Barbosa Deal

Today, amongst all the trade rumours, the Raptors and Pacers pulled off a deal. The Pacers would get Brazilian speedster Leandro Barbosa and possibly Anthony Carter for a 2nd round pick.

This came to me as a shock at first. For all the Raptor fans out there, you may be thinking that this may be the worst trade possible! Well...it isn't. I was ready to scream at my computer screen at the first thought of it because Barbosa is worth more than what we attained. However, I went through a couple forums, read some articles, got some insight on how the Raptors would benefit, and actually, this was a really good move.

By trading away Barbosa and Carter, the Raptors do free up some cap space. With Indiana way under the cap, they were able to absorb their contracts. The Raptors don't get salary in return, which is what BC always wanted. They also get a 2nd round pick and will now have three picks altogether which may create another trade or bring in some nice pieces for the future. Eric Smith tweeted another good argument saying "they(Raptors) now have $7.6 mil in cap space to spend BEFORE July 1 if they wish (about $12 mil total)." The Raptors may be able to pull of some deals prior to the free agent signing which is ultimately a good idea because it can open up trades and gives the Raptors more flexibility on Draft night.

Barbosa would have rot here with the Raptors anyways. We would lose more games than win(obviously) and then we would be left deciding whether or not to sign him. Barbosa did express a LOT of intrest to resigning in Toronto so that may be a great move. Maybe Colangelo thought about nabbing a 2nd rounder now and then eventually signing Leandro to a deal come July 1st. Remember, this is only a rental for the Pacers and this is why a 2nd round pick was huge. No team would ever give up a 1st for a rental player unless it was like Dwight or some other superstar. I would rather get a 2nd rounder than nothing at all.

On the other hand, the Pacers get a nice scoring punch off of the bench. He can provide a nice boost of energy and score pretty much when he pleases. George Hill has been playing good ball lately while Collison hasn't developed as much as they liked! Barbosa is a good option! One other thing that intrigues me is the history that Barbosa and Granger have. Remember they had a little scuffle about each team's end game shenanigans? Haha, good times. Anywho, I bet Granger is happy to have him on his side now as they look to make a deep playoff push.

It is sad to see the Brazilian Blur leave after all he has done for the Raptors. All he did was provide a boost off of the bench, a scoring punch, a defensive demeanor, excitement to the ACC, and a veteran presence. He did all the things that the team needed. I did expect a trade to happen to either Barbosa or Jose because of the way they were playing but I didn't really want to see it happen. Both teams got better....kinda. Well, the Pacers got better and we just got more money. That is all.

Good luck to Leandro! I'll miss you in Toronto and hopefully you come back when the free agency period starts!

What If..

Sadly, the NBA hasn't resolved its lockout issues just as yet and we have to wait even longer. But today, 'Off the Record' relived the past. It was about the '99, '00 Toronto Raptors. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Charles Oakley all appeared on the show talking about the their tenure with the Raptors. McGrady was drafted 9th overall in the 1997 NBA draft. He was the young, high-flying, defensive phenom for the young raptors back in the day. Despite the season being awfully disappointing, T-Mac showed flashes of what his game could develop into.

As the next draft approached, the Raptors made the biggest deal in their history. They decided to select Antawn Jamison with the 4th overall selection and then ship him to the Golden State Warriors for his UNC teammate, Vince Carter. Vince Carter would soon be the franchise's biggest star. He would turn into the face of the Raptors and what many believe is the equivalent to what Lebron is today for the NBA; a world known superstar at the top of his game bringing excitement to everywhere he went.
 
The Raptors management saw the potential that these cousins had. The management team knew the two would excel in this league so they built a team with veterans that could show them the ropes. Charles Oakley was the main man they brought in. He was their big brother. If you were going to try and knock VC or T-Mac on their asses, Oak would be the first one at your doorstep ready to smack some sense into you. He was the glue to the Raptors team. In the interview today, Vince and Tracy both acknowledged him as the guy who made it all happen. Without the presence of Charles, Vince and Tracy wouldn't have been able to accomplish everything they did.

