Sorry Paul: We have the It factor and It is Me.
I must apologize to the Raptors and their fans. Somewhere in early January, I dropped the ball and I never really picked it back up. I re-posted some stuff and made some lists but really, I never gave this blog the effort it required and I believe it is the reason the Dinos have forgotten how to play their brand of basketball. I know it sounds crazy but it is not without merit.
Back in November of 2013, I joked that despite their record, the Raptors were in first place in their division. I chuckled at their 4 and 9 Atlantic record and I started doing my Raptor watch; and the Raptors started winning. Then in December of 2013, a trade happened and I got even more excited and I focused on them some more, and they started winning more. You snicker but it is true. I became a loud Toronto fan and they gave me a reason to be loud; right up until I got lazy in January; then I dropped the ball.
Look I do have excuses; I was focused on work and education, I hit a bit of a writing block, I was busy coaching, I hate winter, you name it I can blame it. The truth is, I really just stopped doing what I enjoyed doing and so they stopped doing what they enjoy doing.
Now I didn’t stop watching. I still tuned in but I didn’t get up for games like I had been. I assumed some games were automatic and I dismissed some of the bad losses as things that just happen during a long season. I defended the guys but I wasn't into it like I should have been. The butterflies were not there and I stopped caring like I could have.
There were other distractions too! March Madness was crazy and my fantasy teams needed constant adjusting. I have been running more and trying to get in shape. Not to mention a poetry class I am taking. Literally, I know I am not dropping some faux diction yo. (Note the internal rhyme.) My boys’ basketball team had a crazy season and two of the guys are even getting interest from the local college team. I have been busy; just like a lot of you have been.
But now it is their time. Our boys need to pull it together some and they need our good vibes. You see, what I watched on Saturday was what we have allowed them to become. They stopped moving the ball because they knew we had stopped appreciating the ball movement. Their efforts lessened because we started taking their best for granted. They assumed they would win just like we assumed they had certain games in the bag. And now we are here again.
The last time we were here was in April of 2008. We had just lost in the first round to the Orlando Magic. There was none of the energy from the year before but all of the disappointment. It was pretty much the end of the Chris Bosh era. They almost made the playoffs in 2010 but it is not really worth the chatter. I allowed my excitement to deflate and poof it was gone. It didn't really return until that first Raptor Watch in November of 2013.
You see if it is not my fault, whose is it? Their effort and their will to win is there. The fans are loading into Jurassic park. There is no shortage of chatter form die hard and causal fans alike. I know there is no magical switch and maybe I woke up too late, but I don’t believe that. Tomorrow I am hoping for a resurgence. I am hoping for the team we all fell in love with to show up. Then we can cheer like we believe. Then it will happen, an offensive rebound, the kick out, one pass, two pass, extra pass… It. It will emerge and we will all recognize it. Don't worry Paul, I love you but it is still there.
