Second Look...

It’s been a busy week, and we’re still two and a half away from the regular season.

This is going to be fun.

We left off last time after the Jazz game… A few days later the Raptors made history; But not in a good way.

You see, the Dino’s were playing host to Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv – an Israeli national team that is no stranger to domination in Israel and Europe.

However, now they were on NBA turf - despite the fact that it certainly didn’t feel like it.

Of the 17,281 people “in attendance,” there were maybe 13 people not chanting “MA-CAB-EEE” endlessly.

Do Raptors fans still exist?

Throughout the sea of yellow and blue Elite supporters, I swear I saw a few.

A 105-103 Raptor defeat meant Toronto had just become only the second NBA team in 28 tries (in 18 years) to lose to international competition.

(The Soviet National team topped the Atlanta Hawks in 1988).

"To lose is unacceptable," said coach Sam Mitchell. "To say, 'To lose to a team like that,' would be disrespecting them."

Just last night, the Orlando Magic had their shot against MTA, and beat them soundly: 93-79.

***
Two days post-defeat, I got my first taste of Raptors practice (although media's not allowed to watch).

After that loss it went a little long - which meant me and the rest of the Toronto media got to witness the Kurt Browning All-Stars rehearse for that night’s performance (I was told Smurfs would be there, too).

After arriving just before noon, the practice finally wrapped up at about 1:45.

A lot of talk had to do with Vince’s second return to the ACC as a Net, the freshly-implemented dress code, and the hopeful return of Alvin Williams (he was out of commission for 20 months after undergoing 3 separate surgeries).

No one had anything juicy to say about VC…

In terms of the dress code: “I got one suit,” Matt Bonner said. “I plan on getting one every year, so by the time I’m done, I’ll have a wicked wardrobe.”

I asked him how he picked it out: “I just model it after what Jalen Rose would wear.”

What did Jalen think?

“I just do what the Commissioner says: ‘Wear what Jalen Rose wears.’”

Both those guys make interviewing a breeze… Loving life.

In terms of Alvin’s return they wouldn’t promise anything, because as he put it: “some days I wake up feeling good… other days, not so much.”

But he was optimistic, and so was I. The Raptors could sure use his heart.

Went back to the station, cut up some clips, and did 4 recorded reports (two about Alvin, one about the dress code, and one about Vince’s return).

I awoke the next morning to a call from my boss…

“Zack, I think you just set a record. 38 Clips from a Raptors practice; 4 Voicers… you’re going to tonight’s game…”

Sold! (I was going to go anyway and volunteer my time – but he offered to pay me, and with cell phone bills like mine, I’m not turning down free money)
***
So it’s 4:50, now… I had just gotten to the ACC for tonight’s 7 o’clock tip.

“Go early, just in case Vince has something to say.”

He didn’t.

That meant more free pizza for me.

Coach Mitchell always does his pre-game address about 75 minutes before the tip… so after a slice or three I fled to the podium (which went missing?!).

As I adjusted my positioning to allow some TV cameras in, I brushed up against coach’s coffee.

“Please don’t touch my coffee.”

Feeling great.

Coach didn’t want to talk about either Vince or Lammond Murray (who was spitting fire on Raps’ Brass in the morning.)

Fine… so I’ll talk to Lammond, myself.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Murray says. “For three years I was here, and every year was a rebuilding one. A new coach every year… New Players… Now I’m with a good team… moving on.”

I thanked him, and returned for more pizza. (I swear, you’d think I weighed more than 143 lbs.)

It’s game-time now…

Vince - as expected - faced a chorus of boo’s. Surprisingly, though, those boo’s turned to meh’s in just a few short minutes. VC went on to drop 20, while Jason Kidd was close to a triple double (5 points, 9 boards, and 8 assists) in just 23 minutes.

All that was brushed aside, though, as the Raps not only got their first win of the preseason (107-105 in OT), but also the heart-felt return of Alvin. He was greeted to a standing ovation – not me, though – I’m not allowed to cheer, remember?

He had a steal pretty much right off the bat, and ended up adding one assist in his 4:43 on the court.

Charlie Villanueva finished with 24 points, including 3 clutch free-throws with 1.6 seconds left to force overtime.

“Ice in his veins,” Matt Bonner told me. “It’s awesome for a rookie like that to be able to step up like that.”

If all goes well, I’ll have my peers saying the same… talk to you next week.

First Glance

A Rookie Reporter’s Life on the Sidelines

Zack Cooper, The Fan 590

October 13, 2005

Already I feel like I’m misleading you…

You see, I thought I’d be on the sidelines, but alas… it’s my first year on the job (let alone day), and I’ll be sitting up in the press box.