But, the biggest question that was asked today was "What If". That question for Raptor fans still lingers in our minds today. It makes me so sad thing about this. It actually breaks my heart. The 1999-2000 Raptors were special. They achieved the first playoff berth for the Raptors and they made some noise. Although they were swept by the more experienced Knicks, they showed that they were a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, McGrady decided to leave the up and coming Raptors for his own spotlight on the Orlando Magic. Some see it as selfish, but others see it as an opportunity to develop. People say that McGrady wouldn't have been as good as he was had he not left the Raptors but you can definitely argue that McGrady was the missing piece on the road to the championship. Carter did flourish as the only Raptor superstar but his cousin would have greatly helped. The second round was the furthest they went but Iverson scored in bunches. Although Vince Carter was killing the 76ers, his last shot was the start of the Raptors fall. The shot in game 7 still gives me nightmares. Why did that ball have to miss? WHY?! Tracy even said today that if he was playing in that game 7, the Raptors would have went to the NBA finals. Do you know how heartbreaking that sounds?! When Tracy said that, I was literally crying. Man, T-Mac should have stayed. He didn't even pass the first round of the playoffs in his career until he was injured with the Rockets a few years back and contributed nothing in the playoffs. But damn... I can't stress enough how sad I really am. This team could have been special. And I agree with Kobe with his statement that if that Raptor team stayed together, they'd be battling the Lakers multiple times for championships. Its unfortunate that things ended the way they did. Personally, I still love Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. They were my idols growing up and even though they left, I still supported them. That's how much I loved these guys. I don't care about the way they left, I care about what they did with the team. They created a buzz in the air and expanded the basketball culture throughout Canada. Two of the biggest superstars in the basketball world. They gave us hope and something to look forward to. They even did a lot for the organization and for the city. *sigh*

 At least the Raptors look like they're going in the right direction with their young pieces like Derozan and Ed Davis. They look like a team that could make some noise, right?! But no matter how good this Raptor team will be in the future, we will always end up asking this question to ourselves. What if?

Better or Worse?

The Jays pulled off a trade today with the Diamondbacks that included a pair of infielders. John McDonald and Aaron Hill were sent to Arizona for fellow second baseman, Kelly Johnson. Honestly, this might just be the worst trade Alex Anthopoulos has ever made. Yeah, I know Aaron Hill hasn't been doing anything lately and McDonald is just a filler on random days but Kelly Johnson hasn't been showing any signs of life either! Johnson does have a good burst with his bat as he has 18 home runs but he has a .209 average. You could also throw in the argument that Aaron Hill is only hitting .225 this year but to me, I just can't see the upgrade in acquiring  Johnson. Aaron Hill has the potential to hit as much, if not more, home runs than Kelly but I guess potential can only take a player so far. And to Johnny Mac, i'm actually sad that he got traded. He is a reliable player and was a phenomenal defender. His services will be missed dearly. I might be kind of biased to this trade because Hill and McDonald have been on the roster for so long. I don't really know. Did the Jays get better or worse? I know the Diamondbacks did. Hopefully Johnson creates some magic and help this Blue Jay team reach the top.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Jays Future is Bright

Today was another great day for Toronto blue jay fans across the world because we got to witness another young prospect making a major league debut this season. This season has been a good one so far for the Jays in every aspect of baseball. Their record is among the middle tier teams in the league sitting at 57-55 but remember, they sit in a tough A.L East division where the behemoths of baseball lurk. If the Jays were in another division, I would have no doubt in my mind that they will be sitting in 1st or 2nd in it. Now, back to the main topic....A new prospect call up! This time it's Brett Lawrie. We should've seen his debut months ago but it was unfortunately postponed due to a hand injury. But now it's time!

