Not once in my year and change of Raptors reporting do I recall a press conference set for 10 in the morning.
And yet, this is how everything unfolded…
I woke up at 7:40am. Confirmed the presser was going down. Had a shower, made some breakfast, brushed my teeth, and then re-read everything I’d read about Anthony Parker.
Then I took a voyage to youtube.com, and watched a little more game film.
I can’t get over how the creators of these videos either lace quality highlights with a) bad dance music… or b) bad hip-hop.
Either way.
So by now, we’re approaching 9 o’clock. I planned to be out the door by 9:15.
I gathered all my things…
Minidisc… check.
Mic Flash… check.
Microphone… check.
Microphone cord… ummm… uh oh.
A day prior to these events, I burrowed some equipment from a fellow reporter. I had my own mic, I just needed a flash (the station ID thingy that goes on the mic), and a minidisc… Sadly, I forgot to ask for a mic cord.
So I hop on the Queen streetcar to head to the ACC… I call up the station and request some assistance.
Assistance Granted.
An intern would be meeting me at Front and Bay with a recovery pack filled with all the reporters’ essentials. (Thanks Levett)
I head back to the ACC, check my levels, plug in my goods, and we’re set…
The press conference is running a few minutes late, giving me time to do a live hit on the Fan.
My phone cut out at the end, but apparently it went ok.
On to the conference… (If you didn’t see it and would like to… NBA.com has complete broadband video coverage – pssst… you can see my head as I scamper to my seat at the beginning)
So instead of running through that whole mess… I’ll just go through what I had a part in.
Anthony Parker, the reigning back-to-back Euroleague MVP, was doing his thing… about 3 questions in… I piped up:
“Anthony… Do you expect there to be much adjustment coming back to the NBA, in terms of different styles of play?”
“I think so… You know, the first couple months that I was overseas, there was a huge adjustment for me. It’s almost a completely different game. I think it’ll be a lot easier of an adjustment to come back here, than it was when I went over there… but I certainly do anticipate an adjustment period.”
After the press conference wrapped up, we had question and answer periods with Parker (didn’t ask him any more questions, as I saw Colangelo was gathering quite the crowd)…
I arrived just a touch late to Colangelo’s scrum… but apparently my question was not asked:
“Bryan… Anthony’s got the tag ‘the best basketball player not in the NBA.’ Do you and your scouts honestly believe that?”
“You know what… if he’s not *the* best not playing in the NBA… then he’s certainly *one* of the best. Having seen a lot of basketball being played outside of the NBA, he clearly dominates games. He’s been considered the best European player for the last two years, winning the Euroleague MVP two years in a row… and that’s not an easy feat, given the talent that’s over there.”
That was the first time I actually spoke to Colangelo personally… and like Parker, I came away impressed.
It also sounds like I’ll get another chance to chat with Bryan tomorrow… as the Chris Bosh extension is expected to be announced then.
This time, though… I’ve got my mic cord.
4 comments:
It is official... BC has just aksed for all the game logs from last year (pre-season incl.) and looked at all the players that dominated and decided to go after them (or in CV's case unload them on the other half).
Parker kills the raps with his last min shot to take the game in preseason.. and correct me if I am wrong, but Salmons had quite a game vs. the raps(Us...) in fact I think i was at that game sending annoying text msg's to one SlackCooper...
am I on to something here? I think so.
It's all true... every word... except for the 'us'
I am thrilled about Anthony Parker from all the research i did and his press conference he seems like a very classy guy and will be able to fit into this team well. He is on the wrong side of 30 but he didnt look over 26 to me.
I am also thrilled about John Salmons as i belive he can be our "Raja Bell" signing.. he can play 3 positions which is what BC was looking for i just am waiting to hear more concrete info about the contract which probably wont be known till a later date.
I heard that question being asked to parker about the adjusting to the game... Good stuff. I guess you will be back at the ACC tomorrow AM and BC is giving you an extra hour to sleep since its scheduled for 11am lol
Damn the Raptors to hell. I've had enough of them now. I'll just follow football from now on...I'll be less disappointed.
Somebody named themselves 'silky johnson'. ALL POWER TO YOU, MAN. I'm so damn impressed.
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