I have a love for the game of basketball: a love that many don’t understand. I lived and breathed Raptor-ball up until last night – when I became a Raptors Reporter.

My first experience with nerves can be summed up in a brief conversation I had with Coach Sam Mitchell on media day. I walked in wearing dress pants, to go with a snazzy new shirt and tie, looking and feeling good. But when I walked into the RBK Court (where they were holding the festivities), I clearly looked like the new kid. Some of the other reporters were in sweats – Costanza-style – and here I was looking like Johnny-Just-Moved. No Matter. So what if I look good?

So I walked up to Sam Mitchell…

“Coach Mitchell, I just wanted to introduce myself... My name is Zack Cooper, this will be my first year covering the Raps for the Fan. I might be a little nervous, but…”

He cuts me off: “Don’t worry, there are 82 games.” He then up and walks away.

Good Start, Zack.

Fast forward 6 days to last night’s preseason opener against the Jazz. It’s go time. I get the behind-the-curtains-tour of the ACC by a trusty co-worker from the station. He introduces me to the right people, I shake the right hands, and walk down the right (and sometimes wrong) hallways. He also shows me to my seat. Look up… way up.

"People sit there?” I ask.

“That’s where you’ll be sitting.” He says.

No matter. I’m watching Raptors games, and getting paid for it: Living the dream.

So he runs through the routine, pre-and-post game ethics: who to talk to, where to go… and we’re getting ready to move. But not before we indulge in some free food in the media room.

An endless pile of Pizza awaits, with salads and deserts just to the left (if you pay $12, you get the “meal” – which last night was a pasta bar).

The TV Screen shows we’re four minutes away from tip-off against the Jazz. Got to get to my seat.

Just in time… the balls up in the air… and there it is: I’m now officially a Raptors reporter, and I have the media pass and free pizza to prove it.

…By now you know the outcome. The Raptors lost 102-101 in Overtime.

After the game Sam Mitchell was no happy camper: "We have to find somebody who is going to rebound," a steamed Mitchell said. "That's all we've been talking about (in training camp).”

That’s the same song he’s been singing since he got here a little over a year ago. It’s nothing new, but he wouldn’t comment on anything else.

Charlie Villanueva grabbed 5 boards through the course of his 35 minutes. He looked good, though. He had a decent touch around the rim, used his body well on the defensive block, and found a way to send back 4 shots (one of which came with less than a second left in OT– and although I’m not supposed to cheer, I let out quite the yelp in support).

Joey Graham had some tendonitis in his knee flare up, so he left early… Matt Bonner was dealing with a stomach virus. The starting 5 opened up the game, before turning to cheerleaders by the end of the first.

Jose Calderon took over the point and looked solid. His stats don’t reflect his floor-leadership (9 points, 5 boards, 2 helpers), which just goes to show there’s no language barrier once the whistle blows.

He looked composed, smart, and opportunistic. He had 3 turnovers, but only one was off a bad pass (refreshing for Raptors fans). He looked good enough to make a case for starting, in my eyes.

It’s still undetermined who’s going to get that third spot in the rotation, though.

If last night’s play was any indication, Tierre Brown should get it, over Corey “Homocide” Williams (who killed himself at the free throw line (1-5), when he wasn’t trying to do too much) and Robert Pack (who showed he’s still crafty).

Brown had 24 points (12 from the charity stripe) along with 7 assists, and 2 turnovers. His jumper looked NBA-worthy (as much as that says), and his ability to drive into the lane was crucial.

After the game, I went to go speak to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who was a class act. He stared me right in the eyes, and answered every one of my questions with care and consideration, while my heart was pounding through my shirt – another new one.

“Coach Sloan, you’re notorious for not using rookies - granted it is preseason - but they came up big for you tonight…” I asked, referring to CJ Miles (who sent the game into OT with a late 3-pointer, and scored 5 points in the extra frame) and Robert Whaley (who sealed it with a tip-in with 0.8 seconds left).

“They played well, but they’ve got a lot to learn if they want to play in this league… I’ve never had to do so much talking in my coaching career,” Sloan said. We continued a nice conversation for the next 5 minutes.

I then went into the Jazz locker room, and spoke to Deron Williams, Miles, Milt Palacio, and Whaley. Afterwards, as instructed, I headed back to the Raptors locker room, where all the scrums were just wrapping up.

You see, I’ve been delegated to the away-team locker room, but I don’t mind one bit.

After all, I’m now a basketball reporter.