We've seen the likes of David Cooper, Eric Thames and Luis Perez called up for the first time in their careers but Brett Lawrie seems to have that "thing". I can't explain it but you know what I mean right? Actually, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I probably sound stupid by using "thing" to describe Lawrie. BUT anyways, Lawrie has that thing. He has that vibe about him that shows people that he can be a very special player. He has a swagger and an aggressive personality which makes him all that more great! He is also one of the most confident or some might say, cocky people on the roster which is a pretty good trait to have if he uses that in a positive way. Earlier today, the Jays entered play against the Baltimore Orioles and they set up Brett to hit 9th. The first thing I noticed about him was that he was HUGE. I'm not trying to sound sexual but he is a big dude! The man has muscles and I swear he had veins all over his arms. The dude is built. I just had this feeling that he was going to hit a home run at his first at bat by just looking the part. Isn't it sad that the most i've described so far was his body? Weird. Anywho, he quickly learned how hard it was to be an infielder in the MLB. In one of his first defensive plays, a grounder was hit to third base while Lawrie was set up so far. As the ball was speeding through the ground, Lawrie somehow caught up to it and threw an inaccurate, but strong ball. That play alone showcased that athleticism that everyone was talking about. BUT, on the next ball sent his way, he got a little excited or something and he messed up an easy grounder. The ball was bouncing happily towards Brett and then it hit right off of his glove. ERROR! But, at least he balanced his infield error with an RBI Single as his first ever major league hit. It was belted into shallow centre field. He even seemed like he was a good runner! He also included another hit to his resumé today and helped the Jays win 5-4. All he needs to work on is his defense but that'll come along when he gets more comfortable.

This Jays squad is as young as ever. This team of youngsters are probably the best crop of young men grown by the Jays organization in a very long time. The outfielders are all young guys with Snider, Rasmus, and Thames. I guess you can say Bautista is young because it's really only his second year as a reliable player meaning he still has a lot of juice left in him as the ball club grows. The infield does show promise also. Lawrie is aligned to a young-ish Escobar and two savvy veterans in Hill and Lind. Sadly, Hill is declining and we need a new 2nd baseman! Please, someone take him off our hands! I used to love this guy but its awful watching him now! Arencibia, the catcher, is also pretty young as this is his first major league campaign also! Oh golly gee, and we have Kyle Drabek, David Cooper, and Travis D'Arnaud in the minors?! This is getting me excited for the future. We got ourselves a nice looking team in 2-3 years. I have big hopes for this kid and the rest of the blue jays.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Only One of a Kind

 What kind of bird has ever showcased remarkable instincts, amazing leadership , and flew swiftly wherever it went? The answer is a Blue Jay. But, it isn't any normal Blue Jay, its the rarest one of its kind. Its the enlightened type of figure in the band of  jays, a leader that the whole squad looks up to in the toughest situations. It's a jay that has taken the whole world by surprise and showcased the hard work put in to succeed. This blue jay was special and is being finally recognized for it.

 This blue jay's name is Roberto Alomar. Alomar, for those who don't know, is a Puerto Rican born baseball player who played in the MLB for 15+ years. He played for several teams but his most notable team was the Toronto Blue Jays. He had his best years in a blue and white uniform leading them to not one, but two World Series championships. Robbie Alomar really defined how a 2nd baseman should play. His flashy catches in the infield, his amazing double play turns, and his determination to improving everyday really set the tone. Not only was he a golden glover consistently throughtout his career, he was also an amazing switch hitter. He was consistent at the plate and did not crack under pressure. When the Jays needed a hit, Robbie was the one who did that. When the Jays needed runs, he wanted to be the go ahead runner. And most of all, when the Jays needed a miracle, he didn't fail to find one. His clutch home run against closer Dennis Eckersly of the Oakland A's was the most defining moment in Blue Jays history. Every Torontonian knows the reaction that Alomar had as soon as he swung that bat.He raised his arms and pointed up at the sky with joy. That hit alone created a buzz in the baseball world and everyone knew this man was going to be one of the best. Now, he is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He is arguably the best second baseman to ever play this game and is no doubt the best player to wear a blue jay uniform.

 I witnessed history today and I felt like I was in the presence of greatness. The Rogers Centre exploded in cheers for the Hall of Famer and the most important people to Roberto which included former jays players. I was really starstruck to see many Blue Jay greats on the field at the same time. The likes of Cito Gaston, Devon White, Paul Beeston,etc. all enlightened the blue jays crowd. It brought back memories of the glory days in '92 and '93. We relived the greatest moments all over again for a split second. From Alomar's speech, I could really tell how much Toronto means to him. He always said that Toronto was his home away from home and that he never ever regretted anything he did in  his time spent here. Everything happens for a reason right? He was destined to be the greatest blue jay ever and he accomplished that goal.

 Also, I found a little  Alomar story interesting about how an announcer back in the 90s saw how much potential Alomar possessed. When the trade was pulled off by the Jays and the Padres, that announcer said  "the Padres just traded a future hall of famer." (Sorry, that announcer's name escapes me). That is a really big thing to say about a player and what a prediction that was! Anyways, back to Robbie's life.. No matter how popular he was and how much accolades he received, he still stayed humble. Being humble was a lesson taught by his parents and he lived his life and worked through his career using this lesson as his biggest moral.

 Even though I wasn't born to see Alomar and the Jays win the series, I do know how much he means to Toronto and the Jays organization. Now, his number 12 is hung above the rafters and will be forever remembered. I was glad to be a part of such a historical event. Moments like this do not come along often and an accolade of this magnitude are only given to extraordinary people. We are all witnesses. Sorry Lebron, that line doesn't suit you at all!

Roberto Alomar...... the greatest 2nd baseman and the best blue jay ever is now a Hall of Famer. How great is it for the city of Toronto? How great is it for blue jay fans? Only one word can sum up a day like this: Special.  

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Reptiles Love Basketball Too

Today, I decided it was a good day to shoot some hoops with a couple of my cousins on the net in front of my house. It was a little humid today but Toronto's weather doesn't ever seem to be a perfect type of weather anyways. Sadly, the handle to adjusting the height of the basketball net mysteriously broke(thanks Ian) and we were left with a rope to hold the net up. Even more sad, I don't even know how to tie the rope to make sure the net stays up....So, I was playing on the shortest height the net could possibly be but still found a way to have fun. I felt like a young Vince Carter dunking left and right. I almost pulled off a windmill 360! No, just kidding..but a boy can dream right?! My jumper also felt so good today that I was knocking down shots from everywhere much like how Dirk Nowitzki was againsnt the Miami Heat! Haha, YES, I pulled out the Anti-Heat comment. I really dislike them. Except Joel Anthony. He seems like a nice dude.
Anywho, getting off topic here.... Oh yes, so as I was resting after a long day of shooting on a 7 and a 1/2 foot net, one of my cousins spotted a strange looking worm beside the sewer. We decided to investigate and then realized that it was a snake! Honestly, it was a bit terrifying. I was pretty scared because I just had that gut feeling that it was going to jump and bite my nose off or something but luckily, it just stayed put. I didn't see a snake around my  neighbourhood my whole life. It was actually pretty strange. Did it come from the sewer? I have no idea. Can snakes even climb up the sewer? Again, I have no idea. It baffles me though. We then continued onward with our game and then we decided to look at the snake one last time before going inside for the Blue Jays game. Mysteriously, the snake vanished! My reaction was that I was scared because I did not want to find that snake anywhere the next time I go outside. Could it have went into the sewer? Is it lurking in the grass? I'm pretty clueless when it comes to snakes aren't I?

This is the critter that interrupted my wannabe Vince Carter and Dirk moments. It looks pretty big doesn't it? Well, I zoomed in! Yup. I guess reptiles love basketball too! I think everyone does!

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)