The Raptors’ Patrick Patterson writes about how a chat with a total stranger on a cold Toronto day started his love affair with the city.
I enjoy reading The Players Tribune, the on-line magazine written by professional athletes. Patrick Patterson, the hard-working power forward for the Toronto Raptors, published an article in April which I want to bring to your attention.
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2-Pat’s first foray with the ‘zine was a commentary on how he moved from being totally bummed out because of being traded by the Sacramento Kings, to a gradual love affair with his new team and city. This time, he’s written a remarkably perceptive piece on what makes Toronto special. His romance started when a total stranger helped him find a destination shortly after his arrival, and blossomed from there.
For a man who’s been here but a short while, he’s got this city figured out. He loves our diversity. Furthermore, he notes how it parallels the different passports of Raptors players.
And that’s not all; he’s got Canadians figured out. “When we say “We the North,” people from the States might not understand what we’re talking about, but we know.”
“When we say “We the North,” people from the States might not understand what we’re talking about, but we know.”
Holy smokes, Patrick, are you interested in changing your citizenship? (You can say Yes anytime – we’d be very happy.)
In the early years of the Raptors, when the team was ultra-bad and playing out of cavernous Skydome (now the Rogers Centre), NBA players didn’t want to be here. While fan support was never a problem like it was in Vancouver (although I know the Grizzlies would have done well there if given more time), most players viewed a move to Toronto, whether via draft or trade, as the worst thing that could happen to them.
The most grievous and damaging example of that phenomenon was Alonzo Mourning, the crown jewel of the Vince Carter trade, refusing to report after being traded by the Nets.
Those days are gone, and I hope they never return.
“Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.” – attributed to Peter De Vries, NOT Yogi Berra
I have no sense of any Raptors player who would rather be elsewhere. 2-Pat, Kyle Lowry, Greivis Vasquez…all could have voted with their feet but chose to stay. DeMar DeRozan sounds like a man who is prepared to listen to other teams’ blandishments following this season but has gone on record as saying he’s not likely to leave.
There’s a downside to excessive love. GM Masai Ujiri cannot allow his judgement to be clouded by a player’s comfort in Raptor red (or black, gold, white, camo – whatever the heck our uniforms are). If Patterson needs to be moved to improve our team, so be it. That’s what happened to Greivis, who made no secret of his love for Toronto, and before him Rasho Nesterovic.
The city, the players, the Raptors organization, even the fans – they all have to work harmoniously to render a positive argument for new faces to sign up. DeMarre Carroll said he signed his free-agent deal with Toronto after hearing Masai’s pitch, and didn’t bother with anyone else’s. Patterson likes it here, to put it mildly. DeMar kisses his wife and daughter before they take their seats before every home game. Jurassic Park continues to be the talk of the league.
If our team’s gestalt can match all the other positives of being a Torontonian, we have the prospect of being fans of a model franchise. Just ask 2-Pat next time you see him. He’s happy to chat.