn how to hone your skill and gain character through losing. Certainly though you do not need to learn how to win.

Tetras Lose First Playoff Game

Local heroes the Neon Tetras lost their first playoff game of the year vs. the Airballers.

They should have played man to man.

Lucha Semifinal de Trios

Well, apparently the Raptors got smoked again. That's 5 in a row

... now on to Mexican wrestling.

Tour Guide Extraordinaire

Mexico City, March 9th 2007 ... Arena Mexico ... Explosivo Mano a Mano ... Marco Corleone vs. Universo 2000 ... mucho beers and all you can drink adulterated tequila vs. my liver. Awesome night!!!

My good friend LD and I had spent a glorious day exploring the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, hatless and essentially waterless.

Pryamid of the Sun I believe

Needless to say I was suffering from heat stroke by the end of the day, being of the fair-skinned persuasion. After our jaunt through the pyramids we decided to go on a group outing to a Lucha Libre match at the Arena Mexico (the match mentioned above). We got in a van with a bunch of crazed travelers from all around the world and our tour guide (who was actually a wrestler) and set off to a sporting arena where they don't let women go to the bathroom alone.

The energy at the arena was electric. I would recommend this experience to anyone. Befriending a great Australian guy we proceeded to have somewhat of a drinking contest while the matches were proceeding. Towers of Corona cups accumulated in front of us only to topple and be taken away, making room for new towers to be erected. Big time cheering, five slapping, it was the goal of our group to out do the insanity of the Mexican crowd. This is of course impossible, but we gave it a good try. *Mephisto body slam* ... the crowd (complete with surrogate worldly luchadores) goes wild.

After the event was over the next logical step was to purchase our own masks and take this reckless abandon back to the hostel lest it go to waste.

What ensued was pure hilarity. Setting up the common area as a wresting ring. Jumping off the bar into a huge pile of pillows. As much free tequila as you could stand to take in. The details are a little sketchy, but the pics speak volumes ... this was the best night in the history of the universe.

Pictures by the Nac Daddy and LD:

Of Seizmic Shifts and Harrowing Balcony Dances

It was a scary scene at the ACC. Nearing the end of regulation a huge tremor ripped through Toronto causing the entire arena to be flipped onto it's side as easily as a baby is picked up to be burped. It didn't stop the fans though as evidenced by the video I shot above. We just danced right through our precarious perpendicular position only to watch the Raps lose by 1 to the red hot Trailblazers.

Overall I thought the game was pretty good. There was a lot to be content about regarding a more free-flowing offense. It looked great for a while. However, the Blazers eventually got the best of the Raptors in the 3 point department. Also, Aldridge lit them up by hitting every contested shot he took. None of them seemed easy. Sigh ... good game all in all.

Meeting super reporter Doug Smith at the half was also a huge bonus. My man Vishus Delishus (VD ... maybe it's time to rethink that nickname?!?!) did all the talking, and although Doug was clearly very busy, he took the time to ask VD's take on the new look team. Seemed like a really great guy he did.

As for the food, well, I didn't look for any (somehow) previously missed "sweet treats" (LD). I was too busy occupying my taste buds with the dollar store Gum Drops I smuggled in my coat's smugglin' pockect. There's always next time, provided they manage to flip the ACC back to normal.

The ACC Post Earthquake

Video and Picture by the Nac Daddy:

Smoothing Feathers

Pictures by the Nac Daddy: