Canadian hip-hop legend Choclair wrote his famous (in Toronto, anyway) line "like Carter did to Philly..."
Except of course he was referencing Joe Carter's double home run to win the World Series.
So what if another Carter did it to another Philly?
Vince Carter, Air Canada, Toronto legend, was the biggest star in Ontario for a time. He was likely the most talented athlete to ever play in Toronto in his prime until Kawhi Leonard.
His mother's oldest child, and the first one is his family to go to university, it was incredibly important to him and his mother that he graduate from university.
He went to the NBA before graduating but completed his studies part time.
The graduation ceremony was the same day as game 7 of the NBA east semis in 2001. The Raptors were riding high as they had just beat the Knicks to win their first ever playoff series.
Carter was heavily criticized in the media for attending the ceremony (and flying back by charter jet to play in the game).
Truth is, he had a great game. It all came down to the buzzer...and, with the score 88-87 for Philly, Carter took a jumper from the corner at the buzzer...and rimmed out.
It was, unfortunately, the beginning of the end. The media narrative was that Vince didn't care about the team and didnt want to play.
He has, then and now, vehemently denied this. He signed a 6 year contract the season before and bought a house in Toronto in the off season.
Vince struggled with injuries for the next three seasons and (and the Raptors struggled as a result),and it became clear from the media narrative that Carter Had to Go. He was shopped around and in the end traded for nothing.
I think technically it was Alonzo Mourning and draft picks but Zo retired rather than report to Toronto.
****
I never bought the narrative that not going to graduation means he'd play better or have enough energy for that last shot. Rimmed out is rimmed out.
So let's assume everything is the same (and he was being honest about wanting to stay...for further evidence T-Mac states that Vince begged him to stay in Toronto and build a team together...although that's a different PoD).
So...
What's the result if Carter makes that shot? (To win 89-88 at the buzzer in Philly in game 7 of the NBA East Seminfinals in 2001)?
First question is do they beat the Bucks? I think yes. Iverson took Philly to the finals.
I'm less convinced about the Raptors ability to perform against the Lakers, but a finals run and making that shot should silence the critics, make Toronto more attractive, and the team should end up with a better start, or at least not unload their franchise player for nothing.
Thoughts?
Except of course he was referencing Joe Carter's double home run to win the World Series.
So what if another Carter did it to another Philly?
Vince Carter, Air Canada, Toronto legend, was the biggest star in Ontario for a time. He was likely the most talented athlete to ever play in Toronto in his prime until Kawhi Leonard.
His mother's oldest child, and the first one is his family to go to university, it was incredibly important to him and his mother that he graduate from university.
He went to the NBA before graduating but completed his studies part time.
The graduation ceremony was the same day as game 7 of the NBA east semis in 2001. The Raptors were riding high as they had just beat the Knicks to win their first ever playoff series.
Carter was heavily criticized in the media for attending the ceremony (and flying back by charter jet to play in the game).
Truth is, he had a great game. It all came down to the buzzer...and, with the score 88-87 for Philly, Carter took a jumper from the corner at the buzzer...and rimmed out.
It was, unfortunately, the beginning of the end. The media narrative was that Vince didn't care about the team and didnt want to play.
He has, then and now, vehemently denied this. He signed a 6 year contract the season before and bought a house in Toronto in the off season.
Vince struggled with injuries for the next three seasons and (and the Raptors struggled as a result),and it became clear from the media narrative that Carter Had to Go. He was shopped around and in the end traded for nothing.
I think technically it was Alonzo Mourning and draft picks but Zo retired rather than report to Toronto.
****
I never bought the narrative that not going to graduation means he'd play better or have enough energy for that last shot. Rimmed out is rimmed out.
So let's assume everything is the same (and he was being honest about wanting to stay...for further evidence T-Mac states that Vince begged him to stay in Toronto and build a team together...although that's a different PoD).
So...
What's the result if Carter makes that shot? (To win 89-88 at the buzzer in Philly in game 7 of the NBA East Seminfinals in 2001)?
First question is do they beat the Bucks? I think yes. Iverson took Philly to the finals.
I'm less convinced about the Raptors ability to perform against the Lakers, but a finals run and making that shot should silence the critics, make Toronto more attractive, and the team should end up with a better start, or at least not unload their franchise player for nothing.
Thoughts?
Last edited:
