All-Star Weekend 2014 Anyone?

Oh All-Star weekend, How I love thee. The time of year basketball lovers around the world get goosebumps and an overwhelming excitement in anticipation for the festivities to kick off. All-Star weekend is to us what the Superbowl is for Football fans, what Christmas is to an eight year old, and so on. I can go on forever on joys All-Star weekend brings to us fans, but that's not the purpose of this post. In this post, I would like to hear from my viewers how they felt about this years All-Star weekend, from the rule changes right down to each individual event. Perhaps even some lighthearted debates over past events (for ex. Who you think has had the all-time greatest performance in the dunk contest.) Let's hear it!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHDpy7ltbjg

Forgive & Forget; The Vince Carter Story

How 'bout it guys, is time we bury the hatchet with VC?
If you ask this blogger, he'd tell you it's time for the city of Toronto to forgive and forget.
Or maybe we have forgotten, just not the right things. It would seem Raptor fans forgot the way VC sent shockwaves through the league with his electrifying dunks and clutch play. The Raptors as a franchise owe their entire identity to VC because lets face it, before he was with us we were nobody. And guess what, after he left we once again were off the leagues radar. Just another bottom feeder team hoping for a miracle in the draft, hoping for an Andrew Wiggins (more about him to come). Kevin Durant himself said on record that of all things, growing up he had hoped to become a Toronto Raptor. Thank you Vince.


Personally I don't blame Vince for the way he left the city. He had been nothing but professional while having to deal with a GM that cared less how their franchise player felt about the direction of the team. I can go on forever on why the GM at the time (whose name I won't even mention) holds the crown for worst GM of all time of any sport, but I'm not sure how the laws around slander and such works, so let me reserve that opinion.

In short, VC brought more than just a league wide buzz to the Raptors, he also brought basketball as a whole to Canada. Ask any of the 10 Canadian NBA players that have made the league in the last 3 seasons who they idolized or what made them love the game and I'm confident that among other things they will   mention Vince Carter.

So I thank Vince for what he has done for Canadian basketball, and the city of Toronto, and I would love nothing more than to see that jersey #15 get raised into the rafters in honor of what he's done as a Raptor (for the non-sports readers, this means his number should be retired).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVC3yBHjNvo (For those of you who aren't familiar with the 2000 Dunk contest)

Andrew Wiggins Vs Jabari Parker

A. Wiggins                                                            J. Parker

Andrew Wiggins vs Jabari Parker. Only time will tell which of these college basketball phenoms will carry the torch for the NBA in their seasons to come.

Originally, Wiggins was the definite favourite for the #1 pick in the draft, but it would seem Jabari Parker has other plans for that number 1 spot. Don't be surprised if Parker does snatch that #1 pick. I certainly wont be. It would seem at the moment that Jabari Parker is more physically fit and NBA ready, however my bet for the long run is on Wiggins. If, no, when Andrew Wiggins bulks up and polishes his game, there is no doubt in my mind he will be the better player.

Then again, I have been wrong once before when I put my money (figuratively speaking) on Carmelo Anthony over LeBron James prior to their draft. Can you blame me though, Carmelo did break college records and lead his team to a national championship whereas Lebrons championship came at the highschool level. Also I was 12 at the time, I was young and foolish. I am confident this time however, my prediction will come to fruition. I'm sticking with the very athletic Andrew Wiggins on this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBQ90qJVOCI