The Vicarious Athlete returns!!!

Alright peoples!!! It's been quite a while since I poured out my "vicariously athletic" soul on this blog. I kinda lost the passion after the "real world" insisted on taking up a lot of my time. I've been somewhat busy with my job hunting and part-time student status at Ryerson University but I recently came back to my senses and realized that there is way too much going on in the sporting world without me adding my benevolent 2cents to it.

Without further adieu.....allow me to re-introduce this blog!!! (thanks Jay-Z).....Lol

I am CRAZY! about Basketball, totally in love with Football, building a promising relationship with Baseball, going on occasional dates with Soccer and...........I only hang out with Hockey when it's convenient.

That's an honest breakdown of how I pay attention to sports. I am certain everyone's point of view would be different, so if you are expecting me to blog a lot about the "only when it's convenient" sport, then you will be disappointed. It will happen but not a whole lot of it.

So, what's been happening in Raptor-ville lately?
Jermaine O'Neal will start a new chapter in his basketball career as a Raptor on October 29th. Just like all the Raptor fans out there, I am very optimistic about this season and it all has to do with trading for J.O. After eight pre-season games, he is gradually rounding out into his expected talented form. My prediction of his stats goes something like this:

12-15ppg, 9-11rpg and 2-2.8bpg

The big question is if trading T.J Ford will end up hurting my beloved Raps? I THINK IT WILL!!!

Why? Because the diminutive Ford gave the Raps an uncanny advantage in ball control. We were the envy of the league in that category but it was took good to last (like all good things I guess) because Ford decided to summon the twisted spirit of Vince Carter Past....well in a reversed sought of way. Unlike the shameless Carter (whom, by the way I am still a fan of......yes, I can like someone and still be objective in seeing and telling the truth about them) deciding not to play hard or care about the success of the team in order to get want he wanted. Ford decided, after coming back from that freakish and unfortunate injury, to play very hard and try to score every time he touched the ball. In his mind, he must have been thinking that outscoring Jose Calderon would re-establish him as the the true starting point guard for the team. In the process, he destroyed the on and off court chemistry that the team had. I still like his game a lot and sometimes go back and forth that maybe we should have traded Calderon instead.

Before you start yelling......OFF WITH HIS HEAD!! Let me explain why. Calderon's stock was very very high and he would have gotten the Raps a lot more in a trade. Maybe a young big man and a draft pick or two. Ford was seen as a semi-headache and injury prone guard. The trade that sent him and Rasho Nesterovic to Indiana for O'Neal definitely addressed a lot of our needs but, I think it inadvertently left us vulnerable in the back court. So, we got rid of one weakness just to inherit another.

What ever happens this season is going to be exciting and positive. I truly believe that. Calderon is the better floor leader between he and Ford. O'Neal will help us TREMENDOUSLY! Bosh will be Bosh. Reliable.

My prediction: 49-33 record, finish 4th or 5th in the east and lose in the second round to...........????

Sportacularly yours,

TheVicariousAthlete