The AltRaps Blog

..the Raptors will surprise many and still come back home in 2008 with a plus .500 record.

Seems Tony Parker needs some more money for Christmas gifts, what with his wife sitting at home due to the writers strike. We all know he played sausage in the corned beef with mayonnaise on top with that French model. He should be proud, not pissed.

I used to think that Toronto fans talked out of their asses when it came to wanting to throw a coach under the bus, but Boston’s fans might take the cake. They lose a squeaker to the Pistons and the leprechaun fans are upset. Fire Doc!! Hell, even the Magic fans have turned sour on their team. I’d be happy if I were them. Nobody had them in their pre-season polls, but they are solidly in the playoff picture now and their early season push might put them there.

Doc is probably the frontrunner for coach of the year, but most of us here love Jerry Sloan. After reading this article on how he and superstar Gordan Giricek went toe-to-toe, I’m sold even more. Players too often try and intimidate fellow players and coaches and I love it when I see some backbone. Look at Marbury. He has missed a handful of games due to his fathers death. Personally, I find that incredible considering how many other players in every sport are out there playing to pay respects to fallen family members or friends. Now he has the cajones to sue the Knicks for a fine he feels is unwarranted. Well, thank you very much.

I don’t know about you, but I am awaiting the leagues response to the Heat protest like a kid on Christmas Eve. Just for a laugh, I would love to see them rule that they must re-play the last few minutes of the game with Shaq reinstated. That would be fantastic. Chances are, though, the league will just dismiss it just as they did the Raptors/Hawks snafu.

Hey, the Raps need a centre….I hear this guy is available.

Portland has now won 10 in a row. I think an off-the-court move has more to do with this than any on-the-court talent. As was witnessed after they beat our Raptor squad, their inside weapon has more intelligence, more veracity and love of the game than any of their peers. Paul Jones, take note.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Grizz mascot. Kudos to the team for not replacing him and also wearing his number on their warmups. Classy move.

Chris Webber is looking to come back, most likely with the Pistons. Amazing how these oldtimers are coming back, but of course only to high ranking teams. Sure, they love and miss the game, but, please, don’t make an offer unless you are a championship contender. Thank you.

One guy I hope never comes back is Charles Barkley. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love the guy with a passion that I normally only have for Little Tony’s pizza with pepperoni, onion and spicy Italian sausage and that passion is admittedly more than seeing even this. When it comes to Barkley, though, he is at home on TNT and these top ten clips show why. I disagree with the rankings, though. I think the middle ones are classic.

In ex-Raptor news, my buddy Keon Clark has a new court date. I’m sure he’ll find some way to mess that up. Loser. Speaking of winners, though, how about Vince Carter? Here is another look back at the trade. Move on, already.

What about that Seattle game last night, though? Pretty dreadful. I dream of the day I can get the morning paper and it has a headline and story like this. Nothing like the truth.

Finally, I have to go and finish off my Christmas shopping tomorrow. I’m going to fly in the Pepperdine player below to help with the crowds. Note that this was NOT called a foul.

w00